Reeling in the year 2021

The sixth instalment of our Reeling In the Year feature brings us back to June 2021.

June was the month where on-field action resumed and there was a great start to the month for all involved with Watergrasshill when our clubmate Daire O’Leary was named in the Cork senior hurling panel to face Limerick in the Allianz Hurling League tie against Limerick on June 5th. A proud moment for Daire and his family and one which we congratulate him on achieving.

The compressed Rebel Óg schedule kicked off with no fewer than 16 underage fixtures including go-games, 2 intermediate and 1 junior league fixtures in June. Our intermediates opened their 2021 competitive season with a good win in the league against Ballincollig (1-16 v 1-14) and followed that up with a victory over Bandon (1-19 v 2-12). Unfortunately, our juniors lost out to Sars in their opening game of the JAHL.

On the Go-Games front our Fé9 and Fé10 teams welcomed Kiltha Óg to Watergrasshill on June 12th with our Fé8 and Fé11 teams opening their season travelling to Dungourney. On June 26th it was the turn of our Fé9 and Fé10 teams to hit the road, with a trip to Blarney whilst our Fé7 and Fé11 teams hosted Blarney at home. The go-games program continues to be very successful at the club, with ever growing numbers getting involved both from a player and an adult perspective. It’s always fantastic to meet new residents in our community for whom the GAA club, through the go-games program is a great way to make new friend and welcome new residents to our community.

There were wins for our Fé13 and Fé15 teams over Youghal and Sarsfields respectively in the opening week of the Rebel Óg season, showing no ill-effects from the prolonged layoff. Before month’s end, our Fé12 team had also notched up their first win against St Colmcilles. So all-in-all, a very strong first month back for our underage teams where great credit must go to the respective players, parents and coaches for keeping the boys together and motivated during the cessation of games.

Mention too for our young members who graduated from both Watergrasshill and Glenville national schools. The class of 2021 transitioning to secondary schools in very different times but they did so with great enthusiasm - well done to you all. June closed with another exciting development with the 1st phase of our capital program for Felix Sarsfield Memorial Park being completed with the construction of our new members gym. This is a great first step in a multi-year capital program which will see the upgrading of all our club facilities in support of our growing community. Exciting times ahead in so stay tuned for more exciting announcements from this program in the months ahead.

LOTTO

There was no winner of the lotto jackpot this week. Numbers drawn were 8, 14, 27 and 28. Lucky dip winners are John O’Connor (Meenane), Trisha Joyce, Jess Swayne (Killarney) and Jodie and Brendan Hallihan. Congrats to you all. Next week’s jackpot is a fantastic €11,500 and draw will take place Monday, January 17. Tickets are on sale in some of the village businesses like The Hut Bar, The Fir Tree, Johnny’s Shop and our new lotto stand in Ross’s Centra. Tickets can also be purchased online via our club website.

The club would like to take this opportunity to thank all our members and supporters of the Watergrasshill GAA Club lotto. The club lotto is a vital source of income for the running of all our teams within the club and for future development of our facilities, so we ask you to please support it if you are in a position to do so. Remember, if you’re not in you can’t win.

PITCH SIGNAGE AND ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITY

As we enter a new decade, we do so with great optimism and excitement here at Watergrasshill GAA Club. Later this decade we will celebrate our centenary year, which will be a special milestone. While it’s important to celebrate the past and the history of the club, it’s also important we look forward to the future. With this in mind, the club will shortly be undertaking a development project, to prepare the club for the future and further position ourselves at the centre of our community. Part of this project will be the development of our existing club grounds. To that end we will endeavour to raise a revenue stream from advertising, while giving businesses the opportunity to advertise their services and reach a wider audience within our community. With the playing numbers on the increase our facility will be a busy spot over the coming years, and we would love to have your name and business positioned in the hearts and minds of all those who visit on a weekly basis. We are offering advertising space via pitch signage, 3000mm wide x 750mm high. These are a 5-year gloss laminate, flash mounted to 0.2mm skin diabond

sign. If you would be interested in this opportunity to advertise and support our club, please contact Claire O’Leary on 087-6239297 or any member of the club who can provide assistance.

REBELS’ BOUNTY DRAW

The Rebels’ Bounty draw is an initiative of “One Cork” to give clubs a significant opportunity to raise funds. Proceeds from every ticket sold above minimum targets go directly to our clubs in Water

grasshill and Glenville. We had a fantastic response in 2021 and tickets are now up for renewal. We are asking all members and supporters to renew again this year and support this very important fundraiser for both clubs. The 2022 prize fund is over €500,000 with 30 chances to win every month. Entries can be made online via the Cork GAA website or through any club member. Your support is greatly appreciated with much needed funds going directly into supporting your club and your community, míle buiochas duitse go léir.

CLUB SHOP

We have partnered with O’Neill’s sportwear to provide an online shop for all of our club merchandise and training apparel. Club crested clothing is available to buy, from shorts to jerseys to training tops and tracksuit bottoms, for adults and juveniles in various sizes.