LEARNING IRISH? ‘Like to learn or relearn your Irish? Or begin again! Why not? Carmel Quilter-O’Neill is working at recruiting some learners…give her a shout má tá spéis agat a bheith páirteach! Could a few mentors and parents be coaxed along…to a nice weekly social gathering….just for an hour? How about a Thursday night….Déardaoin na Gaeilge ar an gCarraig? A múinteoir Gaeilge has been found and is willing and waiting! Give it a go! Bain triail as! Sea, is féidir linn!
PEIL FAOI 6: Our U6 Academy boys will have more football fun on Sunday morning next, 20th September. But…but…but our Thursday football has finished for this season! (N.Eoin Ó hÉigeartaigh)
PEIL FAOI 8: (i) Our U8 action will continue on Thursdays (17th and 24th). (ii) Our lads are looking forward to having great fun at next Saturday’s blitz i gCillín (Na Gaeil) agus, le cúnamh Dé, imríodh siad peil iontach….the football, no doubt, will be only brilliant! (N.Eoin Ó hÉigeartaigh)
PEIL FAOI 10: (i) ‘Well done’ to our boys (and their mentors) on great performances at last Saturday’s Bóthar na Trá/Cnoc na Cathrach U10 Blitz. A damp morning turned out to be an outstanding day for the young footballers of The Rock who played against the finest of U10 Gaelic footballers and showed that Tralee players can play anywhere and match the best! And their conduct and manners and sporting ways made their mentors proud! What an outstanding group of young Rockites! (ii) U10 GoGames: we enjoyed our challenge v Ard Fhearta last Wednesday (9th) in Ardfert. (iii) U10 GoGames: we were scheduled to travel to Cill Chuimín (V93X459) this Wednesday, 16th, leaving at 5.40pm, for another GoGames outing and what a great evening of caid (peil)! Gumshields! (iv) Watch for texts in case of Sunday and/or Thursday football. (Colm Ó Mongáin)
PEIL FAOI 12: Our boys shone at the Eric Mason Blitz! Yes, indeed, our 2014 boys produced their best football of the season in Ballymac on Saturday last and finished the day as worthy champions. The lads put in a superb display throughout the tournament; they overcame Na Gaeil in the semi-final before defeating a strong Douglas (Cork) side in the final. What a way to claim the title! It was a performance built on excellent teamwork, with the boys constantly encouraging and supporting one another….sea, ar scáth a chéile a bhíodar! Their kick passing was outstanding all day, while their close defending and work rate ensured that they were competitive in every contest. Leading the charge for the Black‘n‘Amber was Darragh Counihan, who delivered a series of outstanding performances throughout the day. His skill, determination and leadership were recognised when he was named Imreoir an Chomórtais (Player of the Tournament)…a richly deserved honour! While Darragh’s award was fully deserved, this was very much a team effort. Such was the standard of performance across the squad that every player could have earned a mention. The commitment, skill, work rate and teamwork shown by all the boys was outstanding ó thús go deireadh. Most pleasing of all was the way the team played together, showing great composure on the ball and a real understanding of how to support each other across the field. The level of encouragement that the boys showed to one another throughout the day was a credit to the group and reflected the strong team spirit that exists within this squad. Is grúpa speisialta an grúpa seo! A fantastic achievement for this group and a well-deserved reward for their hard work and commitment all season. ‘Well done’ to all the players and to all the coaches involved. (Cóilín Ó Tíocháin)
PEIL FAOI 14: (i) Our U14s had a very satisfactory victory over our Gaeltacht friends in the District League final. The final was played last Wednesday (9th) in Castlegregory. Bhí bua de 0-12 ag ár leaideanna in aghaidh bhuachaillí na Gaeltachta! Comhghairdeachas! (ii) The Lee Strand/Denis O’Connor U14 Tournament, in its 40th year, took place on Saturday last (12th) in Connolly Park. Our lads faced An Ghaeltacht and Salthill /Cnoc na Cathrach in the group stage and emerged as victors. They defeated St Finbarrs (Cork) in the competition semi-final and took on Oranmore/Maree, who had already pipped Na Gaeil, in the Denis O’Connor/Lee Strand Cup final. After an exciting encounter the Galway boys took the laurels and deprived us of a two-in-a-row! Cé go raibh siad croíbhriste, our Rock stalwarts weren’t slow in congratulating their conquerors! Foirne eile a bhí sa chomórtas: Club Uí Chéirín-Uí Rathaille, Club Sheáin Mhistéil, Cnoc na hEaglaise, An Ghaeltacht, Club Emmet Lios Tuathail agus Na Piarsaigh (Corcaigh). The Billy Breen Shield was won by The Gaeltacht and the Abie Allen Plate was won by Salthill/Cnoc na Cathrach. Thanks to mentors, parents, organisers, referees, officials, food suppliers and helpers….a lot of hard work was done by many people. It was a great and well-run competition, mar is gnách, and credit is due to everybody. Thanks to Lee Strand Co-operative Creamery Ltd for sponsoring this event once again! The standard of football in this competition was, once again, of the highest quality; there was no shortage of skill, effort, determination and sportsmanship! A great day for The Rock. (Colin Ó Tíocháin, Jonathan Magnier, Nollaig Ó Conaill)
PEIL FAOI 16: Still no action until the Town League commences! Idir an dá linn, a bhuachaillí, fanaigí slán, bígí do bhur n-aclú féin agus bígí ag cleachtadh bhur scileanna peile go rialta! Ní fada eile go dtí go mbeidh Sraith an Bhaile (Town League) ag tosú! (Gearóid Ó Tíocháin)
NA MIONÚIR: We completed the minor season with a heavy defeat v South Kerry in Cromane last Thursday evening on a scoreline of 0-9 to 3-18. Our journey of 19 games, in which we suffered heavy defeats and dramatic victories, has been a roller-coaster ride since we began with the group last January. We are proud that the club competed in the county championship competition we are delighted with our victory in the Shield competition which ended in a dramatic penalty shoot-out in Finuge i Mí Iúil. 35 players played for the minor team during the year and, we are very poud that Danny Lane, Eoin Mangan and Alex Touhy also played for their respective Kerry Minor/Under 20 teams. Bail ó Dhia orthu go léir! An painéal: Conor O’Regan, Fionn Cotter, Darragh Lyons, Oran O’Donoghue, Mark Riordan, Ben Litchfield, David Hobbert, Alex Touhy, Paddy Lucid, Jayden Moriarty, Harry Murphy, Jack Diggin, Jay Sweeney, Danny Lane, Jake Carmody, Haulie Cotter, Joe Barry, Denis Brassil, Nathan O’Conner, Seán Clifford, Eoin Mangan, Barry Laide, David Aherne, Jayden O’Dowd, Ewen Canty, Ryan O’Carroll, Rory Lynch. An Charraig Abú! (T.Mac Mathúna)
SEANRÁ: Níor bhuamar ach…ní fál go haer é! We didn’t win but…t’s not the end of the world!
CLUB LOTTO: Thanks, once again, to all our club lotto workers, promoters and supporters. Where to do the club lotto….take your pick: Husseys’ Deli, Prince’s Quay; Ollmhargadh Chaoimhín de Barra, Upper Rock Street; Paudie Commane’s Bookshop, Rock Street; www.austinstacks.ie; The Burger Shack, Monavalley; O’Flynn Interiors, Lower Rock Street, Carmel Quilter, AdeS; Kirbys’ Brogue Inn, Lower Rock Street. Mura bhfuileann tú istigh…cén seans atá agat!
NA SINSIR: Good wishes to Dara Ó Lúing and his senior players in their 1st game of the County Championship.