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Bredagh news in March 2002

5 Boys picked for Down
Some of Bredagh's best young players took part in a trial for the first ever Co Down Primary Schools team on Wednesday, April 3 at Downpatrick... and FOUR of them were selected by Down Games Promotion Officer Shane King.

Ryan Johnston, Cormac Hughes, Declan O'Hara and Niall Nolan all showed up superbly at the trial, while Cathal Doyle from Holy Rosary PS/Ballymartin GAC made it five boys from the area to be selected.

Conor McCloskey could make that six at the next stage. He was unable to make the initial trial.

There were thirty boys in total at the trial, with only 13 selected, so the representation from Bredagh and the local Primary Schools is excellent.

The trial was thorough, with boys tested for kicking the ball with their 'bad' foot, high-catching, etc.

Shane King will call another trial and a county Primary Schools match, possibly against Antrim.

U-14s Losing Start
Bredagh U-14s were the first team from the club to begin serious action in East Down with a Section A League game on Tuesday night at Cherryvale. Unfortunately, the boys ran up against a really impressive Kilcoo side and were well-beaten.

Manager Frank McKenna had been thorough in his preparations and the boys had been training since early February, but Kilcoo already look to be the team to beat in the Section.

Goalkeeper Matthew Holywood made one superb one-handed diving save in the first-half, but Kilcoo still managed four goals in that first-half. No more goals followed after the break but Bredagh only scored two points - Paddy Donnelly in the first-half from a pass by Joe Steele, and John McKenna in the second-half from a Paddy Donnelly pass.

Sub Cormac Hughes came closest to a goal with a great turn and shot, but the keeper kept it out. Niall Devlin and Joe Steele set up the chance.

'Pup', Dermot Coffey, captain Stephen Gray and Oisin Quinn were among the Bredagh boys who gave everything, but it's back to the drawing board for the boys who have a friendly against St Galls on Sunday and then a League game against Teconnaught on Monday. Teconnaught beat Carryduff at Cherryvale by a point.

U-8s First Win!
Bredagh 4-1 St Brides 3-0

There were jubilant scenes after Bredagh Under-8s won their first ever match on Sunday, March 24th, against St Brides at Cherryvale.



Declan Magee and Jack Hollywood were the heroes of the victory, with Declan scoring the first ever U-8 goal and Jack following up with the first U-8 point.

St Brides had taken the lead with the first two goals, but then Bredagh took control of the game. Declan scored two goals, Jack got a goal and a point, and Niall Devlin added another goal to make it 4-1 to 2-0. St Brides got a late goal, but Bredagh won by 4 points.

U-10s Hit Six
Bredagh 6-4 O'Hanlons (Poyntzpass) 8-7

Our U-10s scored six goals and still lost to visitors O'Hanlons in a super game at Cherryvale on Sunday morning (24th).

Conor McCloskey bagged a hat-trick of goals and two points, while Jimmy McCaffery scored one goal, Caolan Devlin got 1-2, and Daniel Nolan struck with best goal of all in the second-half.

Emmett Costello, Ben McCaughey and Donal Hughes played really well in defence, while Ryan McElkerney showed well at corner-forward.

Amazingly, Bredagh led at half-time by 3-2 to 1-0, so the second-half was quite a collapse!

U-16s v St Brides
After the capture of silverware last year, the Under-16s came back down to earth with a bump in a pre-season challenge on the 24th of March at St Brides.
Bredagh lost by 3-6 to 1-3 with their goal scored by Conor Rafferty in the second-half. Shane Matthews added a couple of points and Paul Alexander got another.
Captain for the day, Conor Carson, gave everything, as did all 23 players who turned out, and the managers are not too despondent.
"This is exactly what happened to us last year", says Sean Rafferty. "We'll get better with more games and there'll be plenty of them in the coming weeks".

U-16s ready for 24th
After the capture of silverware last year, the Under-16s are hungry for more. After two months preparation, the boys will travel to St Brides for a pre-season challenge on the 24th of March.

Most of last year’s East Down B Championship winning team is still available. The team that beat Ardglass in the Final was:

Shane Matthews, Kieran Murray 0-1, Aaron Quinn, Conal O'Neill, Conor Carson, Henry Deasy, Paul Alexander 0-4, Michael Thompson 0-2, Kieran McArea, 0-1, Ciaran Conlon, Rory McCaughey 0-1, Conor Rafferty 0-3, Ian Galway, Nick McKee, Michael Lee. Subs: Chris Donnelly 0-1 for Michael Lee, Paul McGlade for Nick Mc Kee. Subs not used: Conor McCaughey, Paul Milligan, Conor McDaid.



Registered Players
Paul Alexander, Paul Milligan, Conor McCaughey, Conor Rafferty, Conor McDaid, Shane Matthews

Managers
Gerry Conlon, Pat Matthews, Sean Rafferty

Fixtures
March 24th: Pre-season friendly (Away) 12.15
St Brides Vs Bredagh

The East Down League will start on Thursday, April 4th, and will stay on Thursdays for the season.

Player of the Month
You decide! Email your votes before March 31st to Jerome Quinn

U-14s beat St Brides
The boys had a great start to the season in beating St Brides at Cherryvale on March 3rd by 6-6 0-2.

Corner-forward sensation Oisin Quinn scored 1-3, Niall Devlin and John McKenna both got 2-1, new captain Stephen Gray was inspirational, and other stars were Aidan O’Neill and Neil Poland in defence. Great performance all round.

Registered Players
Kevin McElroy, Mark McElroy, James McAlister, Matthew Quinn, Niall Devlin, Joe Steele, Niall Boyle, Lawrence Magennis, John McKenna, Dermot Coffey, Chris Kelly, Stephen Gray, Conal Short, Oisin Quinn

Managers
Frank McKenna, Cillian Short, Michael Coffey

Fixtures
The U-14s East Down League season is due to start on on Tuesday, April 2nd, but thereafter their games are mostly on Mondays.

Player of the Month
You decide! Email your votes before March 31st to Jerome Quinn

U-12 girls up and running
The girls started up for the year on Saturday, March 2nd and continued on the 10th with a great attendance of 25.

This training session is open to girls Under-14 and continues every Saturday at Cherryvale from 11.00-12.30.

The contact is Cathy Gallagher on 07711-324686 or C.Gallagher@Queens-Belfast.AC.UK

Player of the Month
You decide! Email your votes before March 31st to Jerome Quinn

U-12s beat St Peters
Bredagh 4-7 St.Peters 2-2, March 10th, Cherryvale

A super opening to the season for the under-12s. Playing against a strong wind in the first half the boys kept in touch with 3 excellent points from Cormac Hughes, Conor McCloskey and Niall Nolan.

In the second half they put together some fine football and goals from Nolan, McCloskey, Martin McNally and Sean Irwin saw the home side run out comfortable winners. All 17 players involved put in great effort, particularly 5 boys who had played in the preceding under 10 game.

U-12 Team; Gabriel Doran, Matthew McAfee, Paddy Woods, Emmet Costello, Ryan McAlinden, Dermot Colton, Pearse Leitch, Martin McNally, Niall Nolan, Donal Hughes, Declan O' Hara, Sean Irwin, Michael Coffey, Cormac Hughes (capt), Conor McCloskey, Donal McKegney, Ben McCaughey.

Registered players
Declan O’Hara, Gabriel Doran, Patrick Woods, Donal Hughes, Jimmy McCafferty, Pearse Leitch, Donal McKegney, Rowan Blaney, Michael Magee, Matthew McAfee, Cormac White, Cormac Hughes, Sean Irwin, Martin McNally, Michael Coffey, Niall Nolan, Kevin Duffin

Managers
Paul Doran, Damien Canavan

Player of the Month
You decide! Email your votes before March 31st to Jerome Quinn

U-10s come close
The boys lost by just one point when St Peters Lurgan visited Cherryvale on March 10th.

At half-time, Bredagh led by 2-1 to 0-1 with both goals from Conor McCloskey. At full-time, St Peter’s Lurgan were a point to the good, but it was clear that they have been playing together for quite some time.

Managers Mickey Young and Damien McCloskey were more than pleased with this first outing, and please note that the next game has been set for Sunday week at Cherryvale at home to Poyntzpass. The Armagh lads have agreed to come up to play us.

Back to the St Peters game and there were terrific performances in defence by Emmett Costello and Rowan Blaney, while Daniel Nolan and Timothy Durkan also caught the eye. A defeat, but very definite progress.

Fixtures
March 24th - Bredagh Vs O’Hanlons (Poyntzpass) - 12:00 Cherryvale

Registered Players
Kealan Devlin, Ben McCaughey, Daniel O'Rourke, Conor McCloskey, Aaron McPeake, James McWilliams, Ryan McElkerney, Damhan Farmer, Daniel Nolan

Managers
Mickey Young, Damien McCloskey

Player of the Month
You decide! Email your votes before March 31st to Jerome Quinn

U-8s make history
21 boys made the trek over to Shane Park (formerly the Instonians rugby home) for their first ever match against St Brides on March 10th.

They all got a game and according to co-manager Kieran Kelly they deserved ‘ten out of ten for effort’ in the cold conditions. Bredagh lost, but the St Brides manager has promised to bring a different team to Cherryvale on Sunday week for the return game. Their team has been playing together for 2/3 years.



Proof that St Brides players employed supernatural Harry Potter-style powers in the game with Bredagh to make the ball fly through the air

So, it’s back to training next Sunday to get ready for the next game, when we will have home advantage and hopefully the weather will be kinder - I am assured that it will be a closer game and a much better experience for our Under-8s. So the message is - sorry about the miserable day, but stick at it. Oh, and could the coaches note that a certain defender that I know well attempted to head the ball in the first half!

Fixtures
March 24th - Bredagh Vs St Bride's - 12:00 Cherryvale

Registered Players
Donal McLaughlin, Dermot O'Hare, Seamus McCloskey, Lorcan McMullan, Ciaran McFarland, Ronan McKegney, Diarmaid Kielty, Mark Quinn, Declan Magee, Conor McEvoy, Liam Boyle, Michael Doran, Timothy Durkan, Niall Irwin, Ben Scullion, Daniel Steele, Ethan Murray, Donal O’Kane, Jack Hollywood

Managers
Kieran Kelly, Paedar Doyle, Damien O’Kane

March Player of the Month
You decide! Email your votes before March 31st to Jerome Quinn

Registrations due
Bredagh GAC would like to remind players and club members that all GAA Club Registrations were due by the start of March. If you intend to be a member (Player/Non-Player) of Bredagh GAC this year we
need the following:

Name (In Irish and English):
Address (Including Postcode):

It is particularly important for new players (members)
to give your details. If your not registered, your not insured
and will not be able to play football this year with
Bredagh, nor will you be able to get county match
tickets.

Seniors earn draw
Bredagh 1-6 Annaghmore 1-6

On Sunday 3rd March Bredagh entertained Armagh team Annaghmore in Cherryvale. It was a tough assignment for Bredagh with Annaghmore promoted last year to the 3rd Division in the Armagh ACL.

Stephen Kelly scored Bredaghs first point of the season to put Bredagh ahead, before Annaghmore hit back with an early goal, quickly followed by another point. Paul Mc Evoy, easily adapting to his new role as full-foward clawed another point back to keep Bredagh in it. Annaghmore then stretched their early lead with a well taken point. With over 30 players turning up for Bredagh, Ciaran O Keefe acting manager for the day had to make a string of continual changes,
the first of which saw the introduction of Mc Garry, Carson and Muldoon after twenty minutes.

Within a minute of the change, a good move from starting on
Bredaghs own '45' saw Conal Toland win the ball, before passing on to Conall Donnelly, who beat his man before handing the ball off to Paul McEvoy who saw young Ciaran Mc Aree in space, who capped off a good
move by stroking the ball past the keeper into the bottom right corner. Annaghmore then came back with another point, before Bredagh pulled one back just before half time to leave it, Bredagh 1-2 Annaghmore 1-3.

The changes continued throughout the second half, Bredagh began to settle and could even afford to miss chances before levelling the game at 1-3, to 1-3 with Michael Tunney continuing where he left off from last season with a fine point. Annaghmore and Bredagh exchanged points, before Annaghmore in a good 10 minute play scored two points, one from Gareth McKeown which had started from Bredagh missing a chance at the other end. Bredagh settled down and with the introduction of Barry Little, Seamus Carlin and Eunan O'Brien began to dominate the game. The tireless running of Conal Toland set up two points in the last 15 minutes to draw the game, and that's how it ended
Bredagh 1-6 Annaghmore 1-6.
Man of the Match: Conal Toland (Bredagh)

Liam Mc Garry "It was a great performance from the team against a highly capable experienced Annahmore side. Ciaran O Keefe managed the changes very well, and new players contributed greatly particularly some of last years U16 squad Rory Mc Aughey and Ciaran McAree. We hope to build on that over the coming weeks before our first league game at home to Bright on April 7th."

There will be a training match for all Bredagh Seniors/Reserves this Sunday. Meet at Cherryvale for 11am. Anyone interested in joining Bredagh please contact Liam Mc Garry or simply turn up this Sunday at 11am with training gear.