Senior Championship: The senior team exited the Senior Championship last Saturday when they were defeated by one point by the Monaghan Harps; the Faughs opened the game well with some excellent point taking from Dermot Malone, Patrick Tavey and Ciaran Hanratty to lead five points to three at half time. The Harps started the second half strongly adding four unanswered points to take the lead before the Faughs Dermot Malone drew the side level with ten minutes to go. In a tight defensive game a goal was always going to make the difference and unfortunately it was the Harps who got the vital three pointer and a further point from the resulting kick out were crucial to the outcome of the game. The Faughs battled hard to get back into the game throw scores from Dermot Malone and Mark Treanor and when the final whistle blew we were out of this year’s championship on a score line of Faughs 0-12 Harps 1-10. Hard luck to the players and management teams, let’s hope 2017 brings us better luck. We now have a few weeks off before we play Scotstown away on Sunday 4th of September.
Liam McGrath: On Saturday last at the Summer Camp BBQ, the club undertook a tree planting ceremony in memory of recently deceased Faughs legend, Liam Mac. The occasion was attended by members of the Rooney and McGrath family as well as many former Faughs players who played under Liam. It was apt that the event took place at the end of the juvenile summer camp as it was juvenile players, lead by a young Tony Loughman, who approached Liam as he was on one of daily walks through St Marys Park to get involved in management of the minor team and, as they say, the rest is history. The tree itself is located in the Dundalk road corner near Loughmans and is a perfect location overlooking the playing field, Lough Muckno and the surrounding area. The tree is an Irish Oak that is very appropriate in terms of the stature of Liam Mac and his great love of natural and the Lough Muckno landscape that he walked on a daily basis. Very appropriately, the tree has been grown from a local seed by Michael Carroll of EarthLink’s Landscaping and kindly donated by him, which the club are greatly appreciative off, so it’s fitting that it is a Castleblayney Oak tree! It is hoped that the Oak tree will last generations and will ensure that Liam Mac is in every ones thoughts when they visit St Marys Park. Many thanks to Fr Pat for his words at the tree planting, Fintan McTiernan for the photographs and to all who travelled to join the club on the occasion.
Summer Camp: Last week saw the annual Juvenile invasion of St Marys Park for the McMahons Supervalu Summer Camp, with over 210 children ranging from 5 to 13 years of age. The camp which is always a big hit with the children was no different this year, with lots of activities to keep the children going right throughout the day. On Saturday the group went to the Cinema in Iontas for the morning before they returned to St.Marys Park for the Camp Barbeque and award ceremony. Well done to all involved for a brilliant week a big thank you to McMahons Supervalu for yet again committing to be the sponsor. For those who are interested, 2017 camp is provisionally booked in for August 9th to August 12th.
Operation TransFAUGHSmation: Wohoo!!!! Operation TransFAUGHSmation is back for what is now our 6th year and once again we have 12 weeks of exercise and fitness suitable for everyone as we continue to achieve our aim of making Castleblayney the fittest community in Ireland. This will all kick off on Tuesday 23rd of August with our annual Registration Night in the Faughs Media room between 6.30pm and 8pm. We will keep you informed each week of the schedule.
Respect: With the Juvenile Season now turning to the semi final and finals stage the intensity and emotion will duly rise. Can we ask that all GAA Patrons attending games involving our Club to remember that these are children’s matches, and it is children playing, the referee and the coaches are volunteers. The future of our club depends on all of us developing the youth so we ask that any verbal contributions that you make are positive and supportive.
50/50: Last week’s winner of the 50/50 jackpot of €155was Andrea & Francis Marron, Beech Drive – Congrats. Tickets are on sale in store at McMahons Supervalu at weekends and in the local pubs, remember if you’re not in you can’t wait.
Under 8 Boys: There will be no training this week, the next round of Go Games is scheduled for St Marys Park on Saturday 27th of August.
Under 10 Boys: The lads travel to Clones this Saturday, they will leave St Marys Park at 11 am returning around 3pm, there games start at 12pm in Clones and they will play in a group with all the teams from South Monaghan.
Under 12 Girls: The Girls kicked off phase two of the competition with two good wins, on Thursday evening they defeated Carrick in St.Marys Park and they played Aughnamullen on Sunday and again they emerged victorious. Next up for the girls is a trip to O’Neills Shamrock this Friday at 7pm.
Under 12 Boys: Its crunch time for the Under 12 boys team this Saturday as we travel to play Carrick in both Under 12 Semi Finals; the Senior team are up first when they play at 12pm while the development team are next up when they play at 1.15pm. These will be two very even games, with lots of good footballers on both sides, if you are free on Saturday why don’t you go along and give the boys your support.
Boys Under 14: The Development team are down to play Carrick away on Saturday the 27th of August at 3pm, while the Senior team have qualified for the Final of the shield competition which we are awaiting a confirmed fixture for.
Girls Under 14: The draw for the U14 Semi-Finals Championship will take place this evening. The date and time has been set for the Semi-Finals have been fixed for Monday the 22nd August at 7pm. but we won’t know until later this evening or tomorrow who the girls will play. Please check social media for updates.
Boys Under 16: The have a home league game against Magheracloone on Thursday 18th of August at 7.30pm, with our next fixture away against Aughnamullen on Thursday 25th of August at 7pm.
Girls Under 16: Our U16 Girls played Magheracloone on Monday last at home. Despite getting off to a great start and 4 points ahead in the first 15 minutes Magheracloone battled their way back into the match and at the final whistle the score was 2-07 Magheracloone to 2-05 Faughs. The Girls now play Carrickmacross away tomorrow evening at 7pm.
Minor Girls: We have no updated Minor Fixtures so keep an eye on social media as we will post details of the upcoming fixtures when we receive them.
Senior Ladies: We have no updated Fixtures for the Senior Ladies so keep an eye on social media as we will post details of same when we receive them.
Well done: This week’s well done goes to all the coaches who give up their time to help coach at this year’s summer camp, it was really encouraging to see the Under 16 teams out helping with all the younger children. Also well done to Craig Callan, Kian O’Connor and Francis McGeough who were part of the Monaghan Under 16 Squad who got to the Final of the Buncrana Cup against Derry, the match ended all square so we await a date for the replay.