OVER 900 young people in the Altnagelvin area are served by “poor or below average” play provision, it’s been revealed, as Derry City Council considers progressing a new play park on the former Faughan Valley High School site.
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Monday 30 September 2013
Wigan star donates £2000 to help bring body home
WIGAN and former Derry City star, James McClean, donated £2,000 to help bring home the body of a Londonderry man.
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School Coaching Programme 2013/14
Please find attached the school coaching programme for the 2013/14 academic year - HERE
You can see from the overview page we are coaching in 65 primary schools and 12 secondary schools. This is an extensive programme which takes massive time and effort.
The programme is going well and is very well received within the schools. The problem we do have through is the transfer rate from primary schools to clubs. Obviously in rural clubs this isn’t as big an issue but in some urban clubs we have as little as 10% children getting coached in schools attending the feeder clubs. Can all youth officers please make a prudent effort to engage with their feeder schools, their teachers and principals?
The same message has been sent out to schools emphasising how important it is for the future of the programme that we see a greater return in this regard.
A Packed House Celebrates ‘The History Makers’
Derry Gaels came out in their numbers for an evening of celebration on Saturday past at Derry’s City Hotel. The History Making All-Ireland winning squad and management were guests of honour at the latest in a series of events celebrating 125 years of Derry GAA.
Led once more by captain Henry Downey, the players made their way into the room to rapturous applause and a standing ovation. Professor Craig Mahoney, sports psychologist to the champions 20 years ago was re-united with the players on an evening which also included special guests, Peter Quinn (Iar-Uachtaráin CLG), 1993 All-Ireland final referee Tommy Howard and Martin McAviney, President Ulster GAA.
It was perhaps only fitting that a secondary standing ovation was given following the recitation of ‘Eamon Coleman – a Derry Idol’ by Seamus McRory.
Eamon Coleman – A Derry Idol
For one last nostalgic time Henry Downey
Carried the Sam Maguire Cup in glorious triumph.
To the altar of your heavenly destiny
He was chosen to lead you;
Just as you selected him as your talisman
In the halcyon days of the 1990s.
To see you following your most precious prize
Up the aisle, in the land of Saint Trea,
Was both poignant and heart-rending;
Yet a lovely and beautifully happy reprise
Of an enthralling, historic, footballing odyssey
That began some forty-five years ago.
As a young boy you watched intently
When your boyhood hero majestically fetched
The ball beneath a Lough Shore skyline;
Eagerly hoping for the call
To enter the fray on those far-off summer days.
Seeing your exciting exuberance and
Consummate skill which belied your
Tender fourteen years – the icon duly responded.
Scoring a goal and a point, to claim
Your first county medal, was the catalyst
For a life-time of footballing fame
And a yearning desire for national success
As a player we all observed you
Exhibiting radar anticipation of the breaking ball.
We waited with bated breath and joyful expectation
As you nonchalantly and uniquely
Side-stepped opponent after opponent on
Your way to All-Ireland Minor and U-21 honours.
Croke Park was becoming your spiritual home;
The only place you really wanted to be.
But the ultimate Senior attainment
Always eluded you before you retired
From the playing fields of Ireland;
To become an ever-present- "Voice from the Sideline"
Then came your greatest hour; passionately motivating
And constantly cajoling others in the Red and White
To the summit of the long-awaited Holy Grail.
Eternally fixed in the mind
Is that wiping of a tear as you celebrated
The man from Lavey raising aloft
The greatest trophy in Irish sport.
On that famous September day in '93
Your icon had now become the wondrous boy
And you the incomparable, new hero as he
And we saluted Gary and all that brilliant Derry team
On that momentous occasion.
Ecstatic crowds and adoring fans
Lined the homecoming route.
Through The Moy, Cookstown, Moneymore, Magherafelt
And onto journey's end – Maghera –
You led us on that early morn.
We will never forget that special moment
When we first spotted you, Mickey, Harry and Denis
"On top of the world looking down on your creation"
This was the place and this the experience
That you longed for and worked towards.
You kept telling us we had the best team in the Ireland.
Now we believed you.
Fr. Brian D'Arcy's moving homily
Aptly and eloquently portrayed the player, the manager
And most of all the totality of your inner self.
The calculated twitching of the lips,
The charming, almost impish, perpetual smile
Captivated friends and opponents alike.
Sometimes curt, always straight, ever passionate
About what you believed.
No matter where your football journeys sometimes took you;
You always finished as you began.
Ballymaguigan and Derry forever reigned supreme
Amongst those you cherished most.
Now you have joined Denis McKeever and Sean O'Connell
In the greatest stadium of all.
We can see you plotting, planning, laughing;
Recalling the great days in Clones, Casement and Croke Park.
Your repartee with the assembled press
Will, inevitably, take centre stage.
"Didn't I tell you Anthony Tohill and Brian McGilligan
Were the best midfield pairing in the whole of Ireland?"
May God rest you and keep you, Eamon Coleman.
We will now have Divine Inspiration
For another September Sunday, another September Monday.
Your voice from above will surely see to that.
‘We’re still in the mix for Europe’ - says McNamee
Derry City’s Barry McNamee was forthright in his evaluation of his team’s 2-0 defeat away to Bohemians on Friday evening.
Sunday 29 September 2013
It’s raining goals as leaders Phoenix Swifts come from behind to win
The skies may have been clear but it was raining goals at the weekend as the Saturday Morning League returned a total of 71 goals in the 11 games across the three divisions.
Only A Game? To those about to strip, I salute you
Since joining The Derry Journal in 2006 I have written about male cancer many times.
Friday 27 September 2013
Foxies claim Ladies charity competition accolade
DURING the closing weeks of the current cricket season, Bready CC played host to a Ladies Knock Out competition.
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Barry Bares all for Charity
BARRY MOLLOY claims Derry City’s recent on-field problems paled into insignificance when learning of Drogheda United striker Gary O’Neill’s recent cancer diagnosis.
Opportunity knocks for Derry City youngsters
DECLAN DEVINE has pledged to stick to his policy of developing the younger players at the club as Derry City prepare for the first of three games in the space of seven days at Dalymount Park tonight.
Debonair Singles Club Championship Final at North West this Sunday
The finals of the Debonair Singles Club Championship and the Augusta Mixed Greensomes Trophy will take place at North West Golf Club this Sunday.
McLaughlin delighted after making Bristol City debut
Former Derry City winger, Stephen McLaughlin is hoping he can kick-on and help Bristol City secure their first league win after impressing in his full debut for the club last Tuesday night.
Higgs and Wilkin take top honours
Last weekend Colin Higgs and Willie Wilkin returned a score of 57 net to claim victory in the ‘Fourball Better-Ball’.
Paramount title challenge begins with win - Nicholl
City of Derry head coach Mark Nicholl is urging his team to hit the ground running tomorrow as they begin their assault on the All Ireland League Division 2A title at home to Rainey Old Boys (kick-off 2.30pm)
Top class scoring at Greencastle
There was some phenomenal scoring at Greencastle Golf Club over the weekend and Paul Ferguson (7) started things off on Saturday when amassing 46 points.
Promotion and relegation issues come to a head
The last round of Division 1 games has throw up some intriguing games, both at the top and the bottom, with the title, promotion places and relegation play-off ostill to be decided.
Craigbane are definitely in the relegation play-off but their opponents could come from any one of four teams! At the top Ballinderry are in the league final but Slaughtneil, Coleraine and Dungiven still have a chance of playing in the play-off semi-final.
In Division 2 ,six of the seven games have promotion and/or relegation issues, with five teams still in the race for promotion play off places, and three teams still in the relegation zone.
McCrudden to return to action as ‘Stute host Coleraine Reserves
Institute boss, Paul Kee has promised to ring the changes for tomorrow’s Craig Memorial Cup tie against Coleraine Reserves at the Riverside Stadium. Kick-off 3 p.m.
Premier Heavyweights clash at Prehen
Westbank United take on fellow SML heavyweights Clifton Villa tomorrow morning in the undisputed game of the day on what is a busy programme of league fixtures.
Two depart as Harps travel to Ferrycarrig Park
Finn Harps manager Peter Hutton will be without several players as he plots to end a run of four straight league defeats in tonight’s meeting with Wexford Youths in Ferrycarrig Park (k.o. 8pm).
Faughanvale take U18 B’ title thanks to stunning late recovery
With 12 minutes remaining at Owenbeg on Tuesday evening the Ballymaguigan-Castledawson combination of Tír na nÓg looked certain to claim the Derry Minor ‘B’ Championship crown as they held an eight point lead, 1-08 to 0-03.
Trasna, Magilligan to decide Division Three
IT won’t have felt like it in the immediate aftermath of Doire Trasna’s recent Championship final defeat to Ardmore but this the most important game of the club’s season.
Thursday 26 September 2013
Waterside derby at Clooney Park West
IN the Coca Cola Irish Junior Cup, Lincoln Courts booked their place in the next round after a hard earned 5-3 home win over a very good St Lukes side from Belfast.
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