WATTY GRAHAMS GAC, GLEN – CLUB NOTES - 26/09/11
Teachtaireacht ón gCathaoirleach
A Chairde, As Cathaoirleach, on behalf of our Club Trustees, our Executive Committee and, through it, the Members of our Club, I wish to record our sincerest regrets on the passing of our valued friend, peer and colleague, Jim McGuigan. Jim was involved in every major and minor development our Club has ever undertaken. He served our Club unselfishly, as a Player, as a Referee, as Treasurer and latterly as a Trustee i.e. in the highest Club Office possible. In addition, Jim represented us at South Derry Board level when it existed, at County Board level, as Treasurer, for many years and at National Level as well. At this time our thoughts and prayers are especially with Jim’s wife, Nuala, their daughters, sons, grandchildren and extended families but also with all who, along with us, mourn the passing of this great man.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam. Seosamh MacUilin, Cathaoirleach.
Lotto Results 20/09/11
Lotto numbers were 29, 38 & 42. The lucky winner was Matt Regan of Hall Street, Maghera. Next week’s jackpot reverts back to the starting point of £500.
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY! - Network Personnel Step Ahead Programme
Watty Grahams Glen, in association with Network Personnel (as part of their Step Ahead Programme), can offer employment to one person for a period of 26 weeks, providing they have been unemployed for a period of 30 months and have been receiving benefits. The person selected by the executive committee to take up this opportunity will be expected to carry out a number of duties around the Social Club and the Football Grounds over the 6 month period. They will be required to work 30 hours per week (which can be worked over a seven day period and at any time during the day and will be required to fill in a timecard (which is signed off by the club chairman). For further information on this scheme or to register your interest for this good opportunity please contact the club chairman Joe McQuillan on 07855299297 or via email at . The deadline for registering your interest in this scheme is Monday 3 October 2011.
Social Club Redevelopment Proposals
Some of you may be aware that the executive committee and other club members along with the Craigmore & District Community Association have been actively pursuing plans to redevelop the existing ‘Social Club’, in order to make it a multi-purpose community facility whilst also enhancing the possibility of having indoor training facilities, and to make it more 'event friendly'. The main work will concern the removal and replacement of the existing roof, extension work to the left hand side and to the rear right hand side of the existing building to allow for much needed storage space, refurbishment and some layout changes to the inside of the existing building, to accommodate a youth initiative, luncheon club and other ‘community and educational’ projects. It is envisaged that the existing ‘social club’ be transformed into a vibrant community facility for the inhabitants of Maghera and district. Preliminary Plans are now available to view in the 'Club Documents' section (found under the ‘Membership’ tab) of the Watty Website and we would welcome all comments on the proposals within the next week or so. You can send your views/opinions to: . All of your comments will be taken into account before proceeding. PLEASE NOTE THAT THESE ARE PRELIMINARY PROPOSALS ONLY, FUNDING DEPENDENT AND NOTHING IS CONCRETE AT THIS STAGE.
Heart Screening Day – 22 October 2011
A heart screening clinic has been arranged by the executive committee, in association with the Healthy Heart Healthy Lives organisation, and will take place on 22 October 2011 in the Social Club. This opportunity is open to all playing members and to others in the community, aged between 14 and 35. This day can only go ahead if there are at least 30 playing members / persons, male or female, who wish to avail of this opportunity. The cost to be screened is £35 per person. Please note that anyone under the age of 16 will need the consent of their parents / guardian. The club will be giving letters to the u14, u16, minor and senior panels throughout the club so that they are made aware of this planned exercise. Any playing members / persons interested in being screened, or parents / guardians that wish to have their sons or daughters screened should contact Una McGroggan on 07518206385 or Roisin Lagan on 07759838461 as soon as possible – and before Monday 10 October 2011 so that appointment times can be organised! Please give this serious consideration.
Fergal McCusker Memorial Trophy & Aiden McAnespie Shield
The annual Fergal McCusker Memorial Trophy & Aiden McAnespie Shield competitions will be held this Saturday 1 October 2011 commencing at 10am sharp and should be completed by 2pm. The competition will use the u10 ‘Two Touch’ series format and the teams taking part on the day are Magherafelt, Swatragh, Bellaghy, Emyvale and Glen. A very worthwhile competition in memory of both Fergal and Aiden and we would ask that as many people as possible attend this day to help out and show their support.
Derry Camogie Championship Final
After a number of fixture changes this eagerly anticipated game finally went ahead in Celtic Park last Monday night. This game was played under lights and it was thought that both teams would find this difficult to adjust to. The conditions didn’t seem as if it would allow for good camogie but with the Celtic Park pitch being in pristine condition both sides made light of the wet weather and contributed to a hugely entertaining game. With the pre-match preparations complete, which included a parade behind two pipers which was slightly humorous, the stage was set for the biggest camogie game for Glen in a number of years. It was Newbridge who started the brighter with their first shot of the game cracking off the Glen crossbar with the rebound finding an unmarked Newbridge player who fired over the bar for the first score of the game. Two minutes later the Glen nerves were settled when Aileen McKenna fired over their first score from a free. Immediately after this however Newbridge moved up the pitch and forced a good save from Emma Bradley in the Glen goals. Soon after Newbridge missed a good scoring chance from a free but made no mistake from another in the tenth minute after a free had been awarded for a soft foul. Newbridge had the best of the opening ten minutes despite the Watty girls working hard and their hard work was rewarded when veteran full forward Mo (or Month if you read the programme) Gallagher fired over the bar for the equaliser after being found from a sideline cut. Two minutes later, after some good grafting by Carla Bradley and Cathy Cassidy to gain possession, Briege Dougan went off on a good solo run towards the Newbridge goals and laid off to Mo in space who made no mistake and fired to the net for the first goal of the game and to put the Watty’s three points up. For the next five minutes the game was nip and tuck however Newbridge were awarded a free kick 40 metres from goal, with a point looking like the most they would gain, however the shot was fluffed slightly and it caught our defence and goalkeeper out as it sailed into the back of the net for a fortunate goal. The scores were tied once again. To their credit the Glen girls didn’t drop the heads and kept battling and got their rewards three minutes later when Mo, despite being well marshalled near theNewbridge square, got her second goal of the day as she hand passed the ball to the back of the Newbridge net. In the twenty fifth minute Aileen was unlucky not to extend the lead after her free came of the post. Some great defensive work and covering by Danielle McCrystal led to Briege gaining control of the ball and she fired over the bar for her first point of the day. Newbridge kept battling and almost got another goal with a minute to half time however Emma saved once again, with the ball going out for a 45’ which fell short but the Newbridge players were more alert to the ball and gained possession and scored a point which was to be the final score of an entertaining and tense half. Half Time Score: Glen 2-03 Newbridge 1-03. My half time was spent listening to camogie fanatics Niall Mallon and John McCamley explaining what the girls needed to do a lot more of in the second half and trying to keep quiet a former Banagher PRO wearing half a hat! The second half was to be an equally dogged affair with little between the teams when they both returned to the pitch and it was Newbridge who opened the scoring once again with a point from play despite some good initial defending from the Glen girls. A minute later Glen had the chance to restore their three point cushion but Aileen’s free sailed wide of the post. After a period of four minutes where the ball seemed to remain around the middle of the park Therese Dillon gained control of the ball in the forward line and she was fouled. Up she got to take the free herself and she made no mistake for her first point of the day and put Glen three points up. A minute later wing forward Cathy Cassidy got herself on the scoresheet after being found in space and firing over the bar. Leanne McCrystal then entered the fray in place of Carla ‘baby’ Bradley. Mo had a great chance for her hat trick in the forty second minute but her goal bound effort was saved by the Newbridge goalkeeper. The Glen defence continued to work hard to keep Newbridge at bay, with Rebecca Ferguson mopping up on a few occasions. But in the forty sixth minute Newbridge got their second goal of the game with the Glen defence uncharacteristically caught napping and the game was now once again firmly in the balance - just one point now separated the teams and the game was on a knife edge. At this point you thought it was Newbridge’s time to turn the screw however the Glen girls had other ideas and it was in this last fifteen minute period where they really took off and showed their true colours. With our defence refusing to give another inch to the Newbridge forwards for the remainder of the game it was Therese who pointed another free after Briege had been fouled after another trademark solo run. Briege was now causing havoc and scored her second point of the day two minutes later from fully 45 metres out. Cathy Cassidy then won a free for Glen. Aileen hit the free short to the unmarked Therese and she made no mistake and scored a point from 20 metres. Glen were now four points up and dominating proceedings with eight minutes to go. Newbridge to their credit kept trying to fashion chances but some tenacious defending from the solid Glen defence held them out. A minute later we had a hat trick hero when Mo was once again found in space around the Newbridge goals and after holding off the defender she coolly found the back of the net! With four minutes to go manager John O’Dwyer introduced fresh legs with Caroline Kelly replacing the injured Therese Dillon (who had also wanted to get the party started early!). More good defending by the Glen half backs and half forwards led to Briege picking up the loose ball in the middle of the park and her ball into Leanne McCrystal was excellently picked up by her and duly converted for a point. Newbridge, with a minute to go, scored a point from play in what was to be their last score of the day. The Glen girls weren’t finished yet however and extended their lead to nine points after some good work by Caroline Kelly and Leanne in the forward line led to a free being awarded and it was sent over the bar by Aileen. With the celebrations about to commence Briege Dougan put the icing on the cake when she found herself in on goal and she finished to the net with a delightful ground stroke with the full time whistle following soon after. Glen were now Derry Intermediate Camogie Champions for 2011. Full Time Score: Glen 4-10 Newbridge 2-05. Team & Scorers: Emma Bradley, Nuala Convery, Clare Campbell, Sinead Dillon, Clare Lagan, Danielle McCrystal, Rebecca Ferguson, Caoimhe Glass, Caoimhe Moran, Aileen McKenna (0-02), Briege Convery (1-02), Cathy Cassidy (0-01), Carla Bradley, Movita Gallagher (3-01), Therese Dillon (0-03). Subs: Laura Coyle, Hannah Ferguson, Orla McGillian, Niamh Doherty, Sarah Warnock, Orla Lee, Fiona Glasgow, Leanne McCrystal (0-01), Danielle Kivlehan, Laura McCloskey, Caroline Kelly. This was a great team performance with the Glen defence being outstanding throughout the game. The whole team worked tirelessly throughout the game and they thoroughly deserved their fine victory. Breige Dougan was delighted to receive the Molloy Shield on behalf of the team in front of a large number of supporters that made the trip to Derry. Briege also picked up player of the match award. Congratulations to manager John O’Dwyer and all the girls on a great win, all the hard work throughout the year has paid off. Despite it being a Monday night I’m led to believe that the celebrations lasted long into the early hours with certain people having to do a walk (run) of shame. Glen will now playTyrone championsDerrylaughin in the Ulster Intermediate semi final this Sunday 2 October at 2pm in Derrylaughin. All support would be appreciated in their quest for Ulster glory. Good luck girls.
Minor ‘A’ Football Championship Final
The minor final was postponed as a mark of respect to the late Jim McGuigan. As yet there has been no confirmed date for this game to take place. Keep an eye on the website.
U14 ‘A’ Football Championship Final Replay
The u14 championship final replay v Slaughtneil took place last Saturday afternoon in Bellaghy with both teams having high hopes of lifting silverware.