Universal Graphics Junior Football Championship Final:
Blackhill Emeralds 1-05 Tyholland 0-7 Saturday October 21st 3.30pm St.Mary’s Park, Scotstown.
Team: 1 Michael Shevlin, 2 Tomás Courtney, 3 Dónal Courtney, 4 Killian Carragher, 5 James Daly, 6 Ryan Courtney © 7 Anthony Courtney (0-1), 8 Ciarán Courtney © 9 Aaron Kenny, 10 Tommy Geehan (0-1), 11 Darren McElroy, 12 Hugh Byrne (1-0),
13 Senan O’Brien, 14 Phillip Donnelly (0-3), 15 Conor Martin. Subs used: Niall Donnelly & Jason Finnegan. Panel: Brandon McCague, Gerard McArdle, Matthew McArdle, Dan Cannon, Shane Farrell, Kevin Flanagan, Peter Daly, Darren Friary, Dean Martin & Martin Maguire.
Our senior team heroically brought home the Liam Stirrat Cup and our third championship in seven years after a titanic battle last Saturday afternoon in St.Mary’s park Scotstown. We are very proud of our team. Congratulations and thank you to our manager Paudie Finnegan and team mentors Matthew Callan, Anthony McCann, Aiden Little & Peter Daly, backroom team Tom Griffin, Pauric McBride and Emmet Carragher. In a game where both defences dominated and put on an exhibition of the art, our players showed true grit to withstand the challenge from a very strong Tyholland team that fought to the final whistle. We were under no illusion going into this contest that it was going to take something special and that we got with the team rising to the challenge and the occasion with every man playing a full part in the success. In the first half we had to play for long spells out of possession Hugh Byrne, a man who always rises when the need is most, got the decisive score an expertly fisted goal down low into the corner of the net on the stroke of half time from a high crossfield ball, which left the score 1-3 0-4 at halftime. An Anthony Courtney superb point from play and two good frees from Phillip Donnelly made up our score. Man of the match Dónal Courtney miraculously saved a ball on the line in the first half and he led by example setting the standard for the Blackhill defensive unit and team while Michael Shevlin in goals made some huge saves, one crucial one midway through the second half from close range. The pitch in Scotstown even after all the rain was in superb condition, the weather was ideal during the match though a shower just prior to throw in left handling tricky, both sides would have been disappointed with missed opportunities from our perspective at 1-5 0-5 we left a host of scores behind which inevitably led to a grandstand finish. A third Phillip Donnelly point and a powerful point from play from Tommy Geehan took our tally to 1-5. In the end the game reached injury time at 1-5 0-5 with Tyholland adding two further points in injury time. Our experience stood to us as we saw the game out withstanding huge pressure and we were honoured to take the Liam Stirrat Cup, a Scotstown Cup in memory of a truly great Monaghan Gael who was beloved the length and breadth of the county back to Blackhill. Hard luck to Tyholland, you didn’t get the rub of the green on the day and best of luck in the future. Dónal Courtney was a very deserving Man of the Match and our joint captains Ciarán and Ryan Courtney raised the Cup. Our sincere thanks to Scotstown GAA for their welcome and superb organisation and to CCM especially runaí Michael Carroll for his presentation and to David Hurson and all his match officials. Sincere thanks to our programme sponsors, our main sponsor Thomas Sheehan, SHEEHAN Melbourne, Bailey Waste Recycling LTD, P Clarke Plant Hire, Tullynahinra, Finnegan Waste & Recycling, Donaghmoyne, Colin at B-Fit Broomfield, Edel and Bump Buddies & Beyond, M1 Document Solutions, Carraghers Oil4U.ie, Duffy Pork & Bacon Tullycarra, Brendan Tavey Boy’s & Menswear, Noel Gorman and Corrigan’s, Jimmy & Sheila McShane’s Plant Nursery, R.O.C. Recycling Solutions Limited, Roadstone Brendan and Carmel Carragher, Anthony McCann Racing, Binmore Construction LTD & EK Safety Training. Thanks also to Hugh Cullen and his team who manned the social centre on Saturday night and thanks to Brendan McCourt and his band who added to a great celebratory night in the ‘Hill!
Football Fixtures:
Eurotech Junior Football League Final:
Blackhill v Tyholland Friday October 28th 8pm St. Oliver Plunkett’s Park, Emyvale.
Best of luck to our team and management under the lights in Emyvale Friday night at 8pm in the Dr Ward League Cup Final.
Ulster Junior Football Championship:
Blackhill Emeralds v St. Mary’s Rasharkin Sunday November 5th 2pm in Clones.
Baby Joy:
Congratulations and best wishes to Catherine & Jonathan Irwin on the recent birth of Éala Kate.
Juvenile Football:
Our U-9’s played Tyholland U-9’s in three U-9 Go-Games at half time in the county final on Saturday which were contested as passionately as the final itself with the children from both clubs putting on an exhibition that we were very proud of.
Seamus McEneaney’s 80th Birthday Party:
Seamus will celebrate his 80th birthday from 9pm in Blackhill this Saturday night. We extend an open invitation to all gaels friends & neighbours to come to Blackhill for the celebration of a truly legendary GAA club man. Music will be by County Meath’s Matt Leavy, Seamus expressly wants no presents but invites you to make a contribution to the Blackhill juveniles development fund. As the man might say himself “ It’s now or never!” so you are most welcome to join us in Blackhill social centre on Saturday night.
Social Centre:
Our social centre is open from 8pm nightly.
For social centre members bookings contact Hugh Cullen on 086254120
Bingo:
Bingo every Thursday night 8pm
The jackpot is €4300 this week on 49 calls.
Emeralds Lotto:
1st Loughlin Duffy
2nd Hughie Duffy
3rd Edel McGarrell
Jivin’ Gym:
The ever popular Jivin Gym is running a four week course on Tuesdays in the social centre.
7pm-8pm beginners
8.15pm-9.15pm Jivercise
See our social media for full details, all welcome.
By Majella Boyd Thu 9th Nov
