* Sunday’s Juvenile Sponsored Walk in aid of Club funds past was reminiscent of one of those sports days in the meadow many moons ago. There is a particular memory of the late Doctor Moore patrolling the old meadow on one of those the where he probably felt it was his vocational duty to be there. I remember him dispensing prescriptions with his stethoscope hanging out of his pocket. He was big man who had an air of authority about him. Sunday past was a day for the children we could have done with Doctor Moore to keep an eye on the adults but we will come to that! Sunday’s weather was excellent and all the children and parents who were there got fantastic conditions for the walk up around the Forest Park and the lake. The day was finished off with children’s’ races, penalty kick/penalty pucks, tug of war and sack races. Big Michael Cunningham had his hands well warmed by the many penalties he had to save. Michael will want to forget those well drilled home by Sorcha McCartan. Oh if only you had been there Wee James! I wasn’t going to mention Jason Croskery’s heroics in goal in the penalty puck. Yeah your only save from that wee four year old who fell when hitting the ball! The tug of war was a great sight. Some rather big kids and some who did not seem to know their gender! But anyway the young ladies of the Town prevailed in what was a fun contest with many bruised young male egos’. The sack race was when we needed a Doctor Moore Figure in our midst. A Father’s Day Massacre was always a possibility with many of them participating in the race. With fallers all over the place the McCann brothers took 1st and 2nd places in the race. The jury is still out on who won. No doubting who was last John! Thank you to all those who worked on the day and made the day possible from the organisers to those who made tea, made sandwiches, baked and served on the day. Thank you to all those who gathered sponsorship. Can we remind you all to return your sponsorship cards to John O’Neill or Brian O’Neill irrespective of whether or not you have collected all your money. Please do this as soon as possible. If you have any queries please contact John on 07711737610
* Our Camogs have been working hard in the background. They young and not so young Camogs carved out a set of results last week which highlights this hard work. The Senior Camogs beat Ballela by four points. Our young senior team anchored by the experience of Debbie Croskery at centre half back played some great camogie to record a good away win. The Under 16 Camogs had a good home win on a sunny Monday evening at the Bann Road. The game was neck and neck until a couple of goals midway through the second half pushed the team on to record a good result. The Under 14 Camogs recorded a good win against the Liatroim Fontenoys. This was an indication as to the progress that is being made in camogie. Keep it up!
* The Senior footballers recorded a good away win in sunny Longstone last Thursday evening. I emphasise the sunny as 24 hours later when the game was originally scheduled for Friday evening the heavens opened. The game would have been played in very different conditions and who know what that would have brought. The Town always managed to stay in front in this keenly contested game. Longstone is always a difficult place to get a result so it was satisfying to come away with both points in the bag.
* The Seconds Footballers were brought down to earth with a bump when they were beaten by Bryansford on Sunday past. The lads were riding high in the Premier Reserve League. The lads will know they didn’t play well. When you are playing a local derby you need to be at your best. On this occasion we weren’t.
* Good luck to St Mary’s Aughlisnafin Primary School who will play in this Saturday’s Primary School Nine – A – Side Final against St Malachy’s Kilcoo. We would encourage all parents to come out and support the local primary school children in what is a big sporting occasion in their young lives.
* Good luck to The Down Senior Team and Michael Cunningham who will take on Donegal this Sunday in the Ulster Senior Football Championship Semi-Final. Good luck also to the Paddy Hardy and Michael McVeigh who are involved with the Down Minors who will take on Tyrone in their semi final in Kingspan Breffni Park.
* This year’s Kellogg’s Cúl Camps dates in Down have been finalised. We will be hosting Cúl Camp the week of Monday 22nd July – Friday 26th July. The camp runs from 10am – 2.30pm daily with a nursery camp running from 10am – 12.30pm daily. The camp is open for children who will be entering Primary Two in September to 13 years of age. Kellogg’s GAA Cúl Camps provide boys and girls with an action-packed and fun-filled week of activity during the summer holidays which revolves around maximising enjoyment and sustaining participant involvement in Gaelic Games. The cost for the camp is £35 for first child (2nd/3rd/4th….£30 each) and nursery camp is £25 per child. Each child will receive a free GAA kit. You can either register on-line at www.gaa.ie/kelloggsculcamps or register at the Club on Saturday mornings from 10am – 11.30am Please note children whom are attending the nursery camp are unable to be registered online.
* The training Schedule for the week is as follows; Tuesday 18th June Nursery, P1 and P2 fundamentals boys and girls Bann Road 6.30 – 7.30pm. Wednesday 19th June Under 10 and Under 12 Hurling 6.15pm Bann Road. Thursday June 20th 6.30pm -7.30pm Bann Road P2-P5 Hurling. Friday June 21st 5.00pm-6.00pm St Malachy’s Park U12 Boys Football. Saturday June 22nd 10.00am-10.45am Bann Road Nursery, P1 & P2 Hurling and Camogie. 10.00am-10.45am Bann Road P3-P7 Camogie. 10.00am-11.00am Bann Road U12 Boys Hurling. 10.45am-11.30am Bann Road Nursery, P1 and P2 Boys Football and Girls Football. Saturday 22nd June Bann Road Nursery, P1 and P2 plus Camogie up to Under 12.
* Club gear – Squad tops should be available in the last week of June. There have been a number of requests for the Club jersey to be produced in pink for our ladies. Before an order can be placed we need to have at least 20 requests. For anyone wanting to place an order for either the pink jersey or the current green jersey, please leave their name, phone number, required size and a deposit of £10 with the bar steward before Sunday 23 June. If there are sufficient numbers, an order will be placed.
* The Attack Fitness Circuits will continue in The Club on Thursday evenings at 7.00pm. There will also be classes in St Malachy’s Park on Saturday mornings at 9.00am.
* The Castlewellan AC weekly runs continue every Tuesday and Thursday leaving the Club at 7.00pm.
* The numbers in this week’s lotto were 1, 4, 11 & 24. There were no jackpot winners or £20 winner this week. Next week’s jackpot is £4050.