Breakfast Morning: Our annual Breakfast Morning takes place on June 5th in Iontas from 9am-12pm. It’s the perfect opportunity to fill the bellies before you cheer on Monaghan in their opening Ulster Championship game. Our Senior players will be serving breakfast on the morning. We hope to see you all there.
50/50: Last weeks winner was Anne Johnston, congrats Anne. “Remember if you’re not in you can’t win” Tickets are available to purchases in McMahons Supervalu at the weekend and off a Club Seller on Saturday night around the town.
Faughs Friday Walking Club: As part of our 2016-2018 Strategic Plan, our Club wanted to extend their healthy club initiative and enrich the lives of every member of the local community. One such initiative is a walking/social activity which began two weeks ago. Each Friday walkers meet at 11.00am in St.Marys’ Park, to be followed by a social ‘cuppa’ in the Club Rooms. The only cost involved is the payment of the Club’s Annual Social Membership, which ensures every person is covered by Insurance. You are earnestly encouraged and welcome to join this club activity and meet and chat with old and new friends.
Know Your Sport: Louis Hamilton recorded a win in last weekend Monaco Grand Prix; there was 175 points on offer if you were lucky enough to have picked him.
Senior League: The senior team returned to league action last Saturday evening when they took on Monaghan Harps in St Marys Park, an early Paddy Finnegan goal give the Faughs a good head start but the Harps got themselves into the game and led by half time. The Faughs kept the pressure on from the start of the second half but despite some fine score still trailed by three points coming into the last five minutes, it was only then the lads played with some urgency and three points in those minutes got the lads a deserved share of the spoils. Final Score Faughs 1-10 Harps 13 Points. With the County Team playing next weekend the next fixture will be against Clontibret on Friday 10th of June in St Marys Park with a throw in time of 8pm.
Junior B: The B team have a home game against Aughnamullen this Saturday in St Marys Park, throw in time 7pm. Please watch out on social media as this game may change.
Under 8 Boys: The Under 8 Boys travelled to Dublin on last Sunday for a blitz in Kilmacud Crokes, on what was a lovely day for football the boys played some great football and emerged out of the group stages after firstly defeating Newbridge, then Kells followed by another victory versus the hosts Kilmacud Crokes ,as a result of their scoring difference the boys gain automatic entry into the Final where they played St. Colmcilles from Bettystown , unfortunately they were piped in the final by one score . Well done to the boys and the coaches they were just brilliant on the day, thank you to former Faughs Great and sharpshooter Padraic Mc Donald and for the invite, it was a great days fun for everyone, players, parents and coaches.
Under 12 Boys: Div5 Rd2 ~ The U12 Development team travelled to Donaghmoyne last Thursday evening, for their second league fixture of the season. The young Faughs lads settled quickly, and were 1-4 to 0-1 ahead after 14 minutes, with some fine scores from Daniel McShane, Joshua Conlon, Ben Mallon and the goal scorer Cian Malone. The Faughs were very dominant in the opening period, but some wayward shooting and a late Donaghmoyne rally reduced the deficit to 3 points at 1-5 to 1-2. A Jamie ward goal just before half time gave the Faughs a deserved 2-5 to 1-2 lead. The Faughs continued to dominate the 2nd half, but again some wayward shooting and some good saves by the Donaghmoyne goal keeper kept them in the contest. A flurry of scores from the Faughs (2-3) had the Faughs 4-8 to 1-3 ahead, but a late Donaghmoyne rally saw them find the Faughs net twice in the last couple of minutes, to leave the full time score Faughs 4-8 Donaghmoyne 3-3. The young lads displayed some good work rate throughout, but also know more practice required on finishing the chances. Team and Scorers: Ionut Lungu, Jake McDonnell, Shea Casey, Charlie Mc Quillan, Cian Malone, Nathan McArdle, Ben Mallon, Daniel McShane, Jamie Ward, Joshua Conlon, Daniel Kerr, Ryan Mullen, Jason Campbell, Liam Duffy, Jake O’Connor, Ultan McMahon.
On Saturday the U12 boys senior and development teams took on Monaghan Harps in Round 3 of their respective Div 1 and Div5 competitions. First up was the Senior U12 Team. The young lads played some excellent football in the first half, but, somehow went in trailing by a point at half time (1-8 to 3-3). The second half began with the Faughs piling on the pressure, hitting 1-6 without reply, to leave the score 2-14 to 3-3. The Harps again found the Faughs net to narrow the gap to 4 points, but some fine build up play by the Faughs resulting in an excellent team goal restored a 7 point advantage which the young lads would not surrender. Final Score Faughs 3-16 Harps 5-6. Next up was the U12 Development Team. The lads started slowly in the first half, but got better as the half progressed to trail only by a point at half time. The lads started well in the second half, and quickly raced into a 4 point lead. They withstood some late pressure from the Harps with some very good defending, to win a tight game by the bare minimum. Final Score Faughs 2-5 Harps 2-4. Teams: Brandon McCague, Shea Casey, Ross Maguire, Callum Campbell, Charlie McQuillan, Ultan Mc Mahon, Kevin Flanagan, Martin Joyce, Thomas Hughes, Nathan McArdle, Conor Ruddy, Kealan McMahon, Daniel McShane, Ryan Mullen, Jamie Ward, Sean Bishop, Niall Rice, Cian Malone, Ionut Lungu, Joshua Conlon, Jake O’Connor.
Under 12 Girls: The first fixture of the season for our U12 girls is a home game on Saturday the 11th June 2016 against Aughnamullen with a throw in time of 12pm.
Boys Under 14’s: The Senior U14 team got back to winning ways last Tuesday evening when they defeated Truagh on a score line of Faughs 8-6 Truagh 4-9. Best on the evening for the Faughs were Fionnan Kelly, Odhran McArdle and Ciaran Coogan. This Saturday 4th of June the Senior team travel to Killanny for 12pm while the development team travel away to Scotstown for a 3pm throw in.
Girls Under 14: The U14 Girls travelled to Scotstown on Monday evening for a throw in time of 6.45pm. The Girls got the match off to a great start with some fine scoring and they worked tirelessly throughout the first half to leave a score line of 5-03 to 2-02. Again throughout the second half the Girls continued to keep the pressure on against a determined Scotstown team and they fought hard to maintain possession and no ball was gifted to Scotstown. Defensively the Girls were very strong constantly fighting for and securing every loose ball and blocking every attempted pass from the Scotstown girls. The hard work and determination of the Girls paid off as they finished the game with an impressive score line of 7-08 to 3-04. Team: Kaitlyn Collins, Melissa Carr, Aine McGlynn, Eimear McKernan, Shona Brady, Molly Harte, Rachael Cannon, Jodie McQuillan (1-03), Emma McGlynn (1-03), Aoife McGeough, Sarah Wilson, Shannon Nolan, Kaitlin McGeough (4-00), Aoibhin McCooey (1-02), Mallaigh Duffy, Grace Hanratty, Lauren O’Rafferty.
Boys Under 16: Our under sixteen took on Aughnamullen in a top of the table clash in St.Marys Park last Thursday night in front of a large crowd, the Faughs started well and led by five points to 2 and half time and when Francis McGeough found the net shortly after the restart the Faughs looked to be in a commanding position. Aughnamullen showed why they are highly rated as they chipped away at the Blayney lead and when they found the net mid-way through the second half the Faughs looked as if they could be in trouble but the Faughs responded well with points from Robbie Hanratty and Francis McGeough again but time came to quickly as the lads suffer a one point defeat. Final Score Faughs 1-10 Aughnamullen 1-11.
Girls Under 16: The Girls fixture against Carrickmacross which was to take place last Monday was postponed as a result of the impending Junior Certificate and will be re-fixed for a date in July. The next fixture for the girls is a home game against Killeevan on Monday the 20th June 2016.
Girls National School: For the second successive year, the Castleblayney Girls national school won the Div1 final, where they took on Gaelscoil Ultain from Monaghan. These teams drew with each other earlier in the Groups stages, so the girls knew they would need to be at their very best if they were to keep the cup in Castleblayney for the second successive year. The Girls got off to a slow start and had to overcome an eight point deficit to emerge victorious, Final Score: Scoil Na gCailini 5-7 Gaelscoil Ultain 3-8. The final whistle was greeted by great scenes of jubilation from the girls, their teachers, mentors, parents and supporters. It was a fitting finale for an excellent group of young ladies footballers.
Cul Camps: The Cul Camp is taking place in St.Marys Park starting Monday 11th of July, this year the Monaghan GAA Coaching and Development Team are looking to get the numbers confirmed as early as possible, the children will be getting forms through the schools over the next few weeks and we would encourage parents to return them as early as possible. This year the Camp Coordinator is former Faughs Centre Forward and County Coaching Games Officer Paul O Connor, for further details check the Monaghan GAA website, Brian Sherry on 086 2334287 or Paul O Connor 086 837 4827.
Best of Luck: The Club would like to wish all our exam students the very best of luck over the next coming weeks, as I sit and write these club notes the weather is warm and sunny surely exam weather. Also all the best to Dermot Malone and the County team who will also face a tough exam themselves next Sunday when they take on Down in the first round of the Ulster Championship next Sunday with a 2pm throw in Clones.
Well Done: lots of well done’s this week’s the first well done goes out to Joshua Walsh who represented the Club on the County Minor Team who defeated Down in the first round of the Ulster Minor Championship on Sunday night. Also to the Girls National Schools for winning the Div1 Girls Football title for the second year in a row when they defeated Gaelscoil Ultain in a very exciting final on Friday. Well done to Our Lady’s Secondary School under 14 Girls who won the Ulster Final last week when they played Sacred Heart, Newry, the team was back boned by six Faughs girls, Melissa Carr, Molly Harte, Shona Brady, Sarah Wilson, Caitlin McGeough and Jodie McQuillan. Finally well done to our mighty under 8 team who made the final of the Kilmacud Crokes Under 8 Blitz last Sunday, great performances by all players and coaches, the future certainly looks bright.