The white and green of O’Loughlin Gaels is set to dominate the streetscapes, estates and townlands of Johns Parish this week culminating with a full on incursion by club support into Nowlan Park at 3.15pm on Sunday afternoon. After the dethroning of Ballyhale in last week’s semi-final and the disposing of city neighbours Dicksboro the previous week O’Loughlin Gaels are in prime position to lay claim to their fourth ever Senior County Title. Clara stand in the way and will probably fancy themselves to reclaim the title they won in 2013. It’s the old cliché ..it will be whoever wants the most. It’s crazy to think that any team wants it any less than another so that old cliché is nonsense. But what’s not a nonsense is that this team has worked hard, trained hard and sacrificed to be there and the O’Loughlin Gaels supporters are going to be needed to drive them on one last time. Wear your colours and bring your best vocal support to Nowlan Park on Sunday and let’s give the lads every encouragement and advantge to bring the Tom Walsh Cup to St. Johns Park. Up the ‘Loughs
SUPPORTERS SHOP – THURSDAY/FRIDAY 8pm TO 9.30pm
The White & Green Supporters Shop is open for business all week. Bunting, flags, beanies and car flags are all available in the club so that you look the part on Sunday afternoon. Get behind the team and display your colours at home, at work and in transit. Make sure your business takes the opportunity to hitch a ride on the White & Green bandwagon and display your shop and office windows with the club colours. Let the players know when they walk down John Street that support for them is everywhere. The Supporters Shop is open on Thursday and Friday Night from 8pm to 9.30pm.
JOHN JOE CULLENS BUTCHERS ON JOHN STREET also stocks flags and buntings and know that there is no such thing as too little when it comes to supporting your team. Cover your shop windows until you can’t see out , decorate the lamp posts, the staff…the dog…your granny..nothing is out of bounds.
MINOR FACE NEIGHBOURS ‘BORO
The Minors will take centre stage the week after next when they too compete in the County Final. It’s a great time for O’Loughlin Gaels GAA when the seniors and minors both take part in this year’s Finals. The minors had accounted for Mooncoin ten days ago but had to wait until the weekend to see who their opponents were to be. Dicksboro and James Stephens fought out a tense semi-final and it was Dicksboro who triumphed with a two point win and a final berth facing the St. Johns side. It promises to be another cracking day out with a repeat of last year’s final and hopefully a repeat of last year’s result!! Good luck lads.
COUNTY FINAL AFTER MATCH MEAL
There’s no doubt the match is going to burn off some calories ..the tension and drama is going to contribute to a ferocious appetite and as always your favourite club, O’Loughlin Gaels is looking after you. For €10 you can avail of a shuttle bus from the club on the evening of the match and be whisked to the Kilford Arms Hotel for 8pm to have a 3-course meal. That’s all – just €10!!. TICKETS AVAILABLE IN THE CLUB BAR or CONTACT Paddy Green on 086 1298329 . And then back to the club afterwards for plenty of match analysis!
CLUB LOTTO
There was no winner of last weeks Lotto. The numbers drawn were 15,16, 24 ,27 and the bonus number was:1. 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.
U12s SOAK UP THE ACTIVITIES
The u12s headed to The Kilkenny Activity Centre for an end of year get together. The boys relished in the activities provided to come away soaked in muck and water in what was a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon. As we know these guys don’t care about tough conditions or hard work and they came through the day with big smiles on their faces. Well done to the boys on great year with the club and thanks to their mentors John Holohan, Sean Hogan, Brian Fox and Alan O’Meara
CAMOGIE AWARDS NIGHT – SATURDAY OCT 17TH 6.30pm
O’Loughlin Gaels Camogie Club held their awards night last Saturday Night in the clubs upstairs function room celebrating a very busy and enjoyable year. Chairperson Joan Galwey addressed the packed room impressing upon the girls the importance measuring success by enjoying camogie, being part of a team, making friends and learning from disappointment. Not much disappointment for our u12s who were presented their medals for winning their groups County Final. The u6, u8 and u10 teams were presented with specially commissioned calendars for their age groups. Special presentations too were made to players Rebecca Cleere, Aisling Butler (Intermediate) and Laura Murphy and Laura Green (Minor) for their parts in the County Teams national successes. Each player was presented with a beautiful handcrafted engraved hurl made by James O’Keefe. Co-founder of the club Marie Fitzpatrick made a special presentation to John Sheridan for his exceptional dedication to the club. John’s mother, the late Rena Sheridan , co-founded the cub with Marie back in 1991 when they would have dreamed of nights like this. Well done to everybody involved with O’Loughlin Gaels Camogie in what has been a very successful year with membership continuing to grow – a testament to many years of hard work by a great number of volunteers.
FINAL – LY
Last word this week to the weekends adventure. It’s a positive time for St. Johns Parish and the club that serves it. It’s an opportunity to get involved if you haven’t been involved already. Even if it’s just donning the club colours on your car or from your house. Go to the match..experience the magic. A Hurling County Final in Nowlan Park is a special occasion and it should be embraced. Lots of people have already contributed to making the week special…those who decorated the club, the streets and those who lined the ring road from Glendine to Middleknock with white and green checkered flags. Preparations are in order to welcome everybody from St. Johns parish and beyond to St. Johns Park on Sunday evening to celebrate a community. All are welcome. We salute the players and their management and back room team. Well done ..great work..now finish it off. Good luck O’Loughlin Gaels.