ALL IRELAND TICKETS: All fully paid Adult Club Members wishing to apply for an All Ireland Ticket are asked to please text your name to Club Secretary, Elma Nix, at 086 1053300 before the closing date which is on this coming Friday (11th Sept).
BEST WISHES: from everyone in the Senior Club to all involved in this weekend’s U13 Lee Strand Tournament – the 30th consecutive running of this prestigious Tournament with one man still involved since that very first one in 1986 – the one and only Denis O’Connor. (see Brian Caball’s Juvenile Notes). Thanks to everyone who showed up last week to do such wonderful work to prepare the new pitch and do a general clean-up and some painting for the coming weekend.
WELL DONE: to the Kerry MH team who won their 4th All Ireland B Final in a row last Saturday in Limerick with that big win (6-17 to 1-7) over Roscommon and to Tralee Parnells Ciarán Breen who was part of the Kerry panel. Ciarán has been playing with our Senior Hurling team during the current season.
JUNIOR B FOOTBALL: Austin Stacks 0-11; Kerins O’Rahillys 2-9.
Our round 4 Town League game, played in ideal conditions in Connolly Park on last Wednesday evening (2nd Sept), ended with a four points win for the visitors after a very good game of open attacking football by both sides.
With both sets of defenders excelling, the first half was a low-scoring affair with Rahillys just shading it at the break (0-4 to 0-3). Our opening score came in the 15th minute – a pointed free by Kyle Fitzgibbon after Darragh Scanlon was fouled, and our other two first half points came from play, late in the half – two excellent scores from Alan Duggan and Darragh O’Carroll, playing his first game at Adult level and giving a very polished performance for the sixty minutes.
Within a minute of the resumption Calvin Foley was unlucky to see his well-taken low shot just tipped over the bar. Two minutes later we took the lead for the first time when a long diagonal ball by Alan Duggan was fielded beautifully by Louis Ryle (what a game Louis had – continually on the attack from his half back position and defending superbly as well) who put over.
Then in the 36th and 40th minutes came what turned out to be the game-changers – two goals for Strand Road. The first came from play and the second from a penalty. Two minutes later they added a point to put them six clear (2-5 to 0-5).
But our lads never gave up and in the space of the next five minutes had cut the deficit to three again with two from play by Calvin and the 3rd a pointed free by Martin Courtney, making a welcome return to the fray after a two year absence. Rahillys went four clear again in the 50th minute and in the closing ten minutes maintained that gap with both sides scoring three each – ours coming from Louis, Calvin and the final score of the game by Michael O’Donnell.
Team: Seán Purcell, Shane Greensmyth, Seamus Bastible, John Murphy, Louis Ryle (0-2), Darragh Scanlon, Michael O’Donnell (0-1), Alan Duggan (0-1), Darragh O’Carroll (0-1), Dale Counihan (Capt), Kyle Fitzgibbon (0-1 free), Paddy Fitzgibbon, Calvin Foley (0-4), Cian Liston. Subs used: Barry Walsh (ht), Martin Courtney (37m) (0-1 free), Philip Quilter (37m), Andrew Morrissey (40m).
In the 5th and final round, due to take place last evening (7th Sept), we received a walk-over from St. Pats which now means we have a semi final bout against Kerins O’Rahillys in Strand Road. At the moment the game is fixed for next Monday evening (14th Sept) at 7pm.
U21 FOOTBALL: We are due to play Ballydonoghue in Connolly Park in the semi final of the Club Championship (Shield Section). The game is now due to go ahead on next Friday evening (11th Sept) with a 6.30pm start and extra time if required.
MINOR FOOTBALL: Our 5th and final round game in the Central League is due to go ahead in Milltown on next Sunday afternoon (13th Sept) at 3pm . A win looks to ensure a semi final spot against opposition yet to be determined as we write.
BALLOONAGH CONVENT: A major piece of the Town’s history unfolds this weekend when the remaining Mercy Convent Nuns move out of their Balloonagh Headquarters which has been occupied by the Mercy Order since 1858. Our Club has had a long association with the Order and were always thankful for their generosity, particularly in recent times, for the letting of their property which has been used as a Juvenile Pitch down the years and which we have now purchased and developed. We wish everyone who is moving all the best in their new surroundings.
BINGO: continues on this and every Saturday night commencing at 8.30pm.
CLUBHOUSE: As always the Clubhouse is available for all types of Parties. For Bookings phone Des at 066 7126942 after 8pm any evening.
CARDS: The 45 Card Sessions continue in the Clubhouse every Monday and Thursday Nights, commencing at 9.30pm each night.
LOTTO: Last night’s (7th Sept) Jackpot worth €5,000 was not won. The numbers drawn were 15, 16, 19, and 31. The €20 Prizes went to Chris & Bríd Bradshaw, c/o Club Rockies; Carmel Quilter and Claire Maher both c/o Carmel O’Neill; N&J Ashe, c/o The Bingo; and Mary Lynch, c/o Des Griffin.
SYMPATHY: Sincere sympathy is offered to the families of the following who died recently – Patrick (PJ) Flynn, Annagh and late of St. John’s Park (brother of former Club Footballer – the late Der Flynn); John Murphy, Racecourse Road and late of New York and Kiskeam; Diarmuid Sonny Kerins, Killowen, Kenmare and late of the Kerries; and Cecilia Walsh (nee McManus), The Kerries and late of Rathvilly (Carlow).