
If you’re a kid living in Kilkenny City – please set aside Sunday May 18th as a date in your bulging diary. That’s the day that O’Loughlin Gaels GAA club will be hosting its first ever Champions’ Sunday. We have invited a number of high profile athletes across a wide range of sports to come to our main hall that day, in order to give young boys and girls a chance to meet their heroes. We will have top All-Ireland winning GAA players as well as high achievers from the worlds of Athletics, Rugby, Handball, Camogie............the list goes on. Our special guests on the day will be the Kilkenny Special Olympics team who compete in the Special Olympics All-Ireland finals in University of Limerick, the following month. It promises to be a really memorable occasion. The throw-in time is 12:00 noon. It will be a family friendly event - so all are welcome; young and old. And no – you don’t have to be a club member to join in the fun.
Camogie
Our junior Camogie girls picked up their first brace of points with a very good win against Mooncoin away from home on Saturday night in the ACL. Mooncoin had contested the Junior Championship final in 2013 and O’Loughlins, with only 17 available to travel, appeared to be really up against it in this one. However it did not turn out that way and it was obvious that Liam Egan's training and coaching is starting to yield results.
The final score was O'Loughlins 1:11 to Mooncoin's 2:05 and the away team were full value for the win. Most pleasing in this game was the teamwork and work-rate of all 17 of the girls. At least 5 of their points were worked through 4 or 5 players with hand-passes, movement and excellent support play resulting in top class scores. Our defence was superbly marshalled by Rebecca Cleere at centre back, as she swept the entire backline and delivered long clearances time after time. Lizzie Kavanagh in goal was her usual steady self while the other backs were solid throughout, though improvement is needed in our striking which is being worked on constantly by Liam. The year is young yet and some extra work is needed by all players outside of the scheduled training.
At midfield the 2 Laura's were on top for most of the match and the switch of Sarah Bourke to midfield, with Laura Murphy moving to centre forward, with 15 minutes to go worked a treat. Our forwards played some lovely Camogie to create scores and could have been rewarded further but for some poor striking at times. Overall, it was a very satisfactory display and we can look forward to next weekend’s second round Championship match against Thomastown away from home.
Training will continue at 6:30 on Wednesday and Friday of this week and large turnouts are expected. Competition for places is going to be interesting as the club strives for Intermediate status in 2015. Keep up the good work girls!
Our U-14 team beat Clara, St Martin’s and Kilmacow last Saturday to reach a Feile semi- final. The girls will play the Emeralds from Urlingford in two weeks time. All in O’Loughlin Gaels wishes them well.
Our U-16 team had a very good win over Tullogher Rosbercon in first round of the league last Wednesday night in St John's Park winning 3-4 to 2-2. Well done girls!
Leinster League
Our senior hurlers bowed out at the penultimate stage of the Leinster League last weekend. We went down at home to Buffers Alley of Wexford, who we had previously beaten in the group stages. The Leinster League is a series of readymade challenge matches and OLG benefitted from these matches as the league progressed. The management team is under no illusion however, that the real hard graft is about to begin. Our next big test in the Kilkenny S.H.L. is against Ballyhale Shamrocks on Saturday May 10th. The match takes place in Thomastown. Throw-in is at 7:30.
Brian & Mark
The Continent extends hearty congrats to our very own Brian Hogan & Mark Kelly, who helped Kilkenny to a memorable victory over Galway in the semi-final of the National Hurling League on Sunday last in Limerick. The win sets up the mouth watering prospect of a league final clash with our old foes – Tipperary. Well done to both Brian and Mark for your great individual displays.
Johnswell Active Retirement
Johnswell Active Retirement will hold a meeting in Johnswell Hall next Thursday 24th at 8.00pm. New members are always welcome.
Kilkenny Choir
The Kilkenny Choir will present our Spring 2014 concert in St. Canice’s Cathedral, next Saturday 26th at
8 p.m. We will sing Haydn; Mass in D Minor (Nelson Mass), his largest mass, and Mozart’s Vesperae Solennes de Dominica (KV 321), Mozart’s sublime and operatic Vespers. The Choir will be accompanied by a Symphony Orchestra, leader Clodagh Vedres with soloists Lynda Lee – Soprano, Sharon Carty – Mezzo, Tyler Clarke – Tenor and John Milne – Bass. All conducted by our musical director Philip Edmondson. Tickets are available to purchase at the door on the night. (€20/€15)
Narcotics Anonymous Meetings
“We are recovering addicts who run meetings within the community for anyone with a desire to stop using drugs. Thursday and Sunday evening meetings are at 8:30pm. ‘Hugs Not Drugs’ Group, Basement at rear of St John’s Church.”