JUVENILES TRAINING

A full compliment of our juvenile teams have all returned to the training fields over the last two weeks. The first gatherings were eagerly anticipated by both players and coaches and each session was met with great enthusiasm. Sunday mornings sees our youngest hone their new skills in the club’s gym while the u8s take to the fields and wall ball at St. Johns Park. U10s and 12s also returned for some pre-season activity and will enjoy sessions at Wallslough Arena for one more week before returning to the O’Loughlin Gaels pitches to prepare for early season games. It is always great to see plenty of activity amongst our juvenile teams but it very rewarding to see the joy that all the young players of St. Johns Parish get from it. Welcome back boys and more are always welcome. Sunday mornings in St. Johns Park at 10.30am.
 
LUKE RECIEVES MAYORAL HONOURS
At a special function hosted by Lord Mayor of Kilkenny, Cllr. Joe Malone, our very own Luke Leydon was presented with a Certificate recognising his contribution to the Community of St. Johns Parish. Mayor Joe invited members & players from O’Loughlin Gaels GAA, members of the Medjugorje Youth Group and members of the Leydon family along with Deputy John McGuinness and Luke’s employers at Perfecto Print Ltd to the City Hall to see Luke being presented with his Certificate. All present heard Joe speak of Luke’s activities in the community and invited O’Loughlin Gaels Club Chairman Brian Murphy and Medjugorje Youth Leader Sean Hickey  to address the crowd in attendance. Brian thanked Luke for his commitment to the club and reminded all of Luke’s talent in providing the club with lasting memories of all club activities through his photography. Luke has also been involved in Junior Team selection and always makes himself available to the club when called upon. Sean Hickey spoke highly of Luke and the importance of his comradery through his involvement with the Medjugorje Youth Group. His commitment to organising and aide to all the young people travelling is invaluable. It was a remarkable evening topped by a bit of sing song with Luke’s friends Fionn Gardiner and Alan Hayes. Well done Luke and thanks for all your work.
 
CLUB LOTTO 
There was no winner of last week’s Lotto. The numbers drawn were 13, 16, 23, 27 and the bonus number was: 20.  Tickets can be bought from the usual selling agents or by asking at the clubhouse bar. Remember – if you’re not in; you can’t win the jackpot prize of €20,000.  
 
O’LOUGHLIN GAELS CLUB REGISTRATION
 
Please note that Club Registration is due. Renewed memberships can be left into the club bar Thursday through to Sunday and also Tuesday evenings from 8pm. It is important that all players memberships are registered now to be included in the club insurances before they train and play etc. All membership details will be posted on the clubs facebook and Website. Register now – O’Loughlin Gaels provides sporting and a wide range of social activities to the people of St. Johns Parish and beyond. All welcome.
 
 
COLLEGES LEINSTER FINAL
 
The very best of luck to all O’Loughlin Gaels and St. Johns Parish players competing in Saturdays Senior Colleges Leinster Final. The very attractive fixture sees two very strong sides and adversaries pitted against each other. St. Kierans College and CBS Kilkenny boast a strong O’Loughlin Gaels contingent between them making it another proud day for our club. For once too it will see some neighbours divided in their loyalties adding to the occasion and rivalry it brings. Friends in the club will face each other on Saturday in an expected thriller but will back playing alongside each other in the coming weeks for their club no matter what the outcome. Best wishes to both panels and enjoy the game.
 
 
O’LOUGHLIN GAELS BAR, LOUNGE & SOCIAL NIGHTS
 
Shanghai Darts will return to the bar on Sunday evenings in the O’Loughlin Gaels GAA. The bar opens Thurs to Sundays and Tuesday evenings from 8pm with a growing ‘congregation’ as Paddy Greene and his team offer great value drinks and a great service that includes updates on what’s going on plus a few wise words. Tuesday night is Lotto night, Thursday evening sees the regular poker night; Friday, Saturday  & Sunday hosts families and neighbours with Sunday evenings now adding Shanghai darts to the entertainment. Join in – you’re all welcome…. You don’t have to be a member of the club to enjoy the renowned O’Loughlin Gaels GAA hospitality.
 
 
JOHNSWELL NATIONAL SCHOOL
 
Enrolments are now open for September 2016 for Johnswell National School.  Application forms are available from the School Tel: 77598 95.
SIDE BY SIDE CLUB
The Side by Side club takes place every Thursday at 2pm in the Day Care Centre.  New members welcome.  Contact Helen Goode on 087 6884072
 
PILGRIMAGE TO MEDJUGORJE
 
A pilgrimage to Medjugorje from Divine Mercy Sunday, 3 April to 10 April (inclusive) is being organised. 
Pope Francis has urged the faithful to make a pilgrimage for the special Jubilee of Mercy and the programme of events in Medjugorje will reflect the spirit of this important Jubilee.
The pilgrimage costs €550 before the 17th of Feb and €650 thereafter, on a half-board basis.  For information, please contact Fr. Benignus at the Capuchin Friary, or Seán Hickey on 086 3715882.

THE BULL RUSH ENDS- THE SRS PLAYERS FUNDRAISER
After almost 7 weeks of high spirits, the team players, club supporters and friends gathered in Pat Carroll’s Pub last Friday night for the grand finale of the Bull Rush & Raffle. The night itself was terrific with the players still knocking the craic out of the whole campaign as they joked and teased each other for their efforts. But at the final announcement the joking and teasing stopped as the they all took a step back to congratulate each other for a job well done. Without as much as breaking a sweat and no big song and dance about it, the players managed to smash their target of raising close to €10k and ended up raising €21k. This was purely through the good will of supporters and a collection of players who desire nothing more than the best for the club.  Players divided into teams of ten with the aim of selling more tickets than each of the other four teams. Captains, Brian Hogan, Mark Kelly, Mark Bergin, Andy Kearns and Martin Comerford pushed their teams and cajoled their opposite numbers to make the fundraiser a fun experience for themselves and interested onlookers. So much so that Pat Carroll’s was packed to the rafters on Friday night to find out who won the Team prize and who won the bull calf..the 1st prize in the raffle. The Team Prize was won by Team Andy Kearns who pushed his team to the limits making sure that the race was in no doubt at the finish line. All of Andy’s team each were presented with a specially commissioned training jersey from event sponsors SRS Steel Roofing Systems and will also go to training with ultimate bragging rights. The 1st prize of the Bull Calf was won by Gearoid Cleere of Cleere Life & Pensions, Dean Street and we thank him and all raffle ticket holders for their valued support. The monies raised will now go towards the purchase of Strength & Conditioning equipment that will serve the club now and long into the future. Well done to all invovled.
U21 & MINOR MEDAL PRESENTATION
On Saturday night a large crowd gathered in the club lounge to celebrate the success of our u21 Hurling Champions and Minor Football Champions for 2015. Chairman Brian Murphy hosted players their families, friends and supporters to a fine evening and spoke of building on the hard work that the players have put into their game thus far. On hand to help with presenting medals was O’Loughlin Gaels man and now County Board Vice Chairman Conor Denieffe who spoke of his pride in club and all the good work that goes on at St. John’s Park to make events like Saturday night happen. Minor Manager Niall Bergin and u21 manager Pat O’Grady both introduced her teams to the gathering and when the business of medals was dealt with Paddy Greene provided refreshments and nourishment as we all sat back and enjoyed a recording of the 2015 County Hurling Final. There was plenty of expert analysis of course and plenty of discussion on how these lads can build to the next level .  Well done to all the players and their management teams
 
 
JUVENILE REGISTRATION
There was a huge crowd on Friday evening in the club for the first night of registration for our juvenile players. It was certainly one of the busiest in many years and with already almost 200 young boys registered there is plenty of optimism about St, Johns Park for the club’s future. U6s and u8s will commence training in the club’s large indoor facilities from Sunday at 10am and players can still come and register for the coming weeks. All the management teams are all ready to go and look forward to another season of fun filled activities and competitive action. Juvenile training to u12s will take place each Sunday morning at 10.30am and contact details for team managers are available on the club website.
 
 
CLUB LOTTO 
There was no winner of last week’s Lotto. The numbers drawn were 7, 8, 17, 26 and the bonus number was: 18.  Tickets can be bought from the usual selling agents or by asking at the clubhouse bar. Remember – if you’re not in; you can’t win the jackpot prize of €20,000.  
 
SENIOR FOOTBALL
 
The senior footballers dusted themselves down after their first round defeat to Mullinavat and bounced back with a solid 12points to 8points win over Mooncoin in Mooncoin last weekend. It was hard going with the soft ground but the win will but the wind in their sails as they continue with round three next weekend against Railyard. A win here would put them into a comfortable position going forward to the latter stages of the competition. Keep it up lads
 
 
O’LOUGHLIN GAELS BAR & LOUNGE
 
Shanghai Darts will return to the bar on Sunday evenings in the O’Loughlin Gaels GAA. The bar opens Thurs to Sundays and Tuesday evenings from 8pm with a growing ‘congregation’ as Paddy Greene and his team offer great value drinks and a great service that includes updates on what’s going on plus a few wise words. Tuesday night is Lotto night, Thursday evening sees the regular poker night; Friday, Saturday  & Sunday hosts families and neighbours with Sunday evenings now adding Shanghai darts to the entertainment. Join in – you’re all welcome.
 
 
SIDE BY SIDE CLUB
The Side by Side club takes place every Thursday at 2pm in the Day Care Centre.  New members welcome.  Contact Helen Goode on 087 6884072

After almost seven weeks of fierce competition the Bull Rush will reach the finishing line and the much anticipated Player’s Team prize will finally be announced on Friday Night at the Bull Raffle. Pat Carroll’s will be packed to the rafters with raffle ticket holders firstly hoping their stub is pulled from the drum for the 1st prize of that fine young Bull Calf or €1000. But the room will also be filled with players all hopeful of their chances of claiming the Players Prize for selling the most raffle tickets. All are still in with a shout and all think they’re going to win (someone is going to be very disappointed!). The runaway leader is no more as three Captains sit near the top of the leader board with Brian Hogan only nosing in front as we go into the last few days. The race was turned on its head this week when team Andy Kearns took every body by surprise and leapt into the 2nd place just behind him. Martin Comerford’s team are next and are certainly poised for the final dash and team Mark ‘Angus Browne Kelly’ is ready to charge after being dropped to 4th. There’s been a lot of interest in the progress of Mark ‘Belgium Blue’ Bergin’s team who held the rear guard at the weekend but his supporters gave him a boost this week and looks certain to climb the field.  The Team prize is there for any of the five captains as they all put in that final effort. If you have a favourite log on and buy a raffle ticket and drive them forward. The winners will be announced in PAT CARROLLS ON FRIDAY FEB 5TH AT 9pm
Tickets for the raffle are available from your player or online on www.oloughlingaels.gaa.ie Bull Rush..  . 1st prize of a Bull Calf or €1000.  Well done to all the players for driving their own initiative and a huge thanks to event sponsors SRS Steel & Roofing Systems for supporting the lads.

The successful O’Loughlin Gaels u21s Hurling Team will be presented their County Medals in the Club Lounge on Saturday February the 6th at 8.30pm. This is a great opportunity for club members and supporters to get together and celebrate this great achievement. It was 34 years since the title was last won by a club team so there will be plenty of reminiscing, but also some thoughts will no doubt be put forward to make sure it’s not another 34 years before we see the next one.

In addition to the u21s the Minors will also be honoured as they recently added County Minor Football to the Club’s Roll of Honour for 2015. Om their way to success the lads overcame the challenges of St. Martins, Dicksboro before beating James Stephen in the Final. The lounge is big enough so don’t be shy! – ALL ARE WELCOME.

 
The club’s lounge was packed last Friday night for the presentation of medals to our successful u14 and u16 teams for the 2015 season. Over 60 young players received medals for their efforts watched and applauded by friends and family and club members. New Juvenile Chairman welcomed all the young players and thanked them for their commitment to the club and paid homage to the sea of volunteers that contribute to the success of the clubs juvenile section, where it is instilled in all our young players to participate and enjoy our sport, make friends for life and hence be competitive. St. John’s man Bord na nOg Chairman John Byrne was on hand to present medals and he was joined by u21 champions, team captain Davey Burke and Paddy Deegan. Present too was newly elected club chairman, Brian Murphy and club president Marty Hanlon. The boys were encouraged to continue their development when addressed by team managers Sheamie Cummins (u14) and Brian Dowling (u16). Former juvenile chairman Niall Bergin finished the evening with some inspirational words for our future stars and the evening ended with a fine spread of hot finger food provided by Paddy Greene and his team.  Well done to all the players, their mentors and their families for contributing to a very enjoyable year for O’Loughlin Gaels GAA

CLUB LOTTO 
There was no winner of last week’s Lotto. The numbers drawn were 3, 16, 17, 21 and the bonus number was: 15.  Tickets can be bought from the usual selling agents or by asking at the clubhouse bar. Remember – if you’re not in; you can’t win the jackpot prize of €20,000.  
 
SENIOR FOOTBALL
 
The senior footballers went down to a well-rounded Mullinavat side in the first round of the Senior Football League last Sunday afternoon in Callan CBS. A well worked move by the O’Loughlin side ended on a goal chance squandered and the resulting clearance by Mullinavat worked the ball to the net at the other end. Setting them up for a comfortable lead at half time. O’Loughlins did fight hard in the second half and had managed to reduce the deficit to one score going into the final moments of the game. Paddy Butlers was unlucky not to hit the net when instead the ball ricocheted off the post and into the hands of a grateful Mullinavat defender. A last minute penalty was slotted to the net to give Mullinavat a flattering  six point final score advantage but deserving winners. Next weekend O’Loughlins head to Mooncoin for equally as tough a task and your support will be welcomed.
 
 
O’LOUGHLIN GAELS BAR & LOUNGE
 
Shanghai Darts will return to the bar on Sunday evenings in the O’Loughlin Gaels GAA. The bar opens Thurs to Sundays and Tuesday evenings from 8pm with a growing ‘congregation’ as Paddy Greene and his team offer great value drinks and a great service that includes updates on what’s going on plus a few wise words. Tuesday night is Lotto night, Thursday evening sees the regular poker night; Friday, Saturday  & Sunday hosts families and neighbours with Sunday evenings now adding Shanghai darts to the entertainment. Join in – you’re all welcome.

BE A CLUB MATADOR
The Bull Rush Raffle is a fundraiser set up by the players to purchase Strength & Conditioning Equipment for the Club. Tickets at €10 each but for €100 you get 13 tickets (3 free) and your family name or business permanently posted on the club’s wall in a specially commissioned ‘Matadors Framed Poster’ for loyal supporters. This is an chance to have your name forever associated with O’Loughlin Gaels GAA and already many families and businesses have snapped up the opportunity. So not only will you increase your chances to win the 1st prize of the Calf Bull but your support will be recognized permanently in the club and on the club’s website at www.oloughlingaels.gaa.ie Bull Rush Matadors.
 
CAMOGIE NEWS
 
Congratulations to O' Loughlin Gaels camogie player, Jennifer O' Keeffe, who is a member of the successful Loreto senior team who won the Leinster title, defeating Birr recently. They face Magherafelt in the All Ireland semi-final on February 13th and we wish Jennifer and her team well. 
Congratulations also to Eva Collins who is a member of the Loreto junior team. They are also Leinster champions. Well done to Loreto on winning both Leinster titles.
 
Registration for all young camogie stars will take place in the club on Friday evening at 7pm. Please come early and meet your managers and get details of training schedules. We look forward to seeing you all back and welcome new faces of all ages.
 
SIDE BY SIDE CLUB
The Side by Side club takes place every Thursday at 2pm in the Day Care Centre.  New members welcome.  Contact Helen Goode on 087 6884072