SENIORS
This weekend sees the Seniors face Ramor Utd in the Championship Semi Final in Kingspan Breffni Park @ 8pm on Saturday. After a nail-biting victory over Gowna in the last round, training has been going well and the side will be looking to bridge an 11 year gap since Kingscourt last reached a county final.
However, the Virginia side will be tough opponents and despite losing in O’Raghallaigh Park in the league, both sides will fancy their chances of reaching the final. The support the side has got this year has been great but we would again ask everyone to again make the trip to Breffni and drag a couple of bodies with you, or annoy your parents/neighbours/friends to bring you….
The support will be vital in helping the lads get through another tight game. While the game is at 8pm, please note that a Junior Championship Semi between Munterconnacht & Shannon Gaels takes place at 6.30pm so don’t think that arriving 10 mins beforehand will get you a nice seat in the middle of the stand!! Why not take it both if you can??.
JUNIORS
The Juniors season finished at the weekend when they were beaten 3-10 to 1-9 in the Championship Semi by Cavan Gaels last Saturday.
We were always going to be up against it and when the Gaels opened a 0-4 to 0-0 lead after 10 mins things looked bad. However , the side kept at and closed the gap down, mostly through Anthony Corcoran frees and despite a clear Kieran Gorman point being ruled somehow wide. The Gaels then struck a goal but we kept on going and trailed by 1-5 to 0-5 as the half drew to a close.
However, a nasty challenge on Sean Og Gargan went unpunished and the Gaels clinically exploited their stroke of fortune by hitting the net and putting two goals between the sides at halftime.
This bodyblow was very harsh on Kingscourt but they opened the 2nd half strong with an early point to narrow the gap to five but with Micky Graham conducting matters up front the Gaels slotted over a couple of points and when they finished of a superbly worked goal they were 3-8 to 0-6 clear with 20 mins remaining.
At this stage, and in these conditions, the game was up and while the side kept at it they were unable to really trouble the Gaels and while Barry Reilly (the other one!) coolly slotted a late goal it was merely troubled the scoreboard operator and not the Gaels progress.
However, a determined show from the Juniors againsat a very strong Gaels side that will be hard stopped in the final against Mullahoran
U-21’s
The draw for the U-21 championship was made over the weekend and, well it didn’t do us any favours! We will face Erne Gaels (Belturbet, Redhills & Butlersbridge) away on the weekend of the 9/10 October. It really doesn’t get anyway harder than that, an amalgamation of two Division One sides and the current Junior Champions, but hey, there’s nothing like a challenge…..
Details on training aren’t announced yet but presumably they’ll continue with the Seniors for the time being. More details on match and training to follow
JUVENILE DRAW
The juvenile club’s annual fundraising draw takes place on Monday 12th September. This is the only fundraising event the club has in this regard and is of vital importance to the running of the many underage teams that the club fields in both boys & girls from U-6 upwards.
First prize is Two Tickets to the All-Ireland Senior Football Final along with overnight accommodation in Skylon Hotel and €200 spending money. There are further cash prizes all the way down to 8th place.
All told, a prize well worth winning so why not try your luck and help support all the good work that the many volunteers at underage level put in, not to mention the dedication of the young players as well. Tickets are available for all committee members and from usual retail outlets (i.e. Pat, Robbie & M&F’s….) and this year can also be purchased directly on the club website, so for those of ye who can’t make it to a committee man over the next month, just click here
FOLLOW THE STARS?
Love following the Stars? Fed up with games being played, changed or cancelled without knowing about it? Fear not, Kingscourt Stars GAA are offering a new free service which will see you receive a text advising you of last minute games, changes or general club news which won’t wait until next week’s club notes or weekly newsletter.
To get yourself on the text list, either e-mail your name & number to info@kingscourtstars.ie , text them to 086 8237382 or drop them into the usual suspects…. All that said, the service will still only work if I know about the changes, so, can’t make any promises there!!
LOTTO
The winning numbers in this week’s lotto were 01, 07, 23 & 25 (Bonus 09). For the second week in a row there was no jackpot or Match 3 winners. Therefore, next week’s jackpot will be €3,200 (€8,200 including bonus) and Match 3’s will win/share €600. The draw will take place in Dun A Rí House on Sunday 12th September and to buy a ticket, just click here.