ROCKCORRY G.A.A.
CLUB NOTES
28th February 2012
Hall of Fame – Mickey Friary
The Hall of Fame award is presented each year to a person singled out for lifelong dedication to the club. It recognises those members who have distinguished themselves over the years and is considered the club’s most prestigious honour. This year we paid tribute to the latest inductee, the popular and well-known, Mickey Friary. Mickey has been a lifelong member and has supported the club religiously through thick and thin. His involvement with the club began during the late sixties or early seventies and while he never graced the playing field he has made a significant contribution towards the club and is a worthy recipient. The older generation will recall his work looking after the team kit and other bits and pieces. Ask anyone with memories and they will recall Mickey carrying his suitcase of jersey’s in one hand while carrying a bag of football’s over his shoulder in the other. He was constantly there after games collecting the jersey’s and for making sure everything was accounted for. Moving on he took on the task that few would consider and many others expressed an unwillingness to do and that was collecting money at the gate. It was here that he demonstrated an excellent skill to marshall the turnstiles, or back in the Dartrey days the old metal barrel and it was always said that it would be easier to break-in to Mountjoy prison than to slip past Mickey during his watch! When Gerry Cleary sadly passed away, Mickey threw himself body and soul into fund raising and over the years he has worked tirelessly selling our Top 4 lotto tickets. It is no coincidence that during this time Mickey discovered his true calling. With his ‘insistent’ approach and assertive nature it was inevitable that he would become one of our best sellers and considering the economic climate we now find ourselves, it’s a fitting time to recognise the immense financial contribution he has made towards the club. Mickey is an amazing man, a great character and has been a loyal servant to the club for the past four decades and he fully deserves the Hall of Fame award. I have no doubt that he will continue to play an influential role within the club in the years ahead and I would like to wish Mickey and his wife Sheila a healthy and a happy future. Thank you Mickey.
Annual Presentations
Achievements both on and off the field were recognised last night (Friday 24th February) when we held our annual social & presentation night in St. Mary’s Hall. I would like to thank John Connolly from Monaghan County Board for taking the time to attend the event and for making the presentations on the night and I would also like to thank George Wallace and his staff for the lovely buffet. Many thanks to the following companies & individuals for donating spot prizes:- John Finlay, Maple Bar, Sean & Tina Rooney, Ann Carroll, Ollie & Siobhan McQuillan. Noel “Nudie” Carroll was named the senior player of the year. He is one of the clubs most committed players and his performances throughout the season were both outstanding and consistent while his attendance and dedication at training was exceptional, missing only two sessions over the whole year. The reserve player of the year award went to Stephen Lynch. Stephen made a comeback in 2011 after suffering two potentially career threatening knee injuries but such is the character of the lad that he worked extremely hard to regain his fitness and made an instant impact on the last line of defence. Mark McGuirk won the managers vote for the minor award after an impressive year. Mark is among a group of emerging young talented players within the club and this was recognised last year when he was a member of the County Monaghan minor team. Siobhan McQuillan received a presentation from club chairman Jimmy McGeough for her tremendous work on the Monaghan County Board for the past nineteen years and John Connolly representing Monaghan County Board also made a special presentation to Siobhan McQuillan to acknowledge her retirement after serving 19 years. Members of the victorious minor team, Rock Sarsfields, who won the division two league title received their medals from John Connolly. They included Keelan Clerkin, Christopher Greenan, Jim and Fergal McGeough, Lorcan Smyth, Gavin Farrelly, Mark McGuirk, Aaron Clerkin and John Greenan. On behalf of the club I would like to congratulate all the award winners and a selection of photographs taken on the night can be viewed at www.rockcorrygaa@live.ie or visit our Flickr page.
Can you sense it? Can you feel it?
As sport lovers and GAA fanatic’s I’m glad to be reporting that the league season commences this weekend. That’s right folks, it’s football time again and just like every other year it feels like it’s been too long! The long dark days of winter months watching boring Sunday afternoon TV are over because the first game of the year takes place this Sunday 4th March when our reserve team take on Castleblayney at Naomh Pairc Mhuire at 2.00pm. Now all you have to do is go and see it and cheer on the lads.
Reserve League Fixtures
The reserve team are in action again on Sunday 25th March when they travel to play Oram at 12 noon. On Saturday 7th April they have another home game when they take on Sean McDermott’s at 6.30pm. All reserve players are reminded to attend training on Tuesday and Friday nights starting at 7.30pm sharp.
Underage Fixtures
Our under 12 team commence their Spring league on Saturday 31st March when they travel to play Killeevan at 12 noon. The under 14 team start their league campaign on Saturday 21st April with an away game against Currin at 12 noon. Our under 16 team Rock Emmets (an amalgamation between Rockcorry & Aghabog) commence their football season on Thursday 12th April at 7.00pm. A full list of juvenile fixtures for the under 12, 14 and 16 teams is available to download from our website. Please log onto www.rockcorrygaa.ie for details.
HELP WANTED
If anybody is interested in helping out or sitting on a juvenile sub-committee then can you please contact our youth officer Pascal Smyth on mobile 086-8161028. Remember, you do not have to be an expert and you will be instructed by an experienced coach, but please come forward and volunteer. You may be able to spare one hour on a Saturday morning or one evening per week to supervise at training sessions, or maybe at a game. Whatever you can do please do come forward and offer your help as we need as many people as possible.
Juvenile Membership
Juvenile players who have not already done so should return their membership form along with the required €5 fee and a signed acknowledgment that they have read and understood our Code of Discipline as soon as possible.
Coaching Courses
As part of the “Spring” Coach Education Programme a Level 1 Youth & Adult coaching course will be held tomorrow evening Friday 2nd between 7pm to 10pm and Saturday 3rd March between 9.30am to 4pm. It will also take place on Friday 9th and Saturday 10th March. If anybody is interested in attending these workshops or courses please get in touch with Paul O’Connor, Games Development Manager on mobile: 086-8374827 or email developmentmanager.monaghan@gaa.ie. In addition, a foundation level course will take place on Friday 23rd March at 7pm-10pm and on Saturday 24th at 9.30am to 3.30pm in Cloghan. The tutor is to be confirmed and the course costs €30 which will be paid by the club.
Referee Courses
Over the years the club has been at the forefront of providing good quality referees and we are on the lookout for more people to take up this very important role within the association. If you are interested or would like more information please contact club chairman Jimmy McGeough or club secretary Martina McKeown.
TOP 4 LOTTO
The numbers drawn last Monday night were 1, 7, 9 and 28. There was no jackpot winner of €11,200.00. The following won €15 each :-Noel Carlvert Rockcorry, Paddy,Eilish & Cillian Clontibret, Ashling Carragher Cootehill, George Mills Milltown, Caith O’Hart Rockcorry, Tommy Reilly Newbliss, Johnny McQuillan Monaghan, Mickey & Monica Leonard Aghabog. Congratulations to all the winners. Next week’s jackpot will be €11,300.00 and the draw will take place in Paddy Lynch’s, Lisnalong. Thank you for supporting our top 4 lotto draw.
Soccer Tournament
After the success of the soccer tournament last year the players have decided to organise another 5-a-side tournament. The date and location has to be confirmed but if you are interested in entering a team please contact Paul McKeown, Anthony Tate, Mark Daly, or Noel Carroll and it costs €100 per team to enter.
Club Membership
Club membership is now due once again and can be paid to our club Registrar Pat Brannigan. The annual subscription for adults is €20 with all juveniles under the age of 18 costing €5 and any student that can provide a valid student card the membership fee is €5. With the new football season starting this weekend it is important that ALL players pay their membership as soon as possible otherwise you will not be covered under the GAA insurance scheme. Please note that club membership will close on Thursday 31st March.
Congratulation
Congratulations and best wishes to Seamus & Naula Tate who celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary this weekend.
“Cavan” Champions
Well done to Garry Calvert and Seamus Morris on winning the darts tournament last Friday evening. They are now County “Cavan” Champions.
By michael Tue 28th Feb
