Individual Post

POSTED By : DESTINATION NEWRY
Post Date : 03 Jul 2017 08:17 AM
Shane O'Neill's Club Notes - 2nd July 2017

U10 Annual Football Blitz

The club held its annual U10 blitz on Saturday and it proved to be a very successful day. With twenty-seven teams and over two hundred players, boys and girls, the tournament saw teams from Armagh, Down, Monaghan and Tyrone taking part.
 
After a couple of hours of group games and cup, shield and plate quarter-finals and semi-finals, six teams were left standing. Both Whitecross teams made it through to the plate final, Shane O’Neills and Middletown got through to the shield final whilst Castleblayney and Fr Rocks contested the cup decider. All three games, like a lot of the games before them, were all keenly contested with all the young footballers playing some great football and showing off some of their skills. When the final whistles sounded in the finals Shane O’Neill’s triumphed in the shield whilst Castleblayney overcame a very good Fr Rocks side to claim the cup with Whitecross sharing their plate success amongst their two teams.
 
Following the completion of the football all the players who took part in each final were presented with runners-up and winners medals with club PRO Brendy Osborne presenting the plate, our senior footballer Mark McCabe presenting the shield and Armagh ladies footballer and All-Star winner Aimee Mackin presenting the cup.  Aimee also presented Tiarnan Ruddy from Castleblayney who was named as the Player of the Tournament.
 
The club would like to thank all the teams who participated in the competition and helped to make it a great success. We would also like to thank everyone who organised the event and helped out on the day – referees, umpires, score keepers, tea and sandwich makers, the burger-makers, tuck shop operators, the Hughes Family (NISA Camlough) – your help was greatly appreciated.
 
Senior Men
It was a busy weekend for our senior men with a home game against Clonmore on Friday night followed by another home game against St Pauls on Sunday afternoon with both contests ending in draws.
 
In Friday night’s game, the Shane’s were by the far the best team in the first-half and deservedly went in leading at half-time. However as has been happening recently the second-half saw their opponents mount a comeback and in the end the Shane’s were fortunate to escape with a draw, 1 – 13 apiece.
 
On Sunday St Pauls were the visitors to Camlough and as with the Shane’s previous two league games it ended all square, 1 – 14 to 1 – 14.
 
The sides were level in the opening minutes with St Paul’s leading through a free which was cancelled out by a David McCabe point and they swapped the next two points also with Matthew Girvan on target for the home side. The Shane’s moved three ahead minutes later when a high ball from Matthew Girvan made its way to David McCabe and he made no mistake from close range before young Girvan extended his side’s advantage with a well taken point minutes later. However, the Shane’s lead was short-lived as St Paul’s hit a goal and a point in quick succession to get them back on level terms once more. A point from Ryan Quinn and a free David McCabe edged the Shane’s two ahead again with St Paul’s responding with a pointed free. With half-time fast approaching the Shane’s hit a real purple patch and scored four answered points to lead by five at the break. Paddy Doran powered forward from defence for fire over from long range before good work from Michael McParland found Matthew Girvan in space and he made no mistake as he slotted over his third point of the half with Paul O’Rourke and Mark McCabe also chipping in with scores.
 
The Shane’s made a great start to the second period with David McCabe registering a great point in the opening minute and his side now led by six. However, this proved to be their last for score twenty minutes as St Paul’s fired over seven points on the trot to put them ahead for the first time since the opening minute. Paul O’Rourke stopped the rot with a well taken free and he cancelled out another St Paul’s point minutes later to leave the sides all square with less than five minutes on the clock. St Paul’s edged ahead soon after only for Ryan Quinn to level things again with a well taken point from a very tight angle and when Mark McCabe put the Shane’s in front with the game in added time it looked like the Camlough had done enough to claim the win but a pointed free with the last kick of the ball saw St Paul’s salvage a draw with the sides finishing on 1 – 14 apiece.
 
Next up for the seniors is a vitally important game away to Mullaghbawn on Friday evening. 
 
Senior Ladies
Our senior ladies are back in league action on Monday night way to Armagh Harps with the game throwing in at 7:30 pm in Sherry’s field. The ladies also have a challenge game at home to Newry Bosco on Wednesday evening at 7:30 pm. Training continues next Sunday morning at 9:30 am.
 
Minor Boys
The minor boys are at home on Monday night against Clan na Gael with the game throwing in at 7:30 pm.
 
Minor Ladies
Training continues next Sunday morning at 9:30 am. 
 
U16 Boys
The U16 boys have no game this week but will be training at 6:00 pm on Thursday.
 
U12 Girls
A massive well done to our U12 girls who were in action on Thursday night away to a very good Silverbridge and Cullyhanna amalgamation. The game itself was played in poor weather conditions but the Shane's girls put in a great team performance to win the game – well done everyone. Training continues this week on Tuesday and Friday from 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm at the field with a challenge game away to Poyntzpass at 7:00 pm on Wednesday evening. The girls are scheduled to have their next league game next Sunday at home to Naomh Labhaoise with the time still to be confirmed.
 
U10s
Our annual U10 blitz took place in Saturday which saw the Shane’s field two teams in the tournament. One of our teams found themselves in a tough group along with Madden, An Port Mor, Silverbridge and Armagh Harps. The young Shane’s put in a great effort which saw them qualify for the knock out stages of the plate. They faced Whitecross in what proved to be a very tight game but it was Whitecross who took their chances and emerged victorious by a couple of scores. 
 
The other Shane's team also found themselves in a tough group with Carrickcruppen, Naomh Eoin, Fr Rocks and Whitecross. This group produced some great games of football by all clubs and at the end of the group stages the Shane’s found themselves paired against another of the team’s fielded by Fr Rocks in the quarter-final of the shield. 
 
This started off a tight game but the young Shane's upped their game and eventually emerged victorious. Next up was the semi-final against a very good Clann Eireann team and it was the Lurgan side who began the game strongly and raced into a three-point lead. However, the Shane’s remained composed and clawed back two points before the half-time interval. The second-half was also very tight with both teams putting in a massive effort and produced one of the best games of the tournament which saw the Shane’s gain the upper hand, scoring a great goal and point to put them two points in front. Clann Eireann pulled a point back to produce a tense finish, but great defending and overall team work saw the Shane's over the line by the narrowest of margins and into the shield final.
 
Middletown were the opponents in the final and the Shane’s started strongly and a couple of early scores helped to calm the nerves. Throughout the remainder of the game the Shane’s produced some great football all over the pitch and came away with a thoroughly deserved win.
 
Every member of the U10s squad played their part right throughout the blitz and the management would like to thank all the kids for their continued effort and to everyone who helped make the tournament run smoothly.
 
U10 training continues on Tuesdays and Fridays from 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm at the field.
 
Underage Training
Please note that training for all our U6s, U8s, and U12s will take place every Friday night from 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm at the field. All boys and girls at these age groups are very welcome to come along. 
 
Meabh O’Neill’s Camogie
Well done to Meabh O'Neill's senior camogs who won the Division 2 league title on Monday night having gone through the season unbeaten. The U14 camogs are away to Crossmaglen on Tuesday night with the game beginning at 7:00 pm. Training continues on Wednesday night from 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm at the field.
 
Club Merchandise
Club shorts and socks will be handed out in the club on Wednesday evening between 7:30 pm and 8:30 pm. There are still some spare socks for sale in sizes 11 – 2, 4 – 7 and 7 – 9…there are no size 2 – 4 left.
 
Well Done
Well done to everyone who took part in the quiz in the The Yellow Heifer on Wednesday night to help raise funds for our ladies’ football teams – your support is greatly appreciated. A big word of thanks to Aengus Hannaway who performed the role of quizmaster on the night.
 
Best Wishes
Best wishes to our underage footballer Cadhla Ferris who suffered a broken finger during the U12 girls game last Thursday night. Best wishes also to our senior footballer Damian Doyle who suffered a nasty eye injury during the St Paul’s game.
 
Hard Luck Sinead
It was disappointment for Sinead McDonnell and her Armagh U14 team-mates when they lost out in the All-Ireland final against Leitrim on Saturday but it was a great achievement none the less.
 
Kellogg’s GAA Cúl Camp
The club is hosting a Kellogg’s GAA Cúl Camp from Monday 17th July – Friday 21st July. To register for the event visit gaa.ie/kelloggsculcamps
 
Lotto
Last week’s winning lotto numbers were 2, 5, 17 & 31. There was no jackpot winner and 2 x match three winners. The jackpot now stands at a very impressive £6,000.
 
Condolences
The club would like to offer its sympathy to the family of Philip Patton who died recently. Philip was the father of our former underage footballers Mark and Philip and brother of Gerard Patton who managed our 1994 Junior Championship winning team. May he rest in peace.
 
Attached pictures with our club notes:
Whitecross – Plate winners at the Shane O’Neill’s U10 blitz
Shane O’Neill’s – Shield winners at their blitz on Saturday
Castleblayney – Cup winners at the Shane O’Neill’s U10 blitz