Intermediate Management
50/50 Draw
This weeks draw for Swinford GAA 50/50 draw was held in Whitehouse on 20th October and Mark McDonnell of Foxford won €629 after buying his envelope in Corrib Oil. Envelopes are available in most business premises and online through www.swinfordgaa.ie where tickets can be purchased in bundles of 10/25/52 weeks. Next draw in Gateway Hotel on 27th October. Draw envelopes are now also available at 3 for €5.
Upcoming Fixtures:
East Mayo Junior B Championship
Friday 23rd 8pm Swinford v Kilmovee/Kiltimagh at Connacht Centre of Excellence
Under 21 B Championship
Sunday 25th 12pm Swinford v Erris St.Pats at Robert McCallion Memorial Park
Any changes will be posted on our facebook, twitter and website. Match reports, when available, will be posted on our website www.swinfordgaa.ie
Senior Management
We would like to thank our senior management for all their work and effort over the past two years. Vincent Gavin, Aidan Barrett, Niall McHugh and Brian Galvin have put in untold hours over the last few years for the betterment of Swinford GAA and they have decided that they will not be seeking re-appointment for next season. As is a sign of great men they will still be remaining involved with the club.
There has not been a day over the last few years that these men have not been thinking of the club and how to improve matters on and off the field of play. Their contribution to the club has been immense and on behalf of the executive of the club and the club itself I would like to express our sincere thanks to them for all their work.
Under 13 Division 3 Final
Our young lads put in a very good display on Monday 19th in the Under 13 county final against a very good Kiltimagh team. We lost a few players to injury before the game but a very entertaining first half saw the two teams level at 1-6 apiece. Unfortunately we picked up more injuries at the beginning of the second half and Kiltimagh then took complete control and won on by 6-15 to 1-9. Full credit to all the players and management who have made great strides through the year.
Senior League Division 1C
In the last round of league games, the end probable was the right one as we had our only draw of the year on a score of Swinford 3-8 Achill 2-11. Midway through the first half we were two goals behind, a point down at half time and level at the end. Roll on 2016. Swinford scorers: James Devaney 2-2, Tom Horkan 1-0, Kevin McDonagh Liam Moran 0-2 each, Kevin McShea 0-1, Johnny Burke 0-1 This game marks the end of the season with a mid table finsih. Injuries and emigration cost us key players during the year but full credit goes to the outgoing management team for all their work and effort and to all the players who donned the jersey throughout the season.
Under 15 League
We had a great win in the semi final of Division 3 against Erris St.Pats by 8-17 to 1-1. We now play Davitts in the final on a date and venue to be scheduled.
Senior League Division 1E
A tight game in which the lead changed hands a number of times ended with a two point win for the visiting team on a score of Swinford 2-11 Ballycroy 3-10. Swinford scorers: James Devaney 1-1, Andy Lenehan 1-0, Kevin McDonagh 0-3, Paul McDonagh 0-2, Gerry Callaghan, Aidan McLoughlin, Fergal Loftus, Mark McNicholas, James Lavin 0-1 The season has now ended with a mid table finish in the league and a position in the 2016 Junior Championship. Thanks to the management team of Tommy Feeney and Michael Lenehan and to all the players who played during the year.
Vodafone Swinford
Swinford GAA have entered into an arrangement with the Vodafone shop on Market Street where you will earn points on certain transactions which will turn into sponsorship for the club when we reach 700 points. When you are shopping within the store please mention Swinford GAA when you are paying.
A disappointing evening at Robert McCallion Memorial Park in our penultimate game of the league season. With our slight chance of promotion gone the previous weekend and Mayo Gaels below us in the league table the game had very little meaning save for ending the season with a bang.
As like last weekend we started off slowly and left ourselves with a lot to do but we once again we fought our way back into the game but ran out of steam in the end. If we can play an entire game like we did for the middle third for two weeks in a row we will go places but leaving ourselves with a Mountain to climb every week is too much for any team out there.
Mayo Gaels started the game off with a quick attack that ended with a wide but the soon had the white flag raised and this was soon extended with two more points. While we had three wides before Liam Moran got his first of his six points. By the 15 minute mark Mayo gaels had scored 1-6 to our 0-1 and six wides.
We got a foothold in the game in between the 15th and 20th minute and points from Liam Moran, Kevin McDonagh, Jack McDonnell (F) and james Devaney (f) brought the game back to 4 points.
Unfortunately Mayo Gaels got four of the next six scores to leave the game at half time Swinford 0-7 Mayo Gaels 0-7. Our two points coming from a fine 45 from Liam Moran which he followed with a point from play to end the half.
We needed a good start to the second half and that we did with Liam Moran continuing his scoring form with two more points to bring us back to within 4 points once again only for Mayo Gaels to get another point. A free from Jack McDonnell and a punched point from Michael Walsh.
After 10 minutes of the half Mayo Gaels scored a point and it looked like everytime we got close to them they would pull away once again. Eoin Gallagher made a fime run and was pulled down to let Jack McDonnell get his third point of the game but then disaster as Mayo Gaels got their second goal and we were back to a six point gap.
Kevin McShea who was on as a second half substitiute got one back but this was soon nullified by a Mayo Gaels point.
Suddenly we began to exert real pressure on the Mayo Gaels defence and a Jack McDonnell free and then a quick free by Michael Walsh over on the sideline was sent into the box and Kevin McShea knocked into the goal,, just getting over the goal line and there was only two between us with seven minutes left. The away team were also reduced to 14 men after a black card for a player allready booked in the first half.
Regretably that was to be the end of our scoring as in the last few minutes Mayo Gaels scored 2-1 to leave the game Swinford 1-14 Mayo Gaels 4-14.
It was a game that could have and should have been won, we wasted a lot of possession with some terrible shooting and allowed the opposition run at us with numbers with complete freedom leaving our defence with too much too do.
There is one game left against Achill, provisionally set for next weekend at home. It has been a long season since our first game last February and we lost a number of players to emigration and injury during the year that would hurt the best of clubs out there. Now lets just get the season over and have a rest and regroup for next year.
Swinford: Ryan Convey, Jason Carney, Paul McDonagh, Aidan McLoughlin, Fergal Harte, Mark Forkan, Kevin Doyle, Michael Walsh, Barry Brennan, Tom Horkan, Liam Moran, Kevin McDonagh, Jack McDonnell, Eoin Gallagher, James Devaney. Subs Kevin McShea
Scorers: Liam Moran 0-6, Kevin McShea 1-1. Jack McDonnell 0-4, Kevin McDonagh, James Devaney, Michael Walsh 0-1.
50/50 Draw
This weeks draw for Swinford GAA 50/50 draw was held in Bolands on 6th October and Ann Durkan of Lisbrogan, Swinford won €712. Envelopes are available in most business premises and online through www.swinfordgaa.ie where tickets can be purchased in bundles of 10/25/52 weeks. Next draw in Heaneys Killasser on 13th October. Draw envelopes are now also available at 3 for €5.
Upcoming Fixtures:
Senior League Div 1E
Friday 9th October 8pm Swinford v Kilmovee Shamrocks at Connacht Centre of Excellence, Bekan
East Mayo Under 16 B Final
Saturday 10th October 5pm Eastern Gaels v Swinford – Venue yet to be confirmed.
Senior League Div 1C
Saturday 10th October 5pm Swinford v Mayo Gaels at Robert McCallion Memorial Park
Senior League Div 1E
Sunday 11th October 11-30 Swinford v Kilfian at Robert McCallion Memorial Park
Any changes will be posted on our facebook, twitter and website. Match reports, when available, will be posted on our website www.swinfordgaa.ie
Club Meeting
The October monthly meeting of Swinford GAA Club will be on Friday 16th October at 7pm in the Gateway Hotel. All members are asked to attend.
Under 13:
Our Under 13 have progressed to the final of Divison 3 after a convincing win against Aghamore on Monday 5th by 5-12 to 2-9. We await details of our oppenents in the final.
Minor B Championship
Our minors were beaten by a very good Louisburgh team in the semi final of the Mayo B Championship by 2-11 to 0-7. It was a tough day on the field but the team have done well this year winning the East Mayo A Title for the first time in 9 years. Well done to all the players and management for their effort put in throughout the season.
Senior League Division 1C
A bad in the office for us on Sunday lunchtime as we were on the wrong end of a scoreline away to Islandeady of 4-9 to 1-8. Swinford scorers: Eoin Gallagher 0-5, Michael Walsh 1-0, Liam Moran 0-2, Paul McDonagh 0-1. This puts at end to our chances of promotion this year. We have two home games left against Mayo Gaels and Achil in Division 3C so lets give ourselves something to work on next year.
Vodafone Swinford
Swinford GAA have entered into an arrangement with the Vodafone shop on Market Street where you will earn points on certain transactions which will turn into sponsorship for the club when we reach 700 points. When you are shopping within the store please mention Swinford GAA when you are paying.
It was a very disappointing afternoon in Islandeady where the ball never ran for us and we played some destructive defensive play. It took us 22 minutes to get on the scoreboard at which stage the home team had scored 3-4.
We got off to a bright start from the throw in and Jack McDonnell had a very tight wide but this was as good as it got for the next twenty minutes. Within two minutes Islandeady had the green flag raised and not too long later they had their second goal. For the second the corner forward was on his own on the edge of the box and despite getting a great hand to it Ryan Convey was left to gather the ball from the back of the net.
In the next fifteen miniutes Islandeady scored a further 1-4 while we had 4 wides and hit the butt of the post. Everything was going right for the home team yet nothing was coming off for us.
After 22 minutes Liam Moran got our first score with a free and shortly afterwards the number 11 for Islandeady was red carded for an off the ball offence on Dermot Keane.
Within a few minutes Mick Walsh had the ball in the net after a great ball into him by Liam Moran and Mick raised high and knocked the ball into the corner. Islandeady got another point before Eoin Gallagher got our second point. The half time whistle came leaving it Islandeady 3-5 Swinford 1-2.
With the restart Islandeady extended their lead before a great point by Eoin Gallagher and one more from another veteran Paul McDonagh gave us some life. Mick Walsh had a goal oppurtunity saved by the home goalkeeper.
Islandeady then got a point of their own before a free from Liam Moran and two more points from the outstanding Eoin Gallagher on his birthday brought the margin back to two goals. Then with a great attack first Mick Walsh hit the foot of the post and then with the follow up Jack McDonnell hit the same post.
Within minutes Islandeady got first a point back and then broke with speed down the middle and caught us with another goal. Eoin Gallagher with his fifth of the day got one back before on the full time whistle Islandeady finished the scoring to leave it at the end
Islandeady 4-9 Swinford 1-8
Our slim hopes of promotion are now gone while Islandeady cement their position at the top of the table.
There was spme positives in our comeback in the second half but after the first 20 minutes we had left ourselves with Everest to climb. We now have two home games left to finish the year off with Mayo Gaels and Achill. Heads must stay high and go out with a bang and put down a marker for 2016.
Swinford: Ryan Convey, Jason Carney, Mark Forkan, Fergal Harte, Danny McNicholas, Dermot Keane, Kevin Doyle, Joe Kelly, Barry Brennan, Liam Moran, Mick Walsh, Tom Horkan, Jack McDonnell, Eoin Gallagher, Jack McDonnell. Subs: Paul McDonagh, James Sweeney, Stephen McNicholas, Aiden McLoughlin.
Scorers: Eoin Gallagher 0-5, Mick Walsh 1-0, Liam Moran 0-2, Paul McDonagh 0-1.