Minor Board Round Up WITH TOMMY FLYNN

COUNTY MINORS CROKE PARK BOUND THIS SUNDAY
 


Congratulations to the County Minors, who defied all the odds last Sunday evening in Croke Park to topple the might Kildare by one point, thus knocking them out and ensuring a place for Longford in the Leinster Final in Croke Park this coming Sunday.

A thrilling game ensued in Longford GAA Headquarters last Sunday evening, with Longford getting a dream start, after Declan Mimnagh goaled in the early stages of the first half.

Kildare chipped away at that lead and went in at the break a point up. Longford's incredible heart and fighting spirit that has been evident to anyone who has attended a game this year, really shone through in the second half, and even though going four points down in the second half might have fazed other teams, this was not the case with Ciaran Fox's charges. Two quick goals, one from James McGivney and an own goal from Kildare's Barry Egan, killed off the Lily White challenge and sent Longford through to Croker.

A full report is contained elsewhere in this paper, but for now we appeal to all supporters of Longford GAA to travel to Croke Park this Sunday and once again congratulate the young men who give us cause to go there. An Longfort Abu.
 


TICKETS FOR SUNDAY
 


Tickets for the ESB Leinster Minor Football Championship Final between Longford and Offaly, and the Leinster Senior Football Final between Meath and Louth this Sunday are on sale Monday-Thursday this week in Pearse Park from 12 noon-7pm and on Friday from 10am and 8pm.

Tickets are priced e35 for the stands and e20 for the terrace. Family tickets for the Cusack and Davin Stands are available at e35 for the adults and e5 for each child u-16. Students and Senior Citizens may get a refund of e15 if they purchase a ticket for the Cusack or Davin Stands.

Full price tickets must be purchased and refunds will only be given with production of appropriate and valid ID at the designated stiles. All Longford Gaels are encouraged to avail of these offers, and of the supply of tickets given to Pearse Park and come to support our Minors this Sunday.
 

CHAMPIONSHIP DRAWS
 
At the last meeting of Coiste na n-Og, the draws for the first round of the underage Championships were made and are as follows.
 
U-14 Championships

U-14 'D' Championship
 
1) St Dominics v Ballymore Shamrocks
2) Ballymahon/Forgney v St Francis
 
Final 1 v 2
 
U-14 'C' Championship
 
1) Clonbroney v Granard
2) St Mels v Gratten Gaels
 
U-14 'B' Championship

(1) Southern Gaels v Granard/Ballymore
(2) Wolfe Tones v St James
(3) St Colmcilles v St Vincents
(4) Shannon Gaels v Carrick/Sarsfields
 
Semi-final 1 (Team A) 1 v 2
Semi-final 2 (Team B) 3 v 4
 
U-14 'A' Championship
 
Clonguish Og v Team B, Winner v Killoe Og
Northern Gaels v Team A, Winner v Longford Slashers
 
MCDONALDS JUVENILE CHAMPIONSHIPS
 
McDonalds U-16 'C' Championship
 
St Dominics v St Francis, Winner v Gratten Gaels
Ballymahon/Forgney v St Mels,  Winner v Clonbroney/Wolfe Tones
 
Mc Donalds U-16 'B' Championship
 
(Team A) Shannon Gaels v Clonguish Og, Winner v Carrick/Sarsfields
(Team B) St Colmcilles v Granard/Ballymore, Winner v Southern Gaels
 
Mc Donalds U-16 'A' Championship

Group 1: St Vincents , Ballymahon/Forgney/St Dominics, Longford Slashers and Northern Gaels
Group 2: Team B, St James, Killoe Og and Team A
 
SEALTEC MINOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
 
Sealtec Minor 'B' Championship
 
Clonguish Og, v CarrickSarsfields (1),  Winner v Southern Gaels/Gratten Gaels
(2) St James v Shannon Gaels
(3) St Colmcilles v St Francis
Ballymahon/Forgney v Granard/Ballymore (4), Winner v st Dominics
Semi-finals: (Team A ) 1 v 2, (Team B) 3 v 4
 
Sealtec Minor 'A' Championship
 
Group 1: St Vincents , Team A, Longford Slashers , Team B
Group 2: Wolfe Tones/Clonbroney, Ballymahon/Forgney/St Dominics, Killoe Og , Northern Gaels
 
GOLF CLASSIC LAUNCH 2010
 
Once again, our Annual Golf Classic will be held on August Bank Holiday Monday in County Longford Golf Club, kindly sponsored by Gilmore Security. The Classic will be officially launched in the Golf Club this Thursday 1st July at 8.00pm. It is hoped that all Clubs will continue to lend their support to this popular event. Teams cost e200 each, while tees and greens can be sponsored at e100 each.
 
ESB LEINSTER MINOR CHAMPIONSHIP SEMI FINAL
 
For the second time in three years, our County Minors have reached the semi final of the Leinster Championship. In a massive boost to our chances of reaching the provincial decider, the game will be played at Pearse Park against either Dublin or Kildare, the second replay of which was played earlier this week.

If Dublin are our opponents, the game will be played on Tuesday 6th July as they are also in the Leinster Minor Hurling Final. However, if it transpires that Kildare are our opponents the game will be this Saturday 3rd July.

Whatever the opposition and whatever the date, everyone is encouraged to come out and give the panel and management every support to aid them in reaching the final.

This is a fantastic opportunity for the county to augment its recent successes and follow the Seniors, Hurlers and Ladies recent victories, for which everyone at the Minor Board applauds them. Hopefully, we will follow in the footsteps of the Hurlers and have a final date in Croke Park to report upon in the next edition of this column.


Minor Board BBQ Golf Classic on August Bank Holiday Monday

The Annual County Minor Board GAA Barbeque Golf Classic has once again been finalised for the August Bank Holiday Monday 2010.

Golf is from 8am to 2pm at County Longford Golf Club, and thanks to Mick Casey et al for facilitating this.

We would hope that all Senior and Minor Clubs in the county will once again come up trumps by entering a team of four and sponsoring a tee or green.

All monies raised go towards the support of underage development in the county.

More details will be provided closer to the time.