Well Done

First of all, on behalf of everyone at the Rockcorry GAA club I would like to extend a massive well done and congratulations to the Monaghan senior team who made a winning start to the defence of their Ulster Senior Football Championship title last Sunday with a fabulous victory against arch rivals Tyrone. Keep up the good work lads and we look forward to the next encounter against Armagh with great interest.

Monaghan Electrical Intermediate Fixtures

Our senior footballers will be back in action in the league campaign on Sunday 22^nd June when they travel to play Inniskeen and the game has a throw-in time of 3.30pm. Please note that the closed holiday period is from Wednesday 23^rd June to Monday 7^th July inclusive, where no fixtures will be scheduled.

Under 12 Summer League

Our under 12 footballers returned to action in the Gerry’s Prepared Veg Division 2B league campaign when they played host to Clontibret last Saturday 14^th June. This was a repeat of the Spring League final a couple of weeks ago and once again it proved to be another absorbing and highly entertaining encounter between two determined sides. The game was played in slightly overcast and humid conditions and thankfully the threatened rain never materialised and remained nice and dry for the players and spectators.  We started the match tentatively while Clontibret stormed ahead and established an early advantage leading 0-0 to 1-1 after five minutes or so. It took a while but we gradually got to grips with the pace of the game and the boys and girls displayed great skill and composure and produced some top drawer scores from the boots of Oisin Lynch, Ryan Carroll, Aaron Smyth, James O’Brien and Conor Clerkin to trail by a solitary point at the half-time interval with the score-board showing Rockcorry 1-4 Clontibret 1-5. On the change of ends we struggled to put scores on the board whereas Clontibret, on the other hand, were a lot more economical with their chances in front of the posts and nudged further ahead with a healthy five point advantage leading 1-7 to 2-9. To the boys and girls credit they refused to give up and rallied in style and fought hard to the final whistle and while they managed to score a late goal, from Cian McPhillips, it was sadly not enough to earn the spoils as Clontibret claimed the victory on a final score-line Rockcorry 2-7 Clontibret 2-10.  Please log onto www.rockcorrygaa.ie or visit our Facebook page for a selection of action photographs. Their next outing is this Saturday 21^st June when they travel to play Ballybay and throw-in time is 12 noon.

Under 14 League

The next outing for the under 14 team is on Thursday 3^rd July when they host Emerald Sarsfields.

Under 16 Fixtures

With examinations taking centre stage for the next couple of weeks the under 16 competition will now take a break to allow players concentrate and prepare for their exams. The next game is scheduled for Thursday 26^th June when they travel to play Scotstown.

Go Games Blitz

The under 8 footballers will be back in action this Saturday 21^st June when they travel to the Monaghan GAA training grounds located at Cloghan, Annyalla to take part in an All-County blitz and it starts at 9.30am and goes on to 11.30am.

Scoil Mhuire Fun Run/Walk…”A Great Success”

The Parents Association of the local primary school, Scoil Mhuire, held their annual fun run / walk last Friday 13^th June and under blue skies and glorious sunshine there was a huge turnout from the local community and from further afield making the event a great success. Almost 300 runners, walkers and one couch potato (myself) took part in the run/walk which started at the local primary school and headed towards a circuit in the tranquil and picturesque settings of Dartrey Forest before returning and finishing back at the school where everyone was treated to a great selection yummy refreshments. We are a small rural community and it was lovely to see so many people participate in the event and I have to say it certainly created a wonderful sense of community spirit and a carnival like atmosphere (who needs the World Cup!!!). It was promoted as a fun run or walk and it was really about the taking part and enjoying the occasion and having fun and craic with family and friends. I know from speaking to people after the race they said they thoroughly enjoyed the experience and stated it was a great incentive for people to get out and exercise. It was an extremely well-organised event and there were some outstanding performances from a number of the top runners who finished the race as fresh as they started! However, in my eyes everyone that took part was a winner and for the record the following were the race winners. 10K Ladies:- 1^st Lorraine McLaughlin, 2^nd Sinead Mullen & 3^rd Deborah Stewart. 10K Men:- 1^st Brian McCarey, 2^nd Dessie Duffy & 3^rd Phillip Smyth. 5K Ladies:- 1^st Louise Reilly, 2^nd Kathy Callen & 3^rd Emma McCormick. 5K Men:- 1^st Owen Fitzpatrick, 2^nd John Hetherington & 3^rd Anthony Tate. 5K Girls:- 1^st Hannah McPhillips, 2^nd Kayla Molloy. 5K Boys:- 1^st Gerry Larmer 2^nd Darragh Sheridan and congratulations to all the winners. The Parents Association have asked me to thank their main sponsors Gerry’s Prepared Veg for sponsoring the fruit, Ashley Morris for supplying the high quality H2O (water), Peter for supplying the timing system and Sean McCaffrey for providing the entertainment. In addition, they want to thank all the companies and individuals who made donations or donated prizes towards their raffle. Events like these don’t just happen and it takes enormous amount of time, hard-work and planning to ensure it runs smoothly (no pun intended). Therefore, I would like to say a massive well done to all the members of the organising committee, namely the Parents Association of Scoil Mhuire, and anyone else who offered a hand to ensure everything went off well on the day. It was a brilliant, fantastic and memorable event so well done to all the stewards, the water boys & girls, Philip & Susan Clarke for helping to get the route organised, the forestry company Coillte for allowing the use of Dartrey Forest, the local Garda and the Irish Red Cross for their assistance in making sure it was a safe event. Community Spirit is truly Alive & Running in the village and I understand next year’s event is already being planned!!!

Petty Vandalism

When an idiot is born it has to be raised and sadly there were a few brainless idiots in the football field last night because we were shocked by the mess we found. There was a significant amount of broken glass, arising from beer bottles, lying about at the dugouts and at the turnstile entrance. This type of activity is very annoying, its needless and is really disappointing because we do our best to provide excellent facilities for boys & girls and families to go down to the field and enjoy a kick-about but this mindless outbreak of petty vandalism is just absolutely disgusting behaviour. May I remind people that we have CCTV cameras and equipment throughout our premises and hopefully the culprits responsible for this dim-witted act will be identified? If people are aware of this, if they see something going on at night-time or during the day can you please contact the Gardaí or bring it to the attention of a committee member. There is no justification for this type of behaviour and we all have a role to play to ensure incidents like these are brought to an end.

Deepest Sympathy

On behalf of everyone at the Rockcorry GAA club I would like to extend our deepest and heartfelt condolences to the West family on the recent passing of Chrissie West. Chrissie was a well-known character in the village and was a great supporter of our Top 4 lotto draw and she will be sorely missed. I would also like to offer our sincerest sympathies to Gene McCormick on the passing of his wife Angela. Our thoughts and prayers are with both families during this difficult time and may both their gentle souls rest in peace.

Happy Birthday

I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of the club to extend a very special Happy Birthday to a wonderful lady, Catherine Hannawin, who celebrated her 104^th birthday last weekend. It’s amazing to think that she has over a hundred years of memories and great experiences that life has given her and congratulations on an astonishing milestone. We hope you had a memorable day with your family and friends and may you enjoy many more healthy and happy birthdays to come. God bless.

Top 4 Lotto Results

The numbers drawn on Monday 16^th June were 13, 21, 23 and 26. There was no jackpot winner of €8,600.00. The following won €15 each :- Margaret Reilly, Dartrey, Tracey Rooney, Rockcorry, Derek Anderson, Newbliss, Noel Carroll, Rockcorry, O’Hanlon Family, Aghabog, Cornelius & Cecilia Thompson, Newbliss, Andrea Coyle, Rockcorry, James Fox, Rockcorry. Next week the jackpot will be €8,700.00 and the draw will take place in Fitzpatrick’s. Thank you for supporting our Top 4 lotto draw.

Annual Top 4 Lotto Ticket

Don’t forget, you can support the club’s Top 4 lotto by entering for 12 months, 6 month or a 3 month period. To play simply select your four numbers between 1 and 28 complete the form and you need never miss a draw again! Tickets cost €90 for the 12 month option. Your continued support is always much appreciated and we wish you good luck in future draws.

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 email pro.rockcorry.monaghan@gaa.ie