Meeting Monaghan Senior Players
On Tuesday 6th July members of our underage teams travelled to Cloghan to meet members of the Monaghan senior team. A good crowd of parents and supporters also made the trip and I have included below a selection of photos. The kids really enjoyed meeting their heros and it is something that should be done more often.
RAFFLE
Would you like to win a new suite of bedroom furniture? Well you could be the lucky winner of a fabulous suite of bedroom furniture for just €5. That’s right, for only €5 you can enter our raffle and win any of the following prizes.
1st prize a suite of bedroom furniture (kindly donated by the Maple Bar, Rockcorry)
2nd prize €200
3rd prize is two nights bed & breakfast in Galway
4th prize one overnight stay in Cavan Crystal hotel
5th €50.
All committee members and players have raffle sheets and the draw will take place at the haymakers jig dance on Sunday 25th July.
Rockcorry 8-15 Clones 2-2 (Minor Championship)
Rock always in control in one sided win over Clones
Team: Aaron Clerkin, Gavin Lynch, Matthew Greenan, Peter McPhillips, Conor McGeough 0-1, John Greenan, Keelan Clerkin 1-1, Mark McGuirk 3-2, Nathan Duffy 2-1, Lorcan Smyth 1-3, Gavin Farrelly, Fergal McGeough 0-7 and Christopher Greenan 1-0.
Subs: Ryan McDermott for Gavin Farrelly, Andrew Mulligan for Mark McGuirk
After a couple of tough encounters against Clones in the league campaign we travelled to Pairc Emmett, Agahbog on Tuesday 6th July to take them on in the division 3 minor championship semi-final and what looked on paper as a competitive game developed into a very one-sided affair as the margin of victory was a massive thirty-one points as our lads totally outclassed the lads from Clones over the hour to emerge with a comfortable victory.
On a drizzly evening for football we dominated the early exchanges but we squandered a number of chances in the first couple of minutes before Keelan Clerkin made a trademark solo run, in the 4th minute, and finished in style. A minute later that was added to by Mark McGuirk when he scored a superb goal after he collected a pass from Gavin Farrelly. Our defence halted a Clones attacked in the 6th minute and we broke at pace and when Mark McGuirk was hauled down, Fergal McGeough stepped up to sail over the free kick to open up a 1-2 to 0-0 lead. Clones opened their account in the 10th minute when they slotted over a fine point from play and when Keelan Clerkin and Nathan Duffy collided with each other it allowed the Clones attacker to notch over another point to close the deficit. This was immediately cancelled out when Mark McGuirk curled over a point following good defensive work by Gavin Lynch. A minute later we gave away possession from a sideline ball and Clones took full advantage as they attacked with purpose and lobbed a high ball into our danger zone and Aaron Clerkin managed to fist the ball away but it fell to a Clones player who shot to the back of the net to close the gap to a single point.
At this stage, we began to work through the gears and soon raced ahead with a succession of unanswered scores and it began when Lorcan Smyth was fouled in the 16th minute and Mark McGuirk opted to play a one-two with Fergal McGeough then he slipped a lovely pass through to Lorcan Smyth who pointed from twenty metres. Mark McGuirk stretched our lead in the 18th minute when he rifled home his second goal following good work by Nathan Duffy and shortly afterwards the Clones keeper was taking the ball out of the net for a third time as Fergal McGeough and Mark McGuirk combined to set up Lorcan Smyth who weaved his way through the Clones defence to blast the ball past the Clones keeper to open up a commanding 3-4 to 1-2 lead. Nathan Duffy kicked wide in the 20th minute before Clones scored their second goal when a long delivery was misjudged by Aaron Clerkin and the ball dropped harmlessly into the net. In the 24th minute, an effort from Nathan Duffy fell short and into the hands of the Clones keeper but he got a second chance twenty seconds later and he made no mistake this time as he sailed over a terrific point. Keelan Clerkin won the ensuing kick-out and played a one-two with Nathan Duffy and he surged forward and broke through the Clones defence and sent a rasping shot to the net. Fergal McGeough and Lorcan Smith hit a point a piece in the 25th and 26th minute and when Nathan Duffy collected the ball following good work by Christopher Greenan and Lorcan Smith he scored our fifth goal. We finished the half with a brace of late points from Lorcan Smyth (0-2) and Fergal McGeough (0-1) to leave the half time score Rockcorry 5-10 Clones 2-2.
Clones tale of woe continued in the second half as we continued our dominance on the change of ends and within ten seconds of the throw-in Lorcan Smyth hit the upright. A minute later Conor McGeough was fouled and his younger brother Fergal floated over a glorious long range free-kick from the dead ball. Clones kicked wide in the 3rd minute before Fergal McGeough slotted over a point following good passing movement between Gavin Lynch, Keelan Clerkin and Mark McGuirk. Good defensive work by Peter McPhillips a minute later halted a Clones attack and when Keelan Clerkin was fouled he delivered a pass into Fergal McGeough who off-loaded to Mark McGuirk and he turned inside his marker and sent a low shot pass the keeper. Clones missed scoring opportunities in the 7th and 9th minutes and when Mark McGuirk collected a pass in the 13th minute he extended our advantage when he notched over a brilliant point. A minute later, Christopher Greenan got his name on the scoresheet when he tapped in our seventh goal after good work by Fergal McGeough, Keelan Clerkin and Nathan Duffy and when Conor McGeough made a burst up the field, in the 22nd minute, he showed his accuracy when he bisected the uprights. In the closing stages of the game Fergal McGeough curled over point and Nathan Duffy rounded off the scoring when he sent a powerful shot to hit the back of the net to leave the final score Rockcorry 8-15 Clones 2-2.
I imagine the sound of the final whistle came as a relief for the Clones players but to be honest they were missing a number of key players and the team tried their level best to compete but apart from a brief flurry in the first half they were outclassed over the hour as we were simply “awesome”. That being said our team management will be quietly satisfied with the performance but no doubt will be astutely aware that the level of resistance they experienced was poor and will know they face a tougher test in the final. Anyway lads keep up the good work and here’s hoping you can bring home the first piece of silverware in 2010, well done!
(back row) Fergal McGeough, Keelan Clerkin, John Greenan, Aaron Clerkin, Christopher Greenan, Nathan Duffy, Matthew Greenan, Gavin Farrelly. (front row) Ryan McDermott, Mark McGuirk, Andrew Mulligan, Conor McGeough, Lorcan Smyth, Gavin Lynch, Peter McPhillips.
Lotto Results Monday 5th July
The numbers drawn on Monday night were 1, 4, 6, and 22. There was no jackpot winner of €2,800.00. The following people won €15 each:
Eileen Calvert, Rockcorry
Marie Carroll, London
Declan Leonard, Aghabog
Eileen Clerkin, Rockcorry
Mary McGinnity, Ballybay
Pat Brannigan, Rockcorry
Bridie Sheridan, Rockcorry
Bridie McGill, Rockcorry
Next week our jackpot will be €2,900.00 and the draw will take place in the Maple Bar at 10.30pm sharp. Thank you for supporting our Top 4 lotto draw.
Club Notes Dated 6th July
Streamline Coaches Intermediate Football League
Our senior team played Doohamlet last Friday (2nd July) evening in what was a very tough and competitive game of football. For once the scoreboard, Rockcorry 0-12 Doohamlet 0-12, does tell the storey as from the outset this encounter was a ding-dong battle as both sides were evenly matched and cancelled each other out as neither team really dominated. Our team management will be a lot happier with the performance as it was certainly an improvement from that witnessed against Donaghmoyne as players rediscovered their fighting spirit and showed more determination and focus. However, there is still a lot of work to do and improvements will be necessary before we meet Doohamet again in the first round of the intermediate championship. A full match report of the Rockcorry v Doohamlet game and action photos can be viewed on our website www.rockcorrygaa.ie. The next outing for our senior team is a home game against Aghabog on Wednesday 21st July with a throw-in time of 8pm and on Wednesday 28th July we travel to play Emyvale at 8pm.
Monaghan Electrical Reserve League Division 4
The next game for our reserve team is fixed for Wednesday 14th July when we travel to play Blackhill at 8pm. On Friday 23rd July we have a home game against Emyvale at 8pm and on Friday 30th July we have another home against Killanny at 7.30pm.
Raffle
Does your bedroom need a “do over”? Would you like a new suite of bedroom furniture? Well you could be the lucky winner of a fabulous suite of bedroom furniture for just €5. That’s right, for only €5 you can enter our monster raffle with the 1st prize a suite of bedroom furniture that was kindly donated by the Maple Bar, the 2nd prize €200, 3rd prize is two nights bed & breakfast in Galway, 4th prize one overnight stay in Cavan Crystal hotel and 5th €50. All committee members and players have raffle sheets and the draw will take place at the haymakers jig dance on Sunday 25th July.
“Guess the Score” Competition
Monaghan play Tyrone in the Ulster senior championship football final on Sunday 18th July in St. Tiernach’s Park Clones. The club has decided to run another “Guess the Score” competition as it proved very popular the last time. Once again this is a great opportunity to test your knowledge and predict the score of the game. All proceeds will go towards buying a new set of playing gear for our under 16 and minor teams. Thank you for your support.
Barbeque & Dance
If the aroma of sizzling sausages, grilled steaks and juicy beef burgers causes your taste buds to tingle then make sure you keep free Saturday 24th July as the club is holding a social night and barbeque in St. Mary’s Hall. I’m getting hungry just thinking about it!
Vintage Hay Making / Vintage Festival Day
Don’t forget that a traditional hay making / vintage festival day which will take place on Sunday 25th July at Dartrey sports fields at 12 noon. You will get a chance to see vintage tractors, working farm horses, tedders, cocking of the hay, lapping & ricking of the hay etc. There will also be a vintage parade including cars, tractors and machinery and with plenty of other activities lined up such as poultry sale, car boot sale, sheaf tossing, tug-of-war, celli music, it promises to be a great days entertainment and there will be plenty for all the family to see, do and enjoy!
Under 8 Coaching
Coaching sessions for all under 8’s continues on Wednesday night’s from 6.0 – 7.30pm in St. Mary’s Hall or weather permitting on Pairc Naomh Mhuire. All five, six, seven and eight year olds are welcome to attend.
Under 10’s
Last week our under 10 footballers were presented with a new set of jersey’s and the team looked resplendent in their new gear. The new kit seemed to lift the players as they all put on a great display at the under 10 go games blitz held last week.
Monaghan VHI GAA Cul Camps 2010
A list of the forthcoming VHI GAA Cul camps can be viewed on our website www.rockcorrygaa.ie. If parents need further information or require any clarification please contact our Youth Officer Martina McKeown for details.
Under 12 Team
Our under 12 team have a game this Saturday 10th July when they travel to play Clones at 12 noon.
Under 16 Team
Last Thursday evening our under 16 team took on Corduff. Despite a good start by the lads we made a few mistakes which ultimately led to us being behind at the break 1-6 to 4-4. The second half proved to be very entertaining with both sides trading scores and we were on level terms within ten minutes as we notched up an impressive 2-1 but Corduff were always dangerous in front of goals and just proved that wee bit more clinical and won on a score-line Rockcorry 4-10 Corduff 7-9. Unfortunately, due to injuries and a number of players away on holidays we could not field against Donaghmoyne. Therefore, the next outing for our under 16 team is a home game against St. Patrick’s on Thursday 15th July. The game has a 7.00pm throw-in.
Minor Team
On Tuesday 29th June our minor team travelled to play Tyholland in the league campaign. It was end to end stuff and was very entertaining and at the break Tyholland had a marginal lead 1-5 to 1-2. The second half began with the same speed and intensity as the first with both teams producing some high quality football and with five minutes remaining the game was neck and neck with both teams having 1-8 apiece. However, the final five minutes Tyholland pulled away as they showed their strength and ability when they scored 1-3 to our 0-1 to win on a score-line Tyholland 2-11 Rockcorry 1-9. Despite losing it was a great team effort and they showed plenty of heart and fighting spirit as they battled hard and hopefully they can bounce back against Emyvale which takes place on Tuesday 13th July at Naomh Pairc Mhuire with a throw-in time of 8.00pm.
Top 4 Lotto Results
The numbers drawn last Monday night were 1, 4, 6, and 22. There was no jackpot winner of €2,800.00. The following people won €15 each: Eileen Calvert Rockcorry, Marie Carroll London, Declan Leonard Aghabog, Eileen Clerkin Rockcorry, Mary McGinnity Ballybay, Pat Brannigan Rockcorry, Bridie Sheridan Rockcorry, Bridie McGill Rockcorry. Next week our jackpot will be €2,900.00 and the draw will take place in the Maple Bar at 10.30pm sharp. Thank you for supporting our Top 4 lotto draw.
Best Wishes
The club extends their congratulations and best wishes to Susanne Quinn and Enda Keenan who got married last weekend. We wish you many long years of wedded bliss in your new life together and here’s to a future of good fortune, health and happiness.
Sympathy
On behalf of the club I would like to extend our deepest condolences to Ivan McCullom and his family on the recent passing of his mother Florrie. May she rest in peace.
Rockcorry 0-12 Doohamlet 0-12
Streamline Coaches Intermediate Football League, Round 11 – Friday 2nd July
Rock rediscover fighting spirit to earn a share of the spoils
Team: Jamie Smith, Colin Reilly, Damien Matthews, Garry Calvert, Niall McKeown, Johnny Reilly, Stephen McGuirk 0-3, Noel Carroll, Mark Daly 0-6, Keelan Clerkin, Liam Connolly, Martin Carroll, Mark McGuirk 0-1, Paul McKeown, Dwayne Rooney 0-1.
Subs: Keith Daly for Martin Carroll, Anthony Tate 0-1 for Keelan Clerkin.
Having suffered a heavy defeat to Donaghmoyne in the previous league game we set out to recover some lost ground against Doohamlet on Friday 2nd July. Earlier in the year, Doohamlet beat us narrowly and with both teams scheduled to meet each other again in the first round of the intermediate championship this was an eagerly awaited clash. Now for once the scoreboard Rockcorry 0-12 Doohamlet 0-12 does tell the storey as from the outset this encounter was a ding-dong battle as both sides were evenly matched and cancelled each other out as neither team really dominated.
The game was played in ideal conditions, under blue skies and bright sunshine, before a fairly large attendance and it was Doohamlet who started much the brighter as they dominated the opening exchanges and registered their first score after only twenty seconds of play when they notched over a fine point from play. A poor pass out off defence by Noel Carroll, (he should’ve went to specsavers!) in the 3rd minute, allowed Doohamlet to fire over their second point. Paul McKeown kicked wide in the 3rd minute and when Noel Carroll was brought down in the 5th minute Mark Daly took the resulting free, which in fairness was probably more suited for a left footed player and he kicked it wide. Doohamlet kicked wide in the 7th minute but they won the ensuing kick-out and made a penetrating run through our defence that yielded a fisted point to stretch their lead to three points.
Noel Carroll applies pressure to the Doohamlet midfielder.
After a slow start we eventually opened our account in the 10th minute after a superb solo run by Noel Carroll through the heart of the Doohamlet defence and he off-loaded to Mark Daly who delivered a pass into Dwayne Rooney who sailed over a terrific point from the left wing. A minute later Mark McGuirk showed pure class after he collected a pass from Noel Carroll and scored a wonderful point, that was eventually awarded after some confusion as to its validity between the two umpires! In the 12th minute, Mark Daly kicked over our third point to bring the sides all square with 0-3 apiece.
Keelan Clerkin on the ball as he attempts to evade the challenge of his opponent.
However, Doohamlet’s response was immediate as they hit a mini ‘purple patch’ to put some daylight between the sides, once again, as they notched over three quick points in the 13th, 14th and 15th minute to restore a three point gap. In the 16th minute, Mark Daly was unlucky to see his free-kick effort come back of the cross bar after Paul McKeown was fouled, and the ball was cleared but our forwards showed great intensity and forced the Doohamlet defender to over carry which allowed Stephen McGuirk to curl over a lovely free kick to close the deficit back to two points. Mark Daly won the ensuing kick-out and he delivered a pass into Paul McKeown who was hauled down and Mark tapped over the free-kick to make it a one point game. In the 20th minute a Doohamlet player was penalised for over carrying the ball and Noel Carroll took a quick free to Colin Reilly and he sent the ball forward to Mark McGuirk, who tuned inside his marker, but on this occasion his attempt drifted slightly wide and a minute later Mark was in the action again but unfortunately his attempt at the uprights was off target.
Niall McKeown manages to off-load the ball despite the challenge from his opponent.
Colin Reilly fouled his opponent in the 23rd minute that allowed Doohamlet to restore a two point lead. Mark Daly won possession from the kick-out and off-loaded to Niall McKeown who made a marvellous surge forward that resulted in a free which Mark Daly tapped over the bar from close range to reduce the gap back to a single point. Doohamlet kicked wide in the 25th minute and when Mark Daly broke through the Doohamlet defence, in the 28th minute, he was clean through on goals but the referee Sean Ward did not allow advantage and called back play for an earlier foul which Mark converted to bring the sides all square again 0-7 apiece. A minute later, we took the lead for the first and only time of the game after Mark Daly was fouled and he converted the free kick himself. However, Doohamlet had the last say of the first half as they notched over a point a minute into injury time to leave the half time score Rockcorry 0-8 Doohamlet 0-8.
Paul McKeown puts the Doohamlet defender under pressure.
The restart saw Noel Carroll revert to a more accustomed half forward role with Niall McKeown moving into the midfield area and the second half started similar to the first with Doohamlet getting out of the traps in lightning pace and hit three points in quick succession. They notched over their first from play within a minute of the throw-in and they failed to capitalise on their possession as they missed two chances to extend their lead kicking wide in the 3rd and 5th minute. However, they did manage to register a score in the 6th minute following a poor kick-out by Jamie Smith and when they fired over a long range point in the 7th minute they restored a three point advantage. Scrappy play dominated the ensuing exchanges and it was not until the 12th minute that Niall McKeown made a surging solo run and was hauled down and Stephen McGuirk steadied the ship when he converted the free-kick to close the gap back to two points. A couple of minutes later Stephen McGuirk added a further point following a foul on Paul McKeown to keep us in touching distance.
Damien Matthews goes airbourne to receive the ball ahead of his opponent.
Our resilient defence, superbly marshalled by Damien Matthews, Garry Calvert and Johnny Reilly thwarted a Doohamlet attack in the 16th minute but we had a narrow escape two minutes later when Doohamlet came within inches of scoring a goal after a goalmouth scramble but the vigilance of Damien Matthews and Colin Reilly we were able to clear the ball away. Having escaped that episode without conceding we broke downfield in search of an equalising point but Paul McKeown’s effort from twenty metres fell short and into the hands of the goalie. Doohamlet attacked in the 20th minute, but their effort fell short and was collected by Jamie Smith who cleared the danger but once again we carelessly gave the ball away but Colin Reilly showed great initiative and made a fine interception to win back possession and clear his defence. In the 22nd minute, Niall McKeown showed great agility, power and pace before being fouled and Mark Daly showed great conviction and bottle to calmly and accurately convert the free to leave the sides all square with 0-11 apiece.
Johnny Reilly tries to push aside the challenge from his opponent.
The contest was now very much in the preverbal ‘melting pot’ as it was still anyone’s game and a crucial moment arrived two minutes later when a Doohamlet player was given his marching orders for an off the ball challenge on Johnny Reilly. However, despite being down to fourteen players, they regained their composure and squeezed in front, in the 27th minute, after they delivered a high ball into our danger area and Damien Matthews was harshly penalised when he was adjudged to foul his opponent and they duly converted the free-kick. At this stage the tension was almost unbearable and the pressure was on us to get an equaliser, with time ticking away behind by a single point but with a numerical advantage our destiny was in our own hands and while we mounted a number of attacks we were unable to penetrate the Doohamlet defence as too often our over elaboration and our fascination of running into cul-de-sacs backfired.
Stephen McGuirk wins the ball from the kick-out.
For once lady luck was very much on our side as we were very fortunate, in the 29th minute, when Doohamlet launched another high ball into our danger area which was not properly dealt with and the ball was allowed to bounce in the square but it fell invitingly for Jamie Smith and he was able to clear his line. Thankfully, our persistence was finally rewarded with a splendid move down the field that started with Johnny Reilly who, was most impressive in the centre half back role, made a burst forward and he off-loaded to Mark Daly who found Dwayne Rooney and he delivered a pass into the unmarked Anthony Tate and from an acute angle he fired over a point, to draw the sides level and the roar from the media box nearly lifted the roof! With the game now deep into injury time we looked like we might just dig out a victory as Noel Carroll surged forward and he was hauled down but to everyone’s astonishment no free was given and play was allowed to continue and seconds later the final whistle sounded to leave the scoreboard reading Rockcorry 0-12 Doohamlet 0-12.
On reflection, our team management will be a lot happier with this performance as it was certainly an improvement from that witnessed against Donaghmoyne as the players showed more determination and focus and battled the whole way through and fair play to them for standing up and being counted when it was needed as they could have folded very easily towards the end but they rediscovered their fighting spirit to earn a share of the spoils. However, despite having plenty of possession far too often we needlessly gave the ball away and the amount of misplaced passes, unforced errors, indecision at vital times and wasted chances to score will no doubt leave our team management with more questions than answers! There is still a lot of work to do and improvements will be necessary before we meet Doohamlet again in the first round of the intermediate championship.
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