* Congratulations to the Town Senior Football Team who secured promotion back to Division 1 after being out of the top flight for one year. An excellent job by the lads and the Management Team of Liam Hardy, Martin McKibben and Paddy Hardy. We made hard work of it against a Drumgath team who were there fighting for their own survival in the division. We trailed by a point at half time to go nine points up going into the last 12 minutes only to see that lead whittled back to the minimum. That said objective achieved. We now await the play-off in the runners up spot for the League Final. There is still a lot of football to be played so we won’t know who are opponents will be at this stage. Whoever they may be will be at an advantage having played an intense play-off gain which will give them momentum. Final score Castlewellan 3-14 Drumgath 2-16.
* The Town bowed out of the Minor Championship to a Kilcoo team that hit top form last Tuesday night. Matching Kilcoo for the first 20 minutes in an intense affair it took a defensive mix-up to breach our defences to concede a goal from which realistically we never recovered. Still the lads battled on despite going 11 points down to score a goal of our own to rtemind Kilcoo we hadn’t given up. In the end the better team on the night won it. Final score Castlewellan 1-9 Kilcoo 1-18.
* A busy weekend was had at St Malachy’s Park last weekend with the replay of the Down Senior Camogie Final between Ballycran and Clonduff. In another exciting game it was the Ballycran girls who won out again by the narrowest margin. There was also a Camogie Blitz which was well attended by the Down Camogie Clubs. On Sunday we hosted the Reserve league and premier Reserve League semi-finals. Thank you to all those members who assisted over the two days and in the clean up afterwards. The help is always appreciated.
* Castlewellan Under 12 Boys Football Team were beaten 2-10 to 1-5 last week by a strong Bredagh team. Trailing 0-8 to 0-1 at half time, the lads produced a great second half performance with Ruairi McGuinness in fine scoring form finishing with 1-3. Matthew Carville and James McAleenan added further points, but Bredagh had already built up too much of a lead at half time.
* It was good to see our Senior referee Gavin Corrigan in charge of the Ladies All-Ireland Senior Football semi-final between Cork and Laois in Cashel last weekend. Gavin is one of the top referees in Ulster and deserves the accolades of top matches being given to him. Let us hope that this trend will continue.
* This Saturday Night see’s our Big Fight Night in the Club. Already there are some juicy spats in the under card to the main bout. The night has a ring of local derbies about it. The Castlewellan v Bryansford bout is between “The Yank” in the Ford corner and in the Town corner the one and only Bubba. The Town and the Longstone will see “Stormin Norman” in the red and black against the “Struttin Strats”. The main bout on the night will be the battle to see who is the King of Kevin Heaven. Messrs Duffin and McKernan will go head to head in The biggest Town v Burren clash in years. Already the press conference has stoked up a lot of rivalry with Duffin telling McKernan that he won’t score points against him on Saturday night or next year in the league! It all kicks off in the Clum at 8.30pm thisd Saturday Night.
* There will be a meeting in the Club on Wednesday (tonight) at 7.30pm for ladies wishing to form a committee to help out around the club. Please contact Lorna Cunningham or alternatively be present on Wednesday Night. All helping hands are greatly appreciated.
* The Down Senior Camogie Team will hold a press Night in the Club this Thursday Night ahead of their All-Ireland Camogie Final against Waterford in Croke Park on Sunday week. It is a chance for all our up and coming Camogie stars to meet the girls who hope to bring home an All-Ireland to the County. This will all start in the Club at 7.30pm. There will also be a bus running to the Final on Sunday week. Please contact Noreen Keown for details on 07738206074
* A belated congratulations to our Committee member Brian McAlinden who has recently become engaged to his fiancé Cathy. Well done to you both on your good news.
* 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.
* Under 8, Under 10 and Under 12 Camogie training in the Meadow on Tuesday evening from 6.30pm to 7.30pm.
* Under 6 and Under 8 football continues on Tuesday at 6.15pm in Meadow and at 6.15pm on Thursday for the Hurling for the same age groups
* Under age coaching continues in The Meadow for Hurling and Football every Saturday Morning at the usual times of 10.00am for Hurling and 11.00am for Football.
* The Under 14 and Under 16 Camogie training continues on Tuesday and Thursdays from 5.30pm to 6.30pm. The Under 12 Camogie training is on Tuesdays at 6.30pm.
* The Under 14 and Under 16 girls football training is on Wednesdays and Friday from 5.30pm to 6.30pm.
