* The Senior Footballers continued their winning streak away to Annaclone on Friday Night. Always a hard place to get a result Castlewellan set about getting scores on the board early. A goal from Collie Flanagan settled the Town down quickly and indeed played some nice fast moving football. Some good long range efforts lefty the Town leading 1-09 to 0-05 at half time. The second half was always going to be a different affair. Annaclone came out with a little more fire in their belly and a more physical edge to their game. A little robust at times but the Town coped with this aspect of the game. An early second half goal for Annaclone after a goalmouth scramble started the Annaclone revival. They came within a point of The Town who pulled away again to win the game by 3 points in the end. Final score Castlewellan 1-13 Annaclone 1-10.
* The Senior Hurlers suffered an away defeat to Portaferry on Monday Night of last week. Although beaten by 10 points it was a tight affair with the lads giving a real good account of themselves. Points are hard to get in the Ards but the lads are plugging away.
* The Minor footballers suffered a defeat to the hands of Kilcoo at the Magpies venue last week. The score line of 2-17 to 3-04 will immediately tell you we did not get enough scores on the board. Leading 2-03 to 0-05 at half time The Town were well in the game. We were competing in all departments. We did not maintain the performance of the first half. As the second half progressed the stronger Kilcoo players started to be more influential in the game having being well marshalled for a good part of the game. With three minutes remaining in the game we were three points behind. Kilcoo’s two goals came in the dying minutes of the game. A little more self belief, a little more composure and a little more discipline could have given us a better result. Kilcoo will be one of the favourites for the Championship. Based on the second half performance in this game the lads face an uphill battle in the Championship against old rivals Bryansford. The Minor Championship is a round robin affair. The Town will open against Bryansford tonight Tuesday night in Newcastle. The other teams in the group are Downpatrick and favourites Kilcoo.
* The Under 14 Footballers also visited Kilcoo last week sharing the spoils in a highly entertaining game with our neighbours. A final score line of Castlewellan 1-10 Kilcoo 2-07 was a fair result with both teams working hard, tackling, being brave and contesting everything. Indeed the cliché “game of two halves” where Castlewellan dominated the first half leading 1-07 to 0-01 at the break and Kilcoo being on top in the second half. Their coaches Declan and PJ have really got the team working hard and have come a long way since the start of the season.
* The Under 16 footballers delivered the result of the week when they registered a great win over Bryansford on Thursday night running out a convincing 5:10 to 1:14. For managers Kevan and John this is a real lift. They have been putting in the work and are now getting the rewards for their great effort. The Town, who started the game without the injured Martin Brannigan who scored 1:07 last week against Saul, opened up in whirlwind fashion with a goal after 2 minutes by Sean Hardy after a great ball by Paddy Gallagher. They piled on the pressure and had further points from Eanna McCartan and Jamie Clark to lead by 5 points to no score. Bryansford replied with a goal of their own from Peter Brannigan before the Town finished the half on top with further points from Conan Brogan, Gerard Keown and when a great pass from Michael Gilmore found Conal Mullan in space he made no mistake and crashed the ball to the Bryansford net to leave the half time score Castlewellan 2:5 Bryansford 1:2. Bryansford started the second half in better form and had 3 unanswered points before Conan Brogan (3) and Michael Gilmore (1:01) got the Town moving again. Bryansford kept chipping away at the Towns lead but with 10 minutes to go they still trailed by 10 points and the game looked lost. However the Ford didn’t lie down and clawed their way back into the game to leave only 2 between the sides with minutes remaining. Castlewellan then showed great character and belief as they upped their game again and finished off in style with Michael Gilmore banging in two goals to send Bryansford home a beaten team. This was a great all round team performance from a team that is improving greatly with every game. Ciaran Clelland was sound in goals Rossa McCartan was superb in defence and ably assisted by Sean O’Boyle, Clinton Boyle, Jamie Clarke and Paul King. Gerard Keown won a lot of ball round midfield while upfront Conan Brogan, Sean Hardy and MIchael Gilmore were the stars.Team: Ciaran Clelland, Rossa McCartan, Sean O’Boyle, Clinton Boyle, Jamie Clarke, Aiden Docherty, Paul King, Conal Mullan, Paddy Gallagher, Tiarnan Hardy, Sean Hardy, Eanna McCartan, Conan Brogan, Michael Gilmore & Gerard Keown.
* Sunday being one of the hottest days of the year you may find boys starting to wilt in the mid day sun. Not the Under 12 Boys Footballers of Castlewellan and Bredagh. If you wanted to see enthusiasm, skill, pride in the jersey and commitment then if you weren’t there on Sunday past in the Meadow you missed all of this. Both teams went at it hammer and tong. A sterling performance from the lads who lost out by 2 points to a bigger opposition on the day. They were six points down at half time and came right back to take the lead with 8 minutes remaining. A goal and two points from Bredagh before the end saw them over the winning line. There were great performances from captain Jordan Valentine in goals, Adam Garland, Ruari McGuinness and James McAleenan. In the second game Bredagh where a wee bit too strong for the lads. That said Cleveland Boyle, Darragh Tumelty and Mark Rice all performed very well. There will be a break for the under 12 team. Please watch out for the communication from your management team through the usual channels as to when there will be training again after the holidays and of course matches.
* The Under 6 and Under 8 hurling teams were in Ballyvarley for their latest blitz on Saturday past and once again the youngest hurlers in the club gave a great account of themselves against the host club, Bredagh, Carryduff and Ballela. The Under 6 team once again put up big scores and defended brilliantly winning three games and losing their last game narrowly to Bredagh. The Under 8 boys showed great promise and skill drawing twice with Bredagh. Only the post prevented them winning the second game. Half of the group will move up to Under 10 next year while the younger Under 8s are already more than holding their own. Thanks once again to all the parents who turned out to support the boys. No Under 8 Hurling this Thursday or Saturday.
* Under 8 football Tuesday at 6.15 in Meadow.
* There will be challenge football games against Bryansford next Saturday morning at 11.00 in the meadow for Under 10s and Under 8s.
* A further reminder that the Castlewellan GAC VHI Cul Camp will take place from 25th July to 29th July 2011. Parents are advised to book early. The nursery camp for children in P1 – P2 runs from 10.00 – 12.30. Please note that you cannot book this part of the Camp on the Internet. The camp for children in P3 – 13 year old runs from 10.00 – 2.30. Discounts are available if more than 1 child per family attends. Places may also be booked through the official website www.vhiculcamps.gaa.ie. For more information contact Ronan King 07788591740.
* The Castlewellan GAC Running Club continue with their runs on Tuesday and Thursday nights meeting at the club at 6.45pm to commence running at 7.00pm.
