66 NEWS
�� February ���� | THE NATIONALIST
Nurney camogie awards night NURNEY camogie club held their awards night in Nurney GAA hall to a large gathering of recipients and parents. Two magnificent perpetual cups were on display, both won by Co Kildare camogie teams in ����. One was the AllIreland A Cup and the other the Leinster Junior Championship Cup. Nurney, who amalgamated with Moorefield, won three championships in ����. The U��s and U��s won the Div � championship and the adult Junior C championship and all were presented with their county medals on the night. Sinead Hagney was awarded the Maeve Higgins Cup as the most improved player. A new cup, the Rose Howard and Brigid Kelly Memorial Cup, was presented to player of the year Joeanne Cullen by Breda Thackaberry in memory of her aunt and mother who both played camogie with St Jude’s camogie club Kildoon. Her mother then played with Suncroft after the local team disbanded. As well as county medals all participants were presented with medals as follows by county chairperson Margaret Sexton with county treasurer Marcella Switzer also in attendance. U�: Ciara O’Malley, Áine Ryan, Riona O’Connor, Stacey Broughall, Hazel Gallagher, Siofra Kelly, Ella Howard, Aishling Reilly, Blaithnid Howland, Zeile Dunne, Shannon Kennedy and Rachel Donlon. U��: Maria O’Malley, Aoife Ryan, Roisin Hanley, Kayleigh Broughall, Rachel Gallagher, Grace Berney, Ciara Kelly, Keate Dooley, Caoimhe Reilly, Leonie Dunne, Lauren Dempsey, Kayleigh Slattery, Maggie Sue McCormack, Megan Kennedy and Sorcha Daly U��: Jacqueline Berns, Jenna Brannock, Olivia Brock, Emily Cains, Emily Connaughton, Chelsea Doyle, Eilish Lambert, Áine Merrins, Caprice Treacy, Dorothy Wilson, Mikayla Doyle, Sabrina Kennedy, Enya Doyle, Kayala Broughall, Sorcha Burke, Emily Keegan, Sarah Kelly, Gemma Merrins, Lauren Page and Grace Berney. U��: Megan Breen, Shauna De Little, Orla Fahey, Jenifer Kenna, Katie McNamee, Amy Scanlon, Ciara Thackaberry, Emer Kelly, Jacqueline Berns,
Nurney BREDA THACKABERRY t 045 526849 e bredat@hotmail.com
Olivia Brock, Emily Cains, Emily Connaughton, Chelsea Doyle, Eilish Lambert, Áine Merrins, Caprice Treacy, Jacqueline Berns and Dorothy Wilson. U��: Megan Breen, Jennifer Kenna, Amy Scanlon, Ciara Merrins, Ali O’Brien, Tara Fahey, Sophie Fleming, Cathriona Heffernan, Emma Hewson, Áine Bagnall, Katie Burke, Sinead Hagney, Mikalya Hamill, Shannon Higginbotham, Aoife O’Fearghail and Orla Fahey. U��: Phillipa Cains, Katie eMulholland, Laura Furlong, Clare Reilly, Katie Fullam, Joanna Harnett, Paula Lambert, Ciara Merrins, Ali O’Brien, Tara Fahey, Sophie Fleming, Cathriona Heffernan, Emma Hewson, Áine Bagnall, Katie Burke, Sinead Hagney, Mikayla Hamill, Shannon Higginbotham, Aoife O’Fearghail and Orla Fahey. U��: Lorna Merrins, Aoife Dowdall, Sarah O’Malley, Clare Reilly, Phillipa Cains, Ciara Merrins, Sophie Fleming, Áine Bagnall and Laura Furlong. U��: Joanne Cullen, Christine Higginbotham, Lorna Merrins, Aoife Dowdall, Sarah O’Malley, Clare Reilly, Phillipa Cains, Ciara Merrins, Sophie Fleming, Áine Bagnall and Laura Furlong. Juniors: Áine Sexton, Phillipa Cains, Cathy Ryan, Fidelma Dowdall, An Hughes, Helen Sexton, Aoife Dowdall, LornanMerrins, Joanne Cullen, Laura Furlong, Christine Higginbotham, Liz Dempsey, Sophie Fleming, Ciara Merrins, Clare Reilly, Sarah O’Malley, Joanne Harnett, Liz Fleming, and Pauline O’Dwyer. Medals were also presented to Nurney players who played with the county Kildare teams. U��s: Sophie Fleming, Tara Fahey and Sinead Hagney. U��s: Laura Furlong, Ciara Merrins, Clare Reilly, Phillipa Cains and Paula Lambert (who has since emigrated). A bouquet to Siobhan Fahey and gift to Padraig Bagnall. Refreshments was available for all present.
Monasterevin Credit Union School Table Quiz at St Paul’s Secondary School: Darren Prendergast, Conor O’Toole and Thomas Kelly from St Peter’s National School, Monasterevin Photo: Piotr Kwasnik
DRAUGHTS SILVER Two Community Games draughts teams travelled to Caragh on Monday � February to compete against the local side. Their task was a tough one as their opponents were county champions for the past three years but they but up a brave battle. The U��s and U��s both returned home with silver medals as follows: The U�� panel comprised Áine Ryan, Caoimhe Reilly, Aisling Reilly, Tadgh Conroy, Eoin Conroy and Liam McKeown. The U�� medalists comprised Patrick Ryan, Joseph Byrne, Sean Higgins, Evan Walsh, Padraig Howard, Jacqueline Berns and Chelsea Doyle.
KILDANGAN/NURNEY LADIES FOOTBALL Kildangan Nurney ladies AGM was held in Nurney GAA Pavilion on Sunday � February. Chairman John Kilbride opened the AGM and spoke of a successful year, and the need to build on it. He congratulated the U�� team on their great showing in the league final. John thanked the mentors for ����, the great work being done at underage level was immediately apparent as we had girls on every county team from U�� up. He emphasised the importance of keeping girls involved in playing football right up to adult level, as some girls drop away form football and indeed from sport in general at U�� level. John stated that due to the everincreasing number of girls being catered for by the club there is huge demand for volunteers to work with all age groups. John stated that there is no requirement for volunteers to have a specific background or knowledge in GAA or sport as there are many roles that need to be carried out to ensure training sessions and matches proceed efficiently. Outgoing secretary Tracey Rowe read her report for ����, highlighting the busy and successful year the club had. She thanked the committee for their support throughout the year. The treasurers report was presented by Yvonne Heffernan, and showed the club to be in a reasonably healthy position, mainly due to the very successful raffle which was held in the latter part of the year. The committee for ���� was appointed as follows: chairman John Kilbride, secretary Michael Higgins, treasurer Yvonne, Heffernan, PRO Michael Higgins, vice-chairman John Nealon, assistant PRO Lorna Merrins, child protection officer Yvonne Heffernan. Committee: Mary Jo Merrins, Noreen O’Donovan, Helen Thackaberry and Patsy Kelly.
Mentors for ���� – adult, John McCarthy and John Kilbride; minor, Tracey Rowe and Karen Lawless; U��, Noreen O’Donovan and Syl Merrins; U��, Mary Jo Merrins and John Nealon; U��, deferred to first meeting in new year. This concluded the business of the meeting.
THREE LEINSTER BOWLING MEDALISTS Three Nurney participants went to Carlow bowling dome on Tuesday � February to compete in the Special Olympics bowling competitions for the Leinster area. They successfully brought home gold, silver and bronze. Josephine Doyle captured gold with Sabrina Dunne attaining silver and Stephen Keiller winning bronze in the ten pin bowling event.
NURNEY SENIOR FOOTBALL Training has resumed over the last number of weeks for all senior players every Tuesday and Thursday evening in Nurney pitch at �pm. New players are always welcome. The Keogh Cup will start in the next couple of weeks with the following draw of matches Monasterevin v Nurney, Nurney v Kill and Confey v Nurney.
NURNEY GAA POOL TOURNAMENT The annual pool tournament will commence in the next few weeks in Martin’s Kildoon, entry fee is €�� with prizes as follows; �st prize €���, �nd €���, �rd and �th €�� each. Names and entry fees can be given in to Martin’s Kildoon or to Jimmy Merrins ��� �������
NURNEY GAA AGM Nurney GAA Club AGM will take place in Nurney GAA hall on Saturday �� February at �.��pm, all welcome.
PRESENTATION OF AWARDS The annual presentation night took place last Saturday night in Nurney GAA Club. A great night was had by all. Player of the year awards were presented to Harry Sunderland for U��, Stephen Whelan for U��, Michael Behan for minor, Kevin Keegan for U��, Brian Heffernan for senior second team and Andrew Behan for senior team. Liam Heffernan was also presented with clubman of the year award. Many thanks to everyone for their support during the year.
NEWTOWN ROVERS FC REGISTRATION Newtown Rovers Soccer Club based at Booleigh Cross are a relatively new club and showed great determination and enthusiasm with outstanding success, emerging winners of division � last year in their first season. They are looking forward to the upcoming season and will commence training and registration on Thursday next, �� February, at ��.�� and on Saturday �� February at ��.�� at Booleigh. Everyone welcome, both new and
old, and any further enquiries to Martin ��� �������. There is also strong interest in forming a ladies team and anyone with any enquiries can contact Stacy ��� �������.
HANDBALL A meeting was held in Martin’s of Kildoon to form a new handball committee for Kildoon alley. There was a large attendance on the night with officers elected as follows: chairperson Kevin Howard, vice-chairperson Michael Howard, secretary Geraldine McKeown, treasurer Con Houlihan, assistant treasurer Brian Conroy. Kildoon handball alley was built in the early ����s by local voluntary labour beside a road that no longer exists, joining Kildoon to Nurney via the Sweeps Lane. The site was given to the local people by the landlord of Nurney demense. The labour force was made up largely of members of the United Irishmen who it is believed used the project as a cover for their meetings in the run up to the ���� Rebellion. A local force from Kildoon, Nurney and Kildangan led by Captain O’Beirne was ambushed by the Militia on their way to attack Monasterevin in ���� with disastrous results, so it is assumed that many of those who helped to build the ball alley were killed in action. The alley was originally built with no back wall as was the custom at time. Following a house to house collection in the early half of the last century a back wall was added to the existing building. A curtain raiser match was played between William Aldridge Athy and local Kilbern man Bill Nolan to celebrate the new modern premises. Interest in handball in the area followed for many years after that time with numerous fast and furious contests. A big clean-up took place on Saturday last with a large turnout of volunteers with the aim to restore it to it’s former glory.
MINOR LEAGUE The minor football league started on Sunday �� February, Nurney minors will play the following matches over the next month – on �� February, Carbury v Nurney; �� February, Nurney v Rathangan; � March, Nurney v Ballykelly and �� March, Grangenolvan v Nurney. All matches commence at ��.��am.
DOWN SYNDROME DOG RACING Down Syndrome Ireland is having a nationwide fundraising night at the dogs at ten different venues including Newbridge greyhound racing track on Saturday �� February. Only tickets bought beforehand can benefit the charity. Tickets cost €�� each or €�� for a family ticket to include two adults and up to four children. Tickets may be purchased at www.downsyndrome.ie or DSI branches.