
SEAN AND SHANE WIN US TITLES: Windgap Handballers Sean Foley and Shane Walsh were the proud recipients of USHA National Collegiate Titles at the 62nd United States Intervarsity’s 40 x 20 Handball Championships held in Raleigh, North Carolina recently. Part of an Irish team of thirty five made up from made up of nine colleges they delivered the country’s best results to date. In the men’s B competition Sean Foley representing UCD was made to battle all of the way after losing the first game 21-19. Having won the second 21-18 from 18-16 down, Sean took the title when he won the tie-breaker 11-7. The Clubs second title came in the last game of the championships at the North Carolina State University when Shane Walsh partnered by Alexander Sheehan of the Abbey side Club Dungarvan representing their college UL won the B doubles final. In another tight game it went to a tie-breaker after the pairs shared the first two games 21-7, 19-21 before the title was won by 11-3 against a Lake Forrest pairing. In addition the UL team managed to secure the runner up spot in the men’s team award, behind Lake Forest College, Chicago. The Irish side was made up by players from University of Limerick, Mary Immaculate, UCD, The Royal College of Surgeons, NUI Galway, Athlone IT, Queen’s University, Belfast, IT Sligo’s, IT Carlow and the Dublin Institute of Technology The games saw the defending men’s and women’s Open champions Martin Mulkerrins and Catriona Casey complete a-three-in-a-row in both Competitions. For Catriona it was a record making achievement with Martin hoping to accomplish a fourin a row, something never before seen at the USHA Collegiates when the 63rd championships take place in Portland in 2015. For all the players it was an experience to be proud of with new friendships between the Irish competitors and those from the many US handball strongholds that included. Minnesota, Michigan, and Chicago.
FOOTBALL: After leaving the snow covered peaks of Slievenamon and the Comeraghs behind, the journey over Coppenagh Hill revealed fantastic scenery and more snow on the Blackstairs and Mount Leinster on Sunday as the local footballers made the trip to Graiguenamanagh to play the home side in the county junior league. In the game the home side had the best of the play in the first half and led by 0-5 to 0-0 at the break after having three goal opportunities saved by the post and two great off the line clearances by Windgap keeper Michael Power and defender Edward Cunningham. After having a fair deal of the possession in the second half against a resolute home defence the introduction of goal scoring substitutes James Ca and Paraic Whelan saw the game swing away from the visitors as Windgap full forward Aidan Mackey grabbed all of his side’s scores. The teams were Windgap: Michael Power, Shane Walsh, Ger. Purcell, Eddie Cunningham, Adrian Landy, Sean Foley, Emmet Landy, Cian Ryan, Darragh O'Shea, Conor Lonergan, PJ O'Keeffe, Peter Hennessy, Tommy Lonergan, Aidan Mackey, and Paraic Walsh. Sub: Jim Power. Graiguenamanagh; Ian Kavanagh, Sean Dowling, Brendan Foley, Hughie Flood, Seamus Kenny, Eddie Dowling, John O'Donnell, James Cahill. Thomas O’Donnell, Ronan Dowling, Eddie Walsh, Adam Kennedy, Kevin Canning, James Meany, Dane Mangan, Substitutes James Ca and Paraic Whelan James Doyle. The game was refereed by Paul Huntston.
PURCELL IN GOWRAN PARK: The launch of the Kilkenny Hurlers Race Day in Langtons on Wednesday saw a unique occasion when three time all Ireland Senior Hurling winner and renowned horse trainer Kieran Purcell was part of the guest panel. On the night he was joined by Master of Ceremonies Kevin O'Ryan top flat jockey Joseph O'Brien, trainers John Shark Hanlon, Eoin Doyle, Kilkenny GAA County Chairman Ned Quinn and other special guests. The evening of racing and hurling chat included former players and personalities from both games. It was brought to a close by Kilkenny Hurling manager Brian Cody. The seven race card takes place in Gowran Park on Saturday next at 2.30 and it is expected Kieran will have a number of runners. Tickets are available from local club members.
FULL IRISH: Work on the novel fund raising event on Easter Sunday continued over the weekend. The date for your diary is April 20th.
CHELTENHAM FOR OWNING: A Cheltenham preview night takes place on Saturday 8th of March in Powers Pub in Tullahought at 8pm. The event will be hosted by Kevin O'Ryan from Sky’s “at the races channel”. Top jockeys Pat Smullen and Joseph O'Brien and trainers John Shark Hanlon, Trevor Horgan, Eoin Doyle and Phillip Fenton and other special guests. Admission is free on the night with a free €5 matched bet courtesy of Paddy Power for raffle participants and a Charity bet for guest panellists Proceeds of the event go to Owning House Retirement Village.
HELP NEEDED: Windgap have recently formed a Youth Club for secondary school students and a Junior Club for primary school students (1st - 6th class). Both clubs have attracted a lot of members and unfortunately for now we cannot accept new member’s .Youth Club meets every second Friday night in the Parochial House from 7.30 p.m. - 9.30 pm and the Junior Club meets every second Friday in the Hall from 3pm - 4.30 p.m. We need your help! We are looking for leaders. If you would like to get involved working with the young people in your community and can spare two hours per fortnight we would love to hear from you. Please contact any committee member Committee: Triona Moloney, Mairead O Rourke, Lena Young, Helen Walsh, and Michelle O'Brien
BADMINTON NEWS: Thanks are extended to everyone who supported and helped out at the badminton club table quiz held in Tullahought Community Centre recently. Prize winners on the night included Margaret Purcell, Rachel Phelan, Eamon Purcell, Sean Walsh, Michael Walsh, Martin Madden and numerous raffle prize winners. The local club juvenile tournament is progressing towards the final stages.
RAMPAGE: The rampage of rural Ireland of the past couple of weeks has continued with more unsociable activity through breaking in and entering in the area in the last week. Amongst the most serious on the list was the number of homes robbed at the time of a funeral in around the nearby village of Grangemockler.
CLUB NEWS: The benefits of the Sportsfield in Tullahought and the Hurling Wall were seen in recent weeks as scheduled training sessions in the very wet weather would have caused damage to the pitch’s playing surface. Great credit is due to the clubs grounds man Simon Brophy for its care and ensuring it will be in tip top condition for the playing season.
SCRAP COLLECTION: The Hurling Club scrap collection has been extended to cater for any material that is to be tidied up and disposed after the recent storms. For further details contact PJ Egan 087 6810920 or Simon Brophy on 087 9893006.
BRIDGE RESULTS: Winners at the Killamery Bridge Club card game held in the Olde House Killamery on 27th. January was: 1st Elizabeth Lanigan and Sarah Crowley. 2nd Noreen Hayes and Mary Lonergan. Best Gross: Margaret Comerford and Pat Arrigan.
HARRIERS MEET: On Sunday last the meeting of Kilmoganny Harriers was hosted in Tullahought and attracted a large following on horse and foot. The hunting season wraps up with a number of Charity events.
SPRING IS HERE: In recent weeks a migration of frogs took place towards the main breeding site in the area at the lake in Tullahought. To be seen at all hours some of the travelers were the casualties of passing traffic with yards of their destination. The result saw a heaving mass of croaking frogs, mating and producing spawn in the protection or the reeds over recent days. A protected and decreasing species their progress and evolution via the tadpole stage continues to be the highlight for the many visitors to the wildlife area. Nearby the snowdrops are in bloom and the daffodils are producing the flower bulbs, as all of the elements of the New Year fall into line despite the wet and windy weather.
NOTES: Contributors and Clubs are invited to email items for publication with a name and contact number to windgapnotes@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at 6pm. For all the local news visit the parish website windgap.ie