Club Notes 19th April 2010

Lotto

No jackpot winner.

£50 winner John Ryan Tirgan Road.

Next week £1500.

Condolences

The club offer their condolences to the Loane family on their recent bereavement.

Give Blood

Final call! The Club wish to arrange a date to give blood locally. We require 100 volunteers and are presently over half way there. If you or anyone you know are interested please contact Seamus 07895627522; Danny 07709611910 or Pat 07718257555.

IRISH COLLECTION

The club wish to thank everyone for their generous contributions to the Irish collection. Please forward names of Gaeltacht attendees to Veronica (07799328966) or Pat (07718257555)

Football

Seniors Desertmartin 1,6 Drumsurn 1,9

Desertmartin at home for the second time looked to have this in the bag with a six point lead ten minutes into the second half but for the next twenty minutes they went to sleep and allowed Drumsurn back into the game. With seven minutes to go Drumsurn scrambled the ball over the line to lead by one, adding two more points from frees to win by three.

St Martins started the game strongly with frees from Enda McGuckin and J P Higgins either side of a point by Connor Monaghan. Drumsurn hit their stride and in two minutes marked up two frees. Enda replied with a home free, followed up by a point from Paul McFlynn. Drumsurn tagged on another point in the last minute to leave the half time score 5 points to 3.

The second half kicked off with an early point from Drumsurn. St Martins then hit a purple patch cutting through the Drumsurn defence with ease but had trouble converting their possession to scores. This was not helped when Enda was carried off with hamstring trouble but his replacement Jimmy McElhennon showed his class picking off an excellent point. This was followed up with a top drawer move with sharp passing and off the ball running resulting in big Gerard Murray getting the first goal of the game to leave the scores 1,6 to 4 and the game looked sown up. Then the home team imploded. Thinking the result was theirs they slowed the game down holding onto the ball too long and drawing Drumsurn onto them. They were not to score again. Drumsurn brought on smaller speedy forwards. They picked off three points in a row (and in truth could have had six more) before they scrambled the ball over the line to lead by one. They completed the rout with two more points from frees. Desertmartin could have levelled the game in the last minute but Drumsurn keeper stood firm to clear the danger and hold on to the two points.

After the Foreglen game it was surprising that Desertmartin failed to play to the final whistle but lessons have to be learned and this was one that St Martins were about to prove they had learned.

Seniors Ballerin 1,9 Desertmartin 2,9

Desertmartin would have bear in mind all that happened on Wednesday past to turn a six point deficit into a three point win away from home. The result was all the more astonishing looking at the team of players on the injury list, any one of which could have started if available.

Drumsurn were first out of the blocks with three speed merchants in the forward line and quickly had a goal and two to no score before Aidy McGuigan hit a maximum for the Men in yellow to leave it 1,2 to 1,0. Ballerin tormented the St Martin defence and recorded two points from frees before Gregory McGovern limped off to join the ever increasing injury list. He was replace in full back by Eoin Hegarty but still the scores continued with two more points from play. Paul McGovern fought hard to reply with a point to leave the half time score 1,7 to 1,1.

Eugene Murray was replaced by Mark McCrystal, another member of last year’s valiant U21 team and the second half kicked off. Aidy McGuigan, returning the favour from the first half, finding Ruairi in front of goals and he just doesn’t miss from there. The goal sparked the St Martins to life and although Ballerin picked off two quick points from frees, they were not to score again. Johnny McGovern also joined Greg on the line, to be replaced by big Gerard Murray. The extra strength in midfield along with a tighter defence closed the door on the Ballerin forward supply while the Desertmartin attack finally got the better of the home defence. Eoin Hegarty carried the ball strongly out of defence with Patrick Kidd covering behind. Ruairi at full forward began to make his mark and along with Jimmy scored two points each, split by one for John Paul Higgins. With Ruairi’s point levelling the game, the Men in yellow started to show nerves and first Mark, then Jimmy missed scorable chances before Mark made sure with a point from play. He was followed by Ruairi who finished top marksman with 1,3 before mark scored again to close out the game. Watching Desertmartin is not good for the heart but it has been a few years since we have had such a good start and I will continue punishing this old heart on Sunday when we take on Moneymore. Our neighbours are undefeated, racking up some impressive scores so defence will have to be on top of their game. Assumptions can be made that the tall Chrissie Young will be a handful but this Desertmartin team are learning from their mistakes and any future points that leave Longfield will be hard earned.

Reserves Ballerin 2,6 Desertmartin 2,6

Desertmartin looked dead and buried looking at an eight point deficit but they refused to let this one go and managed to score the final point to level the game.

Minors Doire Trasna 0,2 Desertmartin 3,17

Game played on 12th against Castledawson at Longfield. No report available. Result was a draw. I believe this is one St Martins let slip out of their grasp.

Next game away to Doire Trasna 19th they did not let go so easily and Doire Trasna suffered the wrath of a team that knew they should not have dropped a point the previous week. 26th April sees Doire Colmcille travel to Longfield to challenge the mighty yellows.

U 16 Desertmartin v Craigbane

Under 16,s begin Campaign with a win Desertmartin 2-14 Craigbane 3-5

After the postponement of their 1st game with Greenlough Desertmartin Under 16’s got their league campaign off to a winning start when they had 6 points to spare over Craigbane on Thursday night. The foundations for this victory were firmly laid in the first half where at the end of which they led 2-8 to 0-2. Dermot Breen got the side of to great start firing over in the first few minutes, despite dominating possession during the early stages Desertmartin struggled to add to this score and it was a further 5 minutes before Dermot added his and Desertmartins second point. The home side continued to dominate possession and Ronan McGuckin added a further point to increase the advantage. The pressure continued to mount for Craigbane and Dermot McGuigan eventually got reward for his efforts when he finished a great move to the net. From the kickout Desertmartin attacked again and this time another great move saw Ronan McGuckin finish to the net. Craigbane eventually got on the scoreboard with a pointed free but Desertmartin continued to press and further scores followed from Ronan McGuckin, Dermot McGuigan 2 and a great individual effort from Mark Kidd.

Craigbane added a further point from a free But Dermot Breen had the final score of the half with a superb long range free from out on the left near the touchline.

Turning round to face the breeze in the second half the team knew that Craigbane would come out strong for the second half and they hit back with a goal in their first attack they added  a point with their next attack and Desertmartin were under pressure for the first time in the game. They responded well to this setback and points from Ronan McGuckin and Dermot McGuigan settled the nerves. Craigbane however got a further boost when they hit their second goal in their next attack. Far from panicking however Desertmartin started to gain a foothold in the game points form Ronan McGuckin and Dermot McGuigan followed. Desertmartin were beginning to dominate possession at this stage but a mixture of poor passing and some good defending by Craigbane meant they could only add one further Dermot McGuigan point during this period. Craigbane then added their 3rd goal before the end and added a further point to their tally to reduce the deficit. Dermot Breen then completed the scoring with the final point of the game to Leave Desertmartin 6 point winners at the end.

In a mixed performance from the team with some very good passages of football played there were good performances in defence from Michael Shaw, Luke McBride and Connor Murray the midfield of Martin McBride and Mark Kidd dominated early on but faded somewhat in the second half. Up front Dermot Breen and Dermot McGuigan caused Craigbane untold problems. Ronan McGuckin at corner forward linked well with the two Dermots, and took some good scores. Hayden Murray also showed well in an unaccustomed position. Overall this should give the team confidence going forward. The next game is away to Limavady on Thursday 22nd April.

Team and scorers

Ciaran Martin, Michael Shaw, Danny Doyle, Luke McBride, Darren Madden, Connor Murray, H Mulholland, Mark Kidd (0-1), Martin McBride, Ciaran O’Neill, Dermot Breen (0-4), Hayden Murray, Jack Grant, Dermot McGuigan (1-5), Ronan McGuckin (1-4) subs Gary McGuigan for Ciaran O’Neill, Daniel O’Hagan for Hayden Murray

U 14 Ballymaguigan 2,6 Desertmartin 0,7

Perhaps we took the result for granted but Ballymaguigan didn’t. With this the first game Desertmartin played at eleven aside, they found it easy to hold possession in non scorable positions but difficult to break through for the incisive scores to turn the game. With Desertmartin leading in the second half by two points Ballymaguigan hit long balls into the goal area and picked two goals to close out the game. Desertmartin look forward to their next game home to Ogramor on 20th at 7.00, followed up away to Bellaghy on 27th April.

Ladies Football

We will be fielding an under 16 and senior Ladies team, with the under 14s amalgamating with a local team to play in the Feile.  Any further interest, please contact Anne Matterson 07732351672.

Hall/ field agenda.

U8 s and 10s Fundamentals Saturday 10/11 P1 to P4. Contact Liam Bradley 028 79301644 07831739474.

Ladies training on Monday 6.15/7.30 Thursday 6.15/7.30.

Junior Ladies training Wednesday 6.15/7.30, Saturday 11.00/1.00 Contact Anne Matterson to confirm.

Keep fit on Tuesday night 7.00 Beginners welcome. Contact Chris Trainor on 07818252174 or 02879 44278

Keep fit Thursday 4th at 7.00. £2.50/ session or £20.00/ 12 sessions. Slievegallion Women’s Group

Irish Dancing Friday 5.00 beginners, 6.00 advanced.

Senior training Wednesday 7.30/ Friday 7.30.

U12/ U14 training Friday 630 at Longfield.

U16 training Tuesday 6.30 Hollow Park.

Minor training Friday 7.30.

All hall bookings or cancellations please contact Brian Smith on 07918703912 or Pat Kidd on 07718257555

Golf Classsic

First prize:          Two rounds of 4 ball plus overnight stay in City West.

Second prize:            One round of 4 ball and overnight stay in Slieve Russel

Third prize:               One round of 4 ball at Ballyliffen

Numerous extra prizes. Contact Gerard 07710802359; Chris 07821832400; Adrian 07793626750. Tee-off times on “first come first served” Card filling up fast.

Important dates to keep free:

** ** Golf Classic 4th June at Killymoon .Four balls still available. **

** Desertmartin will be host to Gloucestershire on 2nd July**

Volunteer Information

Field maintenance has commenced. If you are interested in assisting please contact Michael on 07740411471.

Would you or your company be interested in sponsorship? Field banner/ Score board/ Jerseys, contact Pat or Brian.

GAA does not just promote football. All aspects of Gaelic culture should be encouraged and nurtured. To assist the committee, the Club require a Cultural Officer. If you are Interested in Irish history/ music/ dancing etc, please apply. This position is open to job share due to the variety of role.

Due to deadlines the notices for the paper must be forwarded latest Sunday night to be included. Forward to michaelhegarty@live.co.uk. Or phone 07740411471.