Club Meeting:
A meeting of the Club will take place on Wednesday March 4th at 8.30 in the royal Hotel.

Lotto:

There was no jackpot winner at the most recent Club Lotto draw which was held in the Royal Hotel. The €20 winners were John Cummins, Denis Dodd, Damien Killoran, Ernest Monson, Marie Millett, Tom D. c/o Daly's, Marie Feighan, Marina Horan, Bernard Shannon and Jimmy McLoughlin. The house prize was won by Eimear Kerins. This week's draw will be held in Scanlon’s on Saturday night with Aidan Lavin's team in charge. The jackpot will be €1,200.

O’Gara Cup Win:
The intermediate team had a good win over a depleted Michael Glavey’s in Ballinlough on Sunday. It was nice to see a fisted point or two coming back into fashion. Their next game is against St Dominic’s on Sunday, March 1st, in the Abbey Park at 2.3o. This will be a much tougher challenge as St. Dominick’s have always been a difficult team. It will show us how the team is progressing. There is a wide panel and while there are a number of people who might be regarded as automatic, there is a large group from whom various combinations will be valid until there is a settled team. This might be regarded as a good problem for managers but it is a difficult one to ‘man manage’. Players will, I imagine, keep this manager’s dilemma in mind, cooperate with them and work on the basis of the panel. While I was unable to be present at Ballinlough I believe that the full quota of subs was used which, if practicable, is the way to go.

U 16s’:
The Under 16s’ suffered a tantalising defeat to St Dominics in the Abbey Park on Sunday. Their next game is away to Roscommon Gaels at Hyde Park on Saturday at 4pm.

Coaching:
Club team managers and selectors are informed that a provincial coaching course will be held in St Brigid’s grounds, Kiltoom on Saturday 7th March. All wishing to attend should give their names to Club Secretary, Kathleen Hanmore immediately.

Referees and Rules:
Sean Martin, County Roscommon Referees Co-Ordinator will give a lecture on the playing rules on Tuesday, March the 3rd, in Abbey Community College at 8pm. All team managers, selectors and players are asked to attend and all others who are interested are welcome.This event is being co-ordinated by Boyle referee, Michael Brennan.

Abbey Park Venue for Games:
It is anticipated that Boyle will be the venue for two attractive forthcoming Connacht Minor League games involving Roscommon. It is expected that Mayo will be in town on Saturday March the 7th while Leitrim will be the opposition on Saturday the 14th. More details next week.
Missing Presumed Borrowed:
Some small training cones with legs have gone missing from the clubrooms. If anyone has them or knows of their whereabouts, their return would be appreciated.

Sympathy:
The Club extends its sympathy to the Staunton and Brady families, Elphin, on the recent deaths of GAA stalwarts, Liam Staunton and Joe Brady.

Top Note:
I would like to say hello to three young ladies and a young gentleman from Maynooth who were having a good time in Forest View on Tuesday while visiting their gran.

Winning if difficult start to O’Gara Cup:
Boyle made a winning start to their O'Gara Cup season with a hard-earned win over St. Brigids on a scoreline of 0 8 to 0 7 on Sunday in the Abbey Park. This was a rugged introduction to the O’Gara Cup. The free-taking of Cian Smith was a major factor in this victory. He scored three frees in the first half plus a forty five. Sean Purcell came forward to score a good point and leave the half-time score at; Boyle 0.5 St. Brigid’s 0.4. Boyle failed to pull away in the second half and when David Casey was sidelined, for a second yellow card, the issue was in doubt to the end. St. Brigid’s equalised on 27 minutes with a fine point –as Damien Keenehan had scored earlier-at 7 points each and it took a further Smith free to see them over the line. For Boyle the back line did well. Midfield worked hard but was, I suppose, patchy and the forwards were not sharp enough in their finishing though the speed and quality of the ball in, needs to be improved.
An issue I feel which needs to be addressed is that of discipline, not in terms of rough play but in attitude to the referee. Whether the referee was good, bad or indifferent on Sunday has to be coped with as best as people can. Referees really need the support and help of players. The calling, shouting, arguing with the referee from players and sideline should be minimised. It has to be borne in mind that the referee is there, by and large, on his own, and without him there is no possibility of a game. From great and successful teams there is little of this. Wouldn’t it be Nirvana to arrive at the respect rugby referees have? I understand the frustration of fine clean players, who have given their best for the county the day before, getting abused and feeling they have respond to take care of themselves when the referee does not appear to do it. But the sending off on Sunday nearly cost us the points.
I know this is like a stuck record with me but ……fisted points!!! An ongoing free is the hand tackle from behind or behind the shoulder of the opponent in possession. It usually results in the player, in possession, going to ground and the subsequent free. Just a point.

Sunday’s Team: T. McGarty, C. Boylan, K. Supple, B. Supple, J. S. Lyons, D. Casey, S. Purcell (0.1), C. Cox, S. Tonra, K. McLoughlin, D. Keenehan (0.1), R. O’Donohoe, P. Simon, C. Smith (0. 5, 4 fr. 1 45), L. Conboy (0.1); with L. Conroy, T. Egan, M. O’Connor.

Their next game will be versus Michael Glavey’s on Sunday next in Ballinlough at 2.30. There is a notion that Ml. Glavey’s are not going great at the moment so hopefully Boyle could add a brace of points on Sunday and so get off to a very good start to the O’Gara Cup.

Congratulations:
The Club congratulates Club President John Joe Nerney on becoming President of the Roscommon County Board.This is a signal honour for John Joe and for his family and for Boyle Club and it is fitting that he should be accorded this honour some sixty four years after winning an All Ireland Senior Football medal with Roscommon.

U 16s’:
Our U 16 footballers commence their season on Sunday when they will host St Dominics in the Abbey Park at 12 noon. All players are asked to assemble by 11.30 at the latest.

U 14s’:
Under 14 training will commence on Sunday March the 1st in the Abbey Park training ground. All players are asked to be ready for training at 10.30am sharp.

Lotto:
There was no jackpot winner on the 14th in The Royal Hotel. The numbers drawn were: 14:20:25:27. The €20 winners were; J. Cummins, D. Dodd, D. Killoran, E. Monson, M. Millett, Tom D. c/o Daly’s; M. Feighan, M. Horan, B. Shannon, J. McLoughlin with the House Prize going to E. Keirns. The next draw takes place on the 28th in Scanlon’s with Team ‘A’ and a Jackpot of €1,200.

Top Corner;

1. Jan Flanagan has come up with a very good idea that we should make a decent effort to have a good float in this year's St. Patrick's Day parade since it is the C125th Anniversary of the founding of the GAA and the 120th Anniversary of the founding of the GAA in Boyle and Roscommon (in Boyle) in 1889. If anyone is interested in shaping this entry and has ideas in that respect please get in touch with Jan.
2. Roscommon County Board is going ahead with the Puncherstown Race Day GAA fund-raiser, the day I believe is in early May. Each Club is required to have a table of 10 X €100. So anyone interested in supporting this day should link in with Boyle GAA Club and their table.

The 1983 Intermediate Team at the GAA Social in the Town Hall on Saturday February the 7th.
Back Row: Pat Leonard, Vinnie Flanagan, Cian Smith (rep. Jnr. Smith), T.P. Toolan, Ml. Brennan, Gerry Carty, John Joe Carty, Richie Fitzpatrick.
Middle Row: Kevin O'Connor, Dessie McLoughlin, Gerard Hannon, Paul Beirne, Colm Loftus, Kevin Young, Sean Young (Manager), Kit O'Connor.

Front: Gary Wynne (Capt.), Kevin Mahon, Sarah-Jane Daly (representing Sean Daly R.I.P.), Eileen McGowan (representing John McGowan selector), Mary McDermott (representing Joe Warde R.I.P.), John Joe Nerney (Club President), Gerry O'Dowd.

Absent from the picture are the other members of the '83 team: Gerry Nerney, John O'Dowd, John Finneran, John Finn, Liam Young, Peter and Martin Bolger,

Boyle Ladies GAA:

Registration for U10/U12 and U14 girls will take place in the Royal Hotel, on Sunday next the 22nd of February with U10s' and U12's from 4.00pm to 5.00pm. Eligible players for this group are those born between the 1st of January 1997 and the 31st of December 2001.
Registration for U14's takes place at 5.00pm. Eligible players for this group are those born between the 1st of January 1995 and the 31st of December 1996. All players intending to register must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to sign all the necessary documentation.
The registration fee is €25.00.
It is important that all players are registered this Sunday as training will
commence very soon. The matches for the U12 girls begin, this year, in April
and will continue through May with the finals in June.

So all you girls out there get your boots ready and come along and have some
fun.

Top Note: Boyle versus St. Brigid's in the first O'Gara Cup game on Sunday next in the Abbey Park. (see fixtures for time).

Lotto:
There was no jackpot winner at the most recent Club Lotto draw which was held in Mattimoe’s. The numbers drawn were 1;5;15;22. The €20 winners were Cecil Draper, Padraig Battles, Kevin Young, Adrian McKenna, Sharon Conroy, Cian Smith, Micheal McLoughlin, Emer Travers, Patrick Nicholson and Catherine Flaherty. The house prize was won by Lucy Garvin.This week’s draw will be held in the Royal Hotel on Saturday night with Kathleen Hanmore's team in charge. The jackpot will be €1,100.

Club Social and Awards:
The Club's buffet and presentation social which was held in St Joseph's Hall on Saturday night last was a huge success with a capacity attendance. Club Chairperson Aidan Lavin welcomed the assembled guests and patrons. It was great to see most of the 1983 Intermediate Championship winning team present to commemorate the 25th anniversary of their success. Each panel member and their management team were presented with momentos of the occasion.Team captain Gary Wynne and team manager Sean Young thanked the Club for remembering and marking their anniversary. Medals were also presented to the Tansey Cup and the Junior North League winning teams of 2008.The U 21 ‘Player of the Year’ award was presented to Darren O'Connor, the ‘Junior Player of the Year’ went to Jonathan-Spellman Lyons while David Casey deservedly won the ‘Intermediate Player of the Year’ award. Club Secretary, Kathleen Hanmore, was the popular winner of the ‘Club Person of the Year’ award while the ‘Hall of Fame’ award went to former star player, and official, Kevin Young. The Club wishes to thank the County Board Chairperson Michael Maguire, County Secretary Brian Stenson, their respective spouses, Competitions Secretary John Mahony, and Canon Gerry Hanley for their attendance. The Club wishes to thank all who helped to make the night such a success. The Club and the attendance were delighted by the confirmation on the night that our Club President, John Joe Nerney, is to become President of the County Board. It is an honour for John Joe his family and indeed for the Club, some 64 years after he won an All Ireland Senior Football medal with Roscommon and in this special year, the 125th anniversary of the founding of the GAA.

O’Gara Cup:
Action recommences on the playing fields on Sunday when Boyle make their O'Gara Cup debut with a game versus St Brigid’s in the Abbey Park. All supporters are asked to come along.


Congratulations:
Congratulations to Boyle player Cian Smith on winning the Boyle Person of the Year award on Fiday last and to the Club Treasurer, Michael Gilmartin, on picking up an ‘Over 30’ category award in the ‘People of the Year’ awards.

Minor Club Managers Meeting:
The Minor Club will hold its monthly meeting in the Royal Hotel on this Thursday night at 9pm.All under age team managements are asked to send representative.

Good Luck:

Good luck to David, Sean, Damien, Fergal and Stephen and the rest of the Roscommon team who travel to Limerick on Saturday.

O'Gara Cup Fixtures. Dates etc. to be confirmed:

Boyle v St. Brigid's 'B' (H). Feb. 15th

Boyle v Michael Glavey's. (A.)

Boyle v St. Barry's (A.)

Boyle v Shannon Gaels (A.)

Boyle v Ballinameen (A.)

Boyle v St. Dominick's (H.)

Boyle v Roscommon Gaels (A.)

Boyle v Creggs (H.)

Boyle v Clann na Gael 'B' (H.)

Boyle v Tulsk (H.)Boyle

Boyle v St. Michaels (H.).

GAA Buffet Social Saturday the 7th:
Only a small number of tickets remain for the Club's presentation buffet which takes place in St Joseph's Hall on this Saturday night 7th February. The meal will begin serving at 8.15 sharp. There will be a pre-meal welcome for the panel of '83. It should be a very special event as that 1983 County Intermediate Championship winning panel and their management will be honoured. Medals will also be presented to the 2008 Tansey Cup winning panel and the Division 4 North winning panel. The Player of the Year awards for Intermediate, Junior and Under 21 will be presented as well as the Club Person of the Year and Hall of Fame awards. Tickets may be obtained from any of the Club officers by Thursday at the latest when the numbers have to be confirmed with the caterers. So we ask club activists to be in touch with the committee re. numbers.

Abbey Park and training-pitch rota:
A meeting of the pitch rota committee will be held in the Royal Hotel on Thursday night at 8.30 pm. It is imperative that all team managers or representatives of their selection committees (including the Ladies Club) attend as it is essential that a workable rota is constructed so that all teams get their fair allocation of training slots on the available pitches.

Intermediate Team Managers:
The Club is delighted to announce that Noel Casey and Pat Leonard have agreed to become joint managers of the intermediate team for the coming season. A further selector will be appointed shortly. They are wished every success, especially as Boyle has been drawn in a very competitive group for this year's Intermediate Championship with Fuerty and St Barry's.

O'Gara Cup Fixtures:
Boyle will make its O'Gara Cup debut on Sunday week, 15th February, with a home game against St Brigids. Other fixtures are against Ballinameen, Michael Glaveys and x, y, z. The full fixture list will be here, hopefully, next week. Training will be held for the joint junior and intermediate squads on Tuessday at 7.30pm and on Friday at 8.30pm. The Club will sorely miss the services of full back Seamus Gallagher for this season as he heads to join the "Boyle diaspora" in Australia.We wish him bon voyage.(Someone suggested that when Seamus saw the way the 'new rules' were being enforced he decided to give it a break as it might not suit his style!)


Scor Entries:
Entries for participation in Scór must be submitted by 18th February and those who wish to represent the Club should give their names immediately to Martin Dolan at 086 2413529.

Thanks:
Thanks is extended to Jim McGrath of the Rally Committee and Sean Purcell of the Moylurg Inn for their sponsorship of spot prizes at the Club' recent table quiz.

Congratulations:
Congratulations to the Abbey Community College Second Year footballers and their manager Barry Greaney on their impressive Connacht title winning performance last week when they defeated Glenamaddy by 2 9 to 1 10.
It was great to see the three lads doing so well in the league game, fro Roscommon, against Offaly in Kiltoom so well done again to David, Sean and Damien.
Someone should come up with a car-pooling idea for going to matches as I met one person who had driven up to Kiltoom on his own and would willingly have taken other people and so have reduced the number of cars travelling and save a little for someone as well. Maybe supporters' cars meeting at the clock before leaving for the venue would be an idea. Has anyone any suggestions?

Best Wishes:
Best wishes are extended to David Siggins, for a speedy recovery. David is recovering, in hospital, from a recent accident.

Sympathy:
The Club extends its sincere sympathy to the John and the Finneran family, Elphin Street on the death of Miko. Miko was a great GAA match goer in earlier years and often his packed car brought a lot of neighbouring young fellows to county games. He was also a very visible figure in Boyle town and a great supporter the parish acivities. Under 12 training on this Tuesday evening is cancelled as a mark of respect.

Advice regarding the modus operandi of this column is welcomed!

M.D./T.C.

Front Row: G. Heneghan, D. Keenehan, P. Gleeson, S. Purcell, F. Cregg, C. Devaney, G. Cox (Capt.), P. Domican. Back; K. Mannion, S. Kilbride, G. Claffey, D. Casey, J. Nolan, Cregg, S. McDermott, B. Higgins. I hope the naming is correct.
Above the Roscommon team which defeated Offaly in the first League game at Kiltoom Sunday Feb. 1st. Roscommon 0.16 Offaly 0. 8. At half-time the score was: Roscommon 0.8 Offaly 0.3. Scorers: Heneghan 4 (frees), Kilbride 4 (two fr.), Devaney 2, Cox 2, Higgins 1, Purcell 1, Keenehan 2, Mannion 1. There were great performances from the Boyle trio of Casey, Purcell and Keenehan. Remaining games versus: Limerick, Longford, Louth, Tipp., Cavan and Down.