Bertie Allen Cup:

Competitive action got underway last Sunday afternoon for our Senior team in glorious conditions in Michael Fay Park against Longford Slashers in the first round of the Bertie Allen Cup. Unfortunately the result did not go our way and the home team ran out 1-20 to 0-14 winners in the end. The full time result did not give a true reflection on proceedings as there was only one point separating the sides with 8 minutes remaining and we were leading at half time 0-10 to 0-9. There were plenty of positives to take from the game, including the performances of our younger players, particularly Dan Gorman and Mark Breslin. The next round is at home to Granard this Friday evening at 8.15.

The team and scorers were as follows:

Aiden Gray, Mickey Kelly, Fergal Reilly, Dan Gorman, Aaron McGee, Mark Hughes, Eoin Keane (0-4 (3f)), Mark Duffy, Mark Breslin (0-1), Diarmuid Cooney, Dean Cosgrave (0-1), Pauric Gill (0-3), Petie Collum, Seán Whelan, Martin Cassidy (0-5)

Substitutions: Ciarán Cooney for Mark Breslin, David Cassidy for Fergal Reilly, Stephen Cosgrave for Aaron McGee, Cian Brady for Mark Duffy

Lotto: The Lotto draw was held last Monday, March 20^th in Dillon’s Bar, Ballinamuck. The jackpot was €5,200. The numbers drawn were as follows:

01, 12, 15, 21.

There was no winner.

€30 winners

1. Camilla Clarke, Drumlish.
2. Cathal O’Reilly, O’Reilly’s Bar, Drumlish.
3. Evelyn O’Hara, Cloonaugh, Drumlish.
4. Dolly Murtagh, Clonmacart, Drumlish.
5. Robert McGrath, Main Street, Drumlish.

Sellers Prize

1. Paddy Howe.
2. Malachy Scott.

The next draw is in Gallagher’s Bar, Drumlish on Monday April 3^rd. The jackpot is now €5,400. Tickets are available from the usual outlets and from any member of the executive.

Senior Challenge: The Gaels had their final challenge match before competitve action against a slick Mohill outfit last Friday evening under lights in Monaduff. The final score was 1-15 to 1-7 in favour of the visitors. The team and scorers were as follows:

Michael Heslin, Mark Hughes, Cian Brady, Dan Gorman, Mark Breslin, Fergal Reilly, Eoin Keane (0-2, (2f)), David Collum, Seán Whelan, Stephen Cosgrave, Martin Cassidy (1-0), Ciarán Cooney (0-1), Kevin Whitney, Pauric Gill (0-2), Diarmuid Cooney (0-1).

Substitutions: Liam Lynch (0-1), Cian Cassidy, Ryan Crowe, Timothy Bouvin

Thank you to Mohill for travelling up and we wish Padraic Davis, Pete McWade, Ian Higgins and the squad the very best of luck for the coming year.

Longford Seniors: Hard luck to Paddy Collum and the Longford seniors on their defeat to Laois on Saturday night last in the National League. The next game, away to Antrim, is a must win game for Longford if they are to secure their place in Division 3.

Longford U21s: Hard luck to Frank McNamee and his Longford U21 team after they fell short to Dublin on Wednesday evening last in Mullingar. Great credit goes to the whole squad, management and backroom team for the tremendous effort that was put in all year.

Suicide Behaviour Awareness and Training Programmes: The following Suicide Behaviour Awareness and Training Programmes will be delivered in Longford in April. The full training schedule for 2017 is available upon request:

1. A.S.I.S.T. (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) is a two-day intensive and interactive workshop designed to provide participants with skills which will enable them to recognise the immediate risk of suicide and provide safety, help and support to those at risk. It is on April 5^th & 6^th in the EDI Centre, Mastertech Business Park, Longford from 9 to 5 both days with registration at 8.45am on Day 1.

2. SafeTALK is a 3½ hr ‘suicide alertness’ programme that prepares participants to identify and engage with persons who may be having thoughts of suicide.  Participants also learn how to provide practical help by using the steps of TALK (Tell, Ask, Listen and Keepsafe) and gain information on the supports and resources available locally, regionally and nationally. It is on April 27^th in the EDI Centre from 10 until 1.30 with registration at 9.45 am. Please note that individual SafeTALK workshops can also be delivered upon request to groups with a minimum of 15 participants.

If you would like to book a place(s) or would like to discuss any aspect of Suicide Prevention please contact Eddie Ward as follows:

Eddie Ward Resource Officer for Suicide Prevention – Longford/Westmeath,

Health Service Executive,

The Health Centre,

Longford.

Tel:  086 380 1152  Email:  eddie.ward@hse.ie

Club Membership: Money for club registration is due from all players and anyone else who wishes to become a member of Fr. Manning Gaels for 2017. Membership is €30 for adults and €15 for students. Monies must be received by this Friday, March 31^st in order to receive full voting entitlements at next year’s AGM and entry in the All-Ireland ticket draw.

Croke Park Pitch Renovation Open Day: This is a unique opportunity to see GAA Pitch Renovation and hear sports turf

industry professionals speak on matters relevant to quality pitch maintenance on Sunday April 23^rd at Croke Park. Please see the club website for further details on the programme of events. Register for this event by contacting Mr Kieran McGann, National Pitch Maintenance Workgroup on:

Email: ktmcoare@gmail.com or Phone: 086-7773100

Congratulations: Well done to local band Brave Giant on their terrific performance on the Late Late Show last Friday night. Their latest superb single “The Time I Met the Devil” currently occupies number 3 on the Irish music charts and is available for download on iTunes. Everyone at the Gaels wishes our fellow clubmen Podge Gill, Mark Prunty, Emmett Collum and Dromard man Ross McInerney continued success in their music careers.

St. Vincent’s Monster Bingo: Please support our minor club’s 7^th annual Monster Bingo on Sunday next April 2^nd in the ’98 Hall, Ballinamuck. There is €2,500 to be won in prize money along with Easter Eggs and there will also be a monster raffle on the day.

Monthly Executive & Club Meeting: There will be a Fr. Manning Gaels executive meeting on Thursday night, March 30^th in Monaduff at 8.30pm. This will be followed by a club meeting at 9.30pm.

The Lotto draw was held last Monday, March 20^th in Dillon’s Bar, Ballinamuck. The jackpot was €5,200. The numbers drawn were as follows:

01, 12, 15, 21.

There was no winner.

€30 winners

1. Camilla Clarke, Drumlish.
2. Cathal O’Reilly, O’Reilly’s Bar, Drumlish.
3. Evelyn O’Hara, Cloonaugh, Drumlish.
4. Dolly Murtagh, Clonmacart, Drumlish.
5. Robert McGrath, Main Street, Drumlish.

Sellers Prize

1. Paddy Howe.
2. Malachy Scott.

The next draw is in Gallagher’s Bar, Drumlish on Monday April 3^rd. The jackpot is now €5,400. Tickets are available from the usual outlets and from any member of the executive.

Bertie Allen Cup: Competitive action starts next weekend for the senior team in the first round of the Bertie Allen Cup, away to Longford Slashers at 2pm on Sunday. Best of luck to the team and management as they look to get 2017 off to a winning start.

Lotto: The lotto draw will take place in Dillon’s Ballinamuck on Monday, March 20^th. The Jackpot is €5,200. Results will be available on the club website when available and will be in next week’s notes.

Tickets are available from the usual outlets and also from any member of the club executive.

Senior Challenge: The Gaels had another useful challenge match last Thursday evening under lights in Monaduff against Ballinamore. The final score was 1-9 to 0-11 in favour of the Gaels. The team and scorers were as follows:

David Collum, Aaron McGee (0-1), Kevin Whelan, Dan Gorman, Mark Duffy, Mark Hughes, Eoin Keane (0-3, (3f)), Liam Lynch, Seán Whelan, Stephen Cosgrave, Dean Cosgrave (0-1), David Cassidy, Martin Cassidy, Pauric Gill (1-4), Diarmuid Cooney.

Substitutions: Michael Heslin, Kevin Whitney, Tom McGee.

Thank you to Ballinamore for travelling down and we wish them the best of luck for the coming year. Thanks to Lorraine and Von Corrigan for providing both teams with refreshments afterwards.

Longford Seniors: Well done to Paddy Collum and the Longford seniors on their crucial win over Sligo on Sunday last in the National League. We wish the team and management the best of luck next Saturday evening, in another must win game, away to Laois.

Longford U21s: Best of luck to Frank McNamee and his Longford U21 charges as they take on Dublin on Wednesday in the Leinster championship semi final in the St. Loman’s Grounds, Mullingar. Throw in is at 7.30 pm.

Sleep Out for Simon: The Simon Community has organised a sleep out in Connolly Barracks on Good Friday night, April 14^thstarting at 9pm. The success of this last year was greatly aided by the coordination of GAA clubs throughout the county and it is hoped there will be a similar response this year. For further information and sponsorship cards please contact Noel Greene on 087-9615766

An Introduction To Youth Mental Health: This new workshop on youth mental health is being delivered in collaboration with Jigsaw and HSE Health Promotion & Improvement for people who work or volunteer with young people aged between 12-25 in County Longford.  This training will be held in the EDI Centre, Longford, on Thursday 22nd June 2017.  Registration is essential as there are a maximum number of 18 places. If you are interested in attending please contact Secretary Lorraine Corrigan for the relevant forms.

Longford GAA Race Day: The 15^th Annual Longford GAA Race day in Punchestown will take place this year on Wednesday April 26^th. For details on booking your table please contact either Eamon Reilly (086-2610556) or Martin Skelly (086-8040296).

Club Membership: Money for club registration is due from all players and anyone else who wishes to become a member of Fr. Manning Gaels for 2017. Membership is €30 for adults and €15 for students.

Club Membership: Money for club registration is due from all players and anyone else who wishes to become a member of Fr. Manning Gaels for 2017. Membership is €30 for adults and €15 for students.

Lotto: The Lotto draw was held last Monday March 6th in Quinn’s Bar, Drumlish. The Jackpot was €5,000. The numbers drawn were as follows:

03, 08, 19, 20

There was no Jackpot winner.

Five €30 winners:

• Barbara Long, Church View Drive, Drumlish.
• Ciarán Lennon, Sliabh Cairbre, Drumlish.
• Nathan Baxter, Esker Glen, Drumlish.
• James McCann, Cloonaugh Lower, Drumlish.
• Paul Walsh, Kinvara, Co. Galway.

Sellers Prizes:

• Jimmy Courtney
• Patricia Lennon

The next draw will be held in Dillon’s, Ballinamuck on Monday March 20th.

The Jackpot is now €5,200.

Tickets are available from the usual outlets and from any member of the executive

Congratulations: Well done to Cian O’Hara who received the club person of the year award for St. Vincent’s GAA Club in Toronto recently.

Scór Tráth na gCeist: Hard luck to our Quiz Team of Ciarán Cooney, Seán Cooney, Joseph Gill and Pauric Gill who placed 3rd in the Scór Tráth na gCeist on Friday evening. Congratulations and best of luck to the winners Mullinalaghta who go onto the All Ireland Finals in Belfast in May.

Engagement: Congratulations to Ciarán Lennon, son of Seán and Patricia, who got engaged recently.

Senior Challenge: Preparation for the upcoming Bertie Allen Cup and Senior League continued for the seniors last Sunday with a good workout against Ardagh/Moydow in Keenan Park. The final score was 2-11 to 0-15 in favour of the Gaels. The team and scorers were as follows: Aiden Gray, Mickey Kelly, Cian Brady, Dan Gorman, Mark Duffy, Mark Hughes, Eoin Keane (0-4, (3f)), Kevin Whelan, Seán Whelan, Stephen Cosgrave, Nigel Kiernan, Ciarán Cooney, David Cassidy (1-1), Pauric Gill (0-3), Diarmuid Cooney (0-2).

Substitutions: Aaron McGee (1-1), Paddy Collum, Stephen Donnelly, Kevin Whitney, Tom McGee, Darren Smith

Thank you to Ardagh/Moydow for facilitating the sporting game and also to Aiden Dowler for officiating. We wish Nigel Kiernan a speedy recovery from the ankle injury he sustained in the early stages of the match.

Longford Seniors: Hard luck to Paddy Collum and the Longford seniors on their defeat to Tipperary on Sunday last in the National League. We wish the team and management the best of luck next Sunday against Sligo.

Lá Fhéile Pádraig: Happy St. Patrick’s Day to all our players, members and supporters, particularly those who are living abroad. Beannachtaí na féile Pádraig oraibh go léir.

Junior Training: Junior training started up last week under the management team of Seamus Noonan and Ken Leonard. All levels are welcome to attend. For further information regarding training times and matches please contact Seamus/Ken or any member of the executive.

Sympathy: The club expresses its sincere condolences to the Mollaghan family, Cloonaugh on the recent death of Margaret (née Gallagher). Solas na bhFlaitheas uirthi.

The Lotto draw was held last Monday March 6^th in Quinn’s Bar, Drumlish. The Jackpot was €5,000. The numbers drawn were as follows:

03, 08, 19, 20

There was no Jackpot winner.

Five €30 winners:

1. Barbara Long, Church View Drive, Drumlish.
2. Ciarán Lennon, Sliabh Cairbre, Drumlish.
3. Nathan Baxter, Esker Glen, Drumlish.
4. James McCann, Cloonaugh Lower, Drumlish.
5. Paul Walsh, Kinvara, Co. Galway.

Sellers Prizes:

Jimmy Courtney

Patricia Lennon

The next draw will be held in Dillon’s, Ballinamuck on Monday March 20^th.

The Jackpot is now €5,200.

Tickets are available from the usual outlets and from any member of the executive