Rockcorry Notes

Golden Wedding Anniversary

You may already be aware that Pat & Mary Brannigan will be celebrating their 50th Wedding Anniversary this Saturday 18th April 2015. To mark this special occasion they are having a celebration Mass in St. Mary’s Chapel, Corravacan, Rockcorry at 8pm which will be followed by food and dancing in the Ballybay Pearse Brothers Centre, Ballybay.  Pat & Mary have decided to mark the occasion by doing something thoughtful and loving and rather than receive gifts they have an “in lieu of gifts” approach and are asking people to make a charitable donation towards helping two local charities namely the Ballybay & Cootehill Cancer Care Groups. This is a lovely idea and a wonderful gesture by Pat & Mary so please donate whatever you can afford to these very deserving and worthy charities.

Congratulation’s Pat & Mary on your marvellous journey, fifty years is a wonderful milestone and it’s nice to know a couple who has been together for this long. I hope you have a memorable and joyous Golden Wedding Anniversary celebration and on behalf of the Rockcorry GAA club, and indeed on a personal note, I just want to wish you both a lifetime of health and joy and may God grant you more years of togetherness and continue to fill your life with love and happiness. God Bless!

Eurotech Junior Football League

Last Saturday (11th April) was a really tough evening for our senior footballers when they travelled to play Blackhill in the Eurotech Junior Football League campaign and we were very fortunate to come away with a share of the spoils. It was not a classic encounter and at times the football was not pretty and I imagine most of our supporters, and indeed our players, leaving Blackhill were relieved and thankful that we managed to get our act together in the second half to grind out a result. Blackhill with the aid of the wind during the opening half could and should have been out of sight at half time because they were working the ball very efficiently and caused us some major headaches, both on and off the field. They showed the greater desire, hunger and ingenuity and at the interval they enjoyed a 1-5 to 0-3 advantage. When play resumed, the lads did not give up hope and during the second half we were a lot more focused and we chipped away at the Blackhill lead and while we took the lead with only a few minutes remaining, we had a golden opportunity to stretch our advantage but unfortunately we missed a scoreable free, and as the game entered the final minute Blackhill converted a late free-kick to level proceedings and share the spoils on a final score-line Blackhill 1-6 Rockcorry 1-6.  Please visit www.rockcorry gaa.ie for a full match report and to view a selection of action photographs.

Eurotech Junior Football League Fixtures

The senior team will be back in action this Friday evening, 17th April, when we host Killanny at Pairc Naomh Mhuire and the game has a throw-in time of 7pm.

Platinum Tanks Reserve Football League

With glorious sunshine beaming down across Drumhowan our reserve footballers overcame a difficult first fifteen minutes to emerge victorious with the league spoils in an exciting Platinum Tanks Reserve Football League encounter. The game was played last Thursday 9th April and was played in perfect conditions and it started at a furious pace with both teams giving at good at they were getting. The opening ten minutes saw both sides swap scores and midway through the first period there was nothing separating the teams with each side on 0-4 apiece. As the half continued we grew in stature and enjoyed a mini purple patch during the closing stages and notched up some impressive scores to take control of the game and at the interval the scoreboard showed Drumhowan 0-5 Rockcorry 1-9. When play resumed we started very brightly and linked well between backs and forwards and slotted over some excellent scores to increase our advantage. Drumhowan fought back and despite getting their hands on a lot of possession they found it very difficult to break down our ‘Rock Solid’ defence and we sealed the victory on a final score-line Drumhowan 0-7 Rockcorry 2-15. Please visit www.rockcorrygaa.ie for a full match report and to view a selection of action photographs.

Field of Dreams

Firstly, hard luck to the Monaghan footballers last Sunday who lost out narrowly to Dublin after an epic encounter in Croke Park. It really was an exciting match to watch and after the performance the previous week they certainly did not let the County down. On the subject of Croke Park I just want to say a massive well done to one of our Under 14 players, Ryan Carroll, who was selected as part of a County Team to travel to Croke Park last Sunday to take part in a half time exhibition match during the Monaghan v Dublin semi-final. They played a selection of Dublin Under 14’s and the Monaghan lads came out on top at the end of an exciting twenty minute game and where victorious with two points to spare. Well done Ryan, it’s every players dream to play in Croke Park and was a great achievement to get playing on the ‘hallowed turf’ and we look forward to other days in the future when you will wear your county colours with pride.

Go Games Blitz

Their back with a ‘Bang’ as a very enjoyable and exciting Go Games Blitz was held last Saturday 11th April when our under 8 and under 10 footballers travelled to Sean McDermott’s to take part in the blitz competition. Glorious sunshine and blue skies greeted our wee brave-hearts and brought a burst of Spring joy to the occasion but there was certainly a sting in its tail with a chilly “lazy wind” that just went right through you! It was great to see all the children from various clubs playing the game and they appeared to enjoy every minute. Competing clubs on the day included Ballybay, Drumhown, Sean McDermott’s and our own bunch of wee warriors and it is always great to see a good turnout of kids perform at this level and enjoying themselves in a fun and non-competitive environment and that’s what’s it’s all about. All kids acquitted themselves exceptionally well, showing plenty of enthusiasm and displayed loads of energy and the signs are very positive for a bright future.  Well done everyone, we will look forward to the next blitz with huge excitement and anticipation. Finally, many thanks to the Sean McDermott’s club for hosting the blitz and on behalf of the club I would like to sincerely thank all the parents for their on-going commitment for travelling to the blitz and for supporting all the players. Keep up the good work. 

Gerry’s Prepared Veg Ballybay – Under 12

The next outing for the under 12 footballers is scheduled for this Saturday 18th April when they entertain St. Patrick Sarsfields at Pairc Naomh Mhuire and throw-in time is 2pm.

Gerry’s Prepared Veg Ballybay – Under 14

The postponed game against Latton has now been re-fixed for Sunday 19th April in Latton and throw-in time is 12 noon. On Saturday 25th April they are back in action when they travel to play Carrickmacross and the game has a throw-in time of 2.00pm. The previously postponed match against Inniskeen has now been fixed for Sunday 3rd May at Pairc Naomh Mhuire and throw-in time is 12 noon.

Gerry’s Prepared Veg Ballybay – Under 16

Our under 16 footballers were in action last Thursday 9th April when they played Sean McDermott’s at Pairc Naomh Mhuire in the Gerry’s Prepared Veg Division 4 League. The final score-line Rockcorry 3-9 Sean McDermott’s 8-10 may suggest a comfortable victory for the travelling side but this was far from the case as our lads, to their credit, never gave up and never dropped their heads. During the second half the lads just kept plugging away for each other coming back stronger and stronger right to the very last whistle and we are all proud of the effort and commitment shown from the team. They are back in action tonight, Thursday 16th April, when they travel to play Toome and the game has a throw-in time of 6.30pm.

McElvaney Recycling Minor League Division 3On Tuesday 31st March the minor team will get their first taste of action when they entertain neighbours Latton in the McElvaney Recycling Minor Football League Division 3. The game is fixed for Pairc Naomh Mhuire at 6.30pm.

Our minor footballers travelled to play Tyholland last Tuesday 7th April in the McElvaney Recycling minor football league division 3 competition. The game was played in glorious sunshine and while we began brightly and played some good football scores were hard to come by and as the half progressed Tyholland took control of proceedings and notched up some excellent scores to hold a comfortable advantage, leading 5-7 to 0-3 at the interval. On resumption of play our teamwork, movement and effort was as good and despite enjoying plenty of possession with a little bit of luck and cohesion in front of the posts we could have registered more scores! As it turned out Tyholland’s superiority was very evident by the scoreboard and it was their ability to clinically convert their possession into vital scores and secure a comprehensive victory on a final score-line Tyholland 9-18 Rockcorry 1-6. The scoreline is indicative of Tyhollands dominance throughout the game but in spite of a heavy defeat our lads showed glimpses of some excellent link play and teamwork. There were some strong performances and there is still plenty of football to be played in this competition and I have no doubt the lads will bounce back better for the experience. Please visit our website www.rockcorrygaa.ie or our Facebook page for all latest fixtures & results. They will be back in action on Tuesday 21st April when they travel to play Doohamlet at 7.15pm.

Go Games Referee

We all know the important role referees play within the Gaelic Athletic Association. They are an essential part of the GAA structure and without them there simply wouldn’t be any games!  That is why I have to applaud Garreth Smyth who volunteered to carry out this crucial role at the Go Games Blitz held earlier today at Sean McDermott’s and on behalf of the club I would like to thank him for taking on this role and wish him the very best of luck. 

Deepest Sympathy

On behalf of everyone at the Rockcorry GAA club I would like to extend our sincerest condolences to the family, relatives and friends on the passing of Sarah Cissie Smith, Kells (late of Anney). I would also like to offer our deepest sympathy to the Mosey Brady and members of his family on the passing of Maggie McEntee (nee) McCooey. May both their gentle souls rest in peace. 

Top 4 Lotto Results 

The numbers drawn on Monday 13th April were 6, 14, 18 and 28. There was no jackpot winner of €1,800.00. The following won €15 each :-Margaret & James Fox, Rockcorry, Bill Coffey, Cootehill, Shirley Smith, Newbliss, Michael Greenan, Aghabog, Bernie &Paddy Gaffney, Rockcorry, Vincent Lynch, Clones, Dillon & Mairead McCollum, Aghabog, Celia Lennon, c/o. Seamus Tate. Next week the jackpot will be €1,900.00 and the draw will take place in Thompson’s, Newbliss. Thank you supporting our Top 4 lotto draw.

Annual Top 4 Lotto Ticket

Don’t forget, you can support the club’s Top 4 lotto by entering for 12 months, 6 month or a 3 month period. To play simply select your four numbers between 1 and 28 complete the form and you need never miss a draw again! Tickets cost €90 for the 12 month option. Your continued support is always much appreciated and we wish you good luck in future draws.

News

If anyone would like to have some news, events or anything at all included in the club notes or advertised on our website then just get in touch on 086-1041165 or email pro.rockcorry.monaghan@gaa.ie