Weekly News 23rd Oct 2017

22 October 2017

KILMOGANNY BRIDGE CLUB: The results of Wednesday 18th October: 1st: Nellie Lahart & Grace Landy; 2nd: Nellie O’Shea & Pascal Grace; 3rd: Josie O’Gorman & Tina Ronan. Bridge takes place each Wednesday at 8.00 p.m. in St. Eoghan’s Centre, Kilmoganny. Visitors are always welcome.


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THE REIGH OF TERROR 2017: The contrast with the initial Reign of Terror event of 2016 and 2017 could not have been greater. In 2016 it was a glorious sunny day with firm underfoot conditions and the King’s River very shallow and easy to cross. In 2017 after post Hurricane Ophelia and the follow up Storm Brian the course and challenges were very different. None the less a record number participated and the stewarding was again first class. Following on from the success of last year the Reign of Terror obstacle course race this year’s event was fixed for Saturday 21st October, a year exactly after last6 year’s event. The months of preparations started to be put in place the previous Saturday and the new obstacles and course layout was looking good. Then storm Ophelia came on Monday and Tuesday which cause havoc but the forecast for the following days of extreme rain meant the call had to be made on removing all river crossings which of course meant a redesign of the course. Panic stations all round as the scrambling to re position the course began. Then came the flooding of adjoining land which was greater than expected. This meant a further redesign was called for. The call went out for all available persons to join in the already huge team to help get the course set up. What followed was an unbelievable act of community effort as huge teams of people stopped what they were doing, took half days or even full days off to join the cause in order to get the job done. The courage, resolve and determination of the committee and all those involved to never give up and see the job through was emotional and inspiring to watch and be part of. Despite storm Brian deciding to show up the course was ready for record numbers of entrants. The day itself saw the first wave of competitors going off at 9.00 a.m.; these were the elite and the endurance athletes. The elite were doing the 10km Route as fast as they could and local man Sean Connery retained his title by a comfortable margin. The endurance competitors set off to run as many laps as they can over the course of the day, a feat of immense effort. The rest of the participants set off in groups from 9:20a.m. and at 10 minute intervals after that. All competitors were warmed up by the 1st year sports and exercise student of WIT under the leadership of Donna Dunne before they took to the course of either 5km or 10km length. They crawled, squeezed, jumped, laughed, walked, ran, hung out of various obstacles as they went around the course. An added feature of the course was that this year with the kind permission of the OPW all competitors ran through the fantastic grounds of the Medieval Kells Priory before they looped around to finish at the Mill in Kells, exhausted wet, destroyed in mud but extremely happy. This event would not have been able to go ahead without the kind permission of the local landowners and we are all in a debt of gratitude to them. It would be impossible to thank everyone individually who helped in any way to make this happen but from the bottom of their hearts the organising committee wish to express a thank you to all who in any way made the event a great success.. The phrase "People are awesome" springs to mind. 


DUNAMAGGAN MINOR HURLERS ARE CHAMPIONS: Dunnamaggin were crowned Roinn B Minor Hurling Champions in Nowlan Park on Sunday last after a thrilling game against Mullinavat. Mullinavat got an absolute dream start and scored a goal in the opening minute. They followed this up with two points from play in the first four minutes before Robbie McCauley landed his first of what was to be many frees to pull one back. Mullinavat then got another point from play before the ever present Darragh O'Keeffe won the ball, burst up the field and split the posts. Mullinavat were dropping a player back and it was playing dividends. Harry Walsh added a super free to bring it back to Mullinavat 1:03 Dunnamaggin 0:03. Then on the stroke of 10 minutes Mullinavat hit the net again. A sucker punch for the Dunnamaggin lads who were battling back to get into the game. To their credit Dunnamaggin settled and started to clear up some loose ball in the backs and give their forwards good supply which they duly converted through points from Robbie McCauley (1 from play & 2 frees)) and Rory Lodge (1). Harry Walsh had to be alert as a free in dropped short and he had to pluck it out of the sky to avert danger. Mullinavat did respond with a point but it was Dunnamaggin's turn to shine as we headed for half time. Robbie McCauley added a free before a great break saw Rory Lodge turn his man and head forward all were all expecting the shot at the posts but Andy Hickey was running parallel to him and he passed it to him who as he was in a better position. We all expected the resultant point but Andy had other Ideas when he spotted Eddie Dunne had slipped his marker, quick shot over to him  and bang the back of the net! Robbie McCauley then added another free before Mullinavat pulled one back to send the sides in at half time Dunnamaggin 1:09 Mullinavat 2:05


The opening 10 minutes of the second half were a fierce tense affair and it was a time for cool heads and Dunamaggin had them in abundance. The settled half back line led by Ian Walsh at centre back and Jamie McLoughlin and Alex Walsh were cutting off supply to the Mullinavat inside forward line and thus removing any goal threat. Both sides were in a tit for tat shoot out with Robbie McCauley (3 frees) and Rory Lodge adding the scores as the mid-point of the second-half came. The score line read: Dunnamaggin 1:13 Mullinavat 2:08. A two point lead, the worst lead you could have. As Mullinavat pummelled ball after ball in, Ian Walsh was dropping back deep to help out the full back line of Harry Walsh, Adam Fitzpatrick and Kieran Buckley who were launching the ball out of the defence as often as it came in. The tactic of landing the puck-outs on Dylan Crehan & Eddie Dunne’s wing was working a treat and although Dylan was considerably smaller than his marker he was winning ball, turning his man and launching it to Eddie Dunne or Conor Hoban inside. Eddie Dunne duly slotted a lovely point from play, but yet again Mullinavat came back and score two points. This was turning out to be an intriguing and nervous final. But cometh the hour cometh the man and as Luke Fitzpatrick had turned his man, yet again he was taken out of it .Robbie McCauley duly stepped up to take the free but it dropped short and Eddie Dunne was on hand in the fury to scoop the ball into the net for his second goal. Finally there was some daylight: Dunnamaggin 2:14 Mullinavat 2:10 with 5 minutes to go. Mullinavat heaped intense pressure on the Dunamaggin backs but they were outstanding and won a few key frees from the pressure they were applying. Dylan Crehan scored a lovely point from play no more than he deserved after the afternoons shift he put in. Then came the icing on the cake as Luke Fitzpatrick yet again surged forward and as his shot was hooked it landed to the speedster Rory Lodge who straight away caught it and let fly, boom back of the net. Robbie McCauley had the last say of the day when he split the posts again and the referee duly blew the final whistle to crown Dunamaggin champions to much delight. Jamie McLoughlin had the privilege of walking up the steps of the old stand in Nowlan Park to lift the Ted Carroll Trophy and make the acceptance speech on behalf of his team. Huge credit to mentors Niall McCormack Pat Hoban, Owen Dunne & John Fitzpatrick on completing the League and Championship double and their super panel of Conor Brett, Kieran Buckley, Harry Walsh, Adam Fitzpatrick, Jamie McLoughlin, Ian Walsh, Alex Moore, Darragh O'Keeffe, Andy Hickey, Dylan Crehan, Conor Hoban, Rory Lodge, Eddie Dunne, Luke Fitzpatrick, Robbie McCauley, Dylan Wall, Nick O'Shea, Sean Carroll, Jack O'Connell, Eoin O'Driscoll, Jamie O'Keeffe, Ger Coffey, Darragh Walsh, Denis Walsh. 


 


OPEN MIC NIGHT: The next Open Mic is on Thursday 2nd November at 7.30 p.m. in St Eoghan's Centre, Kilmoganny. All are invited! If you'd like to tell a story, sing a song, play music or read a poem please contact Alva on 085 - 8641378