THE DOWNS GAA NOTES April 3rd 2023
Men’s League Results
The Division 1 side travelled the short distance to Lakepoint Park on Friday evening under lights. Following an impeccably observed minute’s silence in honour of the passing of Jimmy Corroon, The Downs came out the wrong side of this evenly contested game. The final score-line read 1-09 to 10 in favour of St. Lomans. The goal coming in the first half from the boot of TJ Cox. A great save from the penalty spot by the young Senan O’Driscoll also kept the final result in question right up to the final whistle. Hard luck to players and management.
The Division 4 game due to be played against the same opposition was postponed to a later date due to a waterlogged pitch.
The third game of the St. Lomans/The Downs trilogy took place on Sunday morning in The Downs. In a very exciting game St. Lomans came out on top of this encounter on a final score-line of 1-09 to 2-08. Hard luck lads!
Underage results
The underage leagues kicked off this week. The results are as follows:
First up on Monday night, the U17’s opened their Division 2 campaign with a win against Coralstown Kinnegad. A good first half performance with some quality play and scores left the lads in a strong position at half-time. Despite playing against the breeze in the second half the lads maintained their lead throughout to end on the winning side. Well done to all.
On Wednesday night, The U15’s kicked off their league involvement against Moate All Whites also at home. Unfortunately, Joe Daly’s side came out the wrong side of this thriller by a solitary point. Plenty more football to be played for these lads.
Our U13 Division 1 and Division 4 teams were scheduled for Friday 31st in Molloy Park.
We had a total of 37 players available to compete. Unfortunately, Kilbeggan were unable to field leaving us with just one game to play. Despite challenging conditions and facing a stiff breeze in the first half, our boys put in a great effort to go in with a half-time lead of 4 points.
Assisted by the wind in the second half, the team went on to add some quality scores to record a convincing win against our neighbours Coralstown/Kinnegad. A great start to the league and good practice in what seems to be standard conditions lately. Well done to the entire U13 panel - a great effort by every player with some outstanding performances displayed on what was a challenging evening for football.
LGFA
Our Senior Ladies Division 4 team were in action this week in the opening game of the league against Coralstown Kinnegad. The girls put in an impressive performance to emerge as winners on a score-line of 4-11 to 0-8. The goals coming from Katie Daly (2) Beth McGuire and Shannon Liston. Great start ladies well done.
Easter Camp
We are delighted to announce our Easter Camp here at the The Downs GAA Club. Taking place on Wednesday/Thursday 12th/13th April for boys and girls from junior infants up to 6th class. You can register online at www.thedownsgaa.ie or directly from ClubZap. Many thanks to all the volunteers for making this possible. Cost is €25 for one child, €40 for two €55 for three and €70 for four. Registration is now open.
Sympathy
It is with much sadness that we learned of the death of Jimmy Corroon earlier this week.
Jimmy was truly a magnificent servant of The Downs GAA club in a career that spanned three decades. In that time Jimmy amassed five senior football championship medals and was ever present on the famous three in a row teams of 1968 - 1970. He also won one senior hurling championship medal, one of select few who managed to win the double in the same year. In 1964 he won his first Senior medal when the club won the Junior championship. He also represented Westmeath at Senior level. To Jimmy’s wife Ann, daughter Barbara, son in law Keith and grandchildren Bradley, Lee and Billy and his extended family we extend our sincere sympathies. May He Rest in Peace.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam
Scór na nÓg
It was a clean sweep on the stage today for Na Dúnta today as they hosted the Scór na nÓg Leinster Semi Final with competitors representing Westmeath, Longford, Meath, Louth, Offaly and Kilkenny. The Downs were representing Westmeath on stage in Aithriseoireacht, Nuachleas & Rince Seit. First up for the Downs was Alanna Corroon with her excellent recitation “Mammys Day in Tramore”. Alanna qualified for Westmeath along with Realtín de Burca representing Meath.The Downs Novelty Act entertained the crowd once again with their hilarious performance. Well done to Aidan Tuite, Aidan Quinlan, Grace O'Neill, Senan O'Neill, Orla O'Connell, Sophie Moore, Darragh Colgan & Sean Corroon and mentors Trudi Rowan and Noel Lynam on qualifying for the Leinster Final. Joining them will be Killoe representing Longford. The Downs Set Dancers Aaron Connaire, Orla Rijksen, Leah Bardon, Billy Carroll, Bailey Shiels, Sean Flynn, Conor Cleary & Ellen Connaire once again raised the roof with their brilliant performance to take a spot in the final along with Abbeylara of Longford. Well done to them and mentors Alice & Brenda Deihy.The Tráth na gCeisteanna team of Conor Cleary, Aaron Connaire, Padraig Monaghan & Sean Flynn narrowly missed out on a Leinster Final spot earlier in the day. Well done to them and mentor Pat Leavy on a great performance. Congratulations to the other successful Westmeath entrants Moate All Whites in Bailéad Ghrúpa and Bunbrosna in Ceoil Uirlise. Hard luck to Emma King, Ballymore who faced stiff competition in Solo Singing and the young Delvin Dancers who put on a wonderful performance in Rince Foirne.Other winners on the day were Rince Foirne -Louth and Longford, Amhránaíocht Aonair Meath and Offaly, Bailéad Ghrúpa -Longford Ceol Uirlise- Longford. A word of congratulations and thanks to the brilliant Scór Committee here in The Downs for their exceptional hard work with and on successfully hosting and organising last weekend’s county final and the Leinster semi-final this weekend. Well done to all involved.
The Leinster Final takes place in the National Opera House Wexford on 16th April at 3pm. Tickets go in sale Tuesday 4th April.
Congratulations
Congratulations to our three Na Dúnta representatives Dylan Ledwith, Conor Cleary and Finn Brennan on making their debut for the Westmeath U14 panel this week.
We also congratulate Coláiste Mhuire on becoming 1st year Leinster A champions earlier this week. We were well represented on the panel by Fionn Kelly, Kieran Cassidy and Aidan Doyle. Well done to all.
Registration
Registration for 2023 is now due for renewal. All registration can be paid with the click of a button. All you have to do is visit our website www.thedownsgaa.com and click membership.
If you are a prospective member or new to the area and are interested in joining The Downs GAA club, please don’t hesitate to contact us or visit our Facebook Page for further information.
We’re moving!
We've some exciting news about our online solution provider at Na Dúnta. In the next days we will move our services to new online club service provider, ClubZap. We will do our utmost to ensure your transition to ClubZap is as smooth as possible but would ask for your continued support and patience as we make this significant change. The ClubZap Mobile Phone App, our Website (www.thedownsgaa.com; www.naduntagaa.com) and social media channels (Facebook & Twitter) will become our primary sources for sharing club information with you. You can expect the following notifications via the ClubZap Mobile Phone App:
· Lotto Draw notifications & results
· Match fixtures & Results
· News (weekly Newsletter)
· Team & Club communications
What do we ask you to do? If you haven’t already, please download the ClubZap application to your smart phone with notifications enabled.
Two easy ways to get the ClubZap App:
- You can download the app directly from your App\Play Store and add The Downs GAA as your club.
- Use the following link on your phone: https://clubzap.page.link/imnhaGexit8i32S37
Our 2022 members will receive a 2023 membership renewal notification by email in the coming days. Access to membership can also be found here: https://naduntagaa.clubzap.com/pages/membership Plus access our lotto fundraising here: https://naduntagaa.clubzap.com/categories/lotto/products. We look forward to our next chapter in Online Club Communications.
Vacancy Updated Link
New Updated Link: https://jobsireland.ie/en-US/job-Details?id=2237602
The vacancy for the position of Caretaker/Groundsperson position at The Downs GAA Club is still available. Please see new updated link for information regarding same. This is a Community Employment Position with MSCO Ltd.
Gaelic for Mothers and Others
G4M&O are back on the pitch this week from 8 to 9p.m. every Wednesday. Please contact Anne-Marie on 0874140184 for further information.
Bingo
Bingo continues every Friday night at 8.30 p.m. All new members welcome.
Clubhouse Bar
The Clubhouse bar is open on Fridays and Saturdays nights.
Club Lotto
We will continue to live stream our Lotto draw via our Facebook page for the foreseeable future. Tune in at 9-30 on each Monday night to catch the draw.
1.Add a discounted bundle to your Downs GAA club membership by clicking here.
2.Play online at our website www.thedownsgaa.com
3. Play online at Clubzapp http://bit.ly/3ItlksQ
4. Contact your regular draw collector for your area or any Committee member who will enter
your numbers on to our Perma Book which is retained at the club.
5. Send a cheque for €100 to club secretary Tommy Kelly, Coralstown, Mullingar (one year’s
subscription).
6. Or scan here:
Thanks to our supporters for their loyal commitment to our Fundraising Draw and to those new players who have signed up online and in hard copy.
Keep up to date with club activities
There are lots of ways to keep up to date with our activities. Our award-winning website can be viewed at www.thedownsgaa.com where you can sign up to receive our weekly newsletter by email. Also check us out on Twitter, Facebook YouTube and Instagram
