GAA Integration moves forward in Ulster

The Third Annual Ulster Integration Meeting was held in the Armagh City Hotel on Thursday 29^th May.

Director General Pauric Duffy and National Integration Committee Chairman Sean Kelly were present on behalf of the national GAA with National Ladies Gaelic President Geraldine Giles and Ladies Gaelic Football Chief Executive Helen O’Rourke representing the Ladies Gaelic. Catherine O’Hara Vice President of the National Camogie Association and Chairperson of Ulster Camogie Council represented the Camogie Association.

Sean Kelly Chairman of the National Integration Committee announced that the GAA will be following the Ulster Council’s model for Integration and the Central Councils of Camogie, Ladies Gaelic and the GAA will be bringing forward motions to their respective Congresses which will allow for full integration were relevant for clubs. Additionally motions will be brought forward to allow representation for Ladies Gaelic and Camogie on GAA County Boards, Provincial Councils, and Central Council similar to the existing arrangement with Handball. Kelly praised the Ulster Council who has been at the forefront of the Integration process for the last three years.

The proposed outcome of the Integration Process will be:

1) Full integration were appropriate at club level
2) Close cooperation and representation at county level
3) Close cooperation, partnership and representation at provincial level
4) Eventually it is envisaged that a confederation consisting of the GAA, Ladies Gaelic Football Association and Camogie Association will be established allowing the respective organisations to retrain their own identity and governance arrangements while interlinking to one overall umbrella body which will promote all Gaelic Games, Culture and Pastimes.

Tom Daly President of the Ulster Council said
“Integration is vital as the GAA moves forward and the Ulster Council welcomes the announcements on formalising the Integration process by the National Integration Committee which will mirror the existing arrangements already established in Ulster. Over the past three years Ulster GAA has established strong links with both Ulster Camogie and Ulster Ladies Gaelic Football Association and our strong partnership with both bodies is proving to be mutually beneficial for all involved. We have also increased our links with both Hanball and Rounders and look forward to strengthening our partnership with our colleagues in these respective codes over the next year.”

Irish Language Course

This years course will commence in Downings GAA Centre on Monday 21st July with the assembly of the participants together with a numbers of special guests.
An interdenominational blessing will take place at the conclusion of the welcoming ceremony.
The Séamus de Faoite Memorial Lecture this year will be given by An tAthair Réamonn Ó Muirí of Armagh.
The usual concert will be adorned this year by the appearance of some of the finest contributors to Scor 2007/08. Ulster had outstanding success at national level in the past year. The local Drama Group feature “An Teach Mór” by Francie Cullen.
A full list of events is included in the enclosed brochures.

Further details are available from:
Róise Ní Laifeartaigh (Secretary to the course)
9 Cluain Ard, Killyclug
Letterkenny
Co. Donegal
(074) 9128573
Mobile: (087) 9693965

You can Download the Application Form here.

Donegal v Derry Event Info

- Sunday 1st June -
- Mac Cumhaill Park Ballybofey –

ESB Ulster GAA MFC Quarter Final:
Donegal v Derry (2.15pm)
Ref: E McConnell (Tyrone)

Ulster GAA SFC Quarter Final:
Donegal v Derry (4.00pm)
Ref: M Duffy (Sligo)

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Ticketing

This is an All-Ticket Event – Valid Tickets Will be Required for Entry

Tickets available through County Boards and TicketMaster.
Group Tickets Available through County Boards.

Donegal Co Board: 087 6949125
Derry Co Board: 028 7774 2990

Travel and Parking

- Supporters are asked to allow extra time for their journey. It is recommended that they should arrive at the venue no later than 3.15pm.
- There will be Car Parking available at the Church Car Park Stranorlar, Shopping Centre Car Park, Navenney Car Park and the Mart Car Park Stranorlar.
- Patrons are advised to lock their cars and not leave valuables in sight.
- Patrons should respect the residents in the area in respect of parking and litter.

Event Information

- Gates will be open from 12.45pm
- Patrons are asked to co-operate with stewards at all times and to adhere to the ground regulations, which will be printed in the match programme.

International Rules

- GAA Press Release -

The GAA and the AFL have confirmed that there will be a two-game International Rules Series between the countries in October of this year.

The games will take place on October 24^th in Perth and October 31^st in Melbourne.

Details of the stadiums to be used and other arrangements with regard to the Series will be confirmed at a later date.

USFC: Flying Fermanagh beat Farney

Ulster SFC Quarter-Final:
Fermanagh 2-8 Monaghan 0-10

Fermanagh celebrated the reopening of Brewster Park with a fully deserved Ulster SFC win over Monaghan.

Liam McBarron’s early goal laid the foundations, and while the Lakelanders lost their way for a spell in the third quarter, a second goal from Ciaran McElroy got them back on track.

Monaghan finished a man short after Gary McQuaid’s frustration earned him a straight red card in the dying moments of a game they will quickly want to forget as they prepare for the Qualifiers.

The Erne men got off to the best possible start when Eamon Maguire’s attempt to fist a point came back off a post, and McBarron finished to the net from close range.

But Monaghan began to get a grip on the midfield area, where they won the majority of breaking ball through Damien Freeman and Paul Finlay, whose searching deliveries to the front line had Fermanagh under pressure.

Conor McManus, Tommy Freeman and Finlay all hit the target as the Farney men narrowed the gap to a point by the 13th minute.

But Fermanagh proved more efficient from a limited amount of attacking possession, with Ciaran McElroy squeezing over a point from an almost impossible angle, before Ryan Keenan converted his second free and Eamon Maguire made it 1-4 to 0-3.

Finlay missed a standard free, while two Freeman efforts came back off the same post as the visitors’ frustration grew.

And they lived dangerously at the back, needing a vital interception from Dessie Mone to prevent McElroy’s pass from reaching McBarron.

McBarron was denied by a superb Shane Duffy save when he latched on to a rebound after Mark Murphy’s shot from distance came back off an upright.

Marty McGrath scored an inspirational point to send Fermanagh in with a 1-5 to 0-4 interval lead, but a more driven Monaghan side began to turn over possession in the early stages of the second half.

They narrowed the gap through Tommy Freeman and midfielder Eoin Lennon, and when Finlay floated over a gem off his famed left foot, a point separated the sides with 12 minutes played in the second half.

McGrath dug deep to try and revive Fermanagh’s flagging challenge, and his colleagues responded, with Mark Little and Keenan, from a free, restoring the three point advantage.

And they struck for a second goal in the 54th minute when Keenan’s cross from the right dropped perfectly for McElroy to punch home at the far post.

When substitute Shane McCabe, who just returned to the squad this week, sliced over a delightful score, Fermanagh were in dreamland, ahead by six points with 12 minutes to play.

McCabe made quite an impact with his darting runs on the left wing, and when Gary McQuaid struck out at the Irish League soccer star, he received a straight red card with three minutes to play.

Fermanagh: R Gallagher, S Goan, H Brady, P Sherry, D Kelly, R McCluskey, T McElroy, M Murphy, M McGrath (0-1), R Keenan (0-3, 3 frees), J Sherry, M Little (0-1), E Maguire (0-1), L McBarron (1-0), C McElroy (1-1).
Subs: S McCabe (0-1) for J Sherry, M Keenan for McElroy, S McDermott for Brady

Monaghan: S Duffy, D Mone, JP Mone, D McArdle, D Freeman, G McQuaid, D Morgan, E Lennon (0-1), D Clerkin, P Finlay (0-3, 1 free), S Gollogly, C McManus (0-1), R Woods, V Corey (0-1), T Freeman (0-3, 2 frees).
Subs: C Hanratty (0-1) for Woods, D Hughes (blood) for D Freeman, Hughes for Morgan, Woods for Gollogly

Referee: D Fahy (Longford).

Wides

Fermanagh 12, Monaghan 8

Yellow cards

Fermanagh: C McElroy,

Monaghan: E Lennon, G McQuaid, D Hughes, D Mone, D Clerkin

Red cards

G McQuaid (Monaghan)

Attendance: 14,500

Out and About with the ‘FUN to Fame’ Mascot in Brewster Park

USHC: London & Derry into Semis

Ulster SHC:
Armagh 4-16 London 2-23

London will meet Down next Sunday in the Ulster SHC semi-final following their dramatic win over Armagh at Newry.

Full forward Martin Finn emerged as the hero of the hour, hitting a glorious 14 points haul that included a dramatic winner from a ‘65′ deep into stoppage time.

The sides were level on eight occasions, before the Exiles finally broke Orchard hearts.

A 1-10 tally from Declan Coulter was not enough to save Mattie Lennon’s side from a dramatic defeat.

The sides were level on three occasions in the opening quarter, with sharpshooters Declan Coulter and London’s Martin Finn making it a head to head shoot-out, both showing deadly accuracy from frees.

The Orchard men made hteir first breakthrough in the 18th minute when Coulter crossed from the left for full forward Conor McCann to drill to the net past a helpless Gary McCollum.

Finn continued to show a deadly eye for goal as the Exiles refused to allow the setback to affect their focus, and they had slipped into a two points lead with a John McCarthy point when Armagh struck for a second goal.

This time it was Fiachra Bradley who found the net, striking past McCollum at the second attempt after the ‘keeper had stopped his initial effort.

Three minutes later the sliothar was in the London net again, Coulter the marksman, and his two long range frees helped the men in orange to a 3-10 to 0-13 interval lead.

Kevin McMullan got in for a London goal six minutes into the second half, and when Finn brought his tally into double figures, the deficit had been cut back from six to two.

With the wind in their backs, London grew in confidence, and further scores from Finn and Conor O’Halloran had them level midway through the half.

They were denied the lead when Joseph Burke produced a wonderful save from Mark Mythen, but Finn’s 13th score did ease them in front with 15 minutes to play.

And when substitute Chris McDonnell banged in a 63rd minute goal, the Exiles were in charge, but there was still time for John Corvan to smash home Armagh’s fourth goal, before Finn floated over the winner from a ‘65′ deep into stoppage time.

Armagh: J Burke, P Kirk, E McDonnell, B Mallon, B McCormack, P McCormack, P McArdle (0-1), B McCann, C Christy, C McAlinden (0-1), K McGreevy, F Bradley (1-0), J Corvan (1-0), C McCann (1-1), D Coulter (1-10, 6 frees).
Subs: G Enright (0-2) for McGreevy, C Carville (0-1) for B McCann, N Curry for McArdle

London: G McCollum, B Mulcahy, S McLoughlin, T Simms, E Phelan, N Healy, T Abernethy (0-1), F McMahon, C O’Halloran (0-2), J McCarthy (0-1), S Quinn (0-3), S Malone, K McMullan (1-0), M Finn (0-14, 8 frees, 3 ‘65’s), M Mythen (0-1).
Subs: C McDonnell (1-1) for Malone

Referee: J Devlin (Tyrone).

Wides: Armagh 7, London 2

Yellow cards: None

Red cards: None

Attendance: 400 (approx)

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Ulster SHC Quarter-Final:
Derry 7-23 Monaghan 3-13

Derry progressed to the semi-finals of the Ulster Senior Hurling Championship with a comprehensive victory over Monaghan at Celtic Park on Sunday.

Monaghan started brightly enough but their hopes of victory took a hammer blow nine minutes in when keeper Michael McHugh dropped a Paddy Henry free into the net.

Henry struck again midway through the first half before another mistake from McHugh gifted Oisin McCloskey a goal. Paddy McCloskey added a fourth to help Derry into a 4-11 to 0-4 lead at the interval.

Derry were not quite as dominant in the second period but Ruairi Convery, Mark Craig and Sam Dodds all helped themselves to further goals for the Oak Leafers.

However, Monaghan, courtesy of a spirited late rally, managed three of their own, with Brian McGuigan, Ronan Conlan and Stephen Lambe all on target.

However, it was Derry who progressed to the semi-finals where they will meet Antrim on June 1.

Donegal v Derry Tickets on Sale

- Sunday 1st June -

Ulster SFC & MFC Quarter Final:
Donegal v Derry @ MacCumhaill Park Donegal

Minor Throw-In: 2.15pm
Senior Throw-In: 4.00pm

Tickets for this game are now available to buy on TicketMaster. Tickets will also be available to buy through County Boards from Monday 26th May.

Please note that this is an All-Ticket Event, and valid tickets will be required for entry to the venue.