Wed. 11pm. Flash (!!!) re. tickets. I am informed that tickets will be available from a Connacht Council van at Supervalu, Boyle on Thursday from 10am to 1pm and in Ballaghaderreen from 2pm to 5pm and on Friday in Castlerea and Roscommon town. Maybe my call for initiative prompted this dynamic response. There is a good deal of improvisation in the GAA-rules, referees et al. Keep tuned to this station it is like a single dominating Sky News story!! It has the possiblity of other twists.

Mention of referees I wish the best of luck to the Brennan family on their big day tomorrow. I hope the sun shines.

The Club wishes to thank all those who sold tickets and those who supported them in selling their County Board allocation of €100 tickets. It was a really great effort and response, in these stringent times. Many thanks.

Tuesday 11pm:

Re. Tickets for Sunday. Boyle Club are NOT bringing tickets to Boyle for sale, for a variety of logistical reasons. Tickets, of various combinations, are available at the County Board Offices (at the back of Rockford's Night club, Roscommon town) on Wed. and Thurs. from 11am to 8pm and on Friday from 11am to 3pm. Further particulars of ticket types etc. can be gleaned from the Ros. Herald Sports section page 2.

Information re. a Supporters Club bus going to the game, and leaving Boyle at 8am, can be got in the same paper section page 19. Initiative!!

1.15. Ros. V Cork Sunday 2pm with kildare Meath afterwards.

Mon. 9.30am.

The following were the €20 winners at the most recent Club Lotto draw which was held on Saturday night last; Carmel Goldrick, Trudi Lavin, Nuala and Gerry Morris, Joseph Dowd, Francis Gaffney, Niall Keville, Geraldine Garvin, Laura Tighe, Gus Gannon and Martina Roddy. The house prize was won by Sandra McCormack. The numbers drawn were: 1/12/18/28. This week’s draw will be held on Saturday night next in Kate Lavin's with Mary Clifford's team in charge. The jackpot will be €1,300.
The County Board draw will be held on Tuesday next 3rd August and a final meeting to monitor the ticket sales will be held on this Tuesday evening in the Clubroom. Those who have not yet been approached and who would be willing to purchase a share in a ticket –and we are aware of people who have supported the draw in the past but are not listed as of now-are asked to contact any of the Club officers.
All roads will lead to Croke Park at the weekend for the Roscommon versus Cork-not my favourite option- All Ireland Quarter-Final. The Club extends its best wishes to Fergal and his management team and the entire panel, especially Stephen, Joe, David and Sean. Because of the County team involvement local activity will be limited.
The Minor B team is due to play Michael Glavey’s in Ballinlough on Wednesday evening.
The U14s’ are scheduled to play Padraig Pearses in the league semi final-see fixtures.
The U11s’ bowed out of the Keenan Cup following their surprising loss to Eire Og during the week.
The U16s’ had a comprehensive victory over Padraig Pearses last week and they are awaiting news of their next outing.
Well done to all our representatives on the County U15, U16 and U17 panels who were in action at the weekend. There are 4 under 15s’; 4 U 16s’; 4 U 18s’; 5 U 14s’; 1 U 21 and 2 county seniors from the club at the moment. This totals 20 people involved at the top level and bodes well for the club going into the future.
Congratulations to our Club Vice-President Barry Feely who celebrated a "milestone" birthday at the weekend.The Club extends best wishes for a speedy recovery from injury to our goalkeeper Tomas McGarty. Best wishes are also extended to Aisling Brennan, daughter of Club stalwart Michael and Mary, who is getting married on Thursday to Brian McMahon of Meath.
Greetings to our Diaspora abroad especially in Oz…Cillian, Mark, Ciaran. Roch, Damien. Conor, Tony and A.N.Other.

Go raibh maith agaibh,
Martin Dolan/T.C.
P.R.O. Boyle GAA Club
086 2413529

Sun. 6.50. Ros. v Cork, the one draw I did not want. The others: Kerry v Down. Tyrone v Dublin. Meath v Kildare.

Sun. 11.30am. Boyle v Geevagh @12. The draw for the All-Ireland Quarter Finals on R.T.E. at 6.30 this evening. My own hope is that Ros. get either Dublin or Kildare for a number of reasons. I'd really dislike if we got Cork who are playing Irish Wolfhound football. I'd venture to say that if Kerry meet Cork again in the All-Ireland final that it could be the first 20 thousand short of capacity for 70 years. Indeed there have a huge number of terribly one-sided and bad games this summer. Is it true that of the last 12 (i.e that would be 3 years) beaten provincial finalists only one has progressed in their next qualifier game?

Sat. 1.30pm. I saw a very impressive performance by the U16 team with their dismantling of Padraig Pearses in the championship at the A.P. on Wednesday evening. If you haven't seen this team play make a point of it. I was told that there around 14 players from Boyle involved in various county development teams and teams now. We have to be strong senior wise in a few years. The future looks bright. I was very surprised however with the loss of the U11s' to Loughglynn (Eire Og I presume) in the Keenan Cup during the week.

Boyle seniors play Geevagh in a challenge tomorrow Sunday. I think it is in Boyle but not sure. The minors are out on Wednesday next also. Takers/buyers for the 'famous' tickets for the County Board draw are still being sought. The draw date is now August the 3rd.

Austin got your nice note.

Tues. 9.15 am. Don't forget the U 16 C'Ship game in the Abbey Park this evening at 8 v Pearses.
Mon. July 19th, 10am:

The Feelystone team had a good win over Eire Og in the first round of the North Junior B Championship on Saturday evening last in Loughlynn.

The U14s are in preparation for the County Leagus Division 1 Semi Final-see fixtures.

The U16s will play Padraig Pearses on the championship on this Tuesday evening in the Abbey park at 8pm.

There will be a further meeting of the Club in the Clubroom on Tuesday evening at 9pm to progress the sales of the County Board draw tickets. It is hoped that sales will be boosted by the excellent performance of the Roscommon footballers in the Connacht Final in Castlebar on Sunday. Congratulations to Fergal, Stephen, Joe and the panel and especially to our two Boyle representatives David Casey and Sean Purcell who had starring displays.

It is likely that our entry into the Intermediate Championship will be on 7th or 8th August as consequence of the county teams qualification for the All -Ireland Quarter- Finals.Congratulations to County President John Joe Nerney on his participation on the Shannonside fm "Up for the Match" programme on Saturday night.

The Club extends its sympathy to Kitty Flannery and extended family on the death of Paddy. Well done to the Ladies Football Club on the staging of another excellent Queen of the Curlews night and to the winner Lucia Cretaro.

Sun. 10.15. There is a good pic. of the scene of the presentation of the Connacht Cup in C'Bar on the 'Stolen Sheep' web site......plus early celebratory comments....

Sun. 9.15pm: Congrats to Roscommon and all associated with the team on their fine win in Castlebar today. It was just a great performance and there were mnay heroes...like old times. Sligo had done a lot of the hard work in Connacht by beating Mayo and Galway. They thought, maybe, they had done it just for themselves but they had in fact done it for Ros. as well. It is a pity really that it had to be against Sligo as there is no animosity or whatever between Sligo and Ros. here in Boyle. So hopefully the Cloonloo contingent can feel comfortable by coming to Boyle tonight and participate in the Ros. celebrations though they'll hardly read this encouragement. One thing about Sligo today, they had amazing support in C'Bar. Ros. supporters celebrated the winning of the Connacht title with gusto but we all hope that Sligo do well aganist Down and in the remainder of the campaign. Local players David Casey and Sean Purcell were just fantastic today......so well done lads....and Stephen Bohan must have run the equivalent of a marathon. Well done Fergie and Co.

Sat. 9.30. If anyone has a lift to the game tomorrrow contact Gerry Higgins Station Rd. @ 0857607660. A small test of the influence of this site perhaps!

Fri. 9.30.

1. A number of Boyle/Roscommon/Sligo GAAsupporters will be discussing next Sunday's game on Shannonside this am Friday from around 10 am.
2. Congrats to Ciaran Cox who celebrates his 21st this week-end.

3. I was delighted (small things sorta do that) to see a recycling bin near the dressing rooms filled in exemplary fashion on Wed. evening.

4. Please return all county board tickets to Mary Smith asap.

Tues. 1.30. I am going to try and tidy up the approach to this blog by using one page per week and adding in on top as things come to hand. I'd like the blog to be a good deal more interactive and add pics. etc but I'm afraid technology and time is, as they say in Cork; 'way ahead of ya boy'.

Congrats to the four lads from the club who represent Roscommon on the the U16 team this coming Saturday in Tuam v South West Mayo. They are Enda Smith, Brian Furey, Tadhg McKenna and Jason McDermot. With four on the minor panel also and a number of other U16s' who must have been very close it is a healthy sign for the future. Well done also to their U 16 coach Jonathan Conroy and co.

Don't forget the ticket sale arrangements for next Sun. as outlined below.

Mon. 10.30.

We now know who our initial opponents in the Intermediate C'ship and it is Eire Og in Boyle the first or second week-end of August.

Mon. 1.15am:
Tickets for Sunday willl be available at the Connacht Council mobile ticket unit at Supervalu on Thursday from 12 to 2.30 or from the Co. board Offices, Roscommon.

I have just had a query as follows: Is there anyone organising a bus, which might take some young people to the match in Castlebar on Sunday next?

I was shocked, disappointed and as a GAA person embarrassed by the events at the end of the Louth v Meath game on Sunday last. I hope that a thorough investigation takes place and there are consequences and results. One of these should be the elimination of pitch invasions at the end of games. This I am led to believe will require Dail legislation. It is in place in England. It surprises me that there was not an appropriate response to look after the referee at the end of the game. I have, from time to time, seen Gardai respond and immediately go to the referee at the end of games when it was felt there might be an issue. While they did respond yesterday the response was inadequate. Of course it shouldn’t be necessary but….Am I alone in having the feeling that since the retirement of Liam Mulvihill and Sean Kelly that the leadership at the top of the GAA has frayed somewhat?

Some week-end fixtures: Sat. Hurling Dub. v Antrim 3pm. Dublin v Armagh 5pm. Cork v Waterford in Munster Hurling Final replay at 7. Sunday Ulster Final Monaghan v Tyrone @ 2and Ros. v sligo at 4. Tipp. v offaly @ 3.3o.
There will be an Under 10 football blitz in the Abbey Park on this Tuesday evening.
The Under 14s’ lost their championship encounter with Clan na Gael in Kiltoom on Sunday. While their championship campaign is over, there is still plenty of football remaining with the final stages of the league and the Garda Cup to come.
The U16s’ should check fixtures for details of any games in the coming week.
The Feelystone Junior team will commence their championship campaign on Saturday evening next when they travel to Loughlynn to take on Eire Og at 7pm.
A final meeting to complete the sales of the County Board Draw tickets will be held in the Clubroom on Tuesday night at 9pm.
The following are the winners of the most recent Club Lotto draw which was held in Clarkes Bar;
Mary Keenan Doyle, Gerry Nerney, Rory Nevin, Mary and Al Cunningham, Francis Gaffney, Christy Dunne, Grainne O'Flaherty, Kathleen Furey, Joe McQuaid Jnr and Kelley Beirne. The house prize was won by Helen Beirne. The numbers drawn were: 3/5/6/26. There was no jackpot winner and it will carry forward to this week's draw which will be held on Sat. night next in The Patrick's Well. Team ‘C’ will be in charge.
Parents of children who have played in the Abbey Park in recent times and who are missing items of clothing are asked to make contact with Minor Club officials as there is a substantial collection of mislaid clothing available for collection.
A sum of money was found in the Park on Friday evening last. It may be reclaimed by contacting Aidan Lavin at 087 2677865 and providing the necessary details.
All team managers are advised that with the change in the weather all training should take place in the training pitch or in the Warren. The main pitch needs to be protected.
All roads will lead to Castlebar on Sunday next for the Connacht Final. The Club wishes Fergal, Stephen, Joe, David and Sean the best of luck.

Tickets for the Final will be available for sale at the mobile ticket unit which will be present at Supervalu on Thursday fron 12 noon until 2.30pm. Alternatively they may be obtained from the County Board Office, Roscommon.
Best wishes are extended to the Ladies Club with their Queen of the Curlews which will be held in St Joseph's Hall on Friday night. This has become the main social event of the year in the Town.
The Club extends its sympathy to Kevin Young, Maple Drive on the death of his mother in Co. Antrim whose funeral takes place on Tuesday am.
Go raibh maith agaibh,
Martin Dolan/Tony Conboy,
P.R.O. Boyle GAA Club
086 2413529.

Sun. 11am

I've just been told of the death of Kevin Young's mam in Toomebridge, Antrim. Mrs. Young was approaching the venerable age of 96. While many younger Boyle GAA members may not realise it, Kevin Young was one of the hearbeats of Boyle GAA club through the 80s' and the 90s'. On behalf of the club this column extends our deepest sympathy to Kevin and the Young family at this sad time.

Sat. 3pm.
(a).A sorta small sum of money found behind goals in the A.P. on Friday evening probably post camps. If you think it's yours contact Aidan Lavin.

(b) Some items of clothes-sports and otherwise-have accumulated at the A.P. dressing rooms post camps...The time to look for mislaid items in this as in all situations-is immediately afterwards. People should put a marker name on sports gear that have dozens like them. jackets at weddings can also require some items of id also. I know these things from experience!

(c) Don't forget, if you can to support U14s' v Clann na Gael @Kiltoom tomorrow @ 12.

(d) Another friend of mine, Aidan McLoughlin has returned from Haiti and is returning there so if anyone sees a collection box with his name on it consider same.

(e) The old chestnut of recycling v rubbish bins; I'd like to ask team managers to outline the difference to their teams. Also empty bottles before disposing same.....please

(f) practise weak fo.....practise we....and fisted points count. I must put these up as a banner on the top of the blog!

(g) It would be a very nice thing if there were more seniors present to support under-age teams especially in finals etc. One on the horizon is the U 16 final

Fri.1pm
The U 10 Blitz takes place on Tuesday July 13th in the Abbey Park....support staff welcome.
There has been a good response to the Club's selling of the €100 tickets but of course we are still well below our quota, which then penalises us. See what you can do to help with same.....ticket shares etc, welcome

1.45.

I have just been told that Boyle U14s' will play Clann na Gael in the County C'Ship Semi-Final at Kiltoom @ 12 o'clock on Sunday next the 11th. Your support would be greatly appreciated for what will be a challenging fixture.

'The Big Issue', procedural wise, of the moment are the County Board €100 tickets. Now if any single buyer or syndicate of buyers would help us out it too would be greatly appreciated. The deadline is this week end. This is probably the most testing assignment of the Club's year....and I'm being.....

Well done to all involved in a very enjoyable U8 football blitz involving teams from Strokestown, St Brigids and Boyle which was held in the Abbey Park on Saturday last. There will be an UI0 blitz in the Park on this Tuesday evening. The Abbey Park will be a hive of activity all of this week as it is the venue for the GAA Cúl camp. All users of the Park are reminded that it is a litter free zone and all litter must be collected at end of each day and deposited in the appropriate bins. (I’m nearly sure banana skins are not for recycling!).
The U 12s’ suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of Strokestown.
Boyle's U14s’ suffered a narrow 2 point defeat to St Dominick’s in the Division 1 Championship on Thursday in Knockcroghery (St. Dom’s 3.9 B. 4.4). They have already qualified for the semi-final and that game may be taking place this Thursday evening-see fixtures.
The U16s’ are due to play Castlerea on Sunday next in the Abbey Park in the Division 1 Championship. (There are a lot of changes to the U 16 fixtures list due to the Ted Webb Cup and Fr. Manning Cup. Boyle, as in the minor team, is well represented in this U 16 team with four reps. Names to come.
There is a Special Minor League Division 1A game versus Michael Glavey’s fixed for Ballinlough on this Wednesday at 7pm.
The Feelystone junior team will commence their championship on Saturday 17th with Eire Og as their opposition.
The McGovern Directional Drilling team will not commence their Intermediate Championship campaign until early August.
A meeting of the Club will be held in the Clubrooms on this Tuesday night at 9pm to further advance the sale of the County Board Draw tickets.Anyone who hasn't been approached and who wishes to avail of a ticket may do so from any of the Club officers.
Congratulations are extended to Dessie McLoughlin who has successfully achieved his aim to climb Mount Blanc as a fundraiser for the Alzheimers Foundation. The best of luck to another Boyle mountain climber Niall Greenan who is heading off to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro in support of a charity called ‘Water Aid’. Niall is based at Bristol University and has got involved with the organisation there. It provides water pumps for locations in Africa and these can make an enormous difference to the lives of people. Fair play to Niall, Des and the many other people from the area involved in such ventures. When I was contributing to the Roscommon People newspaper I referred to them as the ‘modern missionaries’. I remember Karol Mannion also climbed Kilimanjaro a couple of years ago similarly. To learn more about Niall’s venture you cab log onto:http/original.justgiving.com/niallgreenan. It is amazing how these former angelic faces of youth reach for the stars. Isn’t it grand!

Congratulations also to the Boyle Musical Society on the major successes in the recent AIMS Awards and especially to former Boyle footballer Adrian King. No doubt that the training that both Dessie and Adrian received in the Club has stood to them!
The Sligo win over Galway-and we are delighted in Boyle- will give plenty of material for banter around the town for the next two weeks. They won a dogged and hard fought encounter on Sat. last so it will be interesting in Castlebar.

Best wishes to Aaron Finn and Kevin Tiernan who have taken over the running of the Moylurg.I imagine they are wishing the World Cup could go on an on.