Castlewellan GAC Club Notes Wednesday
16 th April
The provisional Pitch Training Schedule
is available from Miceal Crilly for the
08/09 season. Anyone with any issues/queries
should contact him as soon as possible.
U14 Hurling now Monday nights at the Bann
Road at 6.30pm.
The U14 hurlers got their new season off
to a fine win against Leitrim again this
year on Wednesday night. A great team performance
saw Castlewellan win on a score line of
4-5 to 1-6. All players played with great
spirit and were determined to get one over
their local rivals from the very start.
The game opened brightly with great pulling
and blocking to the fore but wasteful shooting
from Castlewellan kept the game level. It
was not until Mick Gallagher's great goal
that the town really took control of the
game. With Cahal Keown and Aidan McCartan
dominating in midfield and Stephen Connolly
controlling the half back line more scores
seemed certain, but a combination of resolute
defending and super goal keeping limited
the town to two points, one each from Cahal
keown and Rory Burns. Half time Castlewellan
1-2 Leitrim 0-1
Castlewellan again started well with Pauric
Hardy scoring a fine goal and Mick Gallagher
nabbing his second and it seemed that the
Town would have it all their own way but
a gallant Leitrim fought back rattling over
three unanswered points and a heavily disputed
goal. It took great determination for Castlewellan
to stand up to continued Leitrim pressure
but great goalkeeping from Sean Dornan and
defending from Rory Burns and Tiernan Hardy
kept the Leitrim attack scoreless. The game
finished with a great Jake Carville point
and made Castlewellan worthy winners. Managers
Rodney Carville, Cormac and Paul McCabe
were very pleased with the performance but
know there is a lot of work still to be
done with shooting a priority.
Congratulations to the Down U-21 team and
management on winning the Ulster Championship
last Sunday. A special word of praise to
centre half back Kevin Duffin and our other
representative Liam McKibben.
Club Lotto: Last week 6/4/08 numbers 10,11,16
and 23. No winners. Next draw 13/4/08 Jackpot
now stands at £5950.
The Club Executive have appointed Paul Lynch
as the Club's new games/fixtures secretary
after Danny McCartan decided to stand down
at last year's agm. Danny has agreed however
to keep our website fixtures and results
sections updated and we thank him for this.
Team managers please text or phone Paul
with results immediately after every game
on 07872105836 . Also contact Paul about
any game changes requests for postphonement
or for re-fixtures. Paul will also arrange
match and training venue's for all teams
plus transport arrangement.
Good luck to Club members Aaron Rice and
Paul Goodman, the latest official Club referees
appointed by County Referee's Committee.
Both lads completed their training and assessments
with flying colours and refereed their first
juveile games this week. We hope to see
a lot more of them officiating at official
fixtures and wish them all the best for
the duration of their refereeing careers.
They join the ranks of the following current
club referees Gavin Corrigan, Charles McAlinden,
John Trainor, and Shane Rice.
Down U-15 Football Development Squad Trials
will take place this Saturday 12th April
in St Malachy’s High School, Castlewellan.
Would the following Castlewellan players
please attend. You are asked to register
at 9.30am. Michael Cunningham, Michael McCartan,
Steven McCombe, Aidan Dornan, Breannain
McComiskey and Joseph O’Neill. All
Players are asked to bring their own water
bottle and snack.
Results: The seconds beat Downpatrick 6.14-0.10
in the Meadow on Sunday with Colm Flanagan
starring and the Thirds beat Carryduff away
5.7-2.2 with evergreen Audi McVeigh pulling
the strings. It was also good to note ex-senior
player Paul McArdle making a comeback in
this game after a long absence.The Ladies
put Annaclone to the sword at home with
a 9.19-1.1 with Deborah Keown, Paula Cleland
and Leeanne Owens playing well.
Fixtures: Minors footballers away to Carryduff
on Wednesday at 7pm, Seconds are home to
Downpatrick at 2pm on Saturday, Next Friday
the Senior Footballers kick off their campaign
away to Clonduff at 7pm, Thirds are away
to Ardglass next Saturday at 7pm. Ladies
Seniors are away to Downpatrick on 21st
April at 7pm.
Last but not least Congratulations to St.
Malachy’s Castlewellan on their great
win in the U-18 Vocational School’s
final last Saturday in Portlaoise. It was
double joy for one of the team mentors Paul
Duffin whose son Kevin was also playing
for the victorious Down U21’s in the
Ulster Final. The future looks bright for
football in Down and in Castlewellan with
most of the side available for selection
in next years team.
