Mon. 9.3am. It has been a very busy week in the Club. The U10s' provided two teams in a blitz in Oran on Saturday last and they both performed excellently.
The U11 Keenan Cup team defeated Western Gaels in a game that went to extra rime last week. They play Eire Og in the semi final on this Monday evening. The winners will play Strokestown in the Final which will be played in the Abbey Park on Tuesday next 2nd October.
The 12s' will play Clan na Gael in Roscommon on Thursday evening next. Both U12 panels will be in action in the Abbey Park on Sunday next  with teams from Roscommon Gaels providing the opposition.

The U14s' are in preparation for their Garda Cup opener which will be played next week. In the meantime they will make their debuts as film stars as they will be involved in the filming of the "Moone Boy" St Patrick's Day Parade in Boyle on Tuesday.

The Club is delighted that one of its former star underage player Chris O'Dowd made an appearance on the "Sunday Game" on Sunday night re. his Gaelic football heroes which wer Shane Curran and John Newton. I do not know if it has made it to U tube yet but it certainly should and it would be another hit.
The performance of the week goes to the National Automation Ltd minors who produced an excellent team performance in defeating Roscommon Gael in the Division I Quarter Final on Friday night last in Lisnamult. They will play Castlerea in the Semi Final on Friday evening 5th October under lights in a venue to be determined.The Club wishes to thank John Finneran for his generous sponsorship of a set of training tops for the panel.
The U21s' will commence their championship very shortly.
The Cooney Motors/ Cooney's Centra team lost narrowly to Michael Glaveys inthe Junior B Championship in Ballinlough on Saturday. They will face Kilglass Gaels in a must-win game in the next round of this competition on a date to be arranged.

Junior B team vs Michael Glaveys

Tomas McGarrity, Michael Bermingham , Mark McGovern, Michael Hanmore, Luke Harrington, Jonathan Lyons, Brian Supple , Stephen Tonry, Peter Lavin, Shane Spellmen, Noel McKenna, Karl Kelly, Liam Conroy, Connor McPadden, Marc O'Connor, Colin Goldrick, Conor Tivnan. 
The McGovern Directional Drilling Intermediate team will face their most important outing of the year to date on Saturday next when they will play St Aidans at 3.30pm in Hyde Park in the George Bannon Sport Intermediate Championship Semi Final. Full support will be appreciated.
The Club extends its heartiest congratulations to the Boyle Ladies on winning County Junior 'A' Championship and it welcomes them to intermediate status like their male counterparts.
The Club's supporters are encouraged to make the effort to travel from Hyde Park to Charlestown to support the ladies in the Connacht Junior Championship.
Congratulations are extended to all our
Donegal natives in the Club on Donegal's great win in the All Ireland Football Final. Comisearations to Mayo once again . However if they can give it another year of full committment they have to be real contenders in 2013. We also wish our Galway the best in the Hurling Final Replay on Sunday next.
Boyle Ladies;
History was created in Boyle Ladies Football on Saturday last in Strokestown with the winning of the County Junior A Championship following a 4  9 to 2  8 win over a gallant Ballinameen side. This victory now secures Intermediate Championship status for 2013, a great achievemnent for a club that is only in its seventh year in existence. The old adage of "tosach maith leath na hoibre" was certainly  true as the Boyle girls started powerfully with Nicole McDermott finding the net within minutes of the start. This was followed by a string of well taken points from Danielle Gaffney Brid McGowan and Sinead O'Donoghue before Ballinameen had a chance to open their account.Danielle Gaffney put daylight between the sides with a well taken goal around the twentieth minute. Ballinameen replied with two further points beofre half time to leave the score at the interval at Boyle 2  8, Ballinameen 0  3. The anticipated Ballinameen revival made for nervous third quarter as Emer Casey and her able colleagues narrowed the gap to three points. However, the Boyle girls lifted the seige with a well taken goal by Captain Sinead O'Donoghue. The introduction of fresh legs helped the revival and O'Donoghue put the issue beyond doubt with an expertly taken penalty after Brid McGowan was grounded in the square. Congratulations are extended to the fifteen girls who started and the 2 subs who were introduced and the eleven other panel members all of whom had the ability to answer the call if needed.Congrats also to the managemnt team of Michael Kerins, Pat Leonard, Brendan Davis, Eugene Sheerin and Sarah Keenehan and the team;- Laura Gannon. Shauna Moran, Saoirse O'Flaherty, Jenny Conroy, Suzie Keenehan, Catriona Leonard, Sinead Cummins, Maria Keenehan, Catriona Hanmore, Danielle Gaffney, Nicole McDermott, Orla Nicholson, Sinead O'Donoghue (Captain), Sinead Keenehan and Brid McGowan. Subs used;- Danni McLoughlin and Natasha Regan.Other Subs; Sarah Halligan, Sharon Conroy, Devon Cleary, Emer Killalea, Aisling Dolan, Nicole Kerins, Colleen Regan, Sarah Walshe, Stephanie Lowe, Dayna Farrell and Roisin Brennan.The Player of the Match Award was won by Sinead O'Donoghue . The girls now embark on the Connacht Club Championship and they are scheduled to play St Brigids from Co. Mayo in Charlestown on Saturday at 5pm. It is dissappointing that both the male and female adult teams have very important games on the same afternoon, but it is hoped that as many supporters as possible can make the trip to Charlestown.The Ladies Club thanks those who came in huge numbers to support the girls in Strokestown on Saturday, to those who decorated the town in Boyle colours and especially to Aaron Sharkey of the Moylurg Inn for providing  a welcome meal for the panel on their return to Boyle. The girls look forward to Ballinameen joining them in the Intermediate grade in the near future..
Go raibh maith agaibh,

Martin Dolan/t.c.

P.R.O. Dept. Boyle GAA Clubs

086 2413529            

Dia dhibh,

The following were the winners at the most recent Boyle Club Lotto draw which was held in Kate Lavins;- Mary and Liam Clifford, Mary and Liam Coyle, Martina Mullaney, Brian Kennedy, Nuala and John Diffley(Kilglass), Tommie Scanlon, Clodagh Sweeney, Teresa McQuaid, Sally Murtagh and Terry Mattimoe. The house prize was won by Ruth Candon. The numbers drawn were; 16/20/21/27. The jackpot wasn't won and it will stand at €1,900 for next Saturday night's draw which will be held in Wynne’s Bar.Team E (Pat Goldrick's team) will be in charge.  
An enjoyable day was had by our U8s’ and their managers at the U8 Blitz in Kilbride on Saturday last.
The U12s played Eire Og in the Abbey Park on Sunday last but were unsuccessful. They will play Clan na Gael on Sunday the 30th in Boyle.
The Keenan Cup team had a good first round win over Western Gaels last week. They are scheduled to play Eire Og in their next outing on this Tuesday at 7pm in Boyle.
The Garda Cup competition will commence shortly and preparations are getting under way for this important competition.
The National Automation Ltd minors put their Division 1 Minor County Title on the line on Friday evening next when they face Roscommon Gaels under lights at 8pm in Lisnamult. All Club menbers are asked to travel to Lisnamult to lend their support.
The Cooney Motors/Cooney's Centra Juniors will play Michael Glaveys in round 2 of the Junior B Championship in Frenchpark on Saturday at 5.30pm.
The highlight of the past week was the three point victory of the McGovern Directional Drilling Intermediates in the George Bannon Sports Intermediate Chamionship Quarter Final over Eire Og in Elphin on Saturday evening last-see rmatch report elsewhere and on Club Blog. They will now face St Aidans in the County Semi Final within next two weeks.The Club wishes Cillian Cox a speedy recovery from an injury sustained in this game.

 All Club members are reminded that the Month's Mind Mass will be offered for the late Eoin Lavin in St Joseph's Church on Saturday at 10am. 

 All team managers and mentors are asked to ensure that all equipment is returned to its proper place in the Club premises at end of use and also that all buildings are locked after use.The person(s) who removed a tackle bag and a first aid kit are are asked to return those important items as soon as possible.

Congratulations are extended to the Roscommon U21 hurlers on their All Ireland Title success.
Best wishes are extended to all our Mayo and Donegal friends for next weekend.
Best of luck especially to Boyle Ladies in the County Junior Final listed below and hopefully as many as possible will be present to support them.

Boyle Ladies;

All roads will lead to Strokestown on Saturday when Boyle Ladies footballers will go in quest of the County Junior A Title against neighbours Ballinameen. The game will commence at 2.30pm. It is the second game in a double header. It will be preceeded by the Junior ‘B’ Final at 1pm. All Boyle supporters are urged to go along and give the girls and their management, who have worked so hard to reach the decider, the support that is needed to help them secure the title. 

Go raibh maith agaibh,
Martin Dolan/t.c.
P.R.O. Dept. Boyle GAA Club
086 2413529 
Sun. 10.40 pm.

Boyle Advance to Semi-Final against St. Aiden’s.

Boyle 0.14 Eire Og 1.8.

Boyle had a good win over a determined and resilient Eire Og at Elphin yesterday –Saturday- evening. There  was a feeling through the game that Boyle would actually win and I suppose that this might be seen better by neutrals. As a Boyle supporter, while Boyle did build up a decent lead through the second half, a very late goal gave an edgy end to the game. Alas it was too late for real concern and when Boyle added the last point of the game it calmed nerves. It was a good performance by Boyle where different players are emerging in each game.

While it took six minutes to get on the scoreboard it was followed by three further points at regular intervals in the 8^th, 10^th and 11^th minutes. There was a gap of 9 minutes before point number 5. This had Boyle leaders by 5 to 2.  Both teams added 3 points each in the closing stages of the game. The first half scores were spread between the Smiths; Enda 2, Cian 2, Conboy 3 (I free)and Darren O’Connor 1 to leave the half time score Boyle 8 Eire Og 5. Three late Eire Og points, a couple which might have avoided, left the Boyle lead narrower than it could have been though it has to be said that Eire Og had at least four wides, some from good opportunities.  

Both teams added 3 points each in the early minutes of the second half and a fine Cian Beirne score was followed by two Donie Smith points to leave Boyle at a 13 to 8 advantage.  Eire Og never gave up as Boyle fell back on defence and a significant gap emerged between the front line and the half back midfield zone. However the defence was good with gaolie Ciaran Beirne again being prominent.

Eire Og were not going to win without a goal which duly arrived on the 29^th minute or so but it was too late.

The game was a tough test while a sporting one well refereed by Sean Feeney, a referee I am not familiar with. ‘Man of the Match’ on this occasion goes to Enda Smith who with Ciaran Cox were a formidable midfield against a good Eire Og pairing. Ciaran Beirne was excellent in goals and his kick outs, especially in the first half, were great. The Boyle full backs had a busy time keeping tabs on good, busy and elusive opponents but O’Donnell and Goldrick did well after the loss of Cillian Cox-a real loss- through injury. Aaron Finn was back to his best. Up front  Donie Smith did well, especially in the second half. Cian Smith had his best game for some time. Darren O’Connor, again, put in the miles and did very well. Conboy-with a lot of ball- and Feighan had their moments but the ‘snappy biting play’ as personified in say the goal against Fuerty was not as obvious. The way the play got strung out in the latter stages  -creating that linking vacuum and the through the middle killer support- and how the Boyle forwards found themselves, a good few times, pinned in the corners are issues. I have written before of that dead zone triangle from the corners out to the 20 yard lines as opposed to the danger/scoring zone. (No fisted points attempts…but I’ll give up on that).  Also that ‘snappy shooting’ as opposed to just getting smothered in possession after a slowness in decision- making are other items. There were a number of ‘give aways’ and misdirected or anticipatable passes or even trying to achieve too much in a pass. These of course are inevitable in the hurly burly of a championship game but the number reduction is always a work in progress.

Still the overall assessment is that it was a very good performance with some very good play, performances and some fine scores. Fourteen points is not to be sneezed at considering the minimal scoring opportunities from frees. This is by and large a young team and as I said before the future for Boyle with some other young players like Furey, McKenna, Goldrick and co. stepping up.

Championship favourites St. Aidans overcame St. Barry’s so they will now be Boyle’s opponents in the semi-final in two weeks’ time. St. Michael’s defeated Clan na Gael ‘B’ team and meet the winners of St. Dominick’s/Kilglass Gaels who drew this week end.

We wish Cillian Cox a full and speedy recovery from his injury and also the Eire Og player who also had a shoulder injury. Mention too of Eire Og’s manager Ml. Jordan’s generous and encouraging words afterwards in the Boyle dressing room. As I said the game-though tough/ hard/uncompromising- was played in a very good spirit between two sides who seem to have met numerous times in recent years especially.

The Boyle team; C. Beirne/Ml. O’Donnell/D. Callaghan/ Cillian Cox/A. Sharkey/ C. Brennan/ C. Beirne/E. Smith/ C. Cox/ J. Suffin/D. Smith/K. Feighan/C. Smith/ D. O’Connor/ L.Conboy with M.Goldrick/M. O’Donohoe/B. Furey.

Thanks also to the fine support from Boyle who attended. (t.c).                     

Mon. 9 p.m. Aditional note: The Keenan Cup team (Is that U 11 still? t.c.) will play Western Gaels on this Wednesday at 7 pm in their first outing in this year’s competition.
The U12s' will play Eire Og on Sunday next at 12 noon in the Abbey Park. They are also scheduled to play Clan na Gael during this week. Details will be given when available.

Sunday 11.57p.m.

The Cooney Motors/Cooney's Centra Juniors had a well merited win over Elphin in the Junior B Championship game played in the Abbey Park on Saturday evening. They await details of their next outing.

The McGovern Directional Drilling Intermediates will play their biggest game of the year to date on Saturday next in Elphin when they will take on Eire Og in the George Bannon Sports Intermediate Championship Quarter Final at 5.30 pm. All our supporters are asked to come along and give their encouragement.

The National Automation Ltd minors will commence their Division 1 Championship campaign on Friday week when they will take on Roscommon Gaels in Lisnamult on the fringes of Roscommon town, under lights.

The Keenan Cup team is currently preparing for their opening game in this competition. Details will be made known as soon as they are available.

The Club extends its best wishes to former club player Padraig Clarke and Allison McGlynn who got married on Friday last.

I (t.c.) attended a game involving St. Brendans in Dublin on Sunday morning. They have just missed out on promotion possibilities this year. Their manager Justin McCormack had to play himself, and I am told that he was the goalscorer in a close game. Never ask your troops to do what you can't do!

 Ladies Club;

The U14 Girls had a good win over Strokestown in the championship last week.

The Junior Ladies will meet Ballinameen in the Junior 'A' County Final in Strokestown on Saturday week 22nd September. (Why Boyle and Ballinameen have to go to Strokestown puzzles me. t.c.)

 Go raibh maith agaibh

Martin Dolan/t.c.

P.R.O. Boyle GAA Club

086 2413529.  

This is a pic. of a very good (and big!) Boyle U 16 team which got to the County Final of 1976 (I am open to correction on that).

Boyle were beaten by Western Gaels in a tight final at Castlerea. Michael Finneran was the difference for Western Gaels. He was the best under-age player I ever saw playing. After playing in a Connacht Minor C'Ship game in '78 he came on as a sub to the Senior team in a Connacht C'Ship game immediately afterwards.

The team above is as follows: Back: Anthony Morris/Tony Regan/Seamus Sweeney/Peter Connaughton/Cyril McMurrough/Donal Harrington/James Cox/Raymond McLoughlin/JOHN GALLAGHER/Paraic Butler/Martin Candon/Anthony O'Dowd/Kevin Lavin/Francis Harrington/Michael Quinn.....Tony Conboy with James Dodd managers.
Front: Gerard Murray/Gerard Hannon/Jimmy McDermott/Donie O'Connor/Dennis Dodd/Paraic Daly/Seanie Brennan/ Bernard Shannon/Brendan Gaffney/ Michael Martin/Gary Wynne/Seamus Daly (a very young Jnr. Smith was around also) (28 players).
John Gallagher's son Owen (Barcelona domiciled) was in Boyle Abbey a couple of weeks ago and I told him about this pic. so perhaps someone might let Owen know about it being here.

Sun. 11.55. The following were €20 winners at the the most recent Boyle Club Lotto draw which was held in Patrick's Well;- Tommy Vesey, Martin Dolan, Joseph O'Dowd, Christy Grehan, Peter Wynne, Kevin Healy, Eilish Goldrick, Helen Keville, Sean Purcell and Kevin Ward. Kevin Ward also took home the house prize. The jackpot wasn't won and it will stand at €1,800 for this week's draw which will be held in Kate Lavins on Saturday night next. Team C (Kathleen Hanmore's team) will be in charge.

The highlight of the week on the playing field was the 1.10 to 1. 5 victory by the McGovern Directional Drilling team over Fuerty in the last group game in the Georga Bannon Sport Intermediate Championship in Fuerty on Saturday evening last.This victory resulted in Boyle topping the group, The game also doubled up as the O'Gara Cup fixture between the two teams and thus gives Boyle a further brace of points in this competition.They will face Eire Og in the Championship quarter-final on the weekend of 15t/16th September.

The U12s will play Castlerea in Castlerea on this Wednesday at 7pm in Castlerea.

The U16s will play their remaining Division 1 League game versus St Croans in Enfield on Friday next at 6.45pm.

The National Automation Ltd. minors will play Roscommon Gaels in the Division 1 Minor Championship in Lisnamult on Friday Sept. the 21st.

The Cooney Motors/Cooneys Centra juniors are awaiting details of their next outing. 

The Club extends its congratulations to Declan Conroy and Deirdre Molloy, both of whose families are associated with the Club, who got married last week. Congratulations to all our Donegal and Mayo connections in the Club on their respective counties reaching an historic All-Ireland Football Final.

The Club extends its sympathy to Intermediate team trainer Dave O'Daly on the recent death of his cousin in Co Wicklow.

Boyle Ladies Club;

Boyle ladies qualified for the County Junior ‘A’ Football Final following a closely fought 1.8 to 0.8 win over neighbours Shannon Gaels in the County Semi-Final played in the Abbey Park on Sunday. They will meet Ballinameen in the County Final which is scheduled for Sat. the 22^nd ofSeptember. Go raibh maith agaibh,

Martin Dolan/t.c.

P.R.O. Boyle GAA Club

086 2413529

 

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Postscript;

Eoin Kennedy of Dublin whose dad, Eugene, is from Elphin Street was beaten in the All-Ireland Senior Singles 60x30 on Sat. in Abbeylara by emerging young master Robbie McCarthy. Apparently it was a tough match with the younger McCarthy emerging victor in his home court.

Below is a note I got from Eoin Kennedy's dad just before the game. It is a sad thing that there is no handball now being played in Boyle which once had such a great tradition in the game.  

 

Hi Tony,
You may be interested in the article below from the GAA Handball website.
As you may know Eoin [Kennedy] is tied with Paddy Perry [Boyle] with 8 Senior Singles titles in 60x30, so it will be interesting to see if he can claim his 9th! It will be a tough ask however.
Last year Eoin won his 25th Senior Title but lost the Singles 60x30 title. He and Robbie [McCarthy] resume battle tomorrow [Sat.] at Abbeylara.
See also http://www.gaahandball.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1734%3Atwo-tribes-go-to-war&catid=3%3Alatest-news&Itemid=1
for another colourful article on this year's final.
Interesting photo you showed of the Boyle team from the fifties. It is always great to look back and see the heroes of old!
Best wishes
Eugene [Kennedy].

 

I got a second note from a friend this time from New York i.e. old time Boyle GAA stalwart Austin Beisty re. my pic. of the Boyle team of th early 50s' 

Hi Tony,

                 The photo of  the Boyle team brought back great old memories.  I can vividly remember that team playing Tibohine in the Abbey Park, the year being 1953.  It had potential, but due to lack of leadership and poor management it never went too far.  Jeffrey Brennan is not in the photo.  He was probably the best player on that team.  His father was a guard and lived near the Clews Hall.  Seamus McCormack was a classy player.  He lived in Termon and was also a great vocalist and sang at all the local concerts.  Louis Ward (R.I.P.)  was a tough piece of work but [went] to play with Ballinameen.  He and Miko Lavin used to play with Grange in the streets league.  Miko was a great guy.  I was deeply saddened by the tragic death of Eoin Lavin.  My thoughts and prayers go out to his family.  May he rest in peace. 

The team which played Tibohine lined out as follows as best I can remember. 

                                    Casey
L. Warde             T. Lynch............C.Feely.
D. Slein................C. Coughlan.....T. Derby.

                    J. Campbell.....J. Brennan.

T. Wynne            J.J. Nerney      J. McCormack
T. McDermott      K. Dodd         T. Doyle.

per Austin Beisty.
 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Austin, if you read this; by coincidence there were a number of Brennan ladies [Jeffrey's sisters] with me at Boyle Abbey today, Sunday. I presume they were in Boyle for a particular occasion. Jeffrey was to call later but it didn't work out. I'll call him, as he lives in Galway now. I told them about your commendation of Jeff. He is still very interested in GAA affairs they told me. 

   

It is always nice to get contact from the Boyle Diaspora and feel that the GAA notes are read in far flung corners now.  t.c.