Family Fund-raiser
Some funds are required to complete the fitness trail and provide a Hurling/Rebound Wall for youth coaching of all Gaelic games at Pairc Aoidh Ruaidh. Tom Daly is co-ordinating a small fund-raiser to meet some of the costs of these works. The ‘Family Fund-Raiser’ is a simple format where a family hosts ten people at a meal in their home for a donation of €20 each. To participate you host your table on a day which suits you or before Saturday September 6th and make a return of €200 on September 8th. Each person who participates and makes a €20 donation will be entered in a draw for two stand tickets for the 2014 All-Ireland final and double room and dinner for two in the Croke Park Hotel on Saturday, September 20th, the night before the final. Further details are available from Tom Daly or email ftdaly@hotmail.com. Aodh Ruadh supporters living away from Ballyshannon are particularly welcome to participate.
Club meeting
The monthly club executive meeting takes place this Thursday in Aras Aoidh Ruaidh at 8.30pm. All committee members are asked to attend.
Football
Aodh Ruadh’s adult footballers finally return to competitive action this Saturday. They will host Red Hugh’s in Father Tierney Park. The reserve game throws in at 5.30pm and is followed by the seniors at 7pm.
The under 21s face Saint Eunan’s in O’Donnell Park in the under 21 A championship quarter-final on Tuesday 2 September, throw in is at 7pm. We hope to have a good showing of Ballyshannon support down at this one.
It was heartbreak for the under 16s in the Southern Regional Board league final as they narrowly failed to hold off a second half fight back from Ardara to lose by two points despite a full-hearted display. Aodh Ruadh started with the benefit of a strong wind in Killybegs and quickly had two points on the board before passing up a goal-scoring opportunity. The sides then exchanged points before Conall Sweeny hit the net to take the scores to 1-4 to 0-1 in favour of the Ernesiders. A second goal from Nathan Boyle then helped Aodh Ruadh to a half-time scoreline of 2-6 to 0-2. Ardara started the second half like a whirlwind hitting two goals before Aodh Ruadh hit two points to stem their momentum and make it 2-8 to 2-2. After that Ardara started slowly reeled in the Ballyshannon lead, hitting three unanswered points. Shane McGrath hit a free from in front of the posts, but Ardara kept coming, hitting another six points to take the victory on a scoreline of 2-11 to 2-9. In better news the under 16s defeated Dungloe 2-4 to 0-7 in the sides’ first round, second leg championship encounter on Friday evening to secure their place in the next round.
The under 13s lost 2-10 to 0-5 against Saint Naul’s last Wednesday. They host Naomh Conaill this Wednesday in Father Tierney Park. Throw in for that game is 6.30pm.
The under 10s had a good hard blitz in Donegal town on Saturday against Four Masters, Bundoran and Naomh Bríd. We were short a fair few, but the lads that were there gave everything for the Aodh Ruadh jersey. The lads who lined out for Ballyshannon were Daniel Breen, Conor Cleary, Oisin Daly, Padraig Daly, Ryan Daly, Michael Doogan, JJ Doran, Jack Gallagher, James Gallagher, Aaron Horan, Eoghan Kelly, Cian McKenna, James McGinley, Shane McGloin, Ronan McKenna, Art Mag Fhionnghaile, Lorc Mag Fhionnghaile, Drew Ryan, Aidan Sweeny and Aonghus Sweeny. Training will be at the usual time of 6.30pm this Wednesday and 11am Saturday.
Under 8 and under 6 training continues this Friday in Páirc Aoidh Ruaidh at 6.30pm.
Hurling
Aodh Ruadh sank to a 1-9 to 6-15 defeat against Burt in the latest stage of the senior hurling championship round robin stages. Ciaran Kilgannon got the first point of the game before Burt raced into a 3-2 to 0-1 lead after just five minutes. The Inishowen men were 5-10 to 1-5 to the good by the time the half-time whistle came. The Aodh Ruadh goal was flicked home by Declan Browne in the 15th minute. Ciaran Kilgannon finished as top scorer for Aodh Ruadh with six points, all from frees, with Peter Horan and Danny Hayden each hit a point apiece. The senior hurlers are down to travel to Ballybofey to take on MacCumhaill’s in the championship this Saturday. Throw in for that game is 7pm.
Our under 16s travelled to Letterkenny on Tuesday last to play Saint Eunan’s in the league semi-final. It turned out to be a great game between two very committed teams. Saint Eunan’s got off to a great start and hit Aodh Ruadh for a number of early goals. Ballyshannon never hurled at all in the first half as Saint Eunan’s led by ten points at half time 3-6 to 0-5. The lads turned the game around in the second half and hurled like we knew they could, full of commitment taking some great scores. They got the score back to the minimum, but unfortunately they ran out of time just coming up short on a 4-8 to 4-7 scoreline. It was a hard defeat to take, but the lads knew they lost the game in the first half when they put in a very lacklustre performance. Thanks to our very loyal parents who drove the lads to the game. Your efforts are appreciated by all associated with the team. They are due to play Carndonagh in the championship on 4th September.
On Thursday night our under 12s got a much needed win against Four Masters in Donegal Town. The majority of this team is under 10 and they have had a tough season, but are showing great commitment and were delighted to run out winners 1-8 to 3-0. Thanks to the parents who drove the lads to the game your support as always is much appreciated.
The long awaited replay of the minor championship final against Buncrana takes place this Thursday at the Centre of Excellence in Convoy, throw-in at 7pm. Again the Buncrana men will be favourites for this game, but hopefully our lads will show the same determination they showed in the first game. If the replay is half as good as the first game it should be a great contest. Best of luck to the lads as they attempt to retain their title.
All-Ireland blitzes take place in Newry this Saturday. Donegal under 16s are taking part in the B grade and Aodh Ruadh are represented on this squad by Oisín Rooney, Brendan Gillespie and Kieran Daly. The Donegal under 15s are competing in the under 16 C grade and we are represented on this squad by Stephen Anderson, Conall Sweeney and Patrick McCaffrey.
Ladies
The Aodh Ruadh Ladies had a busy weekend this weekend, as they took to their bikes bright and early Saturday morning to commence the annual Cyclothon. A huge thank you goes out to all who turned out on the day to pedal on the day. Of course a huge thank you goes out to all the people who supported the Aodh Ruadh Ladies club on the day in their quest to raise funds. We have some shots from the fund-raiser up on aodhruadh.org.
Fantasy Sam
John Patton Jr and his team have opened a sizeable lead after the game on Sunday. He has 249 points, but close on his heels is Karol Foley and her team, Biggest Losers, on 225 points. In joint third are Barry Travers and his team, Still The Greatest Reserve and John Keon and his team, Lakeside Lads, on 223 points. In fifth place we have Paul McLoone and his team, Abbey Utd, on 215 points. As always the leader board is available every Tuesday on aodhruadh.org, as well as Ballybookies, The Bridgend Bar, Owen Roe’s Bar and upstairs in Aras Aoidh Ruaidh.
Bingo
Last week’s jackpot winner was Ritchie Newell, Assaroe View. This Friday night is the August Big Bingo, with a prize fund of €2,700, including a €1,000 Jackpot game finale! First game in the Abbey Centre at 9pm, books costs €15 for a full book, €8 for a half, or play a book and a half for €20. See you there!
Semi-final ticket competition
Highland Radio are giving one lucky listener the chance to win a pair of tickets for the game against Dublin on Sunday 31st August plus an overnight stay the night before the game in the Regency Hotel in Drumcondra. To be in with a chance of winning simply answer the following question. Donegal won their first Sam Maguire Cup in 1992, but who did they beat in the final that year? To enter text GAA plus your answer name and address to 57252. Your entry will cost €2 plus your operators charge. €1 will go to the Donegal Team Training Fund. Lines close at 12 noon on Wednesday 27th August 2014. The winner will be announced that evening on The GAA Programme.
Lotto
There was no winner of the Aodh Ruadh Lotto Jackpot of €2,000. The numbers drawn were 1, 4, 9, 10, 11 and 17. In the lucky dip €40 went to Gertrude Bolger, Kilkenny; Marcella Loughlin, Dunmuckrim; Majella Gethins, Finner; Tony Larkin, c/o John Larkin; and Mary Morrow. Next week’s draw for a jackpot of €2,100 takes place at 8.30pm in The Bridgend bar on Sunday.
The lotto team for McCosker’s Centra this Saturday is: BORD NA NÓG.
The lotto team for Kernan’s Spar this 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.
By Sinéad Breen Donegal PRO Fri 29th Aug
