News 30 - 03 - 09

Senior Team Matters
The Senior team have been drawn with Carrigallen and Aughnasheelin in the 2009 Masonite Senior Championship. On Sunday afternoon last, the lads played Oldcastle and enjoyed an encouraging victory. Our thanks to the Meath side for providing an excellent work out. Next Saturday evening the lads are at home to Aughawillan in a Division 1 league meeting that will have a 6pm throw-in.

Club Draw
This month’s club draw takes place next Saturday night in the Shannon Key West. Music and house draw on the night.

Underage Training
Training for our underage players continues every Saturday morning at 11am. The numbers attending have been outstanding so far.

Scór
Our Question Time team were denied what would have been a historic fourth Connacht Title in a row when they were pipped by just 2 marks in last Sunday’s Connacht final in Elphin by Roscommon champions Clan na nGael. Well done once again to our team of Aidan Dockery, Louise Staunton and Liam Rabbitte and no doubt they’ll be back next year in search of another title. It was however a good night for Leitrim as the Sean O Heslins novelty act and the figure dancers from Glencar/Manorhamilton advanced to the All Ireland finals. In addition, the Cormac Mc Gill memorial trophy was presented for the first time to Leitrim as the overall County winners in Connacht. The trophy was presented by Connacht Council and named after our late club man Cormac.
Meanwhile, this Friday night, a concert celebrating 40 years of Scor Liatroma will take place in Ballinamore Community Centre at 8.30pm. The concert will see many of the great Scór acts of the past taking part including the Bornacoola Ballad group from 1983 (which will include Sean Mc Gowan, Tom Moran, Philomena Mulligan, Anne Keenan – nee Mulligan and Feargal Mc Gill in place of his father Cormac) and the Set Dancers of the mid 80’s that dominated Connacht for many years. I understand the Set Dance team on Friday night will feature Anne and Philomena, Patricia Mc Goldrick (nee Reilly), Martina Hackett (in place of Teresa Duignan who unfortunately is unavailable on the night), Tommy Larkin, Sean Beirne, Gerard Mulligan, Micheal Mc Gowan. It should be a night not to be missed.

Junior A
The Junior A team travel to Drumkeerin on Sunday next for a Division 3 league game which gets underway at 2.30pm. In the Masonite Junior A championship, the boys have been drawn in a group alongside Melvin Gaels and St Marys.

Division 4
A highly entertaining game in the park last Saturday evening as the Bors 3rd team took on Sean O Heslins 2nd team. Two first half goals for the Ballinamore team seemed to have set them on the road to victory but a well taken penalty from Damian Moran just before half time left the Bors a chink of light. O Heslins again opened a sizable lead in the 2nd period, but the Bors refused to give up and two John Bohan goals brought the sides level as the clock ticked down. However a strong finish from the visitors ensured a victory for them on a scoreline of 2-12 to 3-7.
Team: Dara Gavigan, Sean Ryan, Christy Bohan, John Shanley, David Mulligan, Paul Hackett, Brendan Duignan, Mervyn Howard, Bobby Shanley, Ollie Vaughan, John Bohan, Aidan Reilly, Damian Moran, Brian Reilly and Kevin Mallon.

Ladies League
The Ladies team face a long journey to Dromahaire on Sunday morning next for a game that will throw-in at 12 noon.

Engagement
Our best wishes to our newest clubman – John Mc Govern – on his engagement at the weekend to Patrice Doyle. Comhghairdeas daoibh beirt.

Fundraising Draw
The Club will be holding a fundraising draw in the coming weeks. Tickets are going on sale this week priced at €20 each. There are a range of excellent prizes on offer including: 1st €3000, 2nd €1500 voucher sponsored by Sean and Deidre Farrell “Flair”, 3rd Two All Ireland Football tickets, 4th Two All Ireland Hurling tickets, 5th Dinner for 4 in Flynn’s Shannon Key West hotel, 6th Dinner for four in the Copper still, Dromod plus five more prizes of €100 each. We would ask every club member to put in a special effort to make this venture a success.

Club Membership
This is the last week for payment of membership for 2009 – anyone who has not paid their membership will not be considered for All Ireland tickets in September and will not be entitled to a vote at the AGM. All players MUST have paid their membership before playing for the club in 2009 – the cost for Playing Membership is €30; non-playing membership is €10; Youth Membership €5 and fees can be paid to Secretary Shane Reynolds, Treasurer Jackie Conboy or registrar Pat Farrell and in the case of Youth Membership to any of our underage trainers.

U-16 League
The U-16’s enjoyed an excellent victory away to Aughnasheelin on Saturday morning last when some well taken goals were crucial in securing a 5-10 to 3-3 victory. The team and scorers in full was Shane Sullivan, Barry Reid, Daniel Farrell (0-1), Conor Mc Weeney, Kieran Campbell, Roy Keenan (0-1), Mark Muldowney (0-1), Tony Shanley (1-0), Kevin Shanley (2-5), Conor Hackett (1-0), Anthony Mulligan (1-2). Subs used were Liam and Ian Mulligan. Next game is away to Aughavas on Friday evening week (April 10th) at 7pm.

U-14 League
The U-14 team travel to Kiltubrid on Friday evening next where the meet the home side in a game that will have a 7pm throw-in.

Birthday Wishes
The March and April period is a great time of year for birthdays and lots of celebrations in this respect within the club in recent weeks. A little birdie was in touch to tell me that Mary Mc Cauley has clocked up the half century this week – I had to get in touch with Sean to make sure this was accurate, but he assures me the tacograph is reading 50 right enough. Another Mary would no doubt be very disappointed if I forgot to give her the annual mention – that’s our own Mrs Reynolds in Cloncolory who will add another year on Friday next. Happy Birthday to you both and I hope the respective hubbies dug deep in the pockets to deliver the presents of your dreams!! Finally, if my records aren’t failing me, I think around mid April there might be a few candles lighting on a cake up in Esker where Rose will again be practicing her singing of Happy Birthday as Hubert adds another year and indeed our Player of the Year Colm will need a cake this week too! Busy times on the Birthday front.