Weekly Notes

* The Castlewellan GAC VHI Cul Camp supported by Club Down will take place from 25th July to 29th July 2011. Forms containing all the information will be circulated round local primary schools. 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.

* All the Club members wish the best of luck to Sean Patrick Carville who will represent Club and County at this year’s All-Ireland Feile in Galway. Sean has been very committed to his hurling and has been putting in all the hard work since qualifying for the event. His coaches are pleased with his attitude and commitment. His parents are rightly proud of him as are all our members. The best of luck and most of all enjoy this fantastic occasion

* Castlewellan Senior Footballers faced a difficult and tricky away game against Clanna Banna last Friday night. The Town had to work very hard against a committed and organised opposition who set out their game plan early on. A first minute goal for the home side give them the confidence required. Between the 7^th and 12 minute The Town clawed their way back into the game with points from Fintan McGreevy, Caolan Brogan and Donal McKibben. the two teams swapped scores but The Town kept Clanna Banna in the game with a few missed chances for major scores. The Town paid for this before the break as the home side managed another goal before a Fintan McGreevy free before half time left 3 points in it. The second half was all Castlewellan who managed to carve open their defensive minded opposition in a spell where they hit 8 unanswered points before a consolation score at the end for Clanna Banna. Final score Castlewellan 0-16 Clanna Banna 2-05.

* The Senior Hurlers played probably their best half of a Hurling match in quite some time when they played Carryduff in St Malachy’s Park on Monday evening of last week. Their point scoring from distance was top drawer stuff. However a game is of two halves. Carryduff hit a 2^nd half purple patch scoring 3-04 in a ten minute period at the latter end to the half. Castlewellan tagged on only 4 second half points. They had two frees in the last minute to draw level and win the game but both were missed. Complacency appeared to set in. Carryduff’s goal scoring and patience at picking off points paid off. All said it was a thoroughly entertaining game with both side serving up a real treat for all the spectators in attendance. Final score Castlewellan 0-22 Carryduff 3-14.

The Under 14 Hurlers had a good win in the Championship last Friday Night. The town lads got off to a good start in the meadow on Friday night, winning a lot of possession but couldn’t convert this into scores after a series of wides. Warrenpoint got 3 scores from 3 attacks and led 0-3 to 0-0. Donagh  Cairns with some strong running, and great point taking got the town level, and a goal from Sean P. Carville had the town in front. Shawn Conlon was switched to full forward and soon hit the net after good work from Matthew Muldoon. This gave Castlewellan a 2-3 to 1-3 lead at half time.The town started the second half strongly with 2 points from midfielder Donagh Cairns. The defence held strong to keep the point at bay. Castlewellan forwards worked hard and were rewarded with frees that were converted by Sean P. Carville. The big midfielder then fired in an unstoppable shot that hit the net to give the town a 7 point lead. This was added to by Zach Carville after great work from Ruairi Feenan and Ruairi Toner. Warrenpoint fought back with a couple of points and goal from big midfielder Tony Dinsmore.  Some strong defending from Liam Anderson, Captain Joe Cunningham and Lee Ward ensured the town held on for a 6 point win by 3-09 to 2-06 to book their place in the next round of the Championship. Great performance by all the lads, training continues at 6.30pm on Tuesday night at the Dublin Rd.

* The Castlewellan Under 14 Girls had a great win last Monday night against Kilcoo at our neighbours home venue. Good display all round by the girls. Final score Castlewellan 7-13 Kilcoo 0-02.

* The McFarland Cup Ulster Colleges Year 10 Hurling Final took place last Wednesday at Páirc Esler when St Patrick’s Downpatrick played St Colman’s Newry. This was a bitter/sweet experience for Castlewellan Gaels with players from the Club on both sides. It is congratulations to Joe Cunningham who starred in defence and his team mates who were victorious for the Violet Hill team. The final score was 2-10 to 3-05 to the Newry boys. The other big Castlewellan interest is the manager of St Colmans Aidan Rodgers who of course is one of our club coaches in both Hurling and Football. Well done to Aidan also. Commiserations to Sean Hardy who scored 1-03 and Jake Carville who worked tirelessly in the St Pats defence. Both Sean and Jake gave it their all. Also on the Downpatrick panel were Kristian Keown, Liam Anderson and James McAleenan.  It was great to see all the Castlewellan boys involved in an Ulster Final and giving a great account of themselves.

* The Under 10 Hurling team competed well on Saturday at the blitz in Kilclief. They recorded wins against Warrenpoint and Bredagh B but lost against the host club and narrowly against Bredagh A. Well done boys on a very good performance. All the hard work in training is evident in the skill displayed on the pitch.

* The Under 8 Football Team travelled to Kilkeel on Saturday to play in the annual An Ríocht blitz. The young town team competed well losing by the minimum against the host club. In their second game they fought hard against a very strong Rossa team with the Belfast boys coming out on top. In their third game they defeated Drumaness ensuring a knockout game against Gort na móna. Despite a battling performance they lost by a point. Well done to all the boys who played. Dont forget training for u/8 Football is on every Tuesday at 6.15 in the meadow while under 8 Hurling continues in the meadow at 6.15 each Thursday.

* The Senior Camogie players were out again on Wednesday night past. Although well beaten they welcomed new players into the ranks mainly Marcella Brogan and Siobhan McGeown who aquitted themselves very well.

* Despite having a hectic school schedule in both Camogie and Football the under 12 girls travelled to Clonduff on Wednesday past. After a slow start the girls soon got into their stride and excellent defensive work by Rebecca Toner and Nadine McAleenan was rewarded by some top class scores from the forward line of Caoimhe Moorhead, Kirsty Brannigan and Erin McVeigh. The half-back line of Jade Hammon, Sorcha McCartan and Michaela Rodgers along with midfielders Bria McKee and Jade Casement proved too strong for their opponents. The second half was one-way traffic and a determined Town team kept the opposition scoreless to run out convincing winners. Once again due to the bad weather the Sunday fixture against Carryduff had to be cancelled. Training, Wednesday at 5.15pm. Next game home to Aughlisnafin.

The Under 16 Girls travelled to Annaclone on Sunday past and recorded a 3-13 to 1-02 victory. Best performances from Claire Cleland and Amy McAleenan.

* Castlewellan made it two wins out of two in the U12 ‘A’ League with a deserved 1 point victory at home to a strong Downpatrick side last Sunday, 3-6 to 2-8 in an entertaining game of football.  Playing against the breeze in the 1st half, Castlewellan found the net twice with Ruairi McGuinness and James McAleenan on target.  Ruairi McGuinness added a further point to leave 4 points between the sides at half time, Castlewellan 2-1, Downpatrick 1-8.  Castlewellan produced their best display of the season so far in the 2nd half with points coming from Ruairi McGuinness, James McAleenan and Adam Garland and a well worked goal from James McAleenan.  Jordan Valentine had a great game in goals making some vital saves.  Daniel Cunningham, Cahal Caldwell, Sean Keown and Callum McKibben turned defence into attack on a number of ocassions and held Downpatrick scoreless for much of the 2nd half, with Downpatrick’s only score of the half coming from a goal late on.  Adam Garland and Matthew Carville worked tirelessly in midfield and up front, James McAleenan and Ruairi McGuinness were in fine scoring form, ably assisted by Conor Keenan and Matthew Muldoon.   

* Best wishes to our Club President Teddy Rice who had an unfortunate fall early last week which has resulted in him having to wear a plaster cast. All the Club members wish him a speedy recovery. Thankfully it has not diminished his quick wit and humour. In the Club last Friday Night he was greeted with the usually banter he enjoys. “I’m not asking or seeking sympathy” Teddy stated – so he didn’t get any!

* This Friday 17 June Castlewellan GAC will present “Style in the Town”. This is a Fashion Show by Bella Dress Hire in aid of Marie Curie Cancer and The Royal Victoria Hospital for Sick Children. Tickets for the event are selling fast at £5.00 each. Top models from the fashion world will include Aine “Heidi Klum” Keown, Paula “Kate Moss” Cleland, Leanne “Cindy Crawford” Owens and Nina “Eva Herzigova” Cairns to name but a few. There will be a host of others modelling on the night. Come on out all female members and friends and support this worthwhile event.

* 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.