WATTY GRAHAMS GAC, GLEN – CLUB NOTES - 13/08/12

Lotto Results 07/08/12

Lotto numbers were 30, 33 & 34. No winner again this week. Next week’s jackpot is £1500.

Fun Run / Family Walk Fundraiser

There will be a 5 Mile Road Run / 3 Mile Family Walk fundraiser on Friday 31 August at 7:30pm. Entry Fee for the Road Run is £10 (free t-shirt for all road runners). Registration is at the Social Club from 6pm.

Senior Football Championship at Watty Park

Thank you to all those club members who helped out in any way at the football pitch during the championship games on Sunday. Another smooth success. The replay of the Glenullin v Loup game will be at Watty Park this Saturday at 5pm so help will be needed once again.

Ulster U14 Camogie

Congratulations to Niamh Gallagher, Niamh McKenna and Catherine McKenna who represented our club when they helped the Derry u14 camogs to victory in the Ulster Blitz in Portaferry at the weekend. All three girls done our club proud. Well done girls and good luck for this Saturday.

Ulster Fleadh

Congratulations to Craobh Luraigh Machaire Ratha agus An Carn who recently represented County Derry at the Ulster Fleadh in Dungiven. Watty Graham members Annie Ní Lochlainn, Mary Ní Lochlainn, Aoibheann Molloy, Roisin McCormack, Cathal McCormack, Caolán Mac Cionnaoith, Niamh McKenna, Aoife McCloskey and Jack Warnock all played brilliantly in the grúpa ceoil (music group) and also competed in their own individual categories. There will be upcoming traditional music workshops and traditional music classes will also resume in September. Further details to follow.

This Week’s Fixtures (team at home is listed first unless stated):

Mon 13 Aug – Senior Ladies v Ballinascreen IN DESERTMARTIN at 7:30pm (League Final).

Wed 18 Aug – Slaughtneil v Reserve’s at 7:30pm (Cship).

Sat 18 Aug – Reserve’s v Banagher at 5pm.

Mon 20 Aug – Senior’s v Banagher at 7:30pm.

Senior Football Championship v Dungiven

Glen began this year’s championship when they took on Dungiven on Sunday past at Ballinascreen. It was our lads who were getting the better of the opening exchanges and after five minutes we had scored two points, the first from Mark O’Donnell with the second coming from a free kick from Ryan Winton after he had been fouled. Despite our lads enjoying good possession and working hard it was Dungiven who then hit the next three points without reply, two of which were from play. Johnny Bradley made a great catch in the middle of the field and drove forward laying off to Ryan Winton who was fouled and he fired over the free kick to tie the scores. Glen were hassling and tackling well making it hard for the ‘sirs’ but Dungiven eventually broke through to score a point from play. They got a bit of luck a while later from a break ball and fired over the bar and got another soon after. The last say of the half went to Mark O’Donnell who fired over the bar after good ball retention by Johnny Bradley and Ciaran McFaul. Half Time Score: Glen 0-04 Dungiven 0-06. All still to play for in the second half and Glen had played some nice football. At half time Tommy McCloy replaced Seanny McGroggan. Early in the second half Glen had cut the lead to the minimum after Ciaran McFaul fired over the bar after good work by big Johnny. Dungiven then got the game changing score of the game when they scored a goal with their supporting runners not being tracked by Glen men. Now four between the sides and an uphill battle for the Watty’s. Mark O’Donnell was fouled with McFaul sending the resulting free kick over the bar. Dungiven responded to that with a point from a free kick. Joe Bradley was introduced for Kevin Bryson with Stevie Convery replacing Mark O’Donnell. Ryan Winton got his third point of the day from a free after Stevie Convery had been fouled. Donal Leahy was then sent into battle in place of Aodhan McGrath with a goal required. Despite good defending by our lads Dungiven managed to get another point from play and got another thirty seconds later to effectively seal the win. Full Back Philly O’Connell had made a good break forward and was fouled with Ryan converting the resulting free kick. Dungiven were then awarded a soft free and they took that gift and fired over the bar. A long ball into the edge of the Dungiven square was fielded by the big Limerick man but his shot on goal was excellently saved by the goalkeeper. Sean Gribbon made his return from a bad ankle injury when he replaced Ryan Winton with a couple of minutes to go. Dungiven however closed out the game with a further two points from play to win by seven points. Full Time Score: Glen 0-08 Dungiven 1-12. Definitely wasn’t a seven point game as I seen it as we were well in that game for large parts but Dungiven basically had greater accuracy which won them the game. All hands on deck now for the crucial league game v Banagher next Monday night. Team & Scorers: Gerard McKenna, Connor Carville, Philly O’Connell, Brendan O’Kane, Odhran Bradley, Ryan Dougan, Dee Maguire, Johnny Bradley, Kevin Bryson, Michael Warnock, Ciaran McFaul (0-02), Mark O’Donnell (0-02), Seanny McGroggan, Aodhan McGrath, Ryan Winton (0-04). Subs used: Tommy McCloy for Seanny McGroggan, Joe Bradley for Kevin Bryson, Stevie Convery for Mark O’Donnell, Donal Leahy for Aodhan McGrath, Sean Gribbon for Ryan Winton.

Intermediate Camogie Championship Semi Final

Glen fielded to Banagher in the semi final of the Molloy Shield last Saturday evening in Drumsurn. There was a very strong breeze blowing down the pitch which was to have a big bearing on the game and Glen played against that wind in the first half. Banagher settled much quicker than Glen and dominated the early play. They had a couple of wides before they got on the scoreboard with a point from Adele Hassan when she picked up a short puck outand sent the ball over the bar. The same player doubled her tally with a long range point from play on six minutes. The Glen defence was under severe pressure and found it difficult to get the ball past the half way line. Andrena O'Kane pointed a free to give Banagher a three point lead. Half way through the first half Shauna Murphy picked up a loose ball and sent it over the bar. The Banagher pressure continued and they missed a few chanceswith wides from Shauna Murphy and Caoimhe Lynch. AdeleHassan then found herself in a lot of space and pointed yet again. Glen’s first score of the game came from a good move when Aileen McKenna received a pass from CarlaBradley, Aileen drove in a low ball thatsurprised the keeper and it ended in the back of the net. Charlotte Burke was introduced. Breige Dougan then gave a good pass to Leanne McCrystal who was through on goal and hand passed the ball towards the net for what she thought was a goal but the keeper cleared. Tamara Hassan increased Banagher's lead when she scored a good point from the wing from play. Banagher then had their best goal chance when Shauna Murphy made a strong run but she charged into Orla McGillian in the Glen goals and a free out was awarded. At the other end of the pitch Glen had another goal chance when Eimear McNicholl sent in a long ball but Leanne McCrystal was judged to be in the square before the ball so a free out resulted. Glen was now getting a foothold on the game but Banagher went up the pitch and Andrena O'Kane sent in a long ball to Shauna Murphy who hit the net to halt Glen's comeback. Shannon O'Connor added another point form play to leave Glen trailing by seven points with half time looming. Glen did fight back and after good work by Cathy Cassidy she got the ball into Breige Dougan who scored a fine point. Eimear McNicholl had a chance to reduce the deficit but her shot went narrowly wide. Glen continued to attack and Leanne McCrystal made a strong run and Deirdre Biggs was called upon to make the save at the expense of a forty five metre free. Aileen McKenna sent that free over the bar. This proved to be the last score of the half so the sides went in on a half time score of Banagher 1-07 Glen 1-02. Banagher were now playing against the breeze and did not enjoy the same amount of possession as they had in the first half. They were however first to score in this half when AdeleHassan was fouled by Nuala Convery and the free was pointed. Glen now had much more possession but was not turning it into scores, with Aileen McKenna sending in a long ball but it went outside the upright. Cathy Cassidy sent in a probingball which was well saved by Deirdre Biggs. Therese Dillon replaced Clare Lagan. Aileen McKenna then made amends for her previous wide when after a neat pick up she sent the ball over the bar. Glen continued the pressure but the final shots were off target. The next point came from Breige Dougan after a good build up involving Caoimhe Glass andRebecca Ferguson. With eleven minutes to play Shauna Murphy ran through the Glen defence and sent the ball to the back of the net. Glen had a mountain to climb to pull this back but this young team didn’t wilt. Caoimhe Glass, who was easily the best player on the pitch, worked hard in midfield and sent a pass to Therese Dillon who found Eimear McNicholl who scored a good point. Banagher counter attacked and after a goalmouth scramble the ball seemed to go wide but the referee overruled both umpires and awarded a forty five metre free, which was sent wide. Caoimhe Glass continued to dominate midfield and got her reward for her hard work when she sent in a long ball that ended in the Banagher net to bring the sides level. From the puck out Caoimhe gathered possession againand sent the ball over the bar. Therese put Glen two up with a fine point from play. This should have been increased to a three point lead when Aileen McKenna was going through and was blown up for over carrying when it seemed that her hurl was being held. Banagher put the minimum between the teams with a pointed free but Glen was not going to relinquish their title easily anddefendedwell to repel the Banagher attacks. Glen got the last score of the game when Leanne McCrystal gave Cathy Cassidy a good pass and she duly pointed. The final whistle blew after almost seven minutes of added time. Final Score was Glen 3-08 Banagher 2-09. Well done to the players and management on a huge battle and best of luck in the final.

Minor Football Championship Semi Final

The minor team opened their championship campaign when they travelled to Ballymaguigan last Monday night to take on Bellaghy in the semi final stage after receiving a bye for the first round. Hopes are high for further success for this age group this year however they will be fully aware that they are also up there to be shot at. Despite missing a few players Glen still fielded a very strong side highlighting the depth of talent which exists in this group. Bellaghy enjoyed possession in the first minute or two of this game but Glen soon had their first attack when midfielder Ciaran McFaul drove forward with the ball from midfield and brilliantly fired over the bar from out wide on the right hand side of the field. Stevie O’Hara played a good kick pass to Danny Tallon who laid off to the attacking wing back Cathal Mulholland and he fired over the bar for a great score. Bellaghy responded with a point from a free kick. A long ball in from Ryan Dougan from a free found Danny Tallon in space and he turned and fired over the bar. Conor Convery was on the ball but was fouled by his marker and Ciaran McFaul converted the resulting free kick. A move which started from a dubious free saw Bellaghy get their second point of the day, and their first from play. Cahair Glass got onto the scoresheet for the Watty’s with a great point from play. Bellaghy launched another attack and sent a long ball in around the Glen square which deflected off a defender with Ciaran McCloy making a good reaction save to prevent the ball from going into our net. Two further points from free kicks followed for Glen, the first from McFaul with the second coming from Stevie O’Hara. Five points now between the sides. From the resulting kick-out from Stevie’s free kick Glen once again gathered possession through Cahair Glass and he soloed towards goal and fisted over the bar, with the help of the Bellaghy goalkeeper. In another Glen attack Ryan Dougan brilliantly fielded a high ball on the Bellaghy 20m line and he fisted to Cahair Glass whose high looping shot for a point just made it over the other side of the crossbar for this third score of the day. Bellaghy never gave up though and got two points in a row, both from free kicks. The half time whistle blew a few minutes later with the scores Glen 0-09 Bellaghy 0-04. At half time Conor Glass replaced Stevie O’Hara, with Paul Gunning moving from wing half back to centre half forward. Tiernan Flanagan also entered the fray replacing Jack Doherty. A Glen move right from the second half throw in led to Conor Convery scoring a good point from play. Bellaghy were determined not to let Glen out of sight and broke forward from a free kick and found the back of the Glen net with some suspect defending from our lads. Three points now between the sides. Great pressure by Kevy McErlean in the full forward line led to a Bellaghy defender misplacing his fist pass to a colleague and Paul Gunning gratefully collected the ball and after a short solo run blasted to the back of the Bellaghy net to quickly cancel out the Bellaghy goal. Ryan Dougan won a ‘hop ball’ and laid off to Conor Convery who fired over the bar for his second point of the game. Midway through the half Ciaran McFaul excellently dispatched a tricky free kick. A number of scoreless minutes then elapsed before Bellaghy got a point from a free kick. In a Peter Canavan / Benny Coulter type substitution Stevie O’Hara re-entered the fray in place of Kevy McErlean. An interchanging of passes between McFaul, Stevie and Gunning led to Paul firing over the bar. Another free kick from McFaul was sent over the bar with full time approaching to leave nine points between the sides. Bellaghy had the last say in the game and got a consolation goal when a ‘45’ was sent into the Glen square with the ball unfortunately coming off the hand of Stevie O’Hara and past Kiwi in the Glen goals. The full time whistle then followed with the scores Glen 1-14 Bellaghy 2-05. Not the best of performances from this side with Bellaghy highlighting a few things which will no doubt be ironed out on the training pitch but job done and they now take on neighbours Slaughtneil in the final. The date for the final is expected to be in early September - keep checking the notes and the website for confirmation. Team & Scorers: Ciaran McCloy, Conor McDevitt, Ryan McDonnell, Oisin Hegarty, Paul Gunning (1-01), Conor Carville, Cathal Mulholland (0-01), Ciaran McFaul (0-05), Ryan Dougan, Jack Doherty, Stevie O’Hara (0-01), Cahair Glass (0-03), Kevy McErlean, Conor Convery (0-02), Danny Tallon (0-01). Subs used: Conor Glass for Stevie O’Hara, Tiernan Flanagan for Jack Doherty, Stevie O’Hara for Kevy McErlean.