* As previously mentioned in this column it has been a long time since Castlewellan had players representing Down Minors in Hurling. It is also a long time since any of them achieved silverware with the County. On Saturday past Cahal Og Keown and Pauric Og Hardy were part of the Down Minor Hurling Team which won the Ulster League beating the favourites Antrim by 1-11 to 0-10 to clinch the title. Congratulations to the lads and well done. Your Club are proud of your achievements.
* Congratulations to Emma Croskery and Eoin Maginn who represented Castlewellan last week at Croke Park in a day for the Clubs at GAA headquarters. Both had a great time and both made their parents and their club very proud indeed.
* A parents meeting will take place on Thursday 19th April in the Club Rooms at 8.30pm. It is very important that at least one parent or guardian of all our young players attends this meeting.
* On Friday Night past the Senior Footballers got their season off to a great start with a good 1-13 to 0-11 win at home to Saval. Apart from the opening score after 3 minutes by Saval, The Town were soon in control going 0-3 to 0-1 up after 7 minutes. In the 10th minute Kevin Duffin converted a great goal. The Town were always in command after this with great scores from Fintan McGreevy, Aidan Burns, Kevin Duffin and David Gilmore. A good all round performance from Cahal Crilly.
* The Senior Ladies Footballers started the season off in style also with a great home win against Saval last Saturday Night. A lot of the young players are starting to come through and those mixed with the seasoned players’ there will give grounds for a wee bit of optimism this term. Jim and Cillian will be happy with the opening result.
* The Senior Hurlers lost their opening league match to Liatriom Fontenoys last week by four points. The lads played well but had some disappointing misses which they came to rue. No doubt They will pick up again for the next league match this week.
* The Minor footballers started their season off with a good away win in Carryduff. This was a hard physical game which may have lacked good football from both teams but to their credit it was tough and disciplined. Both teams were a credit to their club. Davy Gilmore just returned from the Circuit of Ireland Motor Rally where his car finished third in his category. From it he brought a little bit of pace with him. He scored the only goal of the game which proved to be the decisive effort in what was a very low scoring game. Whilst the game was won the lads know that the performances will need to improve if we are to match the teams stronger than ourselves in the coming weeks.
* The Under 16 ladies footballers won in a good battle with Carryduff on Sunday past. The girls were a little bit rusty but dominate the second half to run our 3-10 to 2-06 winners. Three points on the board for Michaela Rodgers. Well done Michaela.
* Castlewellan hosts Féile na nGael an Dúin this weekend. Good luck to St Malachy’s PS who play in the hurling final on Friday at 6.00, to our competitors in the skills competition and to our u/14 camogie and hurling teams who compete on Saturday.
* The Under 8 & Under 10 Camog’s had their first outdoor Blitz Saturday week past in St Malachys park. Both teams put in great performances, well done girls. The Under 12’s Camogs were in Ballyholland on Saturday and won two out of their three games, getting beat by one point against An Riocht, and winning well against Clonduff and Kilcoo. U12 training is now Thursday evenings from 6:30 to-7:30 at the Bann Road.
* On Saturday we hosted an Under 10 football blitz. Darragh Cross, Dundrum & Loughinisland attended. We competed well in all the games. It was particularly nice to see almost 40 of our youngest footballer’s on the Meadow wearing their club colours. Special thanks to all the parents whom assisted in the club in serving refreshments after the blitz.
* Down Minor Camogs beat Derry in the Ulster Championship on Saturday past to reach the final. Well done to Aoife, Ciara, Anna and Claire. These four girls are still under 16 and they will play against Kerry this weekend in the All-Ireland Under 16 semi final. The Club wish them and Down every success.
* There was further representation by our Under 14 ladies footballers in the shape of Catriona Caldwell, Clare Owens and Nicola McCabe for Down Under Girls last Saturday when Down beat Antrim in Kilcoo. Lets hope it is the start of good and longf County careers for the girls.
* Castlewellan U-14 Footballers’s travelled to Newry on Easter Monday to compete in the County Feile. The boys had a tough group in the A section and failed to qualify for the next stage. They battled well and with it being their first competitive football of the year a lot of positives can be taken from it. Well done lads and keep up the good work.
* The Desperate Housewives with a few youngsters aka the Senior Camogie team had their first outing of the season last Wednesday Night. They played away toKilcoo in what was a close encounter. The hosts won by four points. The squad had been decimated by illness and injury which left Castlewellan with thirteen players. In a sporting gesture Kilcoo agreed to play the game as a thirteen-a-side fixture. We would like to thank our neighbours for this as it enabled all the girls to get a competitive game which was most important for both clubs.
* Under 8 & Under 10 hurling training is in St Malachy’s Park at 6.15 on Thursday.
* Under 8 & Under 10 football training will be at 6.15 on Mondays in St Malachy’s Park.
* The Under 12 Football Training continues in St Malachys Park this Friday evening at 5.00pm. Full attendance is required from all the lads.
* Ladies under age football continues on Tuesdays and Thursdays evenings from 5.30pm to 6.30pm at the Bann Road.
* Training continues at the Bann Road Complex on Wednesday evening from 5.30pm for under 14 and under 16 Camogs and at 6.30pm to 7.30pm for the junior Camogs. Training for Under 14, Under 16 and Minor Camogs will commence this Friday at 5.30pm at the Bann Road.
*Our weekly Lotto Jackpot was won on Easter Sunday by D Kennedy who scooped the £1350 jackpot. The numbers were 3, 5, 7 & 12. There were three £20 winners also. On Sunday past there were no Jackpot winners and two £20 winners; Ivan McGreevy and Corry Murphy. The numbers were 4, 15, 24 & 26. Next week’s jackpot is £1050.
