Yearbook 2011

Ashford GAA Club maintained their presence in the sporting arena by providing competitive football and games for all ages from Under 6 to Adults in the parish of Ashford and Glenealy. Ashford provided a professional coaching package for children at ages 6 to 10, this is known as the Fun Camp and operated every Saturday under the guidance of Stephen Behan the Club’s Juvenile Officer, Stephen was assisted by Gavin Connolly, Liam Byrne, Jenny Byrne and Adrian Marah. Ashford fielded teams at Under 8 and Under 10 in the Go Games Competitions which were hosted by many Club’s in the eastern region including Ashford, the Go Games were managed by Gavin Connolly, Liam Byrne and Adrian Marah.
The Under 12 team competed in an All County League and were very successful under Manager James Doyle winning the U12 Shield beating Kilmacanogue in the final by 2-3 to 1-4. The Under 14 team competed strongly in all competitions and were unlucky to lose the semi final of the Shield to St. Fergals by 6-10 to 5-10, while numbers were weak at the beginning of the season, Pat Doyle Team Manager who was assisted by Wes Manning persevered with their team and grew stronger by the end of the season. The Under 16 Team under the directorship of Darren Doyle and Alan Murphy struggled at the beginning of the season but were a force to be reckoned with in the C County Football Championship, Ashford lost by the narrowest of margins 1-12 to 2-6 to a strong An Tochar side. Our Minor team found the position difficult from the beginning and never really got off the ground, perhaps an early assembly of this squad with management will bear fruit. The Junior Team won 7 of the 11 games and did really well under Manager Gavin Connolly, however when the championship arrived we were unable to field due to lack of numbers, many of Gavin’s players played in the Intermediate Football Championship. The Intermediate Team with Ronnie Phillips as Manager and assisted by Jonathon Doyle have struggled in the league winning two games to-date against Kilcoole and Baltinglass, however they have lost many games by the narrowest of margins. The Club also suffered the loss of many key players to emigration. In the Championship they lost to Coolkenno and Valleymount, however when it came to hanging on to their Intermediate Status the team came up trumps with an excellent victory over Valleymount. Ashford GAA Club have played the following competitive games over the year: Intermediate 14, Junior 11, Minor 1, Under 16 12, Under 14 10, Under 12 12. In this modern age of competitive sport, the GAA have a very marketable product but one wonders is there enough games to satisfy the players requirements.

Off the field our Club Chairperson and Team Manager Ronnie Phillips was appointed County Coaching Officer and later in the year Ronnie was confirmed Joint Under 21 Football Manager. The Club are delighted with an extra voice at the top table, congratulations Ronnie.

The Club ran their Annual Fun Day in July this year and this Free Day was considered a hugh success in the Village. Hundreds of people turned out in the GAA Grounds for a very entertaining afternoon of events which was completed that night with the BBQ in Chesters.

The Club Lotto is still the main source of income, this year we saw 6 people win the Jackpot, one person collected a massive €13,100, while 5 others collected more than €2,200 each.

 

ASHFORD UNDER 16 FOOTBALL TEAM 2011
Back Row Left to Right: Sean Duffy, Brioch Farrell, Matthew Buckley, Brion o Donnell, Dylan Doyle , Andrew Yagwey, Fergus Ward, David Dowling, Jimmy Sinnott, Conor Linane, David Henderson, Kevin CullinanFront Row Left to Right: Paddy O’Donnell, Conor Cunningham, Adam Hill, Danny Staunton, Colm Doyle, Eoin Connoll, Jack Taylor, Robert Clarkson, Colm Copeland, Vincent McCann.
Some of the top players and scorers at Under 16, Danny Staunton, Conor Cunningham, Robert Clarkson, Andrew Yague, Matthew Buckley and Briain O’Donnell.

Back Row left to right: Jonathan Doyle, Paddy Downey, Brian Purcell, Dean Mooney, Will Hender-Phillips, Brian Byrne, Conor Dowling, Joey Doyle, Daniel Kavanagh, Sean Beale, Ken O’Brien, Jay Taylor, Jonathan O’Connor, Conor Behan, Ronnie Phillips. Front Row left to right: Gavin Weir, Iarla O’Donnell, Peter Farrell, Aaron Nugent, Brian Shannon, Danny Turner, Tom Corr, Lee Kavanagh, Darragh Rooney.

Ashford will play 11 League games in the County Football League Division 2 and 3 Championship games this year. They have won 2 League games against Kilcoole and Baltinglass and 1 Relegation Championship game against Valleymount. Ashford’s top scorer was Joey Doyle with 0 – 26, Aaron Nugent with 2 – 9 and Dean Mooney with 4 -3.

ASHFORD JUNIOR FOOTBALL TEAM 2011
Back Row (L-R); Conor Behan, James Clarkson, Dean Mooney, Sean Doyle, Fiachradh McDermott, Conor Dowling, Martin Doyle, Peter Farrell, Gavin Connolly, Daryl Thompson, Adrian Marah, Mark Shannon, Philip Doyle, Brian Purcell.

Front Row (L-R); Billy Clarkson, Joey Doyle, Brian Byrne, Gary Maguire, Danny Turner, Brian Shannon, Darah Rooney, Aaron Nugent, Gavin Weir, Lee Kavanagh, Mark Taylor.

Seated (L-R); Darah Connolly, Alex Butler, Shane Marah.

Ashford played 11 games in the North East Junior League, winning 7 and loosing 4, they finished in a creditable fourth position with 14 points. They defeated St. Patricks, Rathnew, Avondale, Eire Og, Bray Emmets, Kilcoole and An Tochar. Ashford’s top scorers were Aaron Nugent with 0-30, Gavin Weir 4-7, Dean Mooney 3-9 and Adrian Marah 3-9. In the Junior C Football Championship Ashford received a walk over from Knockananna in the first round but had to concede a walk over to Annacurra in the second round.

ASHFORD UNDER 12 FOOTBALL CHAMPIONS 2011
Back Row (L-R) Luke Boyce, Stephen Swan, Donal Ring, Adam Melia, Cal Connolly, Ross Hamilton, Kian Staunton, David Lacey.

Front Row (L-R) Fionn McLoughlin, Gary McCann, Cormac Doyle, Eoghan Copeland, Ruadhan F. Verbruggen, Dylan Porter, Evan Butler.Key players are scorers at Under 12 were Cormac Doyle, Donal Ring, Adam Melia, Ross Hamilton and Cal Connolly.

ASHFORD UNDER 14 FOOTBALL TEAM 2011
Back row L to R; Jordan Marah, Mikey Traynor, Donal Ring, Ross Quinn, Riain Sweetman Burke, Pat Doyle.

Front row; Cian Staunton, Thomas Kearns, Colm Copeland, Oisin Murphy and Eoin Copeland.

Ashford U 14 Footballers may have been short in numbers but showed great enthusiasm, effort and skill in county competitions in 2011. Player numbers were always stretched but the flag was kept flying with no little help from some under 12s who were undaunted by the step up to the older group. Indeed many of the younger lads showed great skill and promise which augurs well for 2012.

The games against Arklow Gers/Ballymoney and Coolkenno are those that stand out as particularly good performances in a competitive league campaign .

The team really shone in 2 blitz competitions involving Larah and Rathnew, winning on both occasions. These blitz events are very suited to the smaller panels and good fun with all players participating and deserve to be promoted in the future.

In the championship Ashford lost to a strong An Tocher team who came good in the second half. And so it was on to the shield where Ashford were drawn against Baile Coimhin. The two had met only two weeks earlier in the league which Blessington won with plenty to spare. The Ashford lads were determined not to let this happen again and played their best football of the year. Played in Bray, this proved to be a titanic struggle with the Ashford lads emerging as deserving winners by a point having led all the way.

And so it was on to the semi final against a strong Fergal Og side which was played at Kilcoole . The Bray side started better and led by 11 points at half time. Undaunted, Ashford put in a storming 2^nd half, scoring 18 points, but were thwarted by a late penalty goal to lose by 3 points to the eventual winners of the shield.

The team deserves great praise for their efforts in 2011. Success is not just in winning and this team are a credit to themselves and the club in their attitude, commitment and behaviour through the season. A big thank you must go to all who supported the team, to the club and especially to the parents. A big thank you too to the referees and the other teams we played and we look forward to 2012.

Panel; Ross Quinn, Mikey Traynor, Colm Copeland, Riain Sweetman Burke, Mark Cullinane, Jordan Marah, Thomas Kearns, Oisin Murphy, Aran Meade, Cian Staunton, Donal Ring, Eoin Copeland, Eoin Hamilton, Cal Connolly, Ross Hempenstall , John Furlong , Adam Melia ; Bainisteoirs Pat Doyle and Wesley Manning and Juvenile Secretary, Stephen Behan

ASHFORD UNDER 10 FOOTBALL TEAM 2011
Back Left to Right: David Carroll, Evan Butler, Ryan Turner, Mark Byrne, Karl Byrne, Orgn Byrne, Daragh Connolly, Adam Crean, David Ivers, Urshin McWatt.

Front Left to Right: Urshin Hill, Owen Doyle, Cian Marah, Caolin Mooney, Tommy Quinn, Matthew Quinn, Ben Collins, Kella Dunne.

Mentors Back Left to Right: Liam Byrne, Gavin Connolly.

 

ASHFORD GAA CLUB FUN CAMP UNDER 6 COACHING 2011

Left to Right: Yellow Shirt, Joseph O Braonain, Red Jacket, Tadhg Lord, Green Shirt, Emily Porter, Ashford Jersey, Fionn Doyle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

VHI CUL CAMP ASHFORD GAA CLUB WITH DARREN HAYDEN (WICKLOW GAA COACH)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASHFORD UNDER 8 FOOTBALL TEAM 2011
Back row L to R James Hamilton, Keevan Doyle, Samuel Bishop, Milo Gohery, Matthew Collins, Alex Butler
Front row L to R Stephan Kearns, Shane Marah, Noah Sheridan, Ryan Beale, Joshua Bishop, Jemima Ramsey.
Mentor: Back, Adrian Marah.