Reserve Team!  The Emmets Reserve team took the field in Blackhill on Saturday as the first representatives of the club to play in competition for 2015. The line-out was a mixture of young players and established players; with marginally more youth than experience! With the absence of at least eight more eligible team members it was great to see nineteen players donning the green jersey in search of an early season win! The game was pretty even throughout however the Emmets will reflect on a few gift chances that went a begging in the first half; which if converted would have probably been match winners; as it was; they had to be satisfied with the minimum lead of one-point at the break. The Emmets young defenders did extremely well in that first period and with the midfield getting the better of their opponents it was conceivable to have been in a better position score-wise but the tricky cross wind was having some effect on play. Good points from Liam Capaldi and Jamie Gartlan were two examples of the Emmets better play. The second half produced little for the Emmets and they couldn’t recreate the same flow to their play and the home side came more into the game With Carrick three-points to the good they conceded the only goal of the game which brought the sides level but they responded with a point to regain the lead. However the final say came from Blackhill when they scored the equalising point with minutes to go; to ensure a share of the spoils for both teams and a good point for the Emmets to kick start their season! Good to see Eoin Sherry back in action with the Emmets and we extend our congratulations to him on the recent announcement of his engagement!   Emmets 0.08 Blackhill 1.05.                                                                                          

Emmets team! Mark Kiernan, Caolin Martin, Fergal Lonergan, Ferdia Holland, Pauric Marron, Aaron Murray, Jack Corr, Declan Finnegan, Harry Murnaghan, Ronan Gollogly, John McMenamin, Liam Capaldi, Jamie Gartlan, Sean Downey, Pauric Rafferty. Subs used: Eoin Sherry, Richie Cromwell, John Callahan and Owen Duffy.                                                                                                                          

Mr Peter Sherry! The Emmets would like to express our condolences to the Sherry family and to the Scotstown club on the death Peter Sherry. Peter was of one of Monaghan’s best administrators that the county was blessed to have. He guided the affairs of the Association as chairman of the County Board from 1977 to 1982 and was a most impartial and respected official. Apart from his love of his county and of Gaelic games he was a gentleman of the highest order and had time to discourse with everybody he encountered during his tenure in charge. He was ever present at Monaghan county matches and club games. He held a great recollection of football stories and could recall many an interesting tale in relation toCounty Board affairs as well as captivating your conversation with reflective and amusing accounts of the good times he shared with the Gaels of Monaghan! “Ar dheis Dé go raibh aanam dílis”                                                                                                                      

MacLarnon Cup! Carrickmacross Patrician Brothers High School play in MacLarnon Cup final after they defeated St Malachy’s of Belfast in the semi-final at Silverbridge to set up an all-Monaghan final on next Tuesday; St Patrick’s Day;  in Armagh City at 11am!  The High School last won the competition in 1997 and 1998 and they will have to overcome Our Lady’s Castleblayney if they are to bridge a gap of seventeen years. At the start of the year both the schools were singled out as joint favorites to reach the final so it should make for a very competitive and intriguing encounter. The talent at the disposal of manager Paddy Martin is quite exceptional and picking the team is no easy task as he has loads of options and competition for places. With a number of local clubs represented the interest is widespread and a good crowd is expected in Armagh to cheer on the boys. The Emmets want to wish; not only our own players; but every member of the panel a successful journey as they endeavor to bring the MacLarnon Cup back to Carrickmacross on our National Holiday. 

Club Lotto! The draw for a jackpot of €2000 was held in the Emmet Centre on Monday night when the numbers drawn were 08-09-21 and 26. There were no matching numbers on this occasion!  The following winners will “Keep it Local”€50 Voucher; Gene Ward Drummond Ettra €20 Voucher; Maisie Cunningham Mullinary €20 Voucher; Martin McNally Nafferty €10 Voucher; Laura Kenneth Rafferty Lurgans.  We a family based club catering for all ages; we recognise and appreciate that most of our support comes from the local business community in the Carrickmacross neighbourhood. Our club lotto weekly winners are presented with shopping vouchers equivalent to the amount that they win! There are three options to play; (a) play weekly (b) subscribe-yearly (c) play on-line! The growing Jackpot hits €2100 this week

Club Fixtures! The underage football competitions start on Saturday; the Emmets have affiliated two teams in the under fourteen leagues. First on the field will be the division-five team who face Doohamlet at 2.00pm followed by the division-one combination who take on Castleblayney at 3.15pm. Take note that both games will be played on the new grounds at the Donaghmoyne Road and not in Emmet Park. The Reserve side gathers for their second game in the league which is against local rivals Killanny and also note that this game is fixed for Killanny at 12.00pm.

Clothes Call! The Emmets unwanted clothing collection is coming to a close! All types of clothing will be accepted; Ladies, Gents or Children’s clothing will be accepted as willfootwear, bags, belts and bed linen but no duvets or pillows thank you! Clothes should be clean and placed in plastic bags. We will take bags of all sizes; big and small as every bit of garment counts. Drop your bags at the front door of the Emmet Centre on the Ballybay road on or before this Saturday 14th March; Spread the word to your extended family and friends! You can contact Ursula O’Hanlon on 086-8507092 or Andrew O’Sullivan 087 7977236 or Gordon Finnegan 087-6721520 or text the word Clothes along with your Name and Address to 087 6721520.

Membership Reminder! There are three types of membership of the Emmets club: Full membership, for persons who have reached the age of eighteen years is €30 and Youth Membership for persons who have not reached the age of eighteen years is €20 or family membership is €70. The Membership shall run from April 1st 2015 to March 31st 2016. Only a full member who has paid his annual club subscription by the due date shall be eligible to vote at, nominate for, or seek election to the Executive Committee at any following General Meeting of the Club in the Membership year. As March 31st is nearing we would like to see as many members as possible in the club so if you have overlooked your subscription there is still time to pay!

Emmets Handball! Colm Kieran played in the Novice Two final at Tydavnet on last Saturday night however he hadn’t any luck and lost out on a scoreline of 21-10 21-12 to a strong opponent. The Emmets team of Ronan Kiernan, Colm Kiernan, Gary Beirne and Darren Colhouen have qualified for the semi-finals of the GAA League competition and we wish them luck as they seek a place in the final. The club would like to extend a vote of sympathy to the wife and family of the late Stephen Callery of the St Mellon’s Handball club!