Glenavy - St Josephs
2008 was a great year for St.Joseph's with the highlight being our senior team winning the Antrim division 3 football League. The u-14 girls reached the championship final only to lose out to a very strong St.Paul's side. Once again the U-16 footballers retained the South West Football Shield.
The Juvenile Committee once again organised a very successful U-12 football blitz with 12 teams from all over Ulster taking part. Once gain the club's U-8 & U10 teams participated in both hurling and football in Go-Games with a number of other clubs. All the young players really enjoyed the games were everyone gets the opportunity to play. Another plus for these games is the participation of the parents at the matches and the social side afterwards. John McGrade and his very capable allies do a tremendous amount of work with this age group.
The Ladies team is in the rebuilding stage but the future looks bright with a number of young players coming through to fight for first team football. As already stated the U-14 team, in its first year, has made a great start and with 30 plus players they are already looking forward to the new season.
A lot of hard work is being done with the club's underage hurlers and it is hoped to enter one of the divisional leagues in 09. Teams have taken part in indoor leagues as well as participating in a number of Blitz Tournaments. The coaches have organised a number of challenge games. There are a number of good young hurlers coming through the coaching scheme set out by the club last year.
Camogie is progressing steadily within the club. We fielded U-12 & U-14 teams in the Antrim Leagues and with the ever increasing number of players wanting to play the coaches will be kept busy in the years ahead.
Underage football continues to thrive with the highlight being the U-16's lifting the South West Shield for the third year in succession. There were a number of players who represented the Club on Antrim County teams.
Colly McAllister was appointed to manage the senior team which had gained promotion to division 2 of the All County Leagues. He has taken to the task like a duck to water and has the players responding to his coaching methods. As we write this article the team is sitting in second place with a very good chance of promotion.
Ray Mathews continues to referee at All County, Ulster and National level. Just to show the progress Ray has made at refereeing he was appointed to referee the 2007 Senior Championship Final. Ray we wish you well in 2009. Barry Collins has also joined the refereeing ranks and we wish Barry all the best. The club need s more referees so if anyone feels like joining let our secretary know and you will be informed of upcoming courses.
Joseph O'Boyle, a former club chairman, is still a member of Coiste Bainisti. Tyrone Eastwood is the Antrim County Vice-Treasurer so St.Joseph's continue to supply members to higher bodies.
With the ever increasing number of members, particularly at underage, the club is indebted to all our coaches who give of their time to help our young players to improve their games. As like every other club without a few willing workers everything would grind to a halt.
St.Joseph's members are proud that the County use our pitch for championship games and indeed the highlight this year was the staging of the Ulster Junior Ladies Final at Chapel Hill. The club is in the process of arranging to upgrade the training pitch to a full sized pitch to help cater for our growing numbers.