Boyle GAA Blog ...by Tony Conboy

This is an experimental advance(?) for the Boyle GAA notes on realboyle.com. It means that they can be posted almost straight away etc. I would appreciate some input and recommendations from readers to make it more interesting/interactive.

The usual terms and conditions regarding content apply that is language, libelous material, etc.

Hopefully as I get more to grips with the possibilities here I'll be able to make the site/blog more presentable.

Remember though it has my name on the blog much of the content is forwarded by Martin Dolan.

Hopefully I'll be hearing from someone .

T.C.

Lotto:
Last week’s Club Lotto draw was held in An Crannóg and the jackpot of €2,400 was won by Gerry and Phil Emmett.The €20 prizes were won by the following; Eddie Egan,Tom McGarrity, Angela and Nigel East, Eugene and Zita Griffin, Kiki/Aisling, Karl Keenan, Martin Purcell, Gavin Ward and DJK. The house prize was won by Ettie Duignan. This week’s draw will be held on Saturday night next in Clarke’s with Aidan Lavin's team in charge.The jackpot will be €1,000 as a result of the Jackpot win. This is the third time in the past year that the Jackpot has been won by Messrs O’Dowd and Friel of Croghan and Belfast respectively and now Boyle.

Juniors Progress to County Division Four League Final:
The Feelystone team had an excellent two points win over St.Michael's in the Division 4 North Final in the Abbey Park on Saturday. It was an exciting game in which the result was in doubt until the very end. Boyle led by 2.3 to 1.4 at half-time with Boyle’s goals coming from David Callaghan and Cian Smith. St. Michael’s came back to level the game midway in the second half at 2.5 each. Substitute Shane Spellman made an instant impact with a good point and David Callaghan added one of hose rare (in these days) old-style fisted point to seal a good win. The Div 4 North shield was presented to Boyle captain Jonathan Lyons by Northern Board Chairperson Sean Mannion who complimented both sides on their displays. This team will now play either Creggs or Kilbride in the county final which is likely to be fixed for this Sunday at 2p.m. It is to be hoped that the lads will go all out to win this county title as winning the competition has a further bonus in that it provides for a tilt at promotion to Tansey Cup football next year for Boyle’s second team thus giving good quality competition football therein. Hopefully those who were absent on Saturday, for variable reasons, will be available next day as the Creggs team say will be a first team and there is the need to have all options available.
Best for Boyle were McGarty, Healy, Monson, Cox, Kelly and Callaghan.
The Boyle team was; T. McGarty, C. Beirne, J. Healy. D. Monson, C. Horan, B. Supple, Ml. Paul Gilmartin, J.S.Lyons, C. Cox, C. Brennan, D.O’Connor, C. Egan, Donal Kelly, C. Smith (1.2), C. Cox (0.1) D. Callaghan (1.1) with B. McQuaid, S. Spellman (0.1), K. Keenan inj.
Senior ‘Juniors’:
The McGovern Directional Drilling team still await opponents for the Tansey Cup Final as the semi-final between Ballinameen and Kilglass was not played at the weekend. The final is still on for Sunday 14th as it is expected that the semi-final will be played this week end.


U 16s’ Ahern Cup:
The U 16s will play the inaugral Ahern Cup Final on this Saturday at 2.30pm in the Abbey Park against Michael Glaveys. The cup has been presented by the Ahern family in memory of former Boyle and Roscommon player Rory Ahern who passed away last year. It will be presented to the winning captain by his brother Fergus. Football supporters are asked to come along for this special occasion.

AGM:
The Boyle Minor Club AGM will be held in the Royal Hotel on Wednesday night 10th December at 9pm.Any motions for the meeting should be sent to the Secretary.FBD Game in Boyle:
The first game of the 2009 FBD League will be played in Boyle on January 4th.


Oisin McConville’s Record:
While I don’t have this to hand Barney Supple showed me, on a text, the incredible record of Oisin McConville of Crossmaglenn. I hope to have it next week.

Croke Park Museum:
I was in the Croke Park Museum again last week. I was disappointed when I tapped into the Roscommon GAA clubs that there was no information available because it had not been submitted, a deficit I was asked to try and rectify.

St. Michael's Celebrity Bainisteoir:
The 'Celebrity Bainisteoir' for St. Michael's was unveiled as John Waters on Monday afternoon last.

County Senior Convention:
This will take place on Tuesday evening December the 9th.

Missing Cup:
I have mentioned this before but I had an old- and maybe even valuable- GAA cup which has gone missing. My last memory of it was when I (not very cleverly) brought it to be used by a winning under-age team doing a tour of the town instead of a plaque. It has distictive drop twisted handles. If anyone has any ideas re. same I'd be glad to hear of it.