Four Masters Bord na nÓg Notes
Four Masters Underage ‘Hurler of the Year’ Mark Patton receives his award from Ciaran Espey
of NIB at the awards night in Dom's Pier 1
The Officers of Bord na nÓg for 2005 are: Chairperson, Enda Nolan; Secretary, Anne McGonigle Meehan; Treasurer, Paul Greene; PRO, Paddy Muldoon. Club committee reps are: Parks, Gabriel O’Donnell; Finance, Paul Greene; and Representative to Southern Regional Board, John Breslin. A workshop to initiate the Club Development and Planning Programme will take place in the Public Services Offices at Drumlonagher on Tuesday 15th March at 7.30pm and all are asked to make a special effort to attend. The U-16 boys had their first outing on Sunday against St Nauls, with the Nauls boys victorious. Coaching for U-12 girls (born 1993 & 1994) has commenced in the St John Bosco Centre on Wednesdays at 3.30-4.30pm. There will also be coaching for U-10 girls (born in 1995,1996, & 1997) at the same venue on Wednesdays at 4.30-5.20pm – contact Head Coach, Deirdre Dillon, @ 9722443. U-12 Boys coaching commences in Drumenny on Wednesday 9th at 5.20pm, U-12 Manager is Joyce McMullin. The next monthly meeting of Bord na nÓg will be on Monday, 21st March at 9pm in the Central Hotel.
The U14s drew with Donegal Town in the local derby match last week. They beat Copany but lost to a strong Eany side. A contractor is due in soon to finish and drain the new pitch mid-March. Fundraising for same is in progress. There will be a table quiz in O’Donnell’s Bar on Holy Thursday, finishing before midnight. Tickets for a draw at Easter are available from all committee players. The new pitch will mean better training facilities for all clubs in the area, both gaelic and soccer. The club meeting will be held on Sunday March 13th after the senior match at the clubhouse. Our thanks to Anderson Auctioneers and Ciaran Twomey of Abrakebabra for sponsoring billboards at the pitch.
B. Grufferty
Drumbar FC U14s - Back: Eamon Brogan, coach; Jason Coulter, Niall Heeney, Conor O’Dowell, Ronan Harvey, Paul Meehan, Danny McNulty, Conor McDaid, Pauric Gillespie. Front: Kevin McBrearty, Mario MacShane, Brian Brogan, Eoin Harron, Jamie McCrea, Daragh Farragher, Niall Harvey, Luke Keeney, Morgan McShane.
Donegal Town FC Notes
Donegal Town under 14 team remains unbeaten after 3 matches in the schoolboys league. They had a great 1-1 draw away to neighbours Drumbar on Saturday last, the goal being scored by Ryan (Tino) Gallagher. There were great performances by Ryan Muldoon and Chris Doherty. The previous Saturday they drew 2-2 with Copany Rovers, with goals from Jason Duignan and Paul McIntyre. This team is playing very well and really enjoying themselves at training and at the games. A big thanks to Jimmy Melly and North West Alarms for buying new kits for the team.
The Senior team remain top of division one and two points from their last two fixtures will guarantee them promotion back to the premier division next season. On Sunday last they had a great 7-0 victory away against Kerrykeel goals coming from Benny Byrne (3), Tino Gallagher (2), Fintan Doherty and Kevin Haughey getting his first goal for the club. There were good performances from Benny Byrne and Tino up front, Aaron Slevin, Kevin Coulter in defence, with Fintan Doherty excellent in midfield. The previous Sunday, the Town drew one all away to Ballybofey United with the goal being scored by Tino Gallagher. The score was no reflection in a game Donegal dominated throughout. But for some last gasp defending by Ballybofey and some questionable decisions by the referee, Donegal would have come away with full points. The Town are at home on Sunday against Castlefin at the Hospital Field, 2pm. Please get out and support the team this week, where victory will take us back to the top flight.
The club have a very busy Easter weekend ahead, playing host to two visiting teams. Freshford Town/Brookfield A.F.C. are coming to play the Town on Friday 25th of March. This is a very established team who play their football in the Kilkenny league and it should be a very interesting game. On Easter Sunday the Town are playing Shelford Utd. from the south of England. They visited us a few years ago and enjoyed it so much that they are back for another weekend, so we can’t rule out a few beers on Sunday evening. Finally the club offers its deepest sympathy to the Sweeney family of Orchard Park on the death of Susan’s father recently.
50th anniversary of the Four Masters Gaelic Football Club, Coventry
Four Masters, Coventry, 2004 Cup winners Back: Danny Doherty, Danny Flanagan, Chris Newman, Neil Symons, Kevin Dixon, Kevin McDonnell, Brendan Harkin, Column McCrae, Paul Armstrong, Pat Cuffe, Jack Wear, Marc Ryan. Front: John McHugh, Sean Langford, Paddy O’Connor, JJ Harkin, Ciaran Langford, Paul Doherty, Andy Doherty, Daniel Doherty.
By Patsy Meehan, Founder Member
The Four Masters Gaelic Football Club are this year celebrating the 50th anniversary of the forming of the club. Originally Four Masters was purely a football club but found there was a need to pursue social activities prompted by a constant demand for funds and even more importantly to provide a base where our members could relax together away from the playing fields. The club eventually owned their own social club which was successful. Sadly we were deprived of this but we still hold our social functions in other centres around the city.
With 50 years to their credit, the members of Four Masters can take great pride in the contribution they have made to the Irish sporting and community life in the thriving city of Coventry.
As a build-up to our anniversary year, we are very proud of the three cups which were won in 2003/04 Warwickshire competitions - the Intermediate Football League Cup 2003, the Dominic Downey Cup 2003, and the Father Taaffe Senior Cup 2004.
The Four Masters 50th Annual General Meeting was held in the Four Provinces Club on 23rd Jan 2005 and I enclose below the list of elected officers. We remembered our President of 35 years, Dr Anthony Ryan (Co Louth) and a past chairman of 8 years, Bill Kiney (Co Down) who have recently passed away. May they rest in peace. They would have been very pleased with our accomplishments.
A 50th anniversary dinner dance has been arranged for Saturday 9th April 2005. Enquiries re tickets to President John Clancy, 02476332551; Chairman, Dave Greene, 02476402661; Secretary, Ciaran Langford, 02476598526; Treasurer, Brian McDonnell, 02476461631.
Officers and Committee 2005
President, John Clancy, Galway; Vice-Presidents, Patsy Meehan, Donegal Town; Frank Ward, Killybegs; Willie Joe Greene, Inch; Sean Tiernan, Galway; Chairman, Dave Greene, Coventry/Inch; Vice-Chairman, Paul Doherty, Coventry/Urris; Secretary, Ciaran Langford, Coventry/Dublin; Assistant Secretary, Paul Armstrong, Coventry/Mayo; PRO, Andy Doherty, Coventry/Urris; Treasurer, Brian McDonnell, Coventry/Down; Assistant Treasurer, Kevin McDonnell, Coventry/Down; Team Captain, JJ Harkin, Coventry/Carndonagh; Vice-captain, Ciaran Langford, Coventry/Dublin; Team selection committee, Danny Doherty, Urris; Brian McDonnell, Down; JJ Harkin, Carndonagh; Paul Doherty (to cover absentees), Urris; Trainers, Danny Doherty, Urris; Ciaran Langford, Paul Doherty; John McHugh, Frosses.
Donegal Town Ladies Basketball Notes
Donegal Town 66 St Catherines 68
St. Catherines of Killybegs progress to the semi-finals of the cup, having emerged victorious in the return of the leg of a fiercely contested encounter against Donegal Town. In the opening quarter both teams were evenly matched scoring basket for basket. Irish school girl internationals Kelly Johnstone and Emma Brady did the early damage for Killybegs, repeatedly driving to the basket, whereas Donegal had a bigger spread of scores, with Louise Rooney and Sarah Daly keeping the home team in touch, the score at the end of the first quarter saw Killybegs with a slight advantage, up 16-14.
St. Catherines settled into the second quarter better with Brady scoring six points in a row, but tough defence from Donegal Town prevented the school girls from running away with the game yet they struggled inside on offence against St. Catherines great height. Louise Rooney and Ciara Buggy were constant thorns in the sides of St Catherines however, despite their best efforts they still trailed at the break. Half time score 32-25 to St. Catherines.
The students stretched their lead to thirteen points early on in the third quarter with Marie Dawn White showing signs of what a player she is going to be. Under huge pressure from St. Catherines man-to-man press, the Donegal Girls lost the run of themselves which resulted in terrible turn-overs and great scores for St. Catherines. Towards the close of the third Louise Rooney rallied the side once more scoring seven points in a row herself, lifting the team’s spirit and reducing the deficit to 50-45.
Post player for St. Catherines, Kelly Johnson, sustained an injury in the final quarter resulting in a major comeback for Donegal Town, who were now able to break the inside defence. Some great steals from Louise Rooney resulted in some excellent fast breaks. It was a tense affair in the last minute with both teams neck and neck. There were 40 seconds to go when Sarah Daly for Donegal Town was fouled which saw her go to the free-throw line. Sarah scored her first shot putting Donegal town in the lead for the first time in the match. St. Catherines won the rebound of the second shot and pushed the ball up the court resulting in Emma Brady being fouled and scoring the first of her two free throws. With the score level again and twenty seconds left on the clock, both teams needed possession of the ball. Unfortunately for Donegal Town St. Catherines rebound was just too strong and resulted in Brady being fouled once more and scoring the second of her two free throws. With 3 seconds left and Donegal with possession, they turned the ball over to hand Killybegs a place in the cup semi-finals this Saturday against Letterkenny IT.
MVP’s for the game were Louise Rooney and Kelly Johnstone. Thanks to the referees Nigel Weir and Trevor McBrearty.
Donegal: Ciara Buggy (12), Yvonne Bushell, Suzie Harte (8), Lisa Harte, Sarah Daly (11), Finola Shannon (4), Louise Rooney (20), Leanne Furlong (2), Sarah Harte (9). Coach Bill Collins.
St Catherines: Leanne Shovlin (12), Rachel McGettigan, Marie-Dawn White (4), Rebecca Lyster, Julianne Murphy (2), Lisa McGill (9), Aisling Rodgers, Danielle Lyster, Emma Brady (18), Deirdre Ward (4), Kelly Johnston (19). Coach Cathal Campbell.
The men’s team are playing Letterkenny Heat in the semi-finals of the cup this Saturday at 5.30 pm in Letterkenny IT. If victorious they will be returning to the same venue the following week for the final. All support would be greatly welcomed.
Simon Waugh
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