CASTLEWELLAN SENIOR HURLERS WIN THE ULSTER LEAGUE DIV 5 CUP AFTER BEATING CAPPAGH FROM TYRONE 2:08 - 1:09

PRO

Management Team L-R: Stephen Croskery, Gary Cairns, Tracy Burns, Martin Keown, Patrick Docherty & Michael Keown

Match Report By: Aodhán Mac Ruairi
Seaimpíní Uladh Roinn 5
Castlewellan are the Ulster league division 5 winners for 2009. The town defeated Cappagh Gaels from Killyclogher County Tyrone in a tense tight final played under lights at the Athletic Grounds in Armagh. It was the Tír Eoghain men who settled first and raced into a two point lead before points from Ray Cunningham and Cormac Mc Cabe brought the greens into the game. Two frees from Thomas Jennings brought the sides level and the town began to get on top. The introduction of Finnbarr Lennon to centre half back on twenty minutes had a positive impact with Stephen Rodgers moved to the corner. The town half back line and midfield were now on song winning every break ball and it was no surprise when a goal from Neil Johnston was followed by another by Rodgers and at half-time Castlewellan led on a scoreline of 2-4 to 0-4. The only downside was an injury to Cormac Mc Cabe after a heavy tackle which curtailed his early enterprising attacking play.
On the restart Castlewellan were first out of the blocks with a fine Neil Mc Veigh point. An opportunist Capagh goal seemed to breathe life into their challenge but two points from Ray kept the town five clear with ten minutes to go. Capagh pressed hard for another goal but Daniel Steele pulled off a great stop and his full back line stood firm as the Tyrone men had their best spell. With the score at 2-8 to 1-8 it was fitting that Man of the Match Turbo got the insurance point from a 30 metre free. Final score 2-9 1-8.
Every player played his part on a historic night for Hurling in the parish. This is tangible reward for a panel and management who have worked tirelessly since January and they deserve every success that comes their way. However there is little time to celebrate with Warrenpoint providing the challenge in the junior county final next week.
D. Steele, C. Gallagher, P. McCabe, R. McCann, M. óg Keown, S. Rodgers (1.0), A. Ritchie, C. Daly, T. Jennings (0.3), C. McCabe, R. Cunningham (0.4), J. Croskery, M. McPhillips, N, McVeigh (0.2), N. Johnston (1.0).
Subs: A. Keown, F. Lennon, M. McCay, C. McCann, D. Morgan, R. Laverty, C. McCartan, F. O’Maolcraoibhe, P. Ward, B. McAlinden, C. Jennings, O. Hardy,





TEAM INFO

MANAGER: Gary Cairns

SELECTORS: Martin Keown, Stephen Croskery

MEDICAL: Tracey Burns

TEAM OFFICALS: Patrick Docherty, Michael Keown

NEW GEAR FOR FINAL - KIT BAGS - SPONSORED BY: GERARD KING OF BIN 34, CASTLEWELLAN

WORD FROM SPONSOR: JEN INTERIORS:
We are proud to be associated with this group of players and would like to wish them the best of luck for the rest of the year.

MANAGERS COMMENTS:
This panel of players have worked very hard all year , they are very well prepared , and are capable of competing with any opposition placed in front of them, they are very determined to do their best for the club.

NAME : Neil McVeigh (Captain)
AGE: 38
POSITION: Forward
OCCUPATION: Joinery Contractor
HONOURS : All-County Schools Hurling U.14, Ulster Minor Hurling, Ulster Junior Hurling, All-Ireland Junior Hurling, Represented County at U.14, U.16, Minor and Junior Levels, Down Junior Hurling C’ship

NAME : Jason Croskery
AGE: 18
POSITION: Forward
OCCUPATION: Student
HONOURS : U.14 Hurling Shield, 2 x U.16 Hurling Shield.

NAME: Cyril Daly
AGE: 24
POSITION: Midfield
OCCUPATION: Plasterer
HONOURS: U.14 FL, U.16 EDFC.

NAME: Neil Johnston
AGE: 21
POSITION: Forward
OCCUPATION: Plumber
HONOURS : U.16 EDFC, U.16 ACFC, Minor FC, ED U.20 FC, ED Minor FL, Reserve FC, 2 x U.16 Hurling Shield, U.14 Hurling Feis, U.14 Hurling Down Feile Shield.

NAME : Aidan Keown
AGE: 18
POSITION: Forward
OCCUPATION: Student
HONOURS: U.14 Hurling Shield, 2 x U.16 Hurling Shield, Ulster Hurling Minor (County), All-Ireland Minor Hurling C.

NAME : Martin óg Keown
AGE: 20
POSITION: Defender
OCCUPATION: Student
HONOURS : 2 x U.16 Hurling Shield, U.14 Hurling Feis, U.14 Hurling Down Feile Shield, U.16 EDFC, U.16 ACFC, Minor FC, ED U.20 FC, ED Minor FL, Minor Hurler of the Year 2007

NAME : Ruairi Laverty
AGE: 17
POSITION: Defender
OCCUPATION: Student
HONOURS : 2 x Ulster Schools U.14 Down Football, Down Schools U.14 Hurling, Down Schools U.16 Hurling, 2 x U.16 Hurling Shield 2 x Castlewellan Player of the Year, Castlewellan U.14 Most Improved Hurler of the Year.

NAME : Fionnbárr Lennon
AGE: 23
POSITION: Midfield
OCUPATION: Joiner
HONOURS : 2 x U.14 Down Schools, 2 x U.16 Down Schools, U.16 Ulster Schools, Down U.14 Hurling C’ship, Down U.14 Football C’ship

NAME : Brian McAlinden
AGE: 26
POSITION: Forward
OCCUPATION: Joiner
HONOURS : 2 x Junior Hurling 7’s, Ulster Schools U.16

NAME : Paul McCabe
AGE: 40
POSITION: Defender
OCCUPATION: Biomedical Scientist
HONOURS : Down Junior Hurling C’ship, 2 x Down SFC, Reserve FC, Ulster Hurling U.21

NAME : Cormac McCabe
AGE: 36
POSITION: Forward
OCCUPATION: Primary School Teacher
HONOURS : 2 x Down SFC, Down Junior Hurling C’ship, Down U.14 FC, All-Ireland Football 7’s, 4 Feis Hurling 7’s

NAME : Colm McCann
AGE: 25
POSITION: Defender
OCCUPATION: Pharmacist
HONOURS : U.14 FL, U.16 EDFL

NAME : Ryan McCann
AGE: 20
POSITION: Defender
OCCUPATION: Student
HONOURS : Ulster Schools U.16, 2 x U.16 Hurling Shield, U.14 Feis, U.14 Down Feile Shield, U.16 ACFL, 3 x Down Schools

NAME : Mal McCay
AGE: 39
POSITION: Defender
OCCUPATION: Crane Operator
HONOURS : Antrim Minor Footballer, Antrim SFC Finalist, Antrim JHC Finalist, Member of Successful De La Salle school team.

NAME : Daniel Steele
AGE: 27
POSITION: Goalkeeper
OCCUPATION: Laborer
HONOURS : 2 x Junior Hurling 7’s, Ulster Schools U.16, Reserve FC

NAME : Odhran Hardy
AGE: 30
POSITION: Defender
OCCUPATION: Web Developer

NAME : Conor Jennings
AGE: 27
POSITION: Defender
OCCUPATION: Building Contractor
HONOURS : Down Junior Hurling C’ship

NAME : Tomas Jennings
AGE: 28
POSITION: Midfield
OCCUPATION: Retail Owner
HONOURS : Down Junior Hurling C’ship, Ulster Junior Hurling C’ship, Leinster Shield, 4 x Feis Hurling 7’s

NAME : David Morgan
AGE: 19
POSITION: Forward
OCCUPATION: Student
HONOURS : 2 x Ulster Colleges, Down U.16 Hurling Shield, U.14 Hurling Feis

NAME : Andrew Ritchie
AGE: 23
POSITION: Defender
OCCUPATION: Student
HONOURS : 2 x Down Schools U.14, 2 x Down Schools U.16, 1x Ulster U.16 Schools.

NAME : Steven Rodgers
AGE: 28
POSITION: Defender
OCCUPATION: Civil Engineer
HONOURS : Down Junior Hurling C’ship, 3 x Feis 7’s.

NAME : Fiachra O’Maolcraoibhe
AGE: 17
POSITION: Defender
OCCUPATION: Student
HONOURS :

NAME : Paul Ward
AGE: 17
POSITION: Defender
OCCUPATION: Student
HONOURS :

NAME : Ciaran McCartan
AGE: 17
POSITION: Defender
OCCUPATION: Student
HONOURS :

NAME : Michael McPhillips
AGE: 28
POSITION: Forward
OCCUPATION: Accountant
HONOURS : Down Junior Hurling C’ship, 2 x Down Hurling Feis 7’s

NAME : Declan Looby
AGE: 31
POSITION: Defender
OCCUPATION: Electrician
HONOURS : 1 Betsy Gray , Represented Down at U16 & Junior level

NAME : Colm Gallagher
AGE:
POSITION: Defender
OCCUPATION: Painter and Decorator
HONOURS : Down Junior Hurling C’ship