Collegeland GAC Club Notes
Intermediate League -Away
Collegeland O’Rahilly’s travelled to north Armagh on Wednesday 18th April to Taghnevan in Lurgan to play St Pauls in an Intermediate League fixture. The evening was cold and dry on the big pitch. St Pauls opened the scoring with a free. Collegeland had 3 wides before Gareth McArdle pointed. St Pauls then got 2 points followed by a goal midway through the half. Both sides had 2 points apiece, Collegeland’s from Gareth McArdle and Nathan McParland. Collegeland then had a few wides. St Pauls got 2 more points. Gareth McArdle scored for Collegeland in the dying minutes of the half but St Pauls had the final score of the half. Half time St Pauls 1-8 Collegeland 0-4.
On the restart St Pauls went further in front with a 13 metre free. Collegeland’s fist point of the second half on eight minutes came from Nathan McParland. Both sides then had wides before Collegeland had a purple patch, three points midway through the second half by Nathan McParland, Tom Murphy, and Jack McGeary which cut the deficit to four points. St Pauls scored again. Collegeland’s final point came on the twenty-eight minute through Nathan McParland. St Pauls had the final score of the game to win, St Pauls 1-11 Collegeland 0-9.
This result leaves us with 4 points from 4 games. Collegeland shot 15 wides over the hour to St Pauls 13. St Pauls were the better team and could have scored another goal but for great defending by the defence.
Collegeland Squad: – Tommy McGeary, Ruari McGeary, Eamonn McGeary, Sean McNicholl, Brian Mitchell, Nathan McParland, Ryan McParland, Mickey Cullen, Tom Murphy, Karol McGeary, Stephen Clancy, Gareth McArdle, Barry Colhoun, Barry O’Neill, Jack McGeary, Brian McGeary.
Intermediate League- Sunday Home
Collegeland O’Rahillys welcomed St Michaels Newtownhamilton to the Fr McKnight Memorial Park on Sunday 22nd April for an Intermediate League fixture. Collegeland opened the scoring with a Tom Murphy point after six minutes as both sides had earlier managed only wides. Jack McGeary added a second a minute later. In the ninth minute Ryan McParland cut out a St Michaels attack and the ball found its way to Brian McGeary who finished to the net. A minute later Brian Mitchell cleared out of defence the ball worked cleverly to Nathan McParland who despatched the ball to the net for the second goal. Collegeland were on fire at the stage and should have added at third but the ball went wide. St Michaels pointed in the 16th minute and Gareth McArdle scored for the O’Rahillys. Brian McGeary suffered an injury when helping in defence and was replaced by Barry Colhoun. The visitors then hit back with 2 points. Karol McGeary then settled things with two lovely points from play for Collegeland and in between St Michaels had a score. Half-time score Collegeland 2-5 St Michaels 0-5.
The second half saw St Michaels apply the pressure. They shot four wides before they registered two points in the 8th and 10th minutes. Points by Gareth McArdle, a free over the bar from Tom Murphy, and Nathan McParland again in the 14th, 18th, and 19th minutes stretched the home sides lead. St Michaels did try strongly to get back into the game but the superb Collegeland defence held firm. Gareth McArdle had Collegeland’s final point in the24 minute. St Michaels had last score of the match. Full time Collegeland O’Rahilly’s 2-9 St Michaels Newtownhamilton 0-8.
Collegeland’s stamina training in the gym told in the end and of course those two killer goals in the 9th and 10th minute did the damage. Manager Tommy Corr and his assistant Leo McGeary will be happy with the teams effort during the sixty minutes. Collegeland now have six league points from the first five games. Next up is a trip to south Armagh to Mullaghbawn, Benny Tierney’s club.
Collegeland Squad: Macartan McGeary, Ruari McGeary, Tom Murphy, Eamonn McGeary, Brian Mitchell, Stephen Clancy, Sean McNicholl, Nathan McParland, Ryan McParland, Gareth McArdle, Karol McGeary, Paul Cullen, Jack McGeary, Brian McGeary, Mickey Cullen, Barry Colhoun, Cathal McCracken, Michael Hughes, Sean McDaid.
Reserve League
Last year we might have talked about the B League but it is called the Reserve League this year. We played our first game in Section A, which was brought forward to Thursday night last to accommodate our neighbours Annaghmore. With Collegeland under pressure at home with a shortage of subs, and under the rules not able to use the previous weekends senior starting fifteen, then it was always going to be difficult to win this one. But this match did have the benefit of giving all our players a full game and allowed the newer squad members a chance to show what they could do; Chris McCann, Michael Hughes, Aidan McCormack, and Bernard Mackle clearly enjoyed the experience. This was also an opportunity for young players Gary McCann and Kevin McNicholl to demonstrate that they are also competing for places in the senior squad.
Next Reserve Fixture is at St Peters in Lurgan on Wed 25 April at 7.30 pm. Players should notify managers Paddy Donnelly or Leo McGeary about match availability or if they have not received recent notifications on Teamer text.
Underage
The u16s Naomh Eoin team played Middletown in their first game of the season although they were beaten 3-4 to 0-8 they showed plenty of promise for future games as most of the players are first year u16s. Our u14s and minors also suffered narrow defeats. The u-6s, u-8s, and u-10s are already training and the u-12 leagues start shortly.
First Aid Course in Collegeland
This new course in Paediatric First Aid — Level 2 will start at the end of April in the Collegeland GAC Clubrooms and be delivered over a number of weeks totalling 12 hours but at times suitable to the needs of candidates.
The Course is aimed at assisting parents and those working with young children to assess and react appropriately in an emergency situation including being able to provide first aid where an infant or young person;- is unresponsive; requires resuscitation; has an airway obstruction; has been poisoned; is suffering from shock/haemorrhage/fracture/extremes of temperature; severe sting. The Course will cost £40.00 Anyone interested, including previous applicants should contact Brendan at 07740099852 to facilitate suitable dates and times.
Camogie
Camogie training continues on Wednesday evenings at 5-45 equipment supplied.
Half Marathon
Not to be outdone by the camogie girls their mentor and Collegeland GAC Committee member Paula Donnelly is in training for a Half Marathon in Belfast on Monday 7 May. Paula is seeking sponsorship for a cause close to her heart – “Helping Hand at The Children’s Hospital in Belfast“. Helping Hand Charity established by medical staff at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children in 1997 with the single aim of helping children in their care. By supporting Helping Hand, you will be helping to purchase vital new equipment to diagnose and treat the hospital’s young patients, to provide facilities and services for families and to fund research into children’s illnesses.