This week’s lucky Nos:  2, 12, 18 and 23.
No jackpot winner. £50 winner: Teresa Delaney, Dublin,
Next week’s Jackpot: £1400.
Condolences
The club offer their condolences to the Diamond family on their recent bereavement.
Upcoming Major event
Friday night just wouldn’t be the same without the Club Quiz. Commences 9.00, entrance £3.00. Do not miss.
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.
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.
Football
Seniors Forglen1,7 Desertmartin 1,8
Desertmartin made the arduous journey over the Glenshane to face Foreglen, one of the favourites this season, who started convincingly and picked off two quick points from frees. Enda McGuckin continued where he left off last week with a well struck free. But by the seventh minute Foreglen cancelled it out with their first from play. Shortly after Patrick McCann was harshly sent off for a strong challenge on their full forward to leave it 15 v 14, a mighty hill for St Martins to climb. Shane O’Neill came on for Cormac McGuckin and moved into full back. Eoin Hegarty came out field to help cover the extra man. By the 23rd minute Foreglen had registered two more points, St Martins responded with a free converted by Barry McEldowney to leave it 5 points to 2. Desertmartin however had since lost Barry who fell awkwardly on the ball, ably replaced by Ruairi Murray. Desertmartin upped the pace and for the next seven minutes they looked like they had the extra man. First John Paul Higgins and then Paul McGovern scored points from play and with the last kick of the first half, John Paul sent over a long range free to level the score at 5 points each.
St Martins continued the second half as they finished the first. Ruairi split the posts on the second and ninth minute, either side of another long range free by John Paul. Foreglen found it difficult to find their range, hitting a number of wides. All that was to change when Foreglen changed their free player going man for man in the defence leaving the extra man on the full forward line and it paid off instantly with a goal on the 12th minute to tie the scores 8 points to 1,5. Again Desertmartin upped the ante with the forwards tracking back to help out the defence. Paul McGovern charged down a sure goal but the pressure was intense. With Eoin replaced by Aidy McGuigan, Foreglen picked of two points from play and looked safe. But everyone knows a two point lead is never safe and Foreglen again found it difficult to kill the game off. Desertmartin however did not give up and chased everything and with the game petering out, Enda McGuckin tore in from the left, slipped his marker and with a shot reminiscent of Offaly’s goal to stop the five in a row, he hit the top right hand corner and broke every heart in Foreglen. St Martins ahead by a point defended as one. With the last kick of the game Foreglen were give a lifeline with a free on the twenty near the side line. The shot, though well hit drifted to the left and wide to leave the final score 1,7 to 1,8 and two points headed back over the Glenshane. With everything going against St Martins, Danny Murray injured from the previous game, going down a man so early and losing Barry in the second half this was a great blood and guts team performance.
Team: Brian McElhennon, Gregory McGovern, Patrick McCann, Eoin Hegarty, Mark Madden, Colm McDaid, Connor Monaghan, Patrick Kidd, John Paul Higgins (1 2f), Paul McFlynn, Ryan Kidd, Cormac McGuckin, Enda McGuckin (1, 7f), Barry McEldowney (11), Paul McGovern ( 1), Subs used Shane O’Neill, Ruairi Murray (2), Aidy McGuigan.
This week sees Drumsurn visit Longfield on Sunday. No doubt Ciaran Mullan will be a handful. Having beaten Drum and no report of their Sean Dolans game it will be difficult to size up the challenge but Drumsurn has always been a formidable hurdle in the past. With a single round, home advantage must be enforced this year.
Reserves Foreglen 1,8 Desertmartin 9,10
This game could have started off with a major score for Foreglen with a well struck free coming off the cross bar but St Martins cleared their lines. The Glens men attacked again and made sure of the point this time. It was cancelled out by a free by Garry Madden who picked up an injury and had to be replaced by Dermot Bradley. St Martins playing the unfamiliar 13 aside game found it difficult to make use of all the space for a while but Foreglen were unable to take advantage. On the 13th minute Ruairi was fouled passing the ball to Dermot with the goal on and while Declan Murray pointed the free, the writing was on the wall. St Martins had the measure of the opposition and on numerous occasions Michael McCann’s and Johnny McGovern’s off the ball running split the defence and Ruairi converted the goal on the 17th minute, followed up by a goal by Declan Connery. Declan Murray was replaced by Jimmy McElhennon.
Foreglen scored a point but it was cancelled out by Jimmy leaving the scores 2 points to 2,3. Aidy McGuigan came on and immediately scored a point. Foreglen added another to leave the half time score 3 points to 2,4. Aidy McGuigan scored his first goal of the second half with ease. Foreglen piled on the pressure and were rewarded with a goal and two points but St Martins were not finished with the onion bag. First Jimmy, then Ruairi and two more by Aidy split by a point by Dermot to a single point by Foreglen left the score on the 15th minute 1,6 to 7,4. Ruairi, not to be out done by Aidy added two further goals. Enda O’Hagan on as sub added a point to two by Johnny. Even corner back Mark McCrystal, tried to get on the sheet but the shot tailed right and wide. Aidy McGuigan added two further points to two by Foreglen to leave the final score 1,8 to 9,10.
While this Foreglen team looked severely beaten on the score board, this was far from the truth. With the balance of play even, Desertmartins ability to convert their scores was probably the difference in the two teams.
Team: D Kidd, M McCrystal, S O’Neill, R Murray, J Breen, D Connery, D Burns, J McGovern, P Kelly, G Madden, D Bradley, M McCann, R Murray. In the half back line, James Breen led the defence assisted by Declan Connery and Damian Burns. Ruairi again showed his talent at full forward. Aidy, just back from injury last year showed how to take scores and great to see Jimmy back in the yellow and green.
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 Tuesday 6.15, Thursday 6.15.
U16 training Tuesday 6.30 Hollow Park Match Friday 6.30 away to Greenlough.
Minor training Thursday 7.30. Hollow Park. First match 12th April 7.00 home to Castledawson
All hall bookings or cancellations please contact Brian Smith on 07918703912 or Pat Kidd on 07718257555
Golf Classsic
First prize:Â Â Â Â Â Two rounds of 4 ball plus overnight stay in City West.
Second prize:Â Â Â Â Â Â One round of 4 ball and overnight stay in Slieve Russel
Third prize: Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 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. **
** Desertmartins Got Talent June 26th Back for second year. Get practicing**
Volunteer Information
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.