* Whilst not wanting to sound condescending, Down had a very easy win in the first round of the qualifiers over Leitrim last Sunday. The next game with Kildare will be a very different and a much more tricky affair with the beaten Leinster provincial semi-finalist’s enter the fray of the All Ireland Qualifiers. That all said it is congratulations to our own Michael Cunningham who made his County Senior Championship debut. Although he featured in between the posts last year in the National League this is was his first championship outing. He made a very good championship debut with a comfortable and competent performance pulling of a brilliant point blank save at the beginning of the second half. He also made what is now a goalkeeper’s trademark of coming up the field to tap over a 50. This he did with aplomb. My Leitrim Fontenoys friends who were sitting either side of me were keen to point out that Michael has good Fontenoy blood flowing throw his veins. This is of course true. It was then that I pointed out that another player on view the superb Liam Doyle had great Town blood flowing through his. The conversation did not continue in that vein! Ah Football, local derbies local interest, sure isn’t it great!
* Tickets are on sale for the final chapter in the Trilogy Mrs Brown Boys in the Social Club. They are also on sale in Walkers Newsagents.
* The fixtures came thick and fast for the second’s footballers last weekend when we hosted local neighbours Bryansford and Kilcoo. It was a mixture of fortune for them. On Friday night the lads played some excellent football against The Ford running out comfortable winners to keep ourselves in contention for Premiere Reserve Honours. On Sunday evening we came up against a good Kilcoo outfit. It was a good hard running game played in good spirit with both team playing some excellent football. Kilcoo always had their noses in front with some excellent long range scores. The lads weren’t outdone fashioning goals which kept us in the contest. In the end Kilcoo ran out winners by the narrowest of margins in what was an enjoyable game of football.
* There will be another order for club gear which will be sent to O’Neill’s in September 2014. There is a stock of club socks and shorts held in the club at present. Please contact Brian O’Neill if you wish to make an order for gear other that what is held in The Club.
* The Castlewellan Cul camp will run from Monday July 21st to Friday July 25th. All details can be found about the Cul Camps at www.kelloggsculcamps.gaa.ie. You can also register here on line for the camps. The costs are as follows; 1st child attending – £36, 2nd child attending – £31 with all additional Children – £28 each.
* Sport NI are running a number of coaching courses in UUJ in the evenings from Sept 1st to 4th. If anyone is interested in attending please contact John O’Neill on 07711737610.
* There will be no coaching from Under 6 to Under10 from Sat July 12th to Sat July 26th inclusive. Parents should make sure to complete registration forms for their children if they haven’t already done so.
* The summer juvenile coaching programme is now available on our website at www.castlewellangac.com.
* The numbers for this week’s tote were 2, 7, 12 and 24. There were no jackpot winners and six £20 winners; Seamus Lavery, Charlie Harper, Charlie McAlinden, Veronica Cleland, Brian Dougherty and Maurice Finlay. Next week’s Jackpot is £6800.