MICHAEL HOGAN: Sunday evening saw the under twenty one hurlers of Kilkenny and Tipperary clash at the official opening of the Michael Hogan Community Park in Grangemockler. The new pitch on the Breanor Road is located, in a scenic area close to the foot of Slievenamon and high above the old Creamery and former Glanbia store. In the highly competitive game refereed by Anthony Stapleton of Laois and assisted by locals Gerry Ryan and Tadhg Lonergan the visitors ran out 1-18 to 1-17 winners. At the interval the under twelve hurlers of Grangemockler and Windgap wearing their respective county colours played an exhibition game. Adding to the half time entertainment, Ned Hanrahan gave a rendition of the ballad of “The Gael from Slievenamon” which told the story of Michael Hogan who was shot dead by the Black and Tans as he played for Tipperary Senior Footballers against Dublin in Croke Park in 1920. Michael is buried in the grounds of St Mary’s Church that was built in the village in 1805. The new facilities include a landscaped and tarmacked entrance, newly drained floodlit pitch and training area and an almost completed railed off All weather training facility. It replaces Powers field and numerous other venues where games were played in the area and also has dressing rooms, a Sports Hall and an ample tarmacked parking area and Community Walkway. Now lining out in both the intermediate hurling and football championships the hurlers who normally played in Ballyneal take on St. Mary’s in their next game. As the evening drew and the large team of club volunteers, stewards and caterers wound down after a great occasion, the May wind cooled as the sun slipped behind the foothills of Slievenamon and the moons shape grew in strength and brightness over Carraigadoon and Ahenny.
CAMOGIE: Following a minutes silence for Mairead Moran from Kilmoganny referee Paschal Connolly got the Senior Camogie championship game underway between Muckalee and Windgap in Windgap on Friday evening. Showing great skill and determination the visitors were 1-1 to nil ahead within five minutes. By the break their attacking strategy had over run the home side where Mikaela Kenneally was outstanding at full back. Following two goals in the twenty second minute Muckalee had built a 3-2 to 0-5 lead at the break. On the restart a goal within the first minute extended the visitors lead before a brief rally saw a long high ball from midfield drop into a forest of hurleys on the edge of the square. In an old time flash of the ash the result saw the ball driven powerfully to the net by Niamh Bambrick or Joanne Cody to leave the score at 1-7 to 4-4 at the three quarter way stage. From the puck out the Northern side struck with another goal and added four points on the trot to run out 5-8 to 1-7 winners.
SCRAP COLLECTION: If you are tidying up a farmyard for the silage and harvest season and want to get some scrap removed please give any committee member or collection co-ordinators of the hurling club a call. For any other old cars or scrap PJ Egan, PJ Barron and Simon Brophy are the contacts.
CLOTHES COLLECTION: A clothes collection fund raiser is being organised by the Camogie Club on Saturday 7th June at 9.30am. Items being collected include Bed Linen, Towels, Curtains, Shoes, Bags, Belts and Soft Toys. Also Laptops, Mobile Phones and Books excluding school books. All items can be dropped to the meeting room in Clubrooms before 9.30am or at any training session or match. For further arrangements and details Contact Ann Foley, Kathleen Purcell, Mary Byrne, Elaine Purcell or any committee member.
TIDY TOWNS: Work continued on clearing the ivy off the stone wall between the cross and the village in Tullahought with a view to repairing the damaged pieces under the guidance of Kilkenny County Councils Heritage Officer Dervala Ledwidge. Elsewhere two rows of evergreen trees and the two trained roadside whitethorns have been removed and have been replaced by deciduous trees and hedging by local landowners.
L'ARCHE FUN WALK: Owing to unforeseen circumstances the L'Arche fun walk scheduled for Sunday 18th of May has been postponed to a later date.
JUNIOR HURLING: A late goal in the County Junior Hurling League Championship on Sunday saw Piltown take the points in the local derby. After a strong start by Windgap, Piltown opened the scoring before Niall Walsh tied the scores after four minutes. Four pints ahead at the quarter way stage, a flowing Piltown side made hard work of increasing the lead and were still just 0-8 to 0-4 ahead at the break. Midway through the second half the lead was reduced to 0-10 to 0-8 thanks to Cian Ryan’s accuracy from frees. Twice in the next ten minutes the lead was down to a single point before a series of goal chances for Piltown saw a long range, high dropping free from Kevin Walsh take a deflection or a pull on the edge of the square and as the net shook a five point margin was opened up for the first time. With a late Windgap rally that yielded a point in reply the game saw referee Pat Hayes call time on a 1-12 to 0-11 scoreline. For the fine crowd, the game was dominated by both sides free takers in Windgaps Cain Ryan and Piltown’s James Norris as clean cut scoring chances were kept to the minimum by both sides. Thanks are expressed to the grounds-crew, scoreboard operators, stewards, tweeters and umpires Richie Cashin and Denis Foley who assisted in making it a pleasant occasion for all.
EASTER RESULTS: "Local" product was a strong theme at the Easter Sunday breakfast, from the scores of homemade brown breads supplied by volunteers to the door prizes on display in the hall. The Prize winners and prizes were; 1st prize a handmade patchwork quilt by Bridget Comerford went to Walter Power, Nine Mile House. 2nd prize the Easter bunny extravaganza cake created by Pauline O'Shea from 2 nice 2 Slice went to Kathleen O'Shea, Windgap. 3rd prize, a still life painting by local artist Sheila Cross was won by Joan O'Gorman, Skough. 4th prize a trailer load of firewood from Simon Brophy went to James Fahy c/o Leo Conalty. 5th prize was a turned lamp by john Ryan which went to Robert Meagher Kiltrassy. 6th prize a fruit hamper to Eileen Hawe, Coolhill. 7th prize an Easter egg to Rory Dullard. 8th prize a fruit hamper to Detty Byrne. 9th prize a box of sweets to Katie Daly. 10th prize was the Easter Bunny Hamper to Babette Conalty. 11th prize an Easter egg hamper to Gavin Cleere.
BRIDGE: Winners at the Killamery Bridge Club game held in The Olde House were 1st. Pat Arrigan, Margaret Comerford. Best Gross: Elizabeth Lanigan and Sarah Crowley. 2nd. Noreen Hayes and Annette Meagher, 3rd Rita Houlihan, Peggy Vaughan. 4th. Kathleen O'Shea, Moira Hickey.
HURLERS CO-OP DRAW: Supporters from near and far can support Windgap GAA Club by purchasing tickets from the local committee members or players or by going online, by visiting kilkennygaa.ie and select Windgap GAA Club whilst making a purchase. The Prize fund is €110,000 including that includes five cars.
CLUB NEWS: This weeks Lotto nu7mbers were 7, 19, 25, 27 and Bonus 2 and brought no winner. Next weeks prize fund is €9,150
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