There hasn't been a cow milked in East London for the last few days as our Footballers have won the Intermediate Football Championship for the first time since 2007 in a tense final against Tir Chonaill Gaels at Ruislip last Sunday. McCurtains got off to a fantastic start racing into a seven point lead after 15 minutes. Niall Coffey opened the scoring for the Macs with a well worked score. Coffey would add three more including two frees in that opening period. John Rafferty, Marcus Clarke & Sean Murphy all added their own points to leave the East London lads with that commanding lead. TCG managed to get themselves back into the match and managed to close the gap to five by the change in ends as McGirr chipped in with a score of his own for McCurtains leaving the score at 0-08 to 0-03.
Scores were increasingly hard to come by in the second half as the heavens opened at the break. Coffey again got the first point of the half to open up a six point gap. TCG started to attack in waves and chipped away at the scoreboard to reduce the gap to three as McCurtains playing against the wind at this stage found it increasingly hard to manufacturer scoring chances. That was the closest it would get as the Macs rearguard were putting in a serious shift to keep TCG at bay and on 47 minutes Johnny McGuigan scored McCurtains last score of the game to increase the gap back out to four. TCG once again threw the kitchen sink at McCurtains, scored a free to make it a three point game once again and set up a nervy finish that would go right down to the wire. A Gaels free with the clock all but up landed tantalisingly in the McCurtains square but before the ball could be scrambled over the line the referee blew for a square ball and a free out. less than 10 seconds later the full time whistle sounded to start the celebrations in Goodmayes.
THOMAS MCCURTAINS:
Conor Mulrennan; Richard Ellis, Danny Ryan, Cathal Moran; Brian Hourihane, Paddy McGuigan, Peter Rafferty; Tom Clarke, Niall Coffey (0-5, 2f); John Rafferty (0-1), Mark McGirr (0-1), Sean Murphy (0-1); Marcus Clarke (0-1), John McGuigan (0-1), Paddy O'Neill.
SUBS: Colm O'Neill for Murphy, John Winters for Hourihane, Kevin Delahunty for Paddy O'Neill, Jack Breen for Clarke & Paddy O'Neill for Ryan.
Earlier on Saturday afternoon the Hurlers were out against St Gabriels but it wasn't to be as the Gabriels proved too strong and ran out comfortable winners.
Next weekend is another big one on the pitch in Ruislip. The Footballers take on Junior Champions Dulwich Harps on Saturday in a play off to qualify for the British Junior Club Championship. While on Sunday the Hurlers take on Brothers Pearse in the refixed round robin game. This is essential a Quarter Final as the winners will advance to the Semi Final against Robert Emmets.
All support is welcome.
History & Centenary
We are now concluding our research and finalising the celebrations for next year. We would still love to hear your memories and any interesting stories you have. If you have any photos, match programmes, old jerseys or any other memorabilia or a story to tell please contact Richard Ellis at mccurtainspro@gmail.com . Any information would be great to hear. Next years events are in the process of being organised and a list of dates for you to put into your diaries is laid out below.
Upcoming Events:
Christmas Jumper Party - December 2019. Exact Details to be confirmed.
Centenary Launch Night - Saturday 1st February 2020. O'Gradys Bar, Seven Kings. There will be a Question and Answer Panel with the Thomas McCurtains Centenary History Booklet also being launched.
Annual Dinner and Dance - Saturday 29th February 2020. This will take place in The Mayfair Venue in Chadwell Heath. More Details and Tickets will be announced soon.
Club Trip to Cork - Weekend of 21st/22nd March 2020 in conjunction with the Commemorations of The Former Lord Mayor of Cork Tómas Mac Curtain.
Mixed Gaelic Football 7s Tournament - Friday 8th May 2020. Next years tournament will once again take place in Goodmayes. Details on how to enter a team will be announced soon.
Mac Fest, The Gathering - Saturday 6th June 2020. We are calling on all former members of McCurtains to gather in Goodmayes for a special event full of craic music and GAA.
Training (Click on team name for more info):
Results:
- Mens Hurling: Senior Hurling Championship - Thomas McCurtains: 1-10, St Gabriels: 2-30
- Mens Football: Intermediate Football Championship Final - Thomas McCurtains: 0-10, Tir Chonaill Gaels: 0-07
Fixtures:
- Mens Football: Intermediate/Junior Football Championship Play Off - Thomas McCurtains v Dulwich Haprs, Saturday 5th October 2019 at 2.30pm, Ruislip
- Mens Hurling: Senior Hurling Championship - Thomas McCurtains v Brothers Pearse, Sunday 6th October 2019 at 12.30pm, Ruislip
New Players:
New players are always very welcome to join our friendly club. We have Gaelic Football & Hurling teams for both men and ladies from u-8s up to Adults. We are based in East London; the club covers a wide area and current players live in many different areas, including, Gants Hill, Woodford, Leyton, Leytonstone, Stratford, Shoreditch, Bow, Canary Wharf, Romford, Dagenham, Brentwood & Chelmsford as well as many other areas. Transport to and from training and pick-up from stations can be arranged, if required.
If you would like to join our club, please do not hesitate to contact:
Thomas McCurtains GAA Club would welcome coaching support in local schools and our training sessions.
Please check out Thomas McCurtain's on Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram. Or drop us an email on thomasmccurtains@hotmail.com. We would be delighted to hear from you.
Club Shop:
Our official club merchandise is available to purchase on the O'Neill's website here
*Gentle reminder to all teams to take their rubbish with them after using Goodmayes pitches*
