Champions Sunday is a unique opportunity to raise funds for the Kilkenny Special Olympics Team and for young boys and girls - to meet their heroes. Our Special Olympic athletes will compete in the All-Ireland games, which will be held in the University of Limerick in June. It promises to be a great games and we want to send them on their way, by celebrating their unique achievement.
A host of stars across a wide range of sports will be there on the day to cheer on our athletes. These heroes will also spend time meeting young boys and girls, signing autographs and exhibiting memorabilia from their sporting conquests. We are delighted to announce that from the world of Hurling, we will have: Brian Cody, Eddie Brennan and Brian Hogan among others. Rugby stars Mick Galwey and Ian Dowling will be there. All-Ireland Camogie sisters - Angela & Ann Downey have promised to stop by, not to mention World Champion handballer - Michael "Ducksie" Walsh. Legendary Cork rebel - Dinny Allen is also on board…….. to name but a few.
If you're a young aspiring sportsperson and you want to meet your hero, come along to O'Loughlin Gaels Clubhouse at 12:00 noon on Sunday May 18th. All are welcome - young and old, and don't forget to raise a cheer for our Kilkenny Special Olympics Team!
Loughs Shock The Rocks!
Saturday evenings in Thomastown don’t get much better than this! This second round senior league encounter between the Continent and Ballyhale Shamrocks served up a hard-hitting uncompromising clash between two proud clubs.
It’s difficult to single out players in what really was a tremendous team performance. Gary Bryan, at the tender age of seventeen and a half – can be proud of his senior league debut. Stephen Murphy’s long range points were crucial to the outcome. Mark Bergin was as imperious as ever in the middle of the field alongside the industrious Paddy Deegan. Jason Quan made telling runs in the second half, when introduced and linked up well with John Doyle, who was unerringly accurate. Mark Kelly moved deeper at a vital stage in the match and stamped his county class on the outcome of the game – as a result. The real man of the match however, was the combined work ethic of the entire team and subs on a cold bitter evening in Thomastown.
Camogie
Our Junior Camogie team travelled to Hugginstown on Friday night last to play Carrickshock in the 3rd Round of the Junior Championship. With only 16 players available, due to exam and other commitments, the task seemed onerous.
The girls faced the challenge head on and emerged victorious on a score line of Carrickshock 0.4 to O'Loughlins 0.12. A great win and a super performance from all 16 girls to collect our third consecutive victory and leave us on full points heading in to a 5 week break for leaving cert and college exams. Thanks especially to Aoife Nolan who made herself available to assist us given the depleted numbers and best wishes to her on her return to work in Canada later this month.
Well done to all on this victory and the plan over the coming weeks is for some serious skills and fitness training as well as a number of challenge matches to ensure qualification as Group A winners - our 1st of 2 Goals for 2014. The final 2 Group games, against Emeralds and Slieverue, will be played in July.
The management team will be looking for all panellists to fully commit for the remainder of the Championship to achieve Goal number 2.
Club Lotto
There was no jackpot winner of the Club Lotto this week. The numbers chosen were: 8, 12, 23, 28 and the bonus number was 7. If you want to be in with a chance to win €20,000 – you can buy a ticket from the usual promoters or from behind the bar in the Clubhouse.
Johnswell Active Retirement
Meeting will be held in Johnswell Hall on Thursday 15th May at 8.00pm. New members are welcome.
Health & Wellbeing – Suicide & Depression Awareness
On Monday last, 28th April, the Launch of the Kilkenny GAA Health and Wellbeing programme dealing with "Suicide and Depression Awareness in your Club" was held in the Springhill Hotel in Kilkenny. This was the first in a series of presentations under the rollout of the GAA's National Health and Wellbeing Programme. Its Aim is to Promote Positive Health and Wellbeing in our Clubs and Communities by Providing Advice and Support to the Officers in Every Club in this crucial area over the next twelve months.