ROCKCORRY GAA CLUB NOTES 18th October 2016 McElvaney Waste & Recycling Championship Final Our senior footballers travelled to O’Neill Park, Clontibret last Sunday, 16th October, to play Donaghmoyne in the McElvaney’s Waste & Recycling intermediate football championship final. It was a thrilling and epic encounter but let’s be upfront and honest it was a hugely galling defeat and there is no point in trying to say otherwise it was a heart-breaking loss. Like many of our supporters leaving the match I am really struggling to find words and your heart must go out to the players who have given so much throughout the year. If someone started a thread about “the Worst GAA moment ever” then yesterday’s result would be up there among the top of the list! If games were awarded for effort, commitment and grit then we would have fully deserved the victory but unfortunately, the name of the game is Gaelic Football and the overall objective of the game is to outscore your opponents. Sadly, we learned a harsh and valuable lesson to take your chances when the opportunity presents itself! The lads undoubtedly showed plenty of honest endeavour and pride wearing the ‘Green & White’ jersey but despite showing plenty of effort and perspiration we simply failed to turn our greater share of possession into scores and as a result we ultimately paid a very heavy price. Given our superiority during the opening half we were left to rue too many missed chances and made a lot of wrong decisions. Donaghmoyne, on the other hand, finished the half strong and held a 1-2 to 0-6 advantage at the half time interval. The second half continued in a similar fashion and, at times, it was tough to watch and while we crafted plenty of scoring chances, some wayward shooting, failure to convert score-able frees, bad decision making and some hesitancy in front of the posts all proved very costly. In stark contrast our opponents, Donaghmoyne, were a lot more economical with their chances when the opportunity presented itself and they claimed the Paddy O’Rourke Cup and promotion back to the top flight on a final score-line Rockcorry 1-6 Donaghmoyne 0-10 and congratulations to them on their victory and all the best in the Ulster Club Championship. On reflection, and looking back at the game we can all find faults with various aspects of the match but I was always taught to be modest in victory and gracious in defeat. We all love and enjoy playing and watching sport and it can be so cruel at times but I suppose when a match is there for the taking, you have got to seize every little opportunity and regrettably this was not the case and it will be regarded as the championship title that got away! It was the cruellest possible way to bow out and given how the lads performed we deserved to take something from the game. But, as they say, we didn’t and so our intermediate championship campaign is now over for this year and what a year it has been. The lads showed utmost character and courage throughout the campaign and it’s a harsh and cruel way to end. Hard luck lads, you did the club proud and much more! I’m absolutely gutted for you because there is no easy way to lose. Life is not fair and sometimes sport isn’t but keep your chin up, your head held high and bounce back next year. Under 8 Go Games Exhibition Match One of the highlights at last Sunday’s Intermediate Football Championship Final was the under 8 exhibition match that took place during the half-time break. There was great excitement and enthusiasm as players from both clubs (Rockcorry & Donaghmoyne) got the chance to showcase their football skills and well done to all the boys and girls for entertaining the crowd. Monaghan Electrical Intermediate Football League The senior footballers are back in action this Sunday 23rd October when they host Currin at Pairc Naomh Mhuire and throw-in time is 1.30pm. New Arrival’s Congratulations With all the excitement over last weekend’s intermediate championship final I completely lost my sense of time! There has obviously been a lot of excitement in the Rooney’s & Thornton households over the past couple of days with both having new arrivals. On behalf of the club I would like to extend my congratulations to Dwayne Rooney and his wife Marie on the recent birth of their baby girl Mollie. I also want to extend my congratulations to Garry Thornton and his wife Linda on the birth of their baby boy Daire. We hope this is a wonderful time for you filled with lots of joy and happiness with your new bundle of joy. Deepest Sympathy On behalf of everyone at the Rockcorry GAA club I would like to extend our deepest sincerest and heartfelt condolences to Frank Dobbin and members of his family on the passing of his mother Mary Dobbin (Middletown). I would also like to convey our deepest sympathies to family and relatives of the last John Quigley (Black John), Newbliss. May both their gentle souls rest in peace. Scór na bPáistí & Scór na nÓg Dates Scór na bPáistí (for Primary School children) will be held in Clontibret on Saturday 5th November at 6pm. Competitions in Rince Foirne, Rince Seit, Solo Singing, Ballad Singing, Recitation, Group Music, Drama and Quiz. The Acorn Life Scór na nÓg Competition (Under 17) will be held in Threemilehouse on Saturday 19th November at 6pm. The Scór na nÓg Ulster semi-final for Monaghan competitors will be on Saturday 3rd December with the Ulster Final on January 14th. Please email entries to irishculturalofficer.monaghan@gaa.ie for Scór na bPáistí by Friday 14thOctober and for Scór na nÓg by November 4th. Please state name of competitor, title of song/recitation etc and name of GAA/LGFA club. Top 4 Lotto Results The numbers drawn on Monday 17th October 2016 were 6, 7, 12, and 20. There was no jackpot winner of €9,500.00. The following won €15 each :- Nadine Sheridan, Aghabog, Lynda McKeown, Dartrey, Lisa & Sarah Sheridan, Rockcorry, Caroline Brady, Ballyhaise, Sarah McNally, C/o. Coyles, Deidre & Co, C/o Dans, Tina, Mickey, Ann & Elieen, Rockcorry, Tina & Dwayne Rooney, Rockcorry. Next week the jackpot will be €9,600.00 and the draw will take place in Fitzpatrick’s. Thank you supporting our Top 4 lotto draw. News If anyone would like to have some news, events or anything at all included in the club notes or advertised on our website then just get in touch on 086-1041165 or emailpro.rockcorry.monaghan@gaa.ie