Weekly Notes 25/06/2012

This week’s lotto draw didn’t take place due to Feile but draw on Monday Night, Results available on website as too late for paper. Sorry for any inconvenience caused.

St Canice’s U14s Travelled to Portarlington in Co Laois to take part in the All Ireland Feile Competition and what a weekend of excitement they provided!!!  I can’t remember anything like it in my lifetime, what our underage footballers provided for all their supporters & families and for the first time in our clubs history the buzz  that they created around the town getting to the All Ireland Feile! Never have i seen at underage football a group of young players so passionate in the way they played and conducted themselves on and off the field , what a credit they are to their parents and club!

Their first game was Friday afternoon at 3.00pm where they played host club Portarlington which they defeated 5.07-0.04.

On Friday evening saw the lads take part in The Feile na nOg Parade in Portlaoise in which there was 152 other teams from across Ireland,England and the USA who came together to take part in this competition. What a great occasion  to see so many of our young children come to play our great game and to make new friends from all over the country.

Saturday morning Dungiven played St Paul’s from North County Laois and defeated them 1.12-0.02 in their second group game.

Next was the Skills Competition in which Richie Mullan represented Dungiven and Derry and what a performance he gave! Being urged on by all his team mates and supporters,Richie was beat by a single point. Well Done to him for his great effort…

An hour and a half later they took to the field again against Salthill-Knocknacarra in a game that was as physical as any a game you would see! Our lads stood up to the test and played some fantastic football which they won the game on a scoreline of 1.08-2.03.

Dungiven Lost Conan Feeney to bad injury in which he was taken to hospital but thank god it wasn’t serious,but he was unable to continue in the competition. What a big loss for our lads.

Dungiven topped their group and headed to a semi final game at Gracefield on Saturday evening against St Brigid’s of Dublin.

This was as hard and as physical a game for our lads as the earlier games which had taken its toll on our lads. St Brigids were just a stronger side on the day but our lads gave a great account of themselves and never gave up till the final whistle blew. St Brigids won 2.07-0.02.

Although eventually defeated on the pitch, this group of special young men return to Dungiven on Sunday Evening as winners. On and off the pitch over this weekend (and indeed over the whole season to date) these lads have been perfect ambassadors for our Club. They are a credit to the jersey, to the Parish, to their families and to themselves, and we should all be very proud of them.

As an eventful, dramatic, busy and enjoyable Féile weekend came to an end on Sunday afternoon and After a final meeting with our terrific hosts at Portarlington GAC the Dungiven Team bus and platoon of supporter’s cars started  pointing themselves towards Derry again with memories that will last forever in the minds of  players,managers and supporters for the rest of their lives.

But it wasn’t over yet!! What was awaiting for them in St Canice’s Club in Dungiven were a massive crowd  of family,friends and supporters who had gathered to welcome their young hero’s home!!

On behalf of St Canice’s I would like to congratulate our U14s for the way they conducted themselves throughout the Feile Tournament, for the massive effort they have put in all year to get them to the finals,to the management for their hard work preparing the players and the taking them to the finals for the first time in the clubs history! A massive thank you to all their families for their support and travelling down to Portarlington. To all our Supporters who also travelled down and to You our Facebook & Twitter Followers for for all the support and kind wishes to our lads, also to our website visitors a Big Thank You to You All!!! We have the Best suppored Club in Ireland!!!

St Canice’s would also like to congratulate Watty Graham’s Glen U14 Ladies and Ballerin Sarsfield Boys U14s Who both won and topped  their respective groups and were also defeated in the semi finals. Very well done to everyone involved!!

Gaelic Games  have such a fantastic future ahead in Derry with these young players…

Last but not least St Canice’s Gac would like to thank Rodney Gallagher of Glenshane Coach Hire for his excellent service and for the safe journey that our Team had and getting them home safe….

U14A v Steelstown (Away) 7.30pm League

U14B v Greenlough (Away) 7.30pm League.

Minors v Desertmartin @ O’Cahan Park 7.30pm League.

School’s Out Disco in Main Hall 7.30pm-9.30pm.