Football
Last Saturday’s under 21 fixture against Naomh Conaill was postponed. The squad will be hoping to get back into action this Saturday when they travel to take on Four Master’s in Tir Chonaill Park, throw-in at 2pm
Our under 7 boys finished their season on Saturday last, with Melvin Gaels and Glencar Manorhamilton joining the hosts for a very enjoyable blitz in Ballyshannon. Some great games took place over the six rounds of football. Many thanks to Barry Travers and Michael McGrath as well as our under 7 coaches for reffing the matches. All the teams were treated to a great spread of sandwiches, home bakes and sweets afterwards, thanks to our parents and guardians. Many thanks for that and to those who helped with tea and coffee, and the clean up afterwards. We have a great gallery of pictures from the game live on aodhruadh.org now. With the year now finished for the under 7s we would like to thank the players for all their hard work over the year and they parents and guardians for their support too. And of course a big thank you to the managers and mentors who made everything happen.
Hurling
The Juvenile Hurling committee hosted their Annual General Meeting last Monday, 30th October. The committee officers and underage managers reflected and reported on 2023. It was a successful year on many fronts. At the competitive end, the minors under Daithi Breen, Dan Breen and Denis Daly brought home the Táin Óg title and the Donegal League Cup and were beaten finalists in the Championship. The under 15s mentored by Paul Sheridan and Mark Sheerin were crowned Donegal Feile Champions and Táin Óg Champions, runners up in the League and semi-finalists in the championship. The junior groups coached by John Larkin, Marin Larkin and Patrick McGarrigle participated in many challenge matches, Go Games and blitzes, and proved themselves worthy competitors. The under 11s hosted a very successful Aodh Ó Dálaigh tournament and all the junior groups enjoyed a fun trip to the cinema to end their season. There were a number of new recruits at various age groups and our away trips to Féile and Croke Park were a roaring success with all our players behaving brilliantly. Fund-raising was excellent this year and the committee remained self-sufficient for yet another year with a sizable surplus remaining at financial year end.
Although there were a number of tensions throughout the year, communications on a whole improved, particularly with Bord na nÓg and the committee look forward to building on that relationship in 2024. One big disappointment was the inability to run our other two home tournaments, the Ryan / Grimes and the Finn / Larkin. This was not for the want of trying, but plans are already afoot to host these as season openers next year instead. Following extensive discussions, a motion will be submitted to the Club AGM to propose a change to ‘No Bus Policy’ to include exceptional circumstances. In election of officers, the sitting committee was returned for another year. Our sincere thanks, as always, are extended to all who helped with hurling throughout the year creating a real buzz and great atmosphere for our young players. Huge thanks to all our coaches and their helpers for their time and enthusiasm, parents for their fund-raising, support and taxing services, all our sponsors, particularly Rathmore Mechanical Services and Sean Nugent Construction, Teresa Maguire for co-ordinating the lotto, to the Executive and Tom Daly for their assistance and of course, our players for always having the right attitude and behaving in a manner that highlights the culture of Aodh Ruadh.
Good luck to the under 21 hurlers who get their championship campaign underway this Sunday with a trip to the Crossroads to take on Setanta. The action gets under way at 2pm.
Ladies
Pride of place this week goes to Paul Gillespie who has been named county under 16 manager, alongside Bundoran’s Dessie McNamara for 2024. We wish the pair the very best of luck for the coming season.
Good luck also to the under 23 ladies who will be facing Urris in the Division 2 semi-final this Sunday at 10.30am, venue to be decided.
Training continues for the under 13s this Thursday as they prepare for the competition’s knock-out stages.
Camogie
The Camogie sub committee will be meeting this Wednesday at 7.45pm in Áras Aoidh Ruaidh. All committee members are asked to attend.
Suim agat sa Ghaeilge?
Interested in using your own level of Irish in a relaxed, enjoyable conversation group? Aodh Ruadh GAA Club invite you to GAEILGE DO GACH DUINE. Join us in Dorrian’s Hotel, Ballyshannon where we will meet every Tuesday for six weeks commencing Tuesday 14th November from 8.30pm to 9.45pm. All levels of Irish are welcome to join in, speak, listen, or just do whatever you are comfortable with. This event is free of charge. Bain triail as, beidh fáilte romhat.
Club AGM
The club AGM will take place on Sunday, 26th November. Sub-committee and officer reports should be submitted to Secretary, Lisa McTernan, by Friday 17th November.
Clothes collection
Our used clothes collection is still going strong and bags can continue to be dropped to North West Floors and Doors for the next number of weeks. Call Orla on 086-8035316 if you need to arrange a collection.
Ballyshannon Bingo
Congrats to Mary Coughlin on winning last week’s Halloween Jackpot prize. The house winners were Rosemary Patton, Marion McDermott (with a line), Bridget Quinn, Jean Brolly, Marie Gormley, Margaret McBarron, Rosaleen O’Brien, and Denis Sheerin – with two lines!, whilst Lorraine McGarrigle won the €100 house. The line winners were Noleen McCann, Agnes Ryder, Philomena McGarrigle, Mary B Kerrigan, Packie Johnston, Teresa Campbell, Majella Gettins and Anthony Reynolds, whilst James Gettins won the €50 double line. Mary McGowan was last on her feet to claim the Stand-Up prize of €120. The €1,000 Snowball escaped to live another week, so we play for €2,800 again this week including the €500 50 / 50 Jackpot and €300 Lucky Numbers game. Bingo at the usual time of 8.30pm this Tuesday at the Abbey Centre, doors open 7.45pm. Come along and bring a friend, books only €10!
Aodh Ruadh lotto
There was no winner of the Aodh Ruadh Lotto jackpot of €4,600. The winning numbers drawn were 2, 7, 10, 13, 16 and 18. In the lucky dip prizes of €20 were won by Pearse O’Neill, Geraldine Thomas, Róise Conlon, James Monaghan and June O’Doherty. The next draw is for a jackpot of €4,700 on Sunday in The Bridgend bar. Lotto tickets are available in Kernan’s Spar and Pearse O’Neill’s. You can play also play the lotto online. Log onto klubfunder.com and then search for and select Aodh Ruadh Ballyshannon. Users can now avail of the auto-renew option to play the same line every week until they decide to stop when they pay using Stripe. If you’re not in, you can’t win!
The lotto team for McCosker’s Centra on Saturday is: CAMOGIE.