• 9.30am
• Eugene McGee on Thursday night at 9 in King House.
• Vote for Boyle GAA nominee Ailbhe Hanmore for Queen of the Curlews on Sat. night in the Town Hall.
• The quarter finals/semi-finals and All-Ireland line up in football is as follows: Round Four play-off: Limerick v Meath with the winner playing Mayo in the quarter-final. Other quarter-finals are; Sunday the 2nd at 2pm, Croke Pk.; Cork v Donegal and at 4 Tyrone v Kildare. Mon. (Minors Ros. v Kerry at 12 noon) Dublin Snrs. V Kerry at 2pm. Semi finals; Cork or Kerry (if they win) playTyrone or Donegal and winners from Mayo section play Dublin or Kildare i.e Aug, 23 and 30th. ( Munster v Ulster and Conn. v Leinster).
• Hurling Kilkenny v Waterford and Tipp. v Limerick.

Diary of Events:

1. Thursday Night at 8pm in King House try and make Eugene McGee's talk on; 'The GAA 125 Years; Achievements and Challenges'. I'd appreciate if, say, surrounding clubs were also informed. So those who might, please spread the word.
2. On Saturday night the Ladies have their big fund-raising night titled, 'Queen of the Curlews'. This is always a fun night when the ladies put a lot of effort into what one might call the 'production values' of the night in terms of presentation etc.
3. The Roscommon Minors play Kerry on Bank Holiday Monday at Croke Park at 12 noon.The game I believe will be broadcast live on T.G.4. Check details.
Summary of fixtures: U 14s' Thursday/Girls U 10 Blitz Sat/The Junior Men on Sat./Intermediates Sunday/ the ladies Juniors v Western Gaels Sunday/ Co. Minors Monday.
3. The Mega County Board Draw results:
The 2009 Roscommon GAA Members Draw was made on Friday, July 24th in the Abbey Hotel, Roscommon and the winners were as follows:

1st Prize - Catherine Conneely from Glinsk (Seller: St. Dominics)

2nd Prize - Kieran Madigan from Castlerea (Seller: Castlerea St. Kevins)

3rd Prize - Padraig Pearses GAA Club

4th Prize - Tom Varley from Donamon (Seller: Oran GAA Club)

5th Prize - Leo & Greta Watson from Kiltoom (Seller: St. Dominics)

6th Prize - Michael Colligan from Scramogue (Seller: St. Barrys)

7th Prize - Vincent Canny from Cregge (Seller: Creggs GAA Club)

8th Prize - Sinead Hoare from Roscommon (Seller: Roscommon Gaels)

9th Prize - Erin Whyte from Fuerty (Seller: Fuerty GAA Club)

Congratulations to all concerned and thank you to everyone who helped make the draw such a succes.

County Board Draw;
The County Board Draw was held on Friday night last in the Abbey Hotel, Roscommon. The winners are as above. Regretably, as can be seen, there was no good fortune for Boyle supporters. The Club wishes to really thank all those who bought tickets for the draw and also those who sold tickets. Our next big fund-raising effort will be going towards the dressing room developments which are progressing a pace and will be a very impressive and fine facility when completed.
Lotto:
There was no jackpot winner at the most recent Club Lotto Draw which was held in Kate Lavin 's. The following were the €20 winners; Anne Conboy, Paul Kelly, Barbara McQuaid, Tom and Pat Cox, Barry Lowe, Domino Keaveney, Seamus Murray, Karl Keenan, Gwen Gaffney and Cyril McDermott. This week's draw will be held on Sunday night next in Wynne ' s with Michael Gilmartin's team in charge. The jackpot will be €1,900. Please note the change to Sunday night on this occasion so as not to clash with the Ladies Club Queen of the Curlews function. Boyle GAA Club (male section) is sponsoring Ailbhe Hanmore in the Queen of the Curlews and voting tickets for Ailbhe are available from the Moylurg Inn.

U 12s':
On the playing fields, the U 12s are preparing for their championsip which commences on Sunday August 16th .

U 14s':
The U14s suffered a narrow defeat to Padraig Pearses last week. They will meet Oran on this Thursday evening the 30th at 7pm in the Abbey Park. This is a crucial game as the winners, if I am not mistaken, go through to the County Semi-Final. The Club wishes Paddy Nally a speedy recovery from his recent injury.

Feelystone Juniors:
The Feelystone junior team meet Eire Og in the Championship in Loughglynn on Saturday the 1st at 7pm.

Intermediate's:
The McGovern Directional Drilling Intermediate team will play St Dominics in the O'Gara Cup Semi - Final on Sunday next in Kilbride at 2.30pm. Support will be appreciated for this important game.

Keenan Cup Final:
The Keenan Cup Final between Strokestown and Eire Og will be played in Boyle on Tuesday the 11th of August.

Garda Cup:
The Garda Cup competition will commence on Thursday the 6th of August when Boyle will travel to Tarmonbarry to take on St Barrys.

Commiserations to Roscommon seniors and minors on their losses at the weekend and good luck to the minors in their quarter - final game with Kerry on Monday

Ladies Club;
The Ladies Club hold their big fund raiser on Saturday night next. The Ladies Club will hold their annual "Queen of the Curlews function on Saturday night in St Joseph's Hall,commencing at 8.30pm and with doors opening at 8pm. This year there are 13 entrants and you can vote for your favourite entrant at the various businesses in Boyle which sponsor them. Voting must be done prior to Saturday evening. A celebrity judge and a few other surprises are planned for the night. Tickets are keenly priced at €10 and they can be obtained from Purcell Print, An Craoibhín, Results Gym or from any of the Boyle ladies team panel.

Ladies Games and Training:
Boyle Ladies will host an Under 10 Girls Blitz in the Abbey Park on this Saturday, commencing at 11am. All eligible girls are asked to be in the park and ready for action by 10.45am. Under 12 girls ' training has finished for the season. Under 14 Girls training is in Tuesdays and Thursdays and their championship will begin in mid August.
The Junior Ladies will meet Western Gaels in the County Junior A Championship on a date to be confirmed.

Sin e.

Sunday 11.59.9
Top Corner:
1. (A). Just in case anyone, who reads this, is interested -people with a third level sports qualification background for example-I recently saw advertised a vacancy at U.C.G for a 'Sports Developmment Officer'. A legend Tony Regan, the 'horse', has been in the position since the early seventies. I don't know yet if he is retiring or it could be an extra post. If anyone is interested, get to finding out about it immediately.
1.Don't forget the talk by Eugene McGee, during the Arts Week,on Thursday the 30th at 9pm in King House as part of the 125th Anniversary of the GAA.
2. People in charge of teams might try and get one team pic. at least of their teams for the record. While digital cameras are great the lack of hard copies of pictures may prove a negative in the future.
3. Hyde Park is really falling back in the pecking order in terms of its condition as a venue. I tend to judge say bars for example by the hygiene approach of their toilets. The toilets area immediately on the right inside the main gates does not seem to have had the 'rub of a sponge' (as Cllr McGarry once said) for a long time.
4. In the 1960s' an old banger of a car was taking a load from Fuerty to Castlebar for a Connacht Final. It was spitting smoke and chugging vigorously-being in need of fuel-as it crept up a street in Ballyhaunis. It just berthed outside a street petrol pumps with the proprietor eyeing the advance. When the driver got out the petrol pump proprietor queried: "Is it turf or timber you want?"
5. The winners of Roscommon V Meath (Navan Sat. 7pm!)play Limerick away; Kerry play Antrim in Belfast. Donegal play Galway in Galway and Kildare play Wicklow. A couple of interesting fixtures.

Minors:
Boyle minor team were beaten by Roscommon Gaels by four points in the special minor league in Boyle last week. This was a fine game of football with many of the skills on view, from both sides, and with some cracking scores also. There are alot of good fotballers on this team with a lot of the skills.

U 14s':
The under 14s’ had a good win over St. Dominick’s in Knockcroghery in the Division One League Championship. Their next game is versus Padraig Pearses away on the 23rd.
Feelystone Juniors:
The Feelystone Juniors had a comprehensive win over an under strength St. Barry’s at Boyle on Saturday evening. With a very focussed and committed management team this team are certainly performing to their potential.
Congratulations to Gary Wynne and his management team and the Roscommon minors on their performance in Salthill on Sunday. The replay is fixed fro Sunday in Hyde Park at 6.30. Boyle under 14s’ enjoyed their trip to the Connacht Finals but the down side, which is well documented but ignored by the powers that be, is the time involved in getting out of Galway after the games.
The County Board €100 Draw takes place in the Abbey Hotel on Friday next the 24th at 9.30. Some tickets can still be obtained, before Thursday, from the club officers.
It seems as if the Intermediate Championship fixtures are going to get snarled up in the demands of other teams. The gaps between games have numerous negative ramifications and need to be addressed.
Ladies
Boyle Junior Ladies had a comprehensive win over an injury depleted
Ballinameen side in Boyle last Friday. The scoreline could have been much
closer but the Boyle goalie made some excellent saves to keep the visitors
out of touch in this game. Their next championship game is during
the August bank holiday, on Monday August 3rd, in Boyle against Western Gaels.

Training continues for U14 girls Tuesday and Fridays and for U12 girls on
Mondays.
Sin e.

Top Corner: Tues. 11pm.
Overheard in a Carrick bar on Sunday night, one Leitrim GAA wag to another: "If we had beaten Longford and Kerry we'd have had Sligo at home on Saturday!" Optimism....

After a game in the Abbey Park, a veteran Boyle supporter (J.K.): "The trouble with some of these young referees is that some of them don't seem to care who wins!" Pessimism...

Tuesday the 14th at 2pm.
1. GAA people please note the talk by Eugene McGee on Thursday July 30th at 9 pm in King House on; 'The GAA 125 Years' plus associated GAA issues. This is part of the Arts programme. Eugene is a well known and outspoken commentator on GAA affairs so it should be interesting to hear him speak of the successes, failures and challenges which face the organisation at this time. I hope there is a good turn out for this talk as I had some involvement in the nomination of Mr. McGee as speaker.
2. The County Board GAA €100 ticket Draw which was postponed to allow for some ticket retrieval is now down for Friday July 24th in the AbbeyHotel at 9.30 pm. There are a few tickets left which Boyle club officers would be pleased to have buyers for.

Tickets For Minor Connacht Final:

• I have just received a text (10 pm Mon.) from Club Sec. Kathleen Hanmore saying that she has been informed, by the Co. Sec., that there is very little take up on Ros. ticket seekers for above. This means that the minor team will have negligable support in Salthill on Sun. I suppose after last Sat. and the replay next Sat. it is understandable plus the access problems of the venue, Salthill.
• There is something else, we'll call X, that I meant to put up here but I have forgotten. I don't subscribe to the theory that it mustn't have been important .......after going to an airport thinking there is something I seem to have forgotten.........passport!
• Very little response to this blog which I thought might develop in a kind of organic way c'est la vie... for now anyway. I don't think the commissioning editor will encourage a new series!

Top Corner:
• Memo to self: When publicity pictures are being taken, wear sponsored Boyle GAA tops.
• Memo to x, y, z. Try and have team programmes right rather than the smoke and mirrors approach.
• I have been asked to participate in a local radio programme on ‘player burn-out’. Now I am no expert on player burn-out but like a good few things I have an opinion (!). If anyone has points they think could/should be raised please contact me at tconboy1@eircom.net
• Fixture Summary: Tuesday 14th Minors versus Ros. Gaels @ Boyle @ 8.15!
• Thurs. 16th U 14s’ v Dominick’s away.
• Ladies v Ballinameen at the week-end.
• Ros. V Wexford the Hyde 3 pm Sat.
• Ros. Minor’s v Mayo in Salthill Sunday.
The Feelystone Juniors play St. Barry's on Sat. the 18th at 7.30.
• I still have not got a name for the missing player from the minor team pic way down.

Lotto:
There was no jackpot winner at the most recent Club Lotto draw which was held in Patrick's Well.The €20 winners were as follows; Michael and Monica Gilmartin, Eugene and Zita Griffin, Al and Mary Cunningham, Deirdre and Tom Kearney, Patsy Quinn, Maura Beirne, Finola McPhearson, Jonathan and Kevin Tiernan, Avril Brehony and Yvonne Mullaney. The next draw will be held on this Saturday night in Kate Lavin's with Aidan Livin's team in charge.The jackpot will be €1,800.

On the playing fields:

Minors:
The minors had a good win over Castlerea in the Special Minor League in Castlerea on Tuesday last. They will host Roscommon Gaels in their next game on this Tuesday evening in the Abbey Park at 8.15pm! (As I write in the afternoon of Monday there is a monsoon and semi-darkness outside at 2.45!) Not good for the turf.

U 16s’:
The Under 16s are scheduled to play Michael Glaveys at the weekend-pl check fixtures.

U 14s’:
The Under 14s will play St Dominics in Knockcroghery on this Thursday evening at 7pm in the Division 1 League.

U 12s’:
The Under 12s defeated Tulsk in the Division 4 League on Monday last.

U 11s’:
The Under 11s crashed out of the Keenan Cup in a tightly contested game against Strokestown on Saturday evening last.

Pitch over –Usage:
All team mangers are asked to take note of the Club's instruction that NO training of any form take place on the main pitch until further notice.
Hopefully when the College pitch becomes available this will relieve the situation so a bit of extra patience should preserve the excellent pitch we have at present.

Notification re Challenge Games:
Team managers are also asked to ensure that no challenge game fixtures are arranged until the Club Secretary is given sufficient notice to get clearance from the County Board Secretary or the Connacht Council Secretary, as appropriate.

Congratulations and Good Luck;
Congratulations are extended to the County Senior team on their heartwarming and tenacious performance in the rainy south-east on Saturday and this goes especially club rep. Sean Purcell who –like all the team- worked tirelessly. It lifted some of the gloom that enveloped the GAA in Ros. Post Mayo. They are extended our best wishes for the replay on Sat. in Ros. The winners play Meath in Navan. Good luck is also extended to Gary Wynne and co. and the Minors in the Connacht Final on Sunday in Galway.

Sympathy:
The Club extends the sincere sympathy of all its members to the Nangle Family, Maple Drive on the sad passing of Niamh. Many club players will have memories of the efforts of Paddy in the top field and with St. Mary’s College teams for decades. Niall and Conor were very good players with under-age teams in the past.

Ladies Club;
The Sean Daly Memorial Cup cpmpetition for Under 14 teams was played in the Abbey Park on Saturday.Teams from Ballinameen, Eire Og, Elphin, Kilmore, St Ronans, Western Gaels and Boyle participated. There were some keenly contested qualifiers, with Boyle and Western Gaels advancing to the final. Western Gaels piled on the pressure in the second half of that game to emerge as deserving winners and take home the new trophy. All teams participated in a skills competition with Ballinameen and Kilmore advancing to the final and the Ballinameen girls emerging as winners. The Club wishes to thank all teams and their managers for participating and for making the day such a great success.The Club also wishes to thank the Daly Family for donating the cup. Under 12 training-Mondays only from 6 to 7pm.Under 14s Taining-Tuesdays from 6.15pm to 7.30pm and Fridays from 6 to 7pm. Boyle Junior Ladies will meet Ballinameen in the County Junior A Championship this weekend-see fixtures. Congratulations are extended to the Roscommon U16 girls on winning the Connacht Title in Abbey Park on Thursday evening last in a very exciting game.

Monday July 6th:
Important Meeting:
An important open meeting will take place on Wednesday the 8th at 9 pm in the Royal Hotel.

Successful Roscommon Herald Blitz:
It was another busy and successful week for Boyle underage teams. The Roscommon Herald sponsored Under 10 Blitz for teams from North Roscommon was hosted in the Abbey Park on Saturday and it was once again a great success. Strokestown retained the Roscommon Herald Cup while St Michael’s won the Roscommon Herald Shield. Thanks to all who helped on the occasion and especially to referees Michael Brennan, Charlie Candon and Eddie Heslin and to “apprentice” referees Patrick Goldrick and Michael Hanmore.

U 11s’:
The Under 11s start their Keenan Cup campaign with a home game against Strokestown at 7pm in ???

U 14s:
The U 14s had a good win over Clan na Gael on Thursday last. The sides were close enough at half time but Boyle really upped their game in the second half and with a blitz of goals (three from Patrick Goldrick) they ran out comfortable winners against a well organised side. They will have no game this week as they get a bye.

U 16s’:
The U 16s also had a comprehensive win over Clan na Gael in Johnstown on Sunday to complete the double. They will have no action this week.

U 18s’:
The minors had a pretty comfortable win over Tulsk in the Special Minor League i.e. playing without the county panellists. Thanks to David O’Connor for organising a set of jerseys at short notice! They will play Castlerea in Castlerea on this Thursday at 8.15pm.

Cul Camp:
Cul Camp will take place all through this week in the Abbey Park. All involved are asked to comply with health and safety requirements in relation to the ongoing construction works in the Park.

Pitch and Training;
All team managers, for male and female teams, are asked to take note that the main pitch is closed for use for training purposes until further notice and that the training pitch at the Abbey Park and the Warren Pitch are to be used as per the training rota. This is necessary because of the return of the inclement weather and because of the amount of playing activity that is currently ongoing.

Connacht Final Tickets:
Those wishing to book tickets for the Connacht Football Finals are asked to contact Kathleen Hanmore, Club Secretary at 086 1229421 before 8.30 pm on this Wednesday 8th July so that she can inform Connacht Council of our requirements.

Best Wishes:
Good wishes are extended to Fergal and his management colleagues and players on their Championship Qualifier trip to Wexford on Saturday next the 11th. Roscommon have never met Wexford that I can think of in the Championship.

Ladies Club;
Sean Daly Memorial Cup:
There will be a special U14 girls Blitz for the Sean Daly Memorial Cup in the Abbey Park on Saturday the 11th of July.
The Daly Family Boyle has kindly donated this cup to the Club and the cup will be competed for at U14 Girls level.
Teams from Boyle, Ballinameen, Eire Og, Elphin, Kilmore, Shannon Gaels, St
Ronan's and Western Gaels will be taking part. The qualifying games
commence at 10.00am, with semi finals at 12.40 and the final is at 2.30pm. This will be followed by presentation etc. A ‘gate’ is being taken up with all proceeds going to Cancer Research.

U 12s’:
U12 Girls training continues every Monday evening 6-7pm

U 14s’:
U14 Girls training is every Tuesday and Friday.

Junior Ladies:
Junior Ladies next Championship game is Saturday the18th of July v Ballinameen in
Boyle, see fixtures for details.

Connacht U 16 Final:
The Abbey Park will be the venue for the Connacht under 16 Ladies Football Final between Roscommon and Leitrim on this Thursday evening the 9th at 7.30pm.