Bon Voyage to key senior players - 26/03/2001
The consolation winners of £25 each in the club lotto draw of Monday 19th were Danny Mackle and Colum Lavery and on Monday past with still no-one drawing the four lucky numbers for the big jackpot a further two £25 went to Maolisa Shivers of the Broagh and Barney O’Neill of Ballymaguigan. Next week the jackpot soars to a new high of £1800, a nice little nest egg for someone at Easter perhaps! Good luck to all our members and friends.
This Friday 30th in table quiz night once again in the pavilion starting at 9.00pm sharp, doors open 8.30pm. All money collected at the tables this week will go to the players training fund so the committee hope to see good support from that quarter. Philip Bradley will as always pose the questions and refreshments will be available throughout the evening. This will be the last quiz before Easter and a special one, to round off the season, will be held on Friday April 20th with all money going to Cancer Reserch, more details later. The camogie club are hosting a Junior Table Quiz on Sunday April 1st at 3.00pm in the pavilion and all children are welcome to attend. A good turn out and these will be run on a more regular basis.
The monthly meeting of the Executive Committee for April will be held next Monday 2nd at 9.00pm immediately after the Lotto draw and it is important that all members attend. To enable the meeting to begin on time and to ensure all members get home at a reasonable hour we would ask all ticket sellers to have their returns in between 8.15pm and 8.55pm.
Best wishes from the committee to senior players Thomas Doyle who has gone to work in England and to Stephen McLarnon and Michael Gribbin who have taken up new employment in Dublin and will spend the next three months training in Germany. All three will be surely missed at championship time.
With the large pitch under development and out of use until next Spring leaving only one pitch available for training the following schedule has been agreed by the committee to facilitate all groups. Monday evenings camogie training all age groups 6.00pm to 9.00pm, Tuesday evenings football training U-8 to U-12 from 6.00pm to 7.30pm and seniors 7.30pm onwards, Wednesday evenings camogie senior only from 7.30pm to 8.30pm, Thursdays senior football from 7.30pm, Fridays minor football from 7.00pm, Saturday U-16 football 5.00pm to 6.30pm and on Sundays U-14 football 11.00pm to 12.30pm. To ensure the smooth running of the programme any group wishing to change times or days must consult with Sean Cushley before doing.
The Youth Committee, with the help of the club chairman, has drawn up a Code Of Conduct for all underage players who play for St. Malachy’s and this will be distributed in the next few days for signing by player and guardian/parent. Parents and players should be aware that this Code has been designed to help to promote the development of character and sportsmanship both on and off the field and should be viewed as such. A Code of Conduct already applies to all Coaches and Managers.
The U-14 squad were the first of the underage teams in action this year when they travelled to Glenullin to play in the first round of the Feile Na N’og and came away convincing winners on a 4-14 to 1-09 score line. A good all round performance from this young team managed by Chris McNicholl and Paddy Henry, with the early season coaching put into good practice. Team and scores - Owen O’Kane, Ryan Hughes, Aaron O’Kane, Ciaran McCann, Nial Mackle, Barry O’Kane, Owen Gribbin, Nial McNicholl (0-04), Martin Nichol (1-02), Paddy Henry (0-04), Colm Heaney (0-02), Conor Loughrey, Declan Colgan (0-01), Kevin Hughes (2-01), Fergal Gribbin (1-00). Subs: Paul Heaney & Mark Hughes. Training continues on Sunday mornings at 11.00pm and all players must attend.
Three players represented the club at the County U-15 trials in Owenbeg last Saturday - Liam Craig, Seamus McNicholl and Liam O’Kane. We wish the young lads continued success.
In preparation for the 2001 league programme which kicks off on Easter Tuesday April 17th with a home match against Loup, the senior squad travelled to Belfast club Sarsfields on Sunday past and beat the host club 0-13 to 0-08. Connor Gribbin missed the match due to injury and although Eugene Heaney and Ronan Shivers picked up slight knocks it is hoped all three will be back in training soon. The match was played in a sporting manner and Castledawson had outstanding performances from Dara Shivers, Martin O’Kane, Gary Higgins, Dermot Heaney and Stephan McLarnon.
Training continues on Tuesdays and Thursdays for the full senior panel, which includes the Reserve players, at the normal times and hopefully another challenge match can be arranged for next Sunday.
All players are encouraged to consider the £20 personal insurance scheme on offer by the County Board by contacting Secretary Philip Bradley before the weekend. This could prove a great benefit financially in the event of serious injury, something we wish not to think about but it can happen.