Clonduff Notes - 29 February 2016

Monday 29th February 2016

Irish Classes in clonduff clubrooms
The Irish Classes, with Ciarán Dunbar, continue in Clonduff Club as follows:
Beginners – 7-8pm – All newcomers welcome!
Post Beginners 8-9pm

Down Clubs’ draw – Supporting your club, supporting your county!
An social evening took place in Clonduff Clubrooms on Saturday night when the first two local winners of the Down Clubs Draw were presented with their cheques – Aidan Brown (£200) and Clonduff Club (£1,000).
The first two winners of Clonduff’s £50 monthly draw were made and the lucky winners were Ryan McShane and Doreen Maginn.
There will be a similar event every month and EVERYONE is invited!

CONCUSSION AWARENESS HEALTH & WELL-BEING IN CLONDUFF CLUB
Most mentors attended or were represented at this invaluable Mentors’ Evening in Clonduff Club on Thursday evening. Chairman, Jimmie Cousins welcomed everybody particularly Ryan McShane from Ulster Council (who also happens to be Clonduff’s Coaching Officer) who delivered the course which was very enlightening.
Health & Wellness Officer, Attracta Brown spoke to the mentors about the aims of the Healthy Club Project and general Health and Wellness with the Club and Community. The group was also address by the club’s Juvenile Games Officer Niall Rafferty and the Pitch Schedule for March was agreed.

CAMOGIE
Many congratulations to Clonduff Minor/Senior Camog Clare McGilligan who was presented with a Colleges’ All Star Award at the Elk Inn on Saturday afternoon. This is a well-deserved award for Clare, just proving why she was the youngest member of the All Ireland winning panel in 2014!

HANDBALL
U14 BOYS' WINTER HANDBALL LEAGUE
The internal Winter League is now drawing to a close with the Shield and Cup players entering the knockout stages. 
On Thursday night last at the weekly training slot in the alley Ben Magee, Aodhan Quinn, Daire Lavery, Lawrence Brannigan and new comer Ethan Sloan pitted themselves against each other to claim bragging rights in the Shield competition. 
Thursday training nights are normally relaxed affairs with plenty of laughter and lighthearted banter as one would expect and encourage BUT when a knockout contest was introduced to the boys' game, suddenly a very serious demeanour emerged. 
With some excellent passages of play the lads battled for every score and displayed a high level of skill in this locally growing winter GAA sport. By the end of the night Lawrence Brannigan and Daire Lavery with 2 wins each go through to the shield final next week, where the winner enters the Cup contest. 
Ben Magee and Aidan Quinn fought hard and ran the finalists close in all their games and they will be playing off next week for runners up slot. Good luck to all the boys - get some practice in between now and next Thursday night. 

It is hoped that the first stage of the Cup competition will be played out next Thursday night at the later time of 730 to allow for those coming from football training. 

Those involved in the Cup contest are as follows: 
Jayme McDonald, Eamon Brown, Oran Wilson, Charlie Brown, Patrick Cowan, Padraig Clancy.
Presentation of awards will take place the following Thursday after which handball training will draw to a close for the season.

DOUBLE HEADER IN PAIRC ESLER ON SUNDAY
Down Camogs, captained by our own Paula Gribben with Cassie Fitzpatrick, Clare McGilligan, Lizzie Wilson, Nicola O'Hagan, Orla Gribben, Sara Louise Carr took on Kilkenny @ 12 noon and in horrible conditions played out a 0-7 apiece draw.

It was the turn of the Down Hurlers v Wicklow @ 2pm and with Rían Branagan on the half forward line they romped to a 4-12 to 0-11 victory to maintain their unbeaten start to the season.

FOOTBALL
PRFL – CLONDUFF II 2-10 V LOUGHINISLAND II 2-10
These were two very well-matched teams with the result always in doubt right up to the final whistle. The visitors were on top in the first half and led 2-6 to 2-2 at half time. The Yellas turned it around in the second half and the draw was probably a fair result for both teams in a most enjoyable game. Team and scorers: Paul Gribben, Shane McGreevy, Rory Grant, John McPolin, Niall Tumilty, John Brown, Conall Brown (0-1), Patrick Matthews, Paudie Brown, Noel Grant, Charlie Carr (0-2), Rián Branagan (1-2), Jason Brown, Finbarr McConville (1-5), Conor Óg OHagan; Subs used: Jayme Gribben, Kieran Trainor, James Killen, Niall O Hare and Conor Murray.

BURREN WIN COUNTY SCÓR SINSIR TABLE QUIZ
Congratulations to the Burren team who collected their first Table Quiz County title in Glasdrumman on Friday night and now go on to represent Down in the All Ireland Final on Saturday 2nd April in INEC Killarney. Clonduff got off to a slow start and after two rounds were joint last place of the ten teams. However they built up a head of steam to finish joint second. Well done Colin, Paul, Brian and Anita - keep at it - your day will come!

Down GAA will be holding a National GAA Level 2 Adult Gaelic Football Coaching Course in March 2016
Down GAA will be holding a National GAA Level 2 Adult Gaelic Football Coaching Course in March 2016.
This course is suitable for coaches who work with players aged 16 through to Adult.
This is a rare opportunity for coaches to complete this award in their own county as generally the Level 2 Awards are run centrally by Ulster GAA. This not only means that the amount of travelling time for participants will be greatly reduced but also that the fee is considerably less. The Normal Cost for attending a Level 2 Coaching Course is £125, while this course will cost participants only £100.
The course will take place in the Abbey CBS in Newry on the 4/5th, 11/12th and 19th March 2016.
It is essential that any coaches who wish to attend this course have previously completed their Foundation & Level 1 GAA Coaching Awards.

ANYONE interested in attending this course reserve a place ASAP as places will be limited.
For further information or to book a place, please contact Conor O'Toole directly via developmentmanager.down@gaa.ie

CLONDUFF JUVENILE FOOTBALL TOURNAMENTS - ADVANCE NOTICE!
Clonduff fully-sanctioned Juvenile Tournament dates finalised as follows:
U12 – Gary Murray Memorial Tournament – Saturday 28th May
U8½ (P3/4) – Brian McGreevy Memorial Tournament - Saturday 4th June
U10½ (P5/6) – Daniel Andre Memorial Tournament– Saturday 18th June

FIRST COMMUNION AND CONFIRMATION IN CLUBROOMS – ADVANCE NOTICE
Family Celebration Meal in Clubrooms – book early to avoid disappointment!
Contact Dermot on 07778664105

Down Supporters Club are running a bus to the Allianz Division 1 Game away to Roscommon on SUNDAY 6th MARCH leaving Castlewellan at 8.45am (SHARP) and NEWRY at 9.30 am. 
Fares: ADULTS £20 U-16 £12 
To book seats contact Seamus McClean on 07873761804 or Mairead Sheppard on 07835974904

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