Cead Mile Failte go dti Bredagh CLG
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Cead Mile Failte go dti Bredagh CLG
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| Home | News | History | Links | Information |
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| Football | Ladies | Camogie | Hurling | Forum |
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Adult and Minor Hurling fixtures and results 2008 - click
Former Antrim, Down and Ulster hurling manager, Sean McGuinness, has agreed to become Bredagh's senior hurling manager for the 2008 season. The Patrick Sarsfield's clubman will take up the reins from 1st January 2008 and will be assisted by his son Colm, who will take on much of the on-field coaching. Colm has recently been managing the Sarsfield's senior hurlers and took them to promotion to Division 1 of the Antrim hurling leagues. Paul Blaney, chairman of Bredagh GAC, is delighted at the appointment of one of Ulster's most respected coaches as Bredagh's senior hurling manager and commented: "Getting Sean on board as our senior hurling manager for 2008 is quite simply a sensational development for our club. Sean enjoys legendary status as a hurling coach throughout Ireland and he is just the man to take Bredagh to the next level in Down hurling. " Blaney went on to take the opportunity to thank the old management team of Rory Galway, Ciaran Donnelly and Eamon Mulvenna who got the senior hurling team off the ground in 2005, won the Ulster Division 3 league in 2006 and had a magnificient 2007 winning the Down JHC, Down Division 2 league and getting to the Ulster JHC semi-final,an outstanding achievement in 3 short years. However, Eamon, Rory and Ciaran felt it was time to bring in a new face to take the team to the next level and I believe that Sean and Colm are perfect to take on that role". Ciaran White, Chairman of Bredagh's Hurling committee added: "This will signal how serious we are about our hurling in Bredagh and is just what we need at this point in time. In the coming season we will have 24 players in our senior squad under 25 years of age, all of which have come through our juvenile structures . Sean's experience, knowledge and motivational skills will take these lads on to a totally new plane and will undoubtedly assist us with our main objective of becoming a major force in Down hurling ". Sean McGuinness has a very distinguished hurling career and is credited in Antrim circles with laying the foundation of the Antrim team that got to the 1989 All-Ireland final. He managed the Antrim team in the mid-80's when they gave Cork the fright of their lives in an All-Ireland semi final. He also did the same with Down a few years later also against Cork and is highly regarded in Down hurling circles and in hurling strongholds throughout Ulster. County players who have experienced Sean's management skills speak highly of his technical and motivational skills and his canny ability to gel squads together, forgetting about any local tribal differences, and getting the best out of them on the hurling field.
To see fixtures, results, reports and news about your team, select their name along the side of this page and click on it.
Once upon a time, back in the 1980s, there was a senior hurling team in Bredagh..
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A very successful and enjoyable year ended with a team led by Danny Hughes winning the first Bredagh hurling Sevens Tournament.
"It's great to see a club like Bredagh making the strides you are making. Danny Hughes in particular deserves a lot of credit for the work he's put in and the way you have all responded". Down Hurling Board representative Matt Fitzpatrick paid a generous tribute to the Bredagh players and management after they beat Liatroim in the U-14 B Championship Final at Annsborough in September. "The blocking was terrific and some of the scores you took were absolutely fantastic". The same U-14s had terrific times at the Féile – winning the Co Down Division 2 title, winning the Division G title a week later at the Ulster Féile and enjoying a wonderful weekend at the All Ireland Féile in Cork, where they were hosted by Mayfield.
The highlight of the year was undoubtedly the June Blitzes with teams from Carryduff, St Enda’s and Rossa joining Bredagh for four consecutive Saturdays of great excitement and fun, culminating in a Finals Day attended by Sambo McNaughton and Jackie Carson. The blitz was singularly instrumental in terms of developing and improving the ability and skill levels of the Bredagh lads who were in no way overawed by competing against the stronger Antrim sides. The U-10s won the Shield competition with captain Aidan Donaghy receiving the trophy. Daniel Devlin won most improved player and Conor Costello also caught the eye but each and every one of the lads deserve special praise. The U-8s were runners-up in the Cup section with Sean Blaney lifting the trophy and Mark Patterson Player of the Tournament. The uplifting aspect was the effect the Blitz had on swelling numbers, particularly the U-8 boys. Hopefully this can turn into an annual event. Unfortunately, there were no competitive games through the summer period but the training sessions were well attended. Our scouts were still on the lookout for new talent, uncovering the find of the season in 9-year-old Lawrence Whiffen. The season ended on October 1st with the boys meeting old adversaries St Enda’s at Cherryvale. Despite losing narrowly in both encounters, there was sufficient evidence to feel assured that the future of hurling in Bredagh looks bright.
The introduction of indoor hurling for Bredagh kids at Rosario Youth Club over the winter months proved to be a masterstroke. The sessions were well-attended and on March 13th the U-10s became the first ever Down team to win a title in the North Antrim Indoor League, beating Randalstown at Ballymena Leisure Centre to become Division Four champions. 35 teams entered the whole competition, but the Bredagh lads were unfazed and secured the first piece of silverware for the club in 2005.
Expectations were high at the start of the season, especially after the boost from the indoor hurling sessions and good turn-outs at training, but this large and potentially strong group suffered from a frustrating lack of games in County Down. So, they entered a South Antrim League which provided regular matches, if not that many victories. The best game all year was against St Paul’s when both the standard and the determination shown were very high. However, the Antrim League proved to be a big step up as far as a physical challenge was concerned. Back in Down, they were a little unlucky to meet a strong Warrenpoint squad and to lose narrowly to Ballyvarley in the Championship. Still, they have great potential and had a star performer in Niall Irwin who scored five goals in a League game against Carryduff. Also, Emmett Dougan, Tim Durkan and Kealan Devlin were called up to the U-14 Féile where they made a significant contribution. Niall Irwin and Ciaran McFarland made the same step a little later in the season. The Schools League and the Summer Camp proved to be a fertile recruiting ground, with Eugene Irwin ideally placed to identify those with good potential.
June 4th - Bredagh 2-0 Warrenpoint 3-0
Coaches: Jim Sheridan, Lorenzo McMullan, Tony Dougan, Eugene Irwin
This team had a really special year and each panel member should be very proud of their achievements which they deserved for the commitment and dedication shown. The first title was won in May at the Down Feile where they took the Division 2 title with wins over Castlewellan, Warrenpoint and Ballyvarley. This qualified them the national competition in Cork in June. Before that, in fact just a week after the Down Féile, the team went unbeaten at the Ulster Feile in Ballycastle, winning four matches including the final against Fermanagh champions Lisnaskea to win their Division.
Thanks also to sponsor Gerry Woods and to Aidan McKegney for producing a wonderful booklet to mark the occasion, and to everyone else who helped in the smooth-running of the trip.
There were individual honours too as Paddy Woods, Daniel Higgins, Donal Hughes, Donal McKegney and Michael Guerin were on the Down Academy team that lost narrowly to Ballygalget in the Championship. Many of these players have a great love of the game and if they maintain their commitment they have a bright future.