*Soccer doesn’t normally get the first mention in this GAA Club Notes. I hope Iwill be forgiven! Its June 1972, a month earlier (6th May to beprecise) Leeds United had beaten Arsenal 1-0 in the FA Cup Final (Alan Clarke53rd minute goal Cills!). This scribe is 9 years old. Primary 5, 6& 7 had just been confirmed by the late Bishop Philbin and like now afterwhich I was off for a feed. In them days it was the sponsor who looked aftereverything. Well that’s how this scribe was looked after. The Slieve DonardHotel for dinner, what a treat! You always remember treats and kindness likethis. I tried to tell my sponsor that I wanted to play for Leeds United! He justsmiled and said “young lad you will play for The Town!” Brian King with hisfirst born bouncing on his knee told me that. The scribe has never regrettedthat advice and chose The Town! History will tell you I got it right! I stillsupport Leeds though. After the Slieve he was back out on his milk round. Lifewent on. Before and since then he has espoused all good things about Castlewellan.At the Annual Awards Night last Saturday Brian stepped up to receive the JohnnyO’ Neill Hall Of Fame Award. I can see Johnny nodding in approval. There isn’tenough column inches to describe the recipient of this award except to say thathe always gives his time for his club. Committee man, manager, full forward(chest stuck out and glasses off!) and someone every club needs. That covers alot. He stepped up to receive his award from Maurice O’Neill and Club ChairmanRory McCabe to rapturous applause. Brian was indeed a very deserving recipientof this prestigious award. This was a real family occasion with Brian’s sonRonan receiving the Club Person of the Year Award for his outstanding work. Hisinitiatives have helped push our club forward in our community. A proud father& son and a very proud King family were there to witness and enjoy thisgreat occasion. There was also a notable award to St Malachy’s Primary Schoolin recognition of winning the Cumannna mBunscol National Award for the best in school in Ireland for theirpromotion of Gaelic Games in the large school category in 2012. We are alwaysgrateful for the work that our schools in the parish do. Like all clubs youcannot thank them enough for the work they do. The Castlewellan Scor na Nóg Instrumental Groupperformed on the night to an enthusiastic gathering. They narrowly missed outin the Ulster Semi-Final. We are all proud of what they have done and achieved.Well done to; Niamh Howell, Miadhachlughain ODonnell, Ciara Maguire, Niamh Bloomer and RuairiHowell. We will hear from them again. Also honoured was Gavin Corrigan. Itis not too often you get the honour of refereeing an All-Ireland Final. Itspeaks volumes when the powers that be come calling on you to referee another.That is exactly the honour that was bestowed on Gavin. Having refereed The 2011Ladies Intermediate All-Ireland Final, he was called on again last October toreferee the Senior Ladies All-Ireland Final between Cork and Kerry. We wereabsolutely delighted that he was afforded this honour. We hope that he willcontinue to be given games of this calibre.
* All the award winnerswere; Hall of Fame Brian King; Club Person of the Year Ronan King; SeniorFootballer of the Year Luke Toner; Senior Hurler of the Year Colm McCann; LadiesFootballer of the Year Noeleen O’Higgins; Under 21 Footballer of the year DavidGilmore; Minor Footballer of the Year Sean Dornan; 2nds Footballer of the YearColm Og Crilly; Contribution Award Minor Football Team Gerard Keown; RecognitionAward – Refereeing Ladies All-Ireland Senior Final Gavin Corrigan; RecognitionAward to St Malachy’s Primary School for the 2012 Cumann na mBunscol National Award.Congratulations to all our winners and a big thank you to everyone involved whomade the night a great success.
* There will be a Coaching Course in theClub on Saturday March 23rd from 9.00am to 12.00 Noon for all juvenile coachesfrom all codes from (4 year olds to 18 year olds) and anyone in the Club whowishes to take part in juvenile coaching in the future. The course will beginat 9.00am sharp with breakfast. Anyone who is unable to attend please contactJohn O’Neill on 07711737610. Would all coaches please bring a list of thetraining equipment, balls and Jerseys to this course and give the list to BrianO’Neill.
* The wintercoaching has ended for Primary School children this week. Outdoortraining will commence mid April. We will give you full details later.
* A reminder would you please note that all children must have andwear gum shields during these training sessions and games. Refer to http://www.gaa.ie/for more information.
* Under 8, Under 10 and Under 12 Camogie training continues everyWednesday in St. Malachy’s Primary School from 6.15pm – 7.15pm. Please wearsuitable foot wear which will not mark the floor.
* Hurling coaching will continue on Thursday evenings at StMalachy’s Primary School at 6.00pm. From 6.00pm to 7.00pm coaching will caterfor P1 to P4 boys. 7.00pm to 8.00pm will cater for P5 to year 8 boys eligibleto play U12 hurling in 2013.
* Sunday 24 March 2013 will see CastlewellanGAC’s second Annual Spring Lake Challenge. When you start on an outdoor venture the one thing which is alwayscritical to its success is the weather. Last year’s event was bathed in sunshinewhich made it very warm for the runners not that anyone complained about it. Itmade it a great day for spectators and runners alike. You only have to visitthe gallery on www.castlewellangac.comand you will see the photographs from last year’s 10K event.
You can register on-line for the race atwww.athleticsni.org or on the day ofthe event. The run will commence at 1.00pm. Registration will take place at the Club and will end 15 minutes beforethe start of the race. The cost of entry to the 10K will be £9.00.
Last year’s winner was Newcastle AC runner David O’Flaherty whodeservedly crossed the line in first place in a time of 36 minutes and 20 seconds,4 seconds ahead of second place Brian Young followed by Brendan Quail fromNewcastle AC. Newcastle AC filled 7 out of the top 10 places with our own clubmember Audie McVeigh finishing in 7th place. The winner of last year’sWomen’s Race was Virginia Ervine from Mourne Runners in a time of 45 minutesand 15 seconds with the runner up Elizabeth Sandford from Lagan Valleyfinishing 19 seconds behind.
There will be a keen local interestagain. The race was well supported by runners and spectators alike. It is agreat way to help with your preparations for the new football season which willget underway next month. Last year’s finish line wasin front of the Lake and Castle prompted a visiting spectator to comment thatit was perhaps one of the finest spots to finish a race she had seen and shehad seen a few. We will be delighted if we get the same weather and support. Socome along to the event.
