Registration 2018
There’s now only five days left to the 31st March deadline. At this stage we have 360 members registered out of the roughly 550 members usually registered each year. All players must be aware that if they don’t have membership paid by Saturday they cannot line out for the club. In addition, anyone who pays membership after the Saturdaydeadline cannot play until five days after the registration has been logged on the system. The reasons why we can’t play unregistered players are twofold. First, any team which fields an unregistered player is liable to lose the points for the game that player played in. Secondly, unregistered players are not covered under the player injury scheme. Therefore it is a matter of urgency that we get all players registered by the deadline of Saturday midnight. PLAYERS – do not put your manager in the position where they have to tell you they are unable to play you. There is a final open registration session this Saturday in Aras Aoidh Ruaidh from 12 noon to 2pm. Membership can be paid at any time to Gerry Ferguson at Ferguson’s Jewellers. Players can also download registration forms from aodhruadh.org and submit this along with the relevant fee directly to their manager.
Club meeting
The monthly club executive meeting takes place on Thursday night in Aras Aoidh Ruaidh at 8.30pm. All executive committee members are asked to attend.
Football
Aodh Ruadh open their Division 1 campaign with a double header on the Easter weekend. First up is the trip to Dunfanaghy to take on Saint Michael’s on Good Friday. The reserves lock horns at 4.30pm, followed by the seniors at 6pm. The first home game is on Easter Sunday, with the reserves throwing in at Father Tierney Park at 1.30pm, followed by the seniors at 3pm. Needless to say, with this marking the return of Division 1 football to the town after an absence of a decade, we’d like to see a crowd present equal to the magnitude of the occasion.
Fielding with just 16 players, the under 16s had a difficult clash with Four Masters on Sunday with the Donegal town side finishing well on top. Nevertheless Cian Rooney stood out up front, fighting all the way. Elsewhere Senan Rooney soldiered hard around the centre of the pitch, while Eugene and David Doherty battled to the end too. Their next game is another away assignment, this time a trip to Glenties on Wednesday with the game down for a 5pm throw-in.
The under 14s are back in action with the first five sessions of the season under our belt. Monday night was our first challenge match away to Roibéard Eiméid in Castlefinn. The boys put in a great shift in a very tight game, coming out on top by a single point on a scoreline of 4-12 to 2-17. Over Easter there will be under 14 activity on Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays. The Bakery Cup group stages will take place in a blitz format on Wednesday 28th March at 12 noon. The finals will be the following Wednesday, April 4th, again at 12 noon. Captains for 2018 are Danny Breen, Aaron Neilan, Ryan Keenaghan and Damian Weber. Training on Good Friday is at the earlier time of 12 noon. Next Monday, April 2nd, we are away to MacCumhaill’s, throw in at 6pm. Fund-raising for our trip to Féile 2018 trip will begin with a Mystery Bus Tour in the coming weeks. Tickets are available from next week on at €20 each.
The under 12 had a good challenge in Ballybofey against MacCumhaill’s on Monday evening. Jack McCadden was impressive in goals with Barry Campbell keeping things well organised in defence, while up front Killian Bradshaw did a lot of damage. Under 12 training continues on Friday from 5.45pm to 6.45pm.
Training for under 10s goes outside this Friday to Páirc Aoidh Ruaidh (Munday’s field) from 6.15pm to 7.15pm. The team’s next match is away to MacCumhaill’s on Wednesday, 4th April. We will have full details at training on Friday.
Ladies
The under 16s had a good outing against Derrygonnelly on Saturday evening. There were particularly good showings from Roisin Daly, Dearbhla Hughes-O’Brien, Alicia Clyne and Caoimhe McCauley, but player of the match was Leah O’Brien at wing back. Training continues Wednesday at 4pm with a game pencilled in for this Friday also, full details to be confirmed via the team WhatsApp.
The under 12 girls had a challenge against neighbours Bundoran on Saturday. There were big numbers on both teams which was great to see and four teams togged out. See everyone up at the park on Wednesday at 5.30pm for training.
There is no under 6 girls training this week.
Hurling
The under 14s began their league campaign last Thursday with a convincing win over Setanta. The lads know they’ll have tougher games ahead. We have a full gallery of pictures from the game up on aodhruadh.org. They followed up this win with a good win over Omagh Saint Enda’s on Sunday in Omagh. Many thanks to the parents who drove the lads to Omagh. Next up for the lads is an away game to Saint Eunan’s on Thursday.
Training continues as normal Sunday at 12 noon. Boys and girls from 5 years upwards are welcome, come along and learn the skills of our native game in a fun filled environment. Helmets and hurls are provided for training. For any information contact John Rooney on 086-2587793.
Scheduling of games and training
All team managers and sub-committee officers are asked to attend a meeting with Park / Development committee officers this Tuesday at 8.30pm to deal with scheduling as we move into the busy months of April and May in terms of games, coaching and training.
Question time
The annual table quiz to support all the work which the Park / Development Committee undertakes, will take place in Owen Roe’s this Thursday night March 29th at 9.30pm.This is always a good social night for Aodh Ruadh with many people home for Easter. Everyone involved in the various structures of the club is asked to support this fund-raiser by getting a team of four there for the night or come along and join a team. Sylvester Maguire will do quiz master. As always there will be plenty of prizes on the night.
A date for your diary. Bord na nÓg will be staging a Sports Quiz on Saturday 14th April in the Bridgend Bar at 9.30pm. There will be a raffle on the night and a big turnout of support is needed to help continue the great investment in underage football in recent years.
Duck Race countdown
The Aodh Ruadh ladies Duck Race returns to its traditional Easter slot this year and with that comes the return of the famous Easter Egg raffle giveaway. The Ducks go under starters orders at 2pm on the testing McKenna’s Brook course on Easter Bank Holiday Monday, 2nd April. Players should get their cards completed this week and get them back to their managers ahead of the race on Monday afternoon.
Last One Standing
Fintan Kelly’s last minute winner for Monaghan saw nine entrants who had Dublin as their final pick exit our competition. While Conor Madden’s last gasp point for Cavan saved five entrants who were on their way out of the competition. As it stands there are 27 left standing out of 350 entries! 23 of them head to week 8 where they pick the winners of the four League Finals while the other four have to wait for the rearranged week six games to be played next weekend to see if their selections for the finals will be still involved. All 27 Left Standing will be contacted and will have to pick their winners by 6pm Good Friday, all names and selections for the finals will be posted on Good Friday.
Child Protection course
There will be a child protection course in Aras Aoidh Ruaidh on April 7th starting 2pm and running to 5pm. There are 20 places on the course with ten places available for Bord na nÓg coaches and ten for Ladies coaches. Contact Patricia Hill, David O’Donnell or Lisa McTernan to book your place.
Schools Coaching Programme
Well done to our Schools Coaching Officer Stephen McGurrin who recently completed his Level 2 Coaching Award.
Busy at the Park
We had three good competitive games at Father Tierney Park over the weekend with a Derry team boosted by the return of the Slaughtneil players defeating Armagh in the National Hurling League. There was a good run out for our own senior team in a challenge game. Then the Donegal under 16 ladies had a resounding victory over Derry.
Works at Páirc Aoidh Ruaidh
Further maintenance work will be undertaken on the main playing field in the coming weeks. Prior notice will be given. Additionally , the entrance area including car parking area will be upgraded and this may result in having to use the club’s own entrance from the west Rock for a period. Again, prior notice will be given.
Recycle fund-raiser
Aodh Ruadh Ladies are collecting any unwanted clothes, bags, belts, pairs of shoes and bed linen you might have. The aim is to collect as many 10kg bags as possible. To arrange a drop off or collection please make contact with Siobhán McGarrigle (086-6860178), Mairead Caldwell (083-1099434), Paul Gillespie (086-0430045) or Thomas O’Brien (086-6091852). Please spread the word as we’d like to see a big response to this much needed fund-raiser
Abbey Centre Bingo
Last week’s €400 bingo jackpot was won by Ann Mitchell, whilst the stand up game prize of €130 was won by Kathleen Curran of Donegal Town. The winter snowball had no winner so rises to €525 on 47 numbers or less. The March Big Bingo takes place this Friday at the Abbey Centre at 9pm. Note the increase in Big Bingo prizes, where the €1000 super jackpot must be won every month. Books still cost €15 or a book and half special deal for €20, with a €3,200 prize fund up for grabs.
Aodh Ruadh Lotto
There was no winner of last week’s Aodh Ruadh Lotto jackpot of €7,200. The winning numbers drawn were 3, 6, 12, 15, 16 and 18. In the lucky dip €20 went to Rose Gallagher, Portnason; Tom Daly, The Abbey; Aibhlin McGee, Clontyseer; John Gallagher, Derryherk; and Dympna Cronin, Lawne Park. Next draw is in the Owen Roe’s Bar with a jackpot of €7,200 on Monday at 8.30pm. Tickets are now available in the following outlets: Seán Óg’s, O’Donnell’s, Dicey Reilly’s, The Limit, Pat’s Bar, The Bridgend, Owen Roe’s, Fin McCool’s, The Lantern, McGinley’s, Pearse O’Neill’s, McCosker’s Centra and Kernan’s Spar and at the weekly bingo in the Abbey Centre. You have to be in it to win it!
The lotto team for McCosker’s Centra on Saturday is: RESERVE FOOTBALLERS.
You can receive the club notes by e-mail every Tuesday morning. To subscribe, enter your details on the website, www.aodhruadh.org, or e-mail your request to info@aodhruadh.org.
