This weeks notes…..

A golden opportunity to land a long awaited league title was wasted yesterday in Pomeroy when the seniors came second best to a spirited and hungrier Dromore side. Ardboe failed to capitalise in the first half when playing with wind advantage. Dromore got off to a prefect start with an early point but parity was quickly restored with a John Mc Conville point. In the eight minute Dromore finished off a flowing move to the Ardboe net when they a volleyed effort put them into a 1-1 to 0-1 lead. Ardboe rallied and John Cummins managed a fine score to reduce the margin to 2. In the 18th minute Dromore regained a 3 point lead with a nice point from play. Gavin Wylie put over a point after a lot of inter passing to leave 2 in it again. With 10 minutes left in the half, Dromore put three in it again and when John Cummins was fouled shortly thereafter, Frank Mc Guigan slotted over the resultant free. Dromore replied with a point from play to restore their goal advantage. With a few minutes left of the half, an effort from a free from Gavin Wylie came off the post and a vigilant John Cummins picked it up and split the post for his second point. Good work at midfield from John Mc Conville led to Tommy Mc Guigan picking up the break and scoring the Rossa’s 6th pint to leave only the minimum between the sides at half time. The second half saw the Rossas show renewed enthusiasm and the sides were level after John Mc Conville put in a free which landed near the square which was picked up and pointed by Tommy Mc Guigan for his second score of the day. Good defensive work by the full back line prevented a certain goal after 8 minutes of the second half with Dromore eventually settling for a point to put a point in it. Colm Mc Cullagh added to the lead with three scores ( 2 from play ) to leave four points between them. Frank Mc Guigan pointed the next two frees to reduce the margin to 2  but Dromore finished the scoring with a point from Mc Cullagh and right on the final whistle they scored a goal from a lobbed in effort which somehow evaded the Ardboe defensive cover. The 2-9 to 0-9 final score line does not tell the story of a game that Ardboe could have won. Ardboe on the day were missing a few regulars and can look to next year with some degree of optimism. Match report by Benny Hurl! Team : R.Mc Elroy, R. Mc Gurk, E. Devlin, G. Mooney ( M. Mc Keown ), M. Brady ( K. Devlin ), S. Forbes, P. Coney, J. Mc Conville, C Cassidy, J. Cummins, T. Mc Guigan, E. Martin, G. Wylie, F. Mc Guigan, C. Campbell ( N. O’Neill ) ( K. Coney ).  

This weeks lotto no’s were 2, 8, 12 and 23. There was no jackpot winner. Match 3 winners: Maire Kelly, Hugh Cushnan and Matt Quinn. Next weeks jackpot £3300. Do you have a few spare hours on Friday evenings?  If so why not come to the Parish centre to give a hand with the bingo or the club lotto. There are very few people helping out at the minute and we encourage any one to come along and help, even if it’s just selling books. Any help would be greatly appreciated and the bingo is a parish event and the last of a few that survive today.

There will be a youth presentation night on Saturday 25th November in the Parish Centre. This is for all our youth players at under 14 and below including ladies and Camogie players. The clubs annual dinner dance is also up coming with the Greenvale being the venue on Friday 24th November. Tickets are priced at £15 and £7 for under 16’s and are available from Mary and Geraldine McGuigan and local shops.  

The Gala dinner plans in celebration of our 60 year history in the Tullyglass hotel on Saturday 24th February are now well under way. Already a large number of tables have been purchased and anyone still wishing to obtain a table or a single seat please contact on the gala Sub-committee. : Brendan Hurl- 07710 679717, Kieran Devlin-07736426882, Neil Coney- 028867 36208, Gerry V. Forbes- 07703581017, James Wylie- 07730951977, Kevin Teague- 028867 36779, Hugh Joe Quinn- 028867 37223, Eamon Quayle- 02886736387, Paul Duffy- 028877 38569 and Karen Duffy- 028877 38569. Accommodation on the night of the event is also very limited – anyone wishing to enquire about accommodation are asked to contact Neil Coney on the number above as soon as possible. Also anyone who is wishing to contribute in any other way eg. Donations, memorabilia etc. please get in contact with one of the committee.  

Well done to the ladies and Camogie club on their 70’s night on Saturday last that was a great success and also to all those who turned up and made donations toward the raffle.  

Congratulations are also due to our local clubs Derrylaughan and Broacagh who successful gained promotion to their respective leagues at the weekend. Good luck is also extended to our neighbours Ballinderry shamrock’s in their quest for Ulster club honours on Sunday. We wish them all the best.

Please also note that the fields at Micheal Coney Park are closed for the winter due to essential work on the new floodlights that will be on going for the next few weeks.  We would like to remind everyone that no one is allowed on the playing surfaces.  

The date for the club’s A.G.M has been set for Monday 8th January. Nomination forms will be sent out shortly and also membership forms are available online at www.ardboegfc.com. Please return these as soon as possible.  

Ardboe Ladies News:  What a Week???
 
The Under 16' Girls played the Final of the Grade 1 Championship on Saturday
28th.  The game got off to a very slow start for the Ardboe girls with
little or no possession in the forward line for the first 15 mins.
Cilleshal started on top form and showed well going 5 points up very
quickly.  However if it was not for the very skilful and reliant back line
of the Ardboe girls Cilleshal could have the game buried very early.  Ardboe
soon found their feet and from that came two points before the break leaving
Cilleshal go in at the break with only a three point margin.
 
The Ardboe girls came out the second half the way they finished the first on
scoring form with two quick points and soon a goal leaving Ardboe ahead by
two points, however Cilleshal came out top in the end scoring two additional
points to win by the same two points.
 
Thanks to Brocagh for the use of their facilities for the game and such
short notice.
 
The girls are still in with a chance of league play offs.
 
Senior Girls
 
the final game of the season came to ahead on Saturday Afternoon in
Donaghmore.  After getting an early exit from the championship in a defeat
to Beragh the Ardboe girls came out with fighting spirit.  Beragh started
the game well going two points up almost immediately.  However the Ardboe
girls soon found form with a brilliant effort from Ciara Curran.  Maeve
Wylie soon drew the scores with another brilliant point.  Ardboe remained on
top of the game when Ciara Curran found the net and the girls went ahead by
3, Siobhan O'Hagan opened the gap further by adding another one to the
board.  Once again the back line where in top forms holding off each tackle
from Beragh only allowing one more point before the break.  Maeve Wylie not
to be out done hit a great goal to the back of the net.  Girls went in at
the break well up by 6 points.
 
Beragh found form in the opening of the second half with a point and a
brilliant goal narrowing the margin to two points.  The leaders of Ardboe
stood up to be counted with Ailish Devlin playing a blinder delivering an
excellent ball into the forward line to Jen McConville who hit the ball to
Ciara Curran who once again found the back of the net.  From the Kick out
Rachael McConville hit a long range ball that hung in the air for what
seemed to be minutes before going nicely over the bar to leave Ardboe ahead
by 6 again.  Beragh tried to come back with another point, but Ciara Curran
finished the game for Ardboe with a point.  Ardboe won the game 3'6 to 1'6
 
Ardboe have redeemed themselves and now enter division 2 on an even keel
with a very good Beragh side.
 
We would like to thank Ballinderry for the use of their excellent facilities
over the past four weeks without there support this would have been
difficult to achieve.  Good Luck to Gerry, Martin and the boys in the Ulster
Club on Sunday.  We wish them all the success they deserve.

By ciaranhurl Tue 7th Nov