Tuesday, Aug. 31, 1010

Community Plots

Bagenalstown Community Plots Association invites anyone interested in joining this Association to attend an informal meeting in the Red Lion Pub Lounge on Thurs. Sept. 3 at 9pm.

The aim of the Association is to acquire land which will be divided into individual vegetable plots and rented to anyone who wants to grow their own vegetables, flowers. Etc.

If you are interested but cannot attend please phone, or text, your name, address and contact number to 085 – 7530809 if you want to apply for a plot for the 2011 growing season.

Upcoming Courses

Personal Development Workshop from 10am to 1pm at Carlow Wellness Centre on Tuesday, Sept. 14. Numbers strictly limited. For further details please contact 086 1704157.

Men’s Horticulture and Plant Care and Maintenance Course

This course will commence in Bagenalstown Family Resource Centre. If you are unemployed this course is free. Come and join us! It is delivered 5 mornings per week from 10am to 1pm. For details please contact (059)9722027

Occupational First Aid/Safety at Work

Get a Career in Care with our FETAC Level 5 Occupational First Aid; Care Support; Care Skills and Safety and Health at Work courses. Now taking bookings for last few remaining places. If you are in receipt of Social Welfare you may be eligible for course funding. Call Vision Training on 086

1704157.

Charity GAA Mixed Rounders Blitz

A Mixed Rounders Blitz will take place on the Eire Og GAA Pitch on Saturday, Sept. 4 at 1.00pm. There will be six teams battling out for the Saplings Challenge Trophy. There will be an exhibition of American softball game by two Dublin based teams. Go along and have a go at rounders and softball. All are welcome, Adults/teenagers 3 euro, children are free. Light refreshments served. Proceeds go to the Saplings School for Children with Autism.

Adeline Dargan School of Irish Dancing.

Registration: Leighlinbridge Parish Centre Mon. Sept 6 at 5pm: Ballinabranna Club House Mon. Sept 6 at 6pm:

Bagenalstown CYMS Mon Sept. 6 at 7pm.Classes commence the following week. Contact Adeline on 085 7259865 or 059 9134262.

Pony Club Championships

The All-Ireland Irish Pony Club Championships 2010 was hosted at Mullingar Equestrian Centre in Co.Westmeath on July 27, 28 and 29. Teams from all over Ireland came to participate in dressage and combined training as well as show-jumping competitions.

Carlow Hunt Pony Club was well represented with both individuals and teams participating. Eimear Curran represented Carlow in the Senior Individual SJ; a team made up of Emma Hosey, Clive Hatton, Megan Patterson and Eimear Curran took part in the Senior SJ. This Carlow team came first and are invited to the British PC Championships.

The Dressage team made up of Megan Patterson, Sarah Hosey, Aine Kelly and Emma Hosey are also invited to the British PC Championships.

In the Captain John Ledingham Intermediate Show Jumping competition twenty nine teams took part. Although won by the ‘Kilkenny Cats’, Carlow did very well. The ‘Carlow Blue’ team, Sarah Dermody, Lydia Hatton, Donal Curran and David Hatton came 4th. In the Bobbie Bailey SJ (Junior) the ‘Carlow Red’ team consisting of Niamh Kennedy, George Connolly, Kieran Cooper and Catriona O’Hara came 3rd.

Community Games

The Bagenalstown U12 Community Games soccer team ended an outstanding year by scooping an All Ireland silver medal in the recent Community Games in Athlone. This was the first year the soccer team even made it past the first round of the Leinster, so to reach the All Ireland was an enormous achievement in itself. The team beat Hacketstown and Burrin to win out Carlow back in April. They then met Wexford in the first round of the Leinster and had a comfortable 3-0 home victory. The Semi-finals and Final was held in St. Pat’s grounds in Carlow on the same wet and very windy day but despite the weather conditions they saw off Meath in the Semis 2-0. The lads faced a tough Dublin side in the Leinster Final but through sheer determination and a lot of hard work from them and their coaches the went on to win 3-1 in a very well deserved victory to see them Leinster Champions.

In Athlone their semi-final game was against last year’s champions Derry. There was absolutely nothing between the two sides in the first half with both teams displaying some great performances but Derry broke through and went 1-0 up near half time. The second half started as the first with great play from both teams but Bagenalstown needed a goal and with 10 min remaining Michael Murphy’s goal was ruled off side leaving everyone in disarray believing that the chance had gone but with only 2min remaining Martin Bridgett’s shot flew straight into the top of the net bringing the game to extra time. Despite another 20min of play the sides remained level and penalties had to decide the game. Bagenalstown went 2 goals down and it didn’t look good but keeper Chris Johnson pulled off 2 fantastic saves and Bagenalstown went on to win 3-2. There were enormous scenes of joy for the boys by all supporters.

The next day a somewhat tired team from the Semi-final game saw them meet Castlebar of Mayo in the final that had beaten Limerick 7-0 in the semi final. Again very little was separating the sides but Mayo took the lead leaving the boys a mountain to climb. Bagenalstown were awarded a penalty after Danny Doyle was taken down in the square which Cian Doyle superbly took. looking like extra time was on the cards again with only 3min remaining Mayo broke through again and clinched a fantastic game 2-1. Scenes of tears emerged for the heartbroken Bagenalstown boys but as they left the pitch were met with a huge applauding crowd at the gate for their great efforts. They were soon after awarded their silver medals to a roaring Carlow crowd who also celebrated the U10 football gold medal presentation. Later that evening a convoy of approx 50 cars between football and soccer saw them travel through the whole parish of Nurney, Newtown, Fenagh, Ballinkillen, and every estate in Bagenalstown celebrating.

Team – Chris Johnson, Stephen Crowe, Owen Johnson, Michael Murphy, Martin Bridgett, Christian Riordan, Ethan Walsh, Liam Murphy, Cian Doyle, Robbie Kane, Kieran Whelan, Danny Doyle, Jake O’Hara, James Cummins, Jamie Byrne, Daniel Heffernan.

A huge thanks must go to coaches Mick O’Neill and Dan Doyle who dedicated a huge amount of time and effort with the kids and also Mick Condon and Louise Kane for their time.

The Community Games team wishes to express their sincere gratitude to the following for their kind generosity, The Manor House, The Manchester United Red Devils Supporters Club, Gary Coady/FAI, John Foley Solicitors, M’O Neill Haulage, John Whelan Flooring, Burnside Hydracyl, Christy Lee Engineering, Margaret Dillon/Anne Doyle Hairdressing, Bagenalstown Credit Union, T.C. Clarke, NARGC, Hi Spec Engineering, B.I.G. Committee Lee Engineering, Margaret Dillon/Anne Doyle Hairdressing, Bagenalstown Credit Union, T.C. Clarke, NARGC, Hi Spec Engineering, B.I.G. Committee Members, Bagenalstown Soccer Club, Jim Cummins, Fenagh Juvenile Committee who looked after all the kids that weekend to a game of bowling, and to all the parents for their involvement and commitments To John Kennedy Estoria for the lovely food on arrival home, and Liam O’Brien and the Town Council.

Congrats to the U10 Bagenalstown Parish football team on their second consecutive All Ireland win. Also well done to the pitch and putt team, basketball team, the running team, and Katie Fitzpatrick on their achievements in the Community Games

Girls Under 13 Basketball

The U13 panel was assembled in February 2010 and the team was Captain Danielle O’Neill, Aoibheann Byrne, Sinead Byrne, Emma Cody, Vanesse Curran, Antoinette Dowling, Grainne Hickey, Rachel O’Brien, Saoirse Power and Laura Ward. In March the team qualified from the Carlow area beating three local teams in the process. In May they beat Wexford to win the area final and qualify for the Leinster semi-finals. The Leinster semi-final was held in St. Leo’s College on July 10 last and the girls defeated Longford. In the final on the same day Malahide (the 2009 Leinster Champions) provided the opposition. In a very highly contested game the local girls won by a basket (2pts) to become Leinster Champions 2010, the first time to achieve this feat for Area 15 in 24 years.

Then off to Athlone for the Community Games All Ireland Finals, held on August 21 and 22. In the semi-final the team fell to Cavan. Cavan went on to claim the All-Ireland title. They went down fighting in the 3rd/4th place play off to Kerry but received medals in recognition of achieving 4th place in Ireland.

Throughout the campaign the team received marvellous support from extended families, locals who made the long journey and St.Lazerian’s Basketball Club, Old Leighlin.

The girls would like to express their gratitude to their sponsors Burnside Engineering, Lambert Hygiene, Bagenalstown Credit Union, McHugh O’Leary Insurance, Seamus Somers, PharVet, The Kilree Arms, Railway House, Spar Supermarket, Manor House, Centra Supermarket. The team was coached by Denis Byrne and Martin O’Brien. The team also thanks Mary Foster, Paula Lomax, Louise Kane and the Community Games Committee for their help. Special thanks to Sean Hanafin for organising the gear.