Boyle GAA Blog ...by Tony Conboy

Quiz & presentation Night Photos ... click on any photo to view a larger version ...

Boyle GAA Club concluded 2011 on a high both on the playing fields and on the social scene. The highlight of the week has been the winning by the National Automation Limited minor team of the Division 1 Minor League County Final on Friday in Lisnamult. This win copperfastens this panel's status as the top minor team in the County as they have now done the Championship and League double. This league final victory showed the strength in depth of the panel as it had to be achived in the absence through injury of some prominent members of the panel.They went in at half time just two points in arrears, having played against the elements. It was truly a team effort but special mention must be given to the goalkeeping heroics of Jason McDermott and the ‘Man of the Match’ scoring endeavours of Eoin Lavin. While some of the panel will now graduate from minor ranks and will, no doubt, achieve success in the adult grades, there is a sizeable number who will still be eligible for further success at minor level in the coming year. The Club expresses its gratitude to the entire panel and to the management team of Vinnie, Tom, Liam et al and to their sponsors National Automation Limited and to our loyal supporters who made the trip to Lisnamult in difficult weather conditions. I will have a pic. of the winning Boyle Capt. receiving the trophy tomorrow evening.

The Club was also honoured to have been given the opportunity to host the County Roscommon U21 Division 1 Final in the Abbey Park on Thursday last. Thanks to all Club members who helped in any way to ensure that everything was in readiness for the game.

The annual Christmas Quiz and Presentation Night which was held in St Joseph's Hall on Wednesday night was once again a resounding success. Thanks is again extended to the many people who were involved, including Tony Conboy who prepared an interesting and challenging set of questions and compered the quiz with his usual applomb, also to his team of elves who assisted with correcting etc, to those who prepared the venue and helped in the clear-up on the following day, and also to the DJ Francis Candon and to Aaron and Kevin of the Moylurg Inn and their staff, to Ciaran O'Connor and James O'Boyle for the provision of computerised scoreboard which added to the occasion, to the winning quiz yeam which kindly refunded its quiz prize winnings to the Club and to all who contributed to great night and not forgetting the massive turnout at the event.

The following were award winners;- U21 Player of the Year - Tadhg Lowe, Junior Player of the Year - James Suffin, Senior/Intermediate Player of ther Year - Seán Purcell, Club Person of the Year - Michael Gilmartin. The Hall of Fame winner was Christopher (Kit) O'Connor. Special awards were also presented to Gary Wynne and Barry Greaney who are stepping down from senior team management.

The next big Club undertaking will be the staging of the play "The Pitch", written by award winning writer Shane Connaughton and featuring a semi professional cast including All Ireland winning actor and former Leitrim footballer Seamus O'Rourke. This play has the endorsement of the GAA at national level and is compulsive viewing not only for those interested in top class drama but for all GAA enthusiasts. It will be staged in St Joseph's Hall on Sunday night 15th January. This is the only venue in the region in which it is being staged.

The Club expresses its sympathy to former Club Secretary Martin Henry, Drum, and to his son Derek and daughter Debbie on the death of their wife and mother Mary, also to Betty McDermott, Ardagh on the death of her father and to the Roe family, Greatmeadow on the death of Bobby.

The Club extends a wish of a happy and sporting New Year to all its members and supporters. We hope that these notes provide an informative link with all those –especially abroad- who have an interest in Boyle GAA Club’s affairs. Feel free to forward ideas/material in 2012 to tconboy1@eircom.net. We thank Sean and realboyle for hosting the blog. Slan 2011.

Go raibh maith agaibh,

Martin Dolan/T.C./Fiona Mattimoe.

P.R.O. Dept. Boyle GAA Club

086 2413529.

Quiz & presentation Night Photos ... click on any photo to view a larger version ...