Our senior players continued their unbeaten run, on Friday evening when they defeated Castleblayney, in the Monaghan League, on a score-line of 1-12 to 1-5. The next matches in this league will be fixed in the coming week, and will be against Inniskeen.
Attention switches back to the Division 1 Armagh League, on Wednesday evening (29th) when our seniors take on Derrymacash, at home at 7.30pm. On Thursday evening (30th) our U-16 panel face Crossmaglen, also at home and throw-in is at 7.30pm. Best wishes to all involved.
On Monday last Ríoghnach participated in the U-16 section of the Ulster Poc Fada final. The event was held on ‘Hen Mountain’, so named because of the shape of its peak (no, not beak!), or so we were told!!! This is part of the Mourne range, in County Down. As ‘first-timers’ to the event we found it, overall, a wonderfully challenging, physically demanding experience – which competing on the flat sod of the GAA Center of Excellence in Cloghan, at county level, did nothing to prepare her for!! However, the odd foray, each summer, up the Cooley Mountains with her local cousins stood her in good stead.
Setting off from ‘base camp’!
As the ‘spotter’ I had more time to take in the exhilarating views of the surrounding counties, which, when the sun deigned to peep out from behind the heavy cloud cover, were majestic. For Ríoghnach and the other participants, the weather conditions were seen in a less romantic light as they influenced the flight of the sliotar and determined ones place in the competition. Completion of the course itself took approximately 2 hours for the female competitors during which they experienced everything from beautiful warm sunshine to gale force winds and lashing rain, and terrain that ranged from sheer rock face to marshy bog! Catherine McGourty (Down) won the ladies senior event while Paddy McKillion (Tyrone) won the men’s senior event, which came with a skiing holiday as part of his prize!! The All-Ireland finals of the Poc Fada takes place on the Cooley Mountains on Aug 1, and do you know, we might just head over and pick up a few tips!!!
Ríoghnach descending ‘Hen Mountain’ as the sun sets.
A very important consultative meeting takes place tomorrow evening (28th) in Glenavon House, Cookstown at 7.15pm relating to the newly formatted THDC Mandatory Procedures 2015. Facilitated by the Ard Stiurthóir, Joan O Flynn, and members of Ard Comhairle, it is an important forum for club, county and provincial THDC members.
Club training continues for seniors on Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays. Please check texts and club Facebook page for details of time. U-12/U-14 and U-16s train on Thursday evening – 5.30pm and 6.30pm respectively.
Best wishes to Chloe, Ríoghnach and Eileen Cullen (Castleblayney) who will travel to UUJ early on Monday morning next (Aug 3) to participate in the U-16 Elite Academy (residential). We wish the girls an enjoyable and fruitful event.
Welcome home to Sinéad Mohan who flew in from America on Friday morning last and immediately texted for details of the senior match, that evening! There’s commitment for you!! Also to Éimear McKenna who returned from her roots in Donegal after a stay in the Gaeltacht. We wish ‘Captain Fantastic’, Nicola, a lovely break abroad this week. Also every good wish to Marie who headed to Templemore Training College on Sunday last to begin a whole new chapter in her life as a Garda. Moving away has resulted in her stepping down as an officer of the County Board, with which she has been involved for the past 10 years. Big shoes to fill, without a doubt!
Finally, we send good wishes and prayers to Mary who continues her journey to full recovery following her bone marrow transplant. Never fear Mary, the tide will soon turn and before you know it you will be riding the crest of the wave again!
By Majella Boyd Tue 28th Jul
