* Sunday past saw the second Annual Juvenile Sponsored Walk in aid of Club Funds. It was also to raise funds for the Bridge Water Suite which is a cancer care unit in the Belfast City Hospital. There was a great turnout of young members and their parents all doing their bit for their Club and the worthwhile charity. The weather was very much hit and miss but all the kids were well turned out in their wet gear. There was tea and sandwiches for all afterwards which the PRO strangely missed! Not like him at all! Thank you to all the parents in attendance and those who made sandwiches and buns for the occasion. Can we ask that all sponsor cards are returned as soon as possible. Please leave in the club along with your money and mark your envelopes Sponsored Walk Money.
* Just when Gavin Corrigan thought he had reached the greatest milestone when refereeing last year’s All-Ireland Ladies Intermediate Final, news reached him this week that he will referee the All-Ireland Senior Ladies Final between Cork & Kerry in a couple of weeks time. This accolade is well deserved. It is another honour for him and a chance to referee in Croke Park once again. Well done to Gavin.
* There will be a hurling blitz in Ballygalget next Saturday 22 September starting at 11.00am for our Under 6, Under 8 and Under 10 players. Please meet at the club at 9.30am. We will need to get the 10.30am boat. Any parents willing to help with transport would be very much appreciated.
* The Town senior footballers won their last home game of the season against Ballyholland on Saturday afternoon. For long periods of the game the Town seemed to struggle against their South Down opponents who seemed to have the upper hand. Into the bargain everything they hit went over the bar. Ronan Murtagh showed the County what they were missing with his clever play and proves to be a difficult opponent. Ballyholland race into a three point lead before Aidan Burns and Finty McGreevy got The Town’s account open. This didn’t upset Ballyholland who hit another three points without reply. Scores were exchanged when at 0-9 to 0-5 to the visitors The Town got the important goal just before the break when David Gilmore found the net. This left a point in it at the half time break. It was the 37th minute before a second half score was registered with the visitors scoring again and repeating the dose a minute later. Finty McGreevy pulled one back. In hindsight the turning point of the game was David Gilmore’s second goal was the one that nailed this victory. Between the 41st and 55th minute The Town hit 2-7 to no reply with the third goal being palmed to the net by Donal McKibben. The Town will be pleased with the result. With the meeting of neighbours Kilcoo (again!) in The Championship on the horizon this was a great victory to get under the belt.* The Minor Footballers qualified for the Minor A Championship Semi-Final after their Quarter Final replay win over a very good Loughinisland side who very nearly won the first day out but for a late late equaliser by Matthew Stratton. The Town were in their stride from the word go with two goals in the first two minutes from Mickey Gilmore and Martin Brannigan. Conal Crilly added a point before Loughinisland opened their account. Mickey Gilmore added another point before Conal Crilly found the net in the 11th minute. Loughinisland were in danger of being blown out of sight when they got a goal back in the 15th minute. The Town kept ahead with both sides trading points upto half time. Then there was the tale of three penalties in the game. The first was saved by Gerard Keown. The next one was awarded to the Town converted by Conal Corrigan and the third one scored by Rory Mason for Loughinisland. All this between the 34th and 41st minute of the game. Further Scores were exchanged but in the end it was a comfortable win for the lads. Mickey Gilmore received a head injury and had to be replaced towards the end of the game. He required hospital treatment. Thank you to Tracey Burns and Dr Eddie Harney for their assistance and they ensured that Mickey was given treatment prior to the ambulances arrival. We are happy to report that Michael is ok and raring to go again. The Semi Final will be this Saturday afternoon at 3.00pm in Kilcoo against Burren who beat a very good Carryduff in the Quarter Final. The boys face another stiff test against a good side who beats us handy enough in the league. Come out this weekend and give the lads your support. They have worked hard to get this far so your cheering voices are required. The best of luck to the Minors.
* There was a distinct Strictly feeling in the Club last Saturday Night at the launch of Castlewellan’s Let’s Dance. For the past few weeks there has been twenty four males and females in training for this great event. On Saturday past the dancers were announced and who they would be partners with. The first couple announce was Niall McArdle and Sinead McCartan. Scarey stuff when Sinead announced she would win it – no mention of poor Niall! Then the match made in heaven. Paddy Doherty will dance along with Kerry gold Helena Cairns. Yes the Rose from Tralee has got herself Annsborough’s finest. Sorry Cairnsy but he is! The big Castlewellan pairing will be Harry Toner and Clare Dougherty. Clare specialised dance will be the American Smooth. Harry thinks its all about jiving. He was practicing with the fire door the other night! Clare your work is cut out. Rory Bubba Burns and Caoimhe Kelly are the youngest in the competition. Yes the young ones fancy their chances. Oh youth and exuberance! The next couple will be Danny Cassidy and Cathy McVeigh. Danny is ecstatic with his partner. Not sure if Cathy feels the same. Next up was married couple Ben and Grainne Rice. Holding hands in the Club on Saturday Night at the event. Make you sick! Their first dance will be the cha cha cha darlings! Dance king Gregory McCartan will partner Ciara Stratton. I think he has met his match. Yer not king anymore Gregory. Raymond Cunningham will partner Kilcoo’s Amy Brannigan. She told me to say this and to mention that she would bring Kilcoolness to the event. Yeah right Amy. Michael Hawkins will be partnered by Anna (Cheryl Cole) Scott. This Girl’s Aloud to dance. I hope you are upto it Michael! Aidan Brogan will dance with Shannon McCaffrey who hails from County Derry. She came through the Burrendale heats just edging out Moira Hawkins! Ronan King will pair up with Kirsty McAleese. Kirsty has let it be known that she usually pull pints and cleans the bar but in this competition she says her and Ronan would clean the floor with all the other competitors. Fighting talk. Last but by no means least Seamus Owens has the pleasure of a dance partner in Marcella Brogan. Marcella reminded Sinead who was gonna boss the dance floor. It is clear that this is going to be a competition. There will be blood, sweat and tears and the girls will be laughing at the boys. Seriously though thank you to all those named above for putting themselves forward and will go thought the training all together to makes this a great event. There will be two semi-finals and a final. Three dance couples will go through from each heat. The semi finals will be on 24 November and 1 December with the final penned in for 15 December. Tickets are £10 each for the semi finals and will go on sale on 30 September from 9.00pm. Tickets sold on a first come first served basis.
* The club’s website is up and running again. It has been down for some time due to technical background issues. The website address is www.castlewellangac.com.
