Whyte Family Under 12 Blitz
Sunday was a great day in Johnstown for the annual U.12 Whyte Family tournament. 11 teams from around the Country took part with the morning games taking place in Johnstown and Cushla. Teams from Clann, Na Fianna, Ballyboden St Endas, (both Dublin), St Colmcilles and Rathoath (both Meath), The Downs, St Lomans and Caulry (Westmeath), Claregalway and Ballinasloe (Galway) and Cellbridge (Kildare) made up the three groups and up to 200 boys played their hearts out. Our boys topped their group before losing in the cup semi final after extra time in a titanic struggle against Meath champions St. Colmcilles.
The cup winners were Claregalway, shield winners Ballyboden, and plate winners St Lomans, and whilst it may sound a bit clichéd, the Gaelic football the lads played was the real winner.
Thank you
Huge thanks to the army of volunteers from Clann na nGael who helped out with catering, pitch marking, pitch coordinating, refereeing, cleaning and parking. Far too many to mention individually, but everyone put in a monumental effort to insure that it ran smoothly. Our deep appreciation to Tony Whyte and his family for supporting this event.
A very special mention to the chief organiser Mike Campion. Thanks to his dedicated work, attention to detail and many man hours, the entire tournament ran without a hitch.
Senior update
O’Rourke Cup Semi-Final
Clann redeemed themselves after a poor Championship run to reach the final of the O’Rourke Cup. This local derby on Friday night last provided huge entertainment for both followers and neutrals alike. Both teams exchanged points early in the first half, Jack Connaughton opened the scoring with a great point. Donie Shine was again in fine form and scoring the following four points until Jamie Fahy put some daylight between the teams with a well taken goal. Donie followed up with another two points and in fact Clann should have been further ahead but missed one on one chances with the Brigid’s goal keeper. The score at half time Clann na nGael 1-7 Bridgets 0-7.
Cathal Callinan scored a fine point in the opening minutes of the second half and Clann were looking good, but as the old story goes a goal can change a game in minutes and Brigid’s did just that and were right back in the game. The Clann defence was under pressure at this point but held out. Cathal Shine relieved the pressure with a fine point, but Brigids struck again with another Goal to take the lead.
Donie Shine stood up to the mark with another fine display of free taking and put Clann back on target again scoring another four points. Jamie Fahy scored the last point for Clann leaving them two points up in the dying minutes of the game. It looked like that was it, but a tackle on the edge of the Clann penalty area resulted in the referee Marty Parker pointing to the spot, he later checked with the umpire and the penalty was downgraded to a free kick outside the box. Brigids went for broke but failed to score. Full time result; St Brigids 2-10 Clann na nGael 1-15.
Clann in the last two weeks have beaten both Championship Semi-finalist Padraig Pearses and St. Brigid’s in the O’Rourke Cup and go on to meet Roscommon Gaels in the Final (date to be decided).
Intermediate update
Clann took the long trek to Cootehall on Saturday evening to play a relegation playoff against St Michaels. Clann were slow to get going with Ian Naughton fouled in the seventh minute and Ciaran Lennon pointed the resulting free.
Clann were short a few regulars Martin Costelloe, Ciaran O Reilly and Ronan Killian which left it an up hill struggle. St Michaels got going in the first half with their forwards out in front winning ball and the result was frees conceded early on to allow them get a grip on the game. Clann only managed two points in the first half both frees to leave the score six points to two at half time.
Clann leaked a goal in the third minute of the second half but rallied really strong in the second and got back into the game through hard work all over the field.
But as the old saying goes goals win matches and St Michaels got another goal on the twentieth minute to leave a tough battle for Clann but to their credit they never gave up and could have held intermediate status for next year if the same work rate went unto the second half but it was not to be and finished on a score line of St Michaels 2-12 to Clann na nGael B 1-10.
While it is disappointing to get relegated this young bunch of players will have benefited from intermediate football and with the right attitude they should do well in Junior A next year and return to Intermediate football. Thanks to Mike Keena and backroom for looking after this team.
Team: D Finnernan, G Nicholson, D Egan, D Duff, D Kildea, M Flannery, P Harney, B Goode, E Rock, C Connaughton, C Bannon, E O Neill, I Naughton, C Lennon, M Shine.
Subs: I Wall, G Mannion, D Mc Manus.
Ladies updated
Minor Girls
Clann minor girls played there semi-final in Johnstown on Saturday the 10th September against Boyle.
The game started off with high intensity from Clann. Great teamwork was shown by both teams. Clann had a very high scoring in the first half.
Boyle came back very strong in the second half and also showed there strength and pressurised the Clann girls into coming back with more fight. Two yellow cards were given to two of the Clann girls which put us under severe pressure. Both teams played with great pride and showed a lot of commitment. Final score Clann na nGael 5-10 Boyle 2-11
Team: Eadaoin lennon, Caoimhe Galvin, Amy Quinn, Megan McManus, Ide Crehan, Aine Connaughton, Megan Kelly, Shauna Connell, Caoimhe Lennon (Captain), Kara Earle, Rachel Naughton, Kayleigh Shine, Roise Lennon, Kelley Colgan, Sinead Farrell
Subs: Shauna Naughton, Molly Dolan, Rachel Brien, Louise Egan, Christina Connell, Aishling Mc Goldrick, Danielle Greasley.
U.14 Girls
St Ciarans conceded the championship quarter-final thus placing Clann in the semi-final which is due to be played in early October.
Cake Sale
Our annual cake sale organised by the Ladies Board takes place on Sunday 18th September in the clubhouse from 11.00am to 12.30am. Please come along & support.
Clann na nGael Lotto
The draw took place in the Mill on Sunday 11th of September with a jackpot of €7,000. The numbers drawn were 1, 2, 13, 23. No winner, Match 3 Winners win €100:
Winner (Seller)
Micheal O’Shaugnessy (Rita Durney)
Cian O’Reilly (Aidan Brien)
Next week’s jackpot is €7,200 and the draw will be in Connaughtons.
Thanks to everyone who supports Clann’s Lotto every week.
Clann na nGael Shop now online
Our Shop is now online with a wide range of O’Neills gear to purchase. The shop can be accessed via ClannGAA.ie or directly by visiting tiny.cc/ClannShop
Clann na nGael Online
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