Club Notes 29th March 2010

Lotto
This week’s lucky Nos: 1, 2, 8 and 17.
No jackpot winner. £50 winner: Paddy Grant,
Next week’s Jackpot: £1350.

Upcoming Major event
Friday night just wouldn’t be the same without the Club Quiz. Commences 9.00, entrance £3.00. Do not miss.

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.

Membership
Club membership is now overdue: Adult £20, Underage £10. Concession for third and more children £5.00 each where two adult members are paid up. Contact John Paul 07912173129. Must be paid by the end of March. Late payment will result in no ticket allocation.

Football
U14 Desertmartin 5 Newbridge 1,2
U14s played a friendly at home to Newbridge B team. Although Desertmartin were missing Daniel and Curtis, they achieved their first success with a well earned draw 5 points to 1,2. This was definitely a game of two halves. Newbridge scored first in the second minute but playing against the wind, this was to be their only score of the half. Desertmartin went on to score 5 points all from the boot of Hayden Murray to leave the half time score 5 to 1. Newbridge started the second half strongly and after a scuffle in the square, they poked the ball over the line to record the only goal of the game. Desertmartin, with all their subs on were unable to break down the Newbridge defence and with the last kick of the game, the Bridge managed a point to level the game. No doubt, this will not be the last success for this team, but will have to wait till 13th April for their first league game away to Ballymaguigan.
U 16 will play a friendly at home to Magherafelt on Wednesday 31st 6.45.

Reserves Desertmartin 14 Lissan 6
On Sunday the reserves opened their season at home with a win against a strong, well drilled Lissan team. Final score 14 to 6. Lissan, with an obvious height advantage in the midfield started strongly and were 2 up by the 6th minute. Declan Murray picked off 2 points by the 13th minute to level the scores. By the 20th minute St Martins were two up, one each from Declan and Ruairi at full forward while Lissan found it hard to split the posts. For the next few minutes Lissan found their range and kicked 3 points to one, again from Declan to end the half all square, 5 apiece.
The second half started with Desertmartin grabbing the game by the scruff of the neck scoring 5 points (Barry 1, Ruairi 1, Declan 1, Cormac 2) before Lissan registered their first and only point of the second half by the 20th minute. Desertmartin went on to peg on a point from Enda O’Hagan and followed up with 2 from Ruairi and a free from Barry to leave the final score 14 points to 6.
Team: D Kidd, M McCrystal, S O’Neill, E Murray, J Breen, D Connery, D Burns, D Foley, R Murray, C Burns, B McEldowney, C McGuckin, D Murray, R Murray, J Hughes. Subs: G Walker, D Bradley, E O’Hagan, F Higgins, J McGovern, P O’Hagan, P Kelly. In the half back line, James Breen lead the defence intercepting and dispossessing Lissan forwards at will, Ryan Murray at midfield worked hard against a physically stronger and taller opponent with a spread of passing a credit to his youth. Cormac McGuckin and Declan Murray’s positive running with the ball opened up the Lissan defence on a regular basis. Ruairi Murray was strong in full forward but all too often starved of the ball.

Seniors Desertmartin 15 Lissan 1.06
At 5.30 lead by Sarsfields Accordion band St Martins Seniors followed the example of the reserves to record their first win of the season 15 to 1.06.
Enda opened his tally in the first minute with a free and by the 7th, had marked up two more, either side of a free by John Paul to leave it 4 points to no score. Lissan hit the post but sent the return wide on the 10th minute but two minutes later when they again hit the post, with our defence at sixes and sevens, they worked the ball inside to the free man who made no mistake wrong footing Brian to score the only goal of the game. They followed up with appoint to level the scores 4 to 1,1. Where last year this may have lowered heads and displays, it seemed to harden the home side and by the end of the half, they had doubled their score (Enda 3 frees, Mark 40) while Lissan were only able to pick off one point with the last kick of the game. Half time score 8 to 1,2.
The first half was marred with a heavy tackle on Danny Murray within the second minute resulting in Barry McEldowney blood subbing him to the end of the half.
Second half saw the return of Danny to midfield. Soon after Cormac replaced Michael before the teams swapped points (Paul McFlynn). Eoin was replaced by Shane who was subsequently replaced by Eugene a few minutes later.
Enda and John Paul shared points from frees to leave the score 11 to 1,3. Both teams found it difficult to find their range with a number of wides and balls dropped into the keepers’ hands before they swapped points (Gerard). On the23rd minute, following Lissan scoring their fifth point, they had their best play of the match to leave them odds on to score a second goal and open up the game but Brian came to the rescue with a top drawer save keeping St Martins safe. Again both teams wasted good possession hitting wayward and short but as for the rest of the game the home side were more accurate converting 3 (Enda, Paul McGovern, John Paul) to Lissan’s 1 to leave the final score 15 to 1.06.
Team: Brian McElhennon, Gregory McGovern, Patrick McCann, Eoin Hegarty, Connor Monaghan, Patrick Kidd, Mark Madden (40), Danny Murray, John Paul Higgins (1 2f), Paul McFlynn (1), Ryan Kidd, Michael McCann, Enda McGuckin (1, 7f), Gerard Murray (1), Paul McGovern ( 1).
While he did not get on the score board, Ryan Kidd’s work rate and spread of passing was a pleasure to watch, ably supported by Mark from half back.
No doubt we will face a tough encounter away to Foreglen next Sunday but how better to enjoy a Sunday than supporting the green and yellow.

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 6.30/7.30 Thursday 6.30/7.30.
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 Saturday 4.00.
U16 training Tuesday 6.30/Friday 6.15 Hollow Park.
Minor training Monday 7.30 and Thursday 7.30. Hollow Park. First match 14th March
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:
**Boxing Night 16th April. Springhill Boxing Club takes up the challenge. See Johnny York (Irish Champion) strut his stuff along with our own stars Paul McFlynn, Mathew Connery, Stephen McGovern and Paul Ryan to name a few.
** Golf Classic 4th June at Killymoon .Four balls still available. **
** Desertmartins Got Talent June 26th Back for second year. Get practicing**

Volunteer Information
Many thanks to all who assisted with the Bingo and congratulations to Eddie on winning the £300.
Irish collection will take place later in the year.
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.
Executive meeting: 12th April 8.30pm sharp.
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.