Boyle GAA Blog ...by Tony Conboy

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.