Boyle GAA Blog ...by Tony Conboy

Successful Weekend: It was a successful weekend in the Abbey Park with two home victories.
The minors started their Division 1 league campaign with a good 1.13 to 1.9 win over St Brigid’s. The side was behind 1.7 to 1.5 at half time but there was a much improved performance in the second half and added five points without reply in the first half of the second half. This is a good well balanced side. However the St. Brigid’s side, while having some good players and playing good football, they looked a weaker side than usual for Brigid’s. The Boyle minor team was as follows: B. Furey, C. Lavin, T. Lowe, L. Harrington, M. Goldrick, C. Cox, Ml. Hanmore, T. McKenna, C. Griffin, E. Smith, D. Smith, C. McPadden, L. Roddy, C. McLoughlin and Mark O’Connor. There are a number of strong and excellent players here and they probably will not be at their best until next year it is important that Boyle make an impression at minor and later U 21 level.
The Feelystone junior team recorded their second win in the Tansey Cup with a comprehensive win over a weakened Castlerea St Kevin’s team. Boyle started impressively and it was pretty obvious early on that Boyle were on their way to a comfortable win. Their next outing will be a trip to Elphin on Saturday March the 6th.
The McGovern Directional Drilling team will start their O'Rourke Cup campaign on Sunday next the 28th in Strokestown when they will take on the home team-see fixtures for details of starting time. Support will be appreciated as this will be their first venture into senior league for a few years. The U 16s will also commence their Division 1 league campaign on Sunday next with a trip to Oran-see fixtures.
There are still some slots available for the fundraising bowling night which will be held on Saturday March the 6th in Carrick on Shannon. This promises to a very good event and arrangements are being made for the post bowling celebration to take on a pre-Oscar party in the Moylurg bearing in mind Paul Young’s possibilities in Los Angeles. Oscar interest is rife in Boyle and Sean and Ann Young will be rubbing shoulders with the Hollywood glitterati on March 6/7th as they support Paul and Cartoon Saloon as they bid to win an Oscar for "The Secret of Kells". We wish them every success. (I attended a play in Galway last week and saw two Boyle people starring there in a NUIG Dramasoc production, Jarlath Tivnan, brother of Conor and Ciaran Beirne who won the minor player of the year for 2009. Talented people, Boyle seems to have them in spades)
Bowling entries to Michael Gilmartin immediately and please spread the word in your place of work or wherever as it is, in no way, a GAA only event.
Regarding the Insurance issue posted here last week there is an interesting account of the problems of the present scheme in Sunday’s Independent Sport’s section, page 7 “GAA Forced to rejig injury scheme”.
Under 14 training will begin on this Thursday evening the 25th at 7pm in the Abbey Park training pitch.
Boyle will be involved in adult Scór on the coming weekend.
Lotto Results: The following were €20 winners at the Club Lotto draw which was held in Wynne's Bar recently;-John Kelly (Elphin), Jonathon Lyons, Brian Supple, David O'Connor, Martin Henry, Kevin McDonagh, Martin Downes, Leah Downes and Gerard Casserly. The numbers drawn were: 4/7/11/18.The house prize was won by Sabrina Farrelly. The jackpot was not won and it now goes to €3,400 for this week's draw which will be held in Mattimoe's on this Saturday night. Michael Gilmartin's team will be in charge.
Well done to the North Roscommon Athletics Club for their magnificent achievement in hosting the All Ireland Cross Country Finals in the Forest Park on Sunday.
Congratulations to the Ballinameen quiz team on winning the All Ireland Scór quiz final at the weekend. Well done also to the Boyle Foroige team who ran the Ballinameen team close in a quiz in Ballinameen last week.
Boyle Ladies Club;
The U16 girls will commence their league campaign with a trip to Kilmore to play the natives on Sunday next at 4pm.Under 12 training will continue on each Monday and Friday at 5.45 pm in the Abbey Park training pitch. New members are especially welcome.