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BONFIRES BLAZE AS ERREW HEROES COME HOME Bonfires blazed outside Errew school as the young footballers returned to a heroes welcome. They had just defeated Meelick N.S. in the Cumann na mBunscol section 3 final by 3-9 to 1-4 and now a community was rejoicing in the achievements of their young ambassadors. This was the perfect ending to a voyage which had started out in hope many weeks ago. There was a balance and composure about this Errew team which marked them out as a team most likely to succeed. They grew in confidence with each passing game and their victory over Parke in the Castlebar area Final was followed with fine wins over Bunnacurry and Bofeenaun games in which players like Paul and Tom Earley, David Quinn, Liam Cosgrove and Michael Hoban, were in top form. Errew's determination to be crowned champions was evident from the outset and with David Quinn and Liam Cosgrove giving inspiring displays in the forward lines, they led by 2-6 to nil at the interval. Meelick made a gallant attempt to get back into contention but Errew were in no mood to let this one slip and the celebrations that greeted their breakthrough were worthy of this very special occasion. Team manager, P .J. Quinn N.T., had this team expertly prepared for the 1992 championship and under his guidance the Errew lads made great progress throughout the season. PJ was a happy man when the referee brought the curtains down on what had been a truly remarkable campaign for the team from this rural heartland a few miles from Castlebar. The victory cavalcade travelled through Ringeraun and Errew and Michael Mc Donagh and friends had the welcoming fires lit outside the Errew school. It was a moment to savour for the young lads and all associated with the team. They would remember this homecoming for the rest of their lives...and they would always share happy memories of the evening when Errew N.S. was the best team in this Division in all of County Mayo. At a reception in the school, Fr Paddy Gilligan congratulated the lads on their great achievement and on the honour they had brought to the area. It was a wonderful evening to be from the Errew region. There too to share in the celebrations were teachers Mary Prendergast and Mary Hopkins a proud occasion for all associated with Errew school. On duty for Errew N.S. in their county final victory were Michael Byrne, Paul Earley, Tom Kilcoyne, Paul Cosgrove, Michael Hoban (0-3), Tom Earley (0-1), David Quinn (2-3), John Flatherty,and Liam Cosgrove (1-2).
ERREW ANTHEM Rise up ye heroes, come on ye boys, Rise up ye heroes and smile at the sky, Errew are magic, they have the speed, Errew will be champions, we will succeed.
Michael's on crutches, Michael's in goal Thomas the leader here we go, Liam is nippy, Paul Earley too With Paul and David we will succeed.
John Paul has new batteries Tommy marks with skill If they get injured Our subs will roll in
Errew are magic they have the speed Errew will be champions, we will succeed.
MAYO V SLIGO IN MINI GAMES The final games in the Mini games series organised by Connacht Cumann na mBunscol will be held at Mc Hale Park on Sunday prior to the Connacht Championship matches at 1.20pm. It will feature a Mayo selection from Schools all over the County who participated recently in the Cumann na mBunscol competitions against Sligo. The Mayo players are Peter Keane-Belmullet, Kieran Lally-Ballintubber, David Breen-Ballyheane, John Kelly-Neale, PJ Foy and Sean Moran-Knockrooskey, Richard Haran-Cloonlyon, David Doherty-Tavneena, Jarlath Noone-Gortjordan, Mark Nally-Facefield, Enda Campbell-Knock, Vincent Roughneen-Meelick, James Brogan-Foxford. Mayo also played Galway in Tuam and the team on duty was Greg Mulkerrins,Paul Nevin, Niall Heneghan-Claremorris, Noel Gallagher, Cormac Fahey-Swinford, Neill Dunne-Crimlin, Kieran Moran-Parke, Liam O Dionaird, Paraic O Raghallaigh-Eachlaim, A.J. Keegan-Quay, Westport, Paul Finnerty-Ballinrobe, Shane Loftus-Quay, Ballina.
Cumann na mBunscol Exhibition Game Today's mini-game, between a Mayo and Sligo selection, is the final game in a series organised by Cumann na mBunscol Connacht, in association with Connacht GAA Council and the Park Committtees in Tuam, Roscommon and Castlebar. The players on view today were chosen because of the skills they displayed in the INTO GAA sponsored mini-sevens within their town counties, and are intended to promote and develop the mini-games for their schools concept in each county of connacht. Only players that played mini-sevens for their schools are playing today and in Mayo's case, they field a completely new team from the one that played a Galway selection in Tuam on June 14th. Please give them every encouragement, further exhibition games of all that is good in gaelic football, hurling and camogie can be seen at the All Ireland semi finals and finals in Corke Park in August and September. Mayo: A N Other, Mark Nally-Facefield, Enda Campbell-Knock N.S., David Doherty-Tavneena N.S., Jarlath Noone-Gortjordan N.S., Brian Lynch-Belmullet N.S., John Kelly-Neale N.S., Richard Haron-Cloonlyon, Kieran Lally-Ballintubber, PJ Foy-Knockrooskey, Vincent Roughneen-Swinford, Peter Keane-Belmullet, Sean Moran-Knockrooskey, James Brogan-Foxford, Daniel Breen-Ballyheane, Declan Garrett-Crossmolina, Aidan Kelly-Breaffy, Ballina. Sligo: Garrett Quinn-St Edmunds N.S.-Sligo, Dermot Horan-St Edwards N.S.-Sligo, Trevor Loftus-Coolooney N.S., Donal Smith-Ballysodare N.S., Gerard Feeley-Culfodda N.S., Colm Duffy-Keash, Raymond Harnon-Carn, Conor O Grady-Bloomfield, Brian Craig-Clotrogue, David Mc Caffrey-Carraroe N.S., Andrew Mc Auley-Strandhill N.S.-Lee Marshall-St Edwards, Michael Bree-St John's, John Paul Carden-Enniscrone, Philip Gallagher-Rathcormac, Shane Reynolds-Ballinacarrow, Paul Kivlehan-Achonry, Fergus Brennan-Cloonacool, Thomas Henry-Curry N.S., Thomas Waters-Kilmactague, Colm Clarke-Ballinleg, Manus O Gara-Monasteraden N.S.
Cumann na mBunscol In-Service Teachers Coaching Course 1992 An In-service Department of Education approved week long Coaching course for Primary School Teachers has been organised by Cumann na mBunscol. It will be held in the Teachers centre, De La Salle College, Castlebar, and is entitled 'Gaelic Games in the Primary School'. It commences on Monday, August 24th and the week consists of 20 hours (9.30-2pm daily). The 20 hours will be broken up into 10 hours lectures and10 hours pratical sessions. The basic topics covered will be objectives of Coaching, fitness/training methods for children/organising outdoor and indoor Coaching/effects of competition on juveniles, injuries, rules of the game, equipment, facilities. The cost of the course is £10, and all participants are being grant aided by Cumann na mBunscol. The response to date has been very encouraging, and the teachers wishing to commence camogie, hurling and girls football next year are especially invited to attend. Completed application forms and registration fee to County secretary, Tony Fahy, Brackloon, Swinford.
Cumann na mBunscol Mhaigheo Primary Schools are reminded that motions for the County Convention, on October 20th, close on Monday next, October 11th.
AREA A.G.M. At the Ballinrobe area annual general meeting Chairman Mr Donal Carey, N.T. thanked the parents and teachers for their co-operation, also the Neale and Kilmaine clubs for the use of their facilities. He congratulated Ballinrobe, The Neale-(mini-sevens and girls football) Trianlaur, Ballycushion-(boys football), Cross-(County blitz) and Gortjordan, Cloonliffen and Partry-(Table Quiz ) on their achievements.
MEETING The annual general meeting will be held in The Welcome Inn Hotel, Castlebar, on Tuesday night October 20th at 8 pm. Motions and nominations for the clar should be in with the secretary Tony Fahey, Foxford N.S., by Monday Oct. 12th. Retiring Chairman Jim Fogarty has announced he will be stepping down at the end of this year having served two years.
MINI-SEVENS: The mini-sevens games in Mayo will start much earlier next year. All local events will be completed by Oct. and Nov. 92 with all County quarter, semi's and finals in April.
GARDAI RULE Some of my best friends are Teachers. I know a fair few of them who, in a moment of weakness and honesty, will not admit that they are overpaid and underworked. Privately they will admit it is a public scandal that they should enjoy the conditions of work and pay which they do. Many of them have become 'lazy' because they are not tested or put to their limits. There are no challenges and little point to their careers. Others who are still enthusiastic and active find their enjoyment and 'job' satisfaction in extra-curricular activities such as coach to public speaking teams, or debating teams, or sporting outlets. Others still find work beyond the schools to keep them occupied, some go into business part time, while some, not very inventive teachers give grinds to exam pupils. The greatest problem these friends of mine have is avoiding boredom. And that is why, every now and then, they decide to amuse and entertain themselves by taking on the government on some foothery issue such as pay or conditions. Or they might even get up a campaign on some nebbulous issue such as the school curriculum or corporal punishment or the necessity or otherwise or oral french, or even the question of sex education. During these outbreaks of collective ennui the teachers look on the prospect of cowing the government as a diversion, a bit of amusement and good sport. They thought they were going to have great craic with the PESP and were rubbing their hands with glee at the prospect of a series of one day strikes and overtime-what overtime, you might well ask-bans, or even threatened disruption of exams. Well you can imagine their horror and disgust that Burlington Bertie gave in to them without even the whiff of a battle. Sure begod the teachers had not even drawn up their demands before the issue of public service pay was settled. The government, in point of fact, was brought to its knees, not by the teachers, but by the Gardai. Never before in the history of mankind has it happened that the gardai would or could force the government to capitulate. The Teachers, my good friends, I can assure ye are not amused. I even heard some of them to suggest that their union leadership had let them down by not getting in on the act against the government earlier. There could well be resignations among the top brass. And never before in the history of mankind has there been such a spineless government. Without so much as a by your leave or excuse me they have agreed to milk the taxpayer of another £60 millions which they can't afford to pay to meet demands no country could afford. I can assure you all that it would not happen if John Brution was in control. We are not getting good government and as I have mentioned before the time has come for this government to go. There must be a concentrated effort now to get rid of the government. Getting rid of Charlie as leader of Fianna Fail is not a solution to anything. Getting rid of the government is. And tomorrow I suppose I'll be saying that some of my best enemies are teachers.
Cumann na mBunscol A.I.B. County Finals The Cumann na mBunscol A.I.B. sponsored County schools finals will take place in Mc Hale Park, Castlebar, on this Tuesday evening, June 16th, and Wed. evening June 17th. From small beginnings in 1988, the schools championship finals have grown in stature each year, with all the glamour of the big occasion-the audio-taping, the final programme, the photographs, the band, the press coverage, the County grounds. This year's programme could not be fitted into one day, so the hurling and Divisions 1 and 2 of the boys football will be on Tuesday, with the girls football finals and divisions 3 and 4 of the boys on the Wed. 14 schools will vie for the 7 County titles on offer, and a number of very exciting games are in prospect. All the finalists have come through a demanding series of local and inter area games, and deserve the support of parents, teachers, friends and clubs.
FACT FILE 9 Schools are contesting their first County finals-Claremorris and Swinford-Division 1 boys. Belmullet-Div.2, boys, Facefield and Garracloon-Div.4, boys, Carrowholly, The Neale, Geesala, Newport or Carn, girls football. This year's finals are the 3rd consecutive finals to be held in Mc Hale park, Castlebar, and the first to be held over two days. This year will also see two girls football finals for the first time, the 'A' final for the established schools and the 'B' final for schools playing football for the first time. It's the first time for the girls finals to be held in Mc Hale Park. 140 schools participated in the boys football championships in 1992, with 50% of that total taking part in the 9-a-side competition for 3 and 4-Teacher schools. The Division 1 boys championship has been dominated by St Mary's N.S., Ballyhaunis, winning the first 3 titles-1988, 1989.1990. Crossmolina won last year's final. Swinford and Claremorris have already met this year, in the County mini-sevens final in Parke, Claremorris, won by one goal after extra time. Boys football, girls football and Hurling are part of an overall programme of educational activities undertaken by Cumann na mBunscol. Other elements include an inter-schools Sports Quiz, a handball competition, a rounders blitz, mini-sevens in Camogie, hurling, boys and girls football, winter competitions.Cumann na mBunscol acknowledge the financial support of our major sponsors, A.I.B. Banks.
CLAREMORRIS B.N.S. Claremorris B.N.S., a modern 5-teacher all boys school, have a host of famous footballing past pupils, namely Johnny Farragher, Des Griffith, Tom and John P Keane and Sean and Greg Maher. 4 members of the school team that won the South title in 1980 later won All-Ireland medals with Mayo in 1985-John Commons, Kevin Beirne, John French and Greg Maher. This present Claremorris team are blazing their own trail-winning their first area title two weeks ago against Ballinrobe B.N.S.-at the 5th attempt and demolished Newport N.S. 4-17 to 1-4 in the County semi-final. Undefeated all year, both at schools and mini sevens level, they will be hot favourites to win their very first County title, to add to the County mini-sevens title they won in Parke on May 11th. Top players are Niall Whittle, John Mc Gahon, Brian Clarke, David Kilkenny, Paul Nevin, Eimhin Griffith, Stephen Walsh, Greg Mulkerrins, Niall Heneghan. Team manager, Tom Morley, N.T.
SWINFORD N.S. Roll books and inspectors reports date from 1870, but there were two schools since the 1860's. The 2 schools amalgamated in 1990. Boys and girls teams qualified for County semi-finals last year. The boys were beaten by Castlebar. This year they have won all their matches beating Ballaghaderreen, Kiltimagh, Foxford and the Quay, Ballina, in the County semi-final. They played Claremorris in a challenge match earlier this year and were comprehensively beaten. They also lost to Claremorris in the County final 7-a-side after a very tough encounter in very wet and muddy conditions in Parke. 2 sets of brothers play on the team, Dermot and Conor Walsh, Noel and Eoghan Gallagher. Goalkeeper, Raymond Rooney is a nephew of former Mayo goalie, Eugene Rooney, while Padraic Brennan is son of famous footballer, Mattie Brennan. Charlie Maughan who missed the County semi-final because of a family bereavement, is a cousin of ....
BELMULLET N.S. Belmullet N.S. are appearing in their very first County final. They have an impressive undefeated campaign all year, with a string of league wins over Breaffy N.S., Killala N.S., Currabaggan and Culleens to emerge as North Mayo league champions. In the County semi-final against Ballyvary N.S. they dominated the game for long periods until hit by 4 late goals, the final score-Belmullet N.S. 4-6, Ballyvary 4-2. Their best players are David Mc Intyre, Peter Keane, Brian Lynch, Jimmy Lavelle and Jonathan Kavanagh. Team Manager, David Murphy, N.T.
BREAFFY N.S. Scoil Cholmcille, Breaffy, Ballina, is a 6 teacher rural school at the eastern end of Ballina parish. The team is in the final of Division 2 for the second year running, having lost to Louisburgh in last year's decider. 6 of last year's team are available for selection again this year. They gained valuable experience in last year's campaign and are determined to go one step further this time. Almost all the team play underage football for Ardnaree, and have already been through some tough town league and North Mayo campaigns. Breaffy had to qualify for the final the hard way, having lost narrowly in their first match against their final opponents, Belmullet. Since then they have won 6 matches in a row, defeating Currabaggan by 8 points, Rehins by 3-14 to 1-2, Killala by 6 points, Culleens, 10 points, Louisburgh by 4 points and Knock in the semi-final by 16 points. Their top scorers have been Edward Forde, John Rafter, Alan Kelly and David Thornton. Team captain is 12 and a half year old Alan Kelly of Shanaghy, Ballina. Alan is an excellent all round athlete. He has already won town league U 10 and North Mayo U 12 medals. He is currently having a successful run in the relay and hurdles at Community Games level. Alan plays at midfield for the school team, but such is his work rate that he covers most of the pitch, helping out in defence and scoring in attack, which he can do with both feet. This is his third year on the school team.
ERREW N.S. Errew N.S., Castlebar, contest their second County final in 3 years with an impressive run to date. Their undefeated campaign in the Castlebar area led to an area final victory over Parke N.S., the scoreline 2-17 to 1-5. Bunacurry N.S., Achill and Bofeenaun N.S., also had no match to the powerful displays of Paul and Tom Earley, David Quinn, L Cosgrove and M Hoban. Team Manager: P .J. Quinn, N.T.
MEELICK N.S. Meelick N.S., Swinford are previous County 9-a-side champions, when in 1990 they defeated this year's finalists, Errew N.S. in the County final. One member of the present team, Vin Roughneen, was on the 1990 team and another, Damian Gavin, was a sub. In this year's championship, Meelick defeated Bohola N.S., Midfield N.S. and Culmore N.S. In the area final, Bohola matched Meelick all over the field to draw 1-8 to 3-2, but Meelick won the replay 3-8 to 3-2. In the preliminary County game, they defeated Kilkelly 7-9 to 5-4, and in the quarter final beat the Erris champions, Corclough N.S., Belmullet, 9-10 to 2-6. Barnacarroll N.S. were their opponents in the semi final, the final score 9-11 to 3-6. The top 3 scorers to date are Tomas Geraghty, Damian Gavin and Vin Roughneen. In all the team has scored a massive 52 goals and 85 points. Team management, Padraic Gavin, N.T.-Coach, Mr Johnny Geraghty, Mr Peter Geraghty.
FACEFIELD N.S. It has been a memorable year to date for this small 2 teacher school in the Mayo Abbey parish. Celebrating 100 years as a school, and winning their first area final-after a replay with Meelickmore N.S. A quarter final victory over Carrowkennedy N.S. and an impressive 21 points win over Drumgallagh N.S. set up Facefield for a much awaited clash with Garracloon, Jonathan Coyne, Mark Nally, James Moran, Michael Moran, John Nally, Vincent Moran and John Moran are the players that Facefield will look to for County glory. Team manager-Michael Gibbons.
GARRACLOON N.S. Garracloon N.S., Ballina, caters for 46 pupils. It is not only one of the oldest schools in the diocese, but it also is the only surviving two-storey school in the area. It was built by the Earl Of Arran in 1855, and opened as a national school on February 28th, 1858. The building housed separate schools for boys and girls up to the early 1920's when amalgamation took place. The school was renovated in 1986. James Mc Nicholas is the Principal, and Rita Salisbury is the assistant. On the football field, past pupils of Garracloon N.S. have played a prominent role in very sucessful teams in Knockmore, and indeed at County level. Past pupils, Dessie Ruttledge, Eugene Mc Hale, Michael Molloy were members of the Knock team that won the County senior Championship in 1989.
THE NEALE N.S. The Neale N.S. has a proud record and tradition in girls football, both at South Mayo and County schools level. In 1987, the school won the South Mayo Championship- many of the players later formed the backbone of the Cong Community Games U 14 team-4 County, 4 provincial and 2 All Ireland titles, 1988 to 1991, and also the Ballinrobe Community Schools senior girls team that have won 2 consecutive All Ireland titles-1991 and 1992. The school have contested all 5 County Mini-Sevens Finals since its beginning in 1988, winning 2 and losing 3, the latest setback being 1992 when losing by one point to Geesala. The Neale has never won the Cumann na mBunscol schools championship-last year they were defeated by two points in the County semi final by eventual champions, Quay N.S., Ballina. They still retain 5 of the 7 of last year's team, and three of the team-Barbara Mylotte, Bernie Maye and Elaine Kennedy have won All Ireland Community Games medals with Cong in 1991. |
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