TABLE FOR THADY:
The Milltown/Castlemaine GAA Club is running a Table Quiz on Friday 13th March in Griffins Bar, Castlemaine. All monies raised on the night will go towards cancer treatment for our senior player Thady O’Sullivan. It is a worthy cause and we hope the proceeds will greatly help Thady on his journey to full recovery.
Tables of 4 are €40 (€10 per person) and there will also be a raffle on the night.
While teams are most welcome on the night, the club would appreciate if people who wish to participate would contact the club beforehand if they wish to enter a team. This is to facilitate the smooth running of the Quiz and to maximise team entry. You can contact the following via call or text to book your table —
Paud Hogan — 087/2704436
Linus Burke — 086/1544905
Brendan Dennehy — 087/6969841
Mike Carroll — 087/2256548
TAKING THE MIC:
The Fitness by Mags team has been revealed as team number 8 in our Taking the Mic fundraiser.
With Mags’ zest for life and underlying fitness-their performance will no doubt be full of action and energy.
The introduction of Team 9 and Team 10 saw an influx of testosterone as 2 all male quartets make up the composition of these two teams.
Team 9-‘The 4 euros’, is made up of Jerry Casey, Linus Burke, Padraig Hogan and Henry Scanlon. So the combination of a Limerick, Cork and Kerry ensemble should bring some very interesting moves on the night.
‘The Senior Team’ participants are Jonathon O’Sullivan, Pa Wrenn, John Dennehy and Jerome Flynn. Sharp and athletic on the playing pitch. We will have to wait and see if they can transfer this to Ballygarry House on Easter Sunday Night. I’m more excited about Taking the Mic than about the Easter Bunny!! Can’t wait!
Well done to all our teams and good luck with the rehearsals which start this week. Tickets for the big night will go on sale next week. Keep an eye on our website and FB page for details.
MID KERRY SENIOR LEAGUE: Report courtesy of Dara O’Connor.
Milltown/Castlemaine’s Senior team wrapped up their 2020 Mid Kerry Senior Football League campaign on a cold and wet night under the lights at John Mitchel’s Sports Complex on Thursday evening last, against near neighbours Keel with a rather unorthodox 9:00pm throw-in undoubtedly being a first for many observers. Milltown/Castlemaine were looking to add to their win earlier in the competition over Glenbeigh/Glencar whilst Keel were looking to add to an earlier win over Cromane. Both sides were out of the reckoning to make this year’s final (Milltown/Castlemaine contested the 2018 and 2019 editions) but were looking to use it as another game closer to full match sharpness ahead of the County League Division 3 opener on Sunday week, March 8th where Milltown/Castlemaine welcome Currow and Keel play Laune Rangers.
Both sides whilst missing bodies fielded relatively strong selections from an on-lookers viewpoint. Jonathan O’Sullivan and Aaron Murphy exchanged early frees for both sides in the opening five minutes. Jonathan O’Sullivan (Free) and a well worked attacking move from Milltown/Castlemaine soon after which went through the hands of Donal Dennehy and Cathal Moriarty before reaching Dylan O’Neil who rifled past Stephen Cahillane. Aaron Murphy replied almost instantly from play to leave it 1-3 to 0-2 after 12 minutes.
Jonathan O’Sullivan continued his hot vein of form further with two more pointed frees to extend the lead further whilst Cathal Moriarty popped up with his first of the night to widen the gap out further to seven by the 24th minute at 1-6 to 0-2.
Milltown/Castlemaine midfielder David Roche wrapped up the opening half with a well struck shot low to Cahillane’s right hand side into the net to make it a commanding ten point lead. Keel finished the half on the front foot and scores from Martin Burke and another from Murphy left the half time score 2-6 to 0-4 in favour of Milltown/Castlemaine.
Keel continued where they left off immediately after the interval with two quick fire Gary Sayers points from play bringing the deficit down further at 2-6 to 0-6 now.
Killian O’Dowd made it 0-5 on the trot for Keel in the 38th minute to make it look like for a moment that a comeback was on as all the momentum was in their favour.
Milltown/Castlemaine who had gone without a score for near fifteen minutes at this stage needed a response to halt the surge and they got exactly that soon after as after a foraging run from full back Tadgh McCarthy straight through the heart of the Keel rear-guard opened up a goal scoring opportunity and when McCarthy opted to pass to Jerome Flynn unselfishly instead of shoot himself, Flynn made no mistake burying low under Cahillane to make it 3-06 to 0-7.
Aaron Cahillane from play fired over for Keel from close range but this was responded to in equal measure as Milltown/Castlemaine wing back Kieran O’Carroll popped up 30 metres out and landed a beauty off his left leg to leave matters at 3-7 to 0-8 heading into the final quarter.
Aaron Murphy through a free took his tally to 0-4 for the night for Keel and brought the deficit back to seven again but it would be Milltown/Castlemaine substitute Brendan Delaney who would have the game’s final say and he palmed to the Keel net late on to ensure Milltown/Castlemaine would finish out the contest as ten point victors on a score of Milltown/Castlemaine 4-7 Keel 0-9
Milltown/Castlemaine Team:
Cormac Leane, Jono O’Connor, Tadgh McCarthy, Stephen Roche, Kieran O’Carroll (0-1), Pa Wren, Dwight Bacalso, David Roche (1-0), Donal Dennehy, John Dennehy, Jerome Flynn (1-0), Paul Carroll, Dylan O’Neil(1-0), Cathal Moriarty (0-1), Jonathan O’Sullivan (0-5).
Subs: Michael Dennehy, Brendan Delaney (1-0), Eoin O’Brien, Eoin Mahony, Linus Og Burke, David Leane
SCÓR NA BPÁISTÍ:
Comhghairdeas to all of our fantastic club members that participated in the Scór Na bPáistí – Tráth Na gCeist selection quiz on Monday evening last at the clubhouse.
Conor Giles, Conor Edwards, Sean O’ Sullivan and Ross Lally were our top 4 on the night with impressive scores. Abbie O’Reilly, Kate Barry and Georgina Casey were unlucky to narrowly miss out on a team place. We are privileged to have them as our subs.
It was fantastic to see so many children from Castlemaine, Milltown and Ballyfinnane schools competing. Mile buíochas to our quiz master on the night Deirdre, our clubs cultural officer Sinead Clendennen and to Danny McClure for organising the entire event. Thank you also to Jessica in the office for preparing the answer sheets and to the many parents who helped out on the night.
All participants were presented with medals and goody bags- to finish off a very enjoyable evening.
KERRY MINOR LADIES:
Comhghairdeas do Ella Teahan from our club who scored 1 of Kerry’s 7 goals in their comprehensive victory over Tipperary on Sunday last. Well done to Niamh Broderick and Clodagh Evans who are also part of the panel. Wishing you all a great season of club and county football.
FIRST CONFESSION/ SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION:
Best wishes to all our young club members who will be making their First Confession/Confirmation in the coming weeks.
COUNTY SENIOR FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION 6
ROUND 1-Report by Dara O’Connor
The 2020 season began in earnest in challenging underfoot conditions on Sunday, March 1st when Milltown/Castlemaine took on Gneeveguilla in John Mitchell’s GAA Complex, Tralee after the Paddy Burke Memorial Park in Milltown was deemed unplayable due to our recent spate of bad weather which undoubtedly has played havoc with many club fields across the County and Country. Division 6 is a new addition to the Senior County League system this season and features 11 ‘B’ sides with Tuosist being the solitary ‘A’ side. These leagues are always guaranteed to serve up entertaining fare in an environment which is ultimately about giving footballers games and integrating the youth from Minor or U21 football to the Senior bracket. It also presents opportunities for those who may wish to get back involved in the club with last year seeing almost 60 players get game time at ‘B’ or ‘C’ level so from that sense it serves an important purpose for our club and many others.
Milltown/Castlemaine got out of the blocks early doors and registered the opening 1-2 of this contest unanswered. A goal from Colin McKenna following a probing ball into the heart of the Gneeveguilla defence seen Michael Dennehy knock down a ball to the on-rushing McKenna who buried to the net. Further points from Jerome Flynn and team captain Jamie O’Shea made it 1-2 to 0-0 by the 10th minute. It could and maybe should in hindsight have been a bigger lead but Jerome Flynn who had already registered a score seen a penalty saved excellently and diverted behind for a ’45’ whilst a succession of wides kept the East Kerry side in the match.
Gradually, Gneeveguilla weaved their way back into proceedings and had it game well and truly on by the 20th minute when 1-1 of their own had matters back to the smallest of margins with Milltown/Castlemaine leading 1-2 to 1-1. Further scores from Jerome Flynn off his perceived weaker left foot and a fisted point by Michael Dennehy who was causing consternation around the square after he knocked a dropping ball over the bar had it at 1-4 to 1-1 by the 25th minute but unperturbed Gneeveguilla finished the opening half with three points on the trot to leave it level at the interval at 1-4 apiece.
Whilst the first half may have been a bit of a slow burner being the opening game of 2020 for both teams which inevitably brought some rustiness to proceedings, the second half was anything but that with no fewer than five goals and 14 scores in total to keep the sizeable crowd attendance entertained.
Gneeveguilla without doubt came out of the blocks faster and had built up a nine point lead by the 45th minute with 2-3 without reply seeing them lead 3-7 to 1-4. Two great goals following over-laps seeing the game look essentially over with fifteen minutes remaining. However, Milltown/Castlemaine failed to give in, waking from their slumber in the process to reel the opposition in after a flurry of scores themselves. Substitute Derek Twiss scored two goals, one from the penalty spot and one a rocket into the top corner to make it 3-7 to 3-4 whilst further scores from the boot of Jerome Flynn and Twiss again had it back to a one point game at 3-7 to 3-6 to Gneeveguilla by the 55th minute. This lead for Gneeveguilla extended out to five however moments later as 1-1 for them with a superbly taken goal of their own from a substitute had a nice gap in it approaching injury time at 4-8 to 3-6. To the Milltown/Castlemaine players credit, they never gave in and battled until the final whistle and three more points from Jamie O’Shea, Derek Twiss after a goal bound attempt sailed over and Jerome Flynn had it back to a one score game at 4-8 to 3-9 well into the allocated injury time. Unfortunately there was no time left to bring Milltown/Castlemaine back to parity and the two points went to Gneeveguilla who got across the line with a slender victory.
Our lads will take plenty of positives from today and with a long 2020 ahead and a number of games and competitions there is a lot to look forward to. Last season many of our Junior B side went on to play a big part in our Senior ‘A’ teams Mid Kerry Championship victory underlining the importance of giving players a platform to aid their chances of progression. Whilst Sunday’s result didn’t go in our favour, it shows how competitive we can be and shows the merit of having a second senior side in the County Senior Football League which is no mean feat in itself. For the first time ever in the clubs history we managed to field 3 Senior sides (A, B & C) and that shows how committed the club are to building for the future working with the large numbers in our community and offering them a means of showing their abilities at a level which suits each individual irrespective of age. Well done lads, better days are just around the corner!
FUNDRAISING LOTTO JACKPOT-€12,400:
Our next draw will be on this Friday March 6th in Griffin’s Bar- with a jackpot of €12,400. Don’t forget to purchase your lucky ticket. Thank you to everyone for your continuous support and generosity.
ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE:
We are looking forward to seeing as many of our club members walk with the club in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. If you would like to be involved with our club in the parade, we would be delighted to have you join us. Contact any member of the executive for further information. ‘Ní neart go cur le chéile.’
FIXTURES:
Our minors are away to Annascaul/Lispole/ Dingle on Saturday March 7th for Round 3.
SENIOR B:
For round 2, our senior B is away to Rathmore B on March 15th and home to John Mitchel’s B on May 17th.
SENIOR A: Our seniors begin their Senior Co. League competition with a home game v Currow on March 8th.
Please keep a close eye on our FB Page and Website for updates/changes due to weather. We would also appreciate if you could inform those who do not have access to the internet or social media of any changes.
UNDER 14’S:
Well done to our under 14’s who reached the final of the under 14 Blitz in Gallarus on Sunday last. They were unfortunately defeated by Listry Keel who won out the competition. Congratulations to Keel Listry and special thanks to Ian, Turlough, Sean, John and Lawrence for all the work they are doing with this group of footballers.
THANK YOU:
Sincere thanks to all those who assist me in my role as PRO of the club, particularly Danny McClure and Dara O’ Connor. Like all roles in the club, it is a very busy one. If you would like to help out in the club in any way, we would be most grateful. ‘It is in giving that you receive’.
ITEMS FOR NOTES:
If you would like anything included in our notes, please contact me, Deirdre, on 086/1703332 or email any information to navillusodeirdre@yahoo.ie (before 6 p.m. on Sundays) and I will do my best to facilitate you.
