Lough Derg FC win Community Award
Posted: 2010-06-24 12:01:43

LOUGH DERG FC AWARDED MAY 2010 BALLINA KILLALOE COMMUNITY ACHIEVEMENT AWARD - TRULY A CROSS COMMUNITY CLUB

At a presentation of the May 2010 Ballina/Killaloe Community Achievement Award on Thursday 16th June at the Lakeside Hotel, Ballina to Lough Derg FC, by joint-sponsors, Garry Cotter Editor, Nenagh Guardian and Eoin Little, General Manager Lakeside Hotel, Lough Derg FC committee members were delighted to accept the award on behalf of the clubs over 200 u6 to u16 players and 40 adult coaches and committee members.

Founded in January 2002, Lough Derg FC (schoolboy/girl soccer club ballina/Killaloe) joined the North Tipperary Schoolboy League (affiallted to the SFAI), when two teams were entered in the u10 and u12 ntsl knockout cup in the spring of 2002. The club then entered 2 teams into the league divisional play proper with teams at u10 and u12 divisions in the September '02 to April '03 Season. Starting-off, the club numbering, 50 children and adults trained in a field across from the Lakeside Hotel.

The Club has grown in membership steadily over the past few years and while the vast majority of its 200 plus players are from the Ballina and Killaloe, there are a number in club ranks from outlying areas of Bridgetown, Ogonolloe, Scariff, Tuamgraney, Birdhill and Burgess. A truly cross community club with a spirit and ethos has been built up in the club as it has expanded, of which members past and present can all be very proud.

Due to the clubs ever-growing membership and due to a lack of training facilities, 7 of the 10 league teams this past 09/10 season trained at Scariff GAA all-weather pitch, making a 30 mile round trip weekly! Great efforts indeed made by parents players and coaches alike to get ready for match days. 3 club teams train at Clarisford, Killaloe at the kind invitation of sporting colleagues in the local Ballina Killaloe Rugby club. Players and their parents who must be recognised and indeed acknowledged for their great efforts to turn out for training and games duriong the season.

Indeed the club would sincerely like to acknowledge local land-owner Benny 0'Grady and Principal of St Annes Community College, Killaloe, John Fitzgibbon for use of facilities for league games and training of u6/u8 improver academy respectively.

According to Alfie Byrne, newly-elected chairperson ''the club are working with other clubs in the area and are hoping to develop a major facility for the entire community in Killaloe, this with the help of Clare County Council . A local benefactor is providing support, and the clubs in the area will be approaching their membership to outline the plans and the associated costs in the very near future. Our fingers are crossed that the response will be positive’'.

At the recent agm and presentation night medals and trophies were awarded to 3 teams at u13 premier and u13 division 1 who won their respective league division titles while runners up medals were given to the u16s. An u10 selection who retained the Willie Boland Invitational trophy last October were also presented with medals.

Coaches awards for a player on each of the 10 league teams this past season were also given out as were 17 awards to players from u10 to u13 who were selected for FAI/NTSL Emerging talent and fusal academy programmes.

As part of the clubs community outreach programme, this past season, members assisted with Ballina/Bother community games boys u12 soccer and an FAI 5-a-side schools tournament by assisting Ballina National School who entered 4 teams, while some of the club younger members marched in the St Patricks day parade.

The Lough Derg FC roll of honour to date is:
* 2002/03 - u12 div 1 win (in first full season)
* 2006/07- u10 league runners-up and cup winners in 2007
* 2008/09
- u10 selection won the inaugural Willie Boland memorial trophy in September 2008
- u16s winners NTSL kncokout Cup
- u12a team winers premier league division and cup (first double in the short history of club)
* 2009/10
- u10 selection retained the Willie Boland Memorial Invitational Trophy
- u13b confirmed as NTSL u13 div 1 winners March 1st 2010
- u13a confirmed as NTSL u13 premier champions after beating Nenagh AFC 13-12 on penalties, after extra-time and 2 all at full-time in a divisioanl play-off
- u16s confirmed as NTSL runners-up in U16 premier division

Special menntion of Enda Brady u13 coach and 5 u13 players who are part of the North Tipperary u13 Kennedy Cup squad who are taking part in the reknowned FAI event at UL this week.

Ed Cahill, PRO added that ''this week, the club are holding registration nights for this coming 2010/11 season on Thursday June 24th at Killaloe Boys national school and Friday 25th June at Ballina Parish Hall, both from 7.00 to 9.00pm where committee members and coaches will be on hand to register players for the upcoming season which should begin in early September for league players (u10 to u16 league teams) and in late September for the u6 and u8 improver academy. The registration fees for 2010/11 are: 30 e 1 child, 60 e 2 children and more, 15 per adult member.

Coaches are currently being finalised for upcoming season and they are also looking at team selection for u10 to u13 age groups while it is expected team selection for u14 to u16 age groups will take place in mid-August, closer to the start of the new season. The club are always on the look-out for new coaches and should you wish to get involved please contact Darren Prentice, coachiong co-ordinator, at darrenprentice@eircom.net in the first instance.

The 2010/11 LDFC Committee eleced at the recent agm were: Alfie Byrne, Chairperson; Bobby Lynch, Treasurer; Carol Oakley, Secretary; Kevin Mcgrattan, Child Protection Officer; Darren Prentice Coaching Co-ordinator; Ed Cahill, PRO; Caroline Rowley, Regstrar; Claire Prentice, Asst Secretary and Brid McMahon, Asst Treasurer

The clubs website www.loughdergfc.ie has all relevant contact details and more.

The Ballina Killaloe Community Achievement Awards and are open to either an individual or ad-hoc group or indeed club to reccgnise the ''very best in local sporting, culturual, voluntary and community achivements by an individual, club, society or organisation, says Bobby Lynch, Awards Secretary. Monthly nominations must be received on the last day of each month to editorial@nenaghguardian.ie, mentioning why a nomination has been made with relevant contact details from the person nominating.

In 2010 12 monthly winners will be selected and one overall winner at the end of the year.

Pictured at the recent presentation were from left: Eoin Little General Manager Lakesdie Hotel, Sadie Scanlan Guardian Ballina Killaloe Correspondent, Garry Cotter Editor Nenagh Guardian, Alfie Byrne Chairperson LDFC, Caroline Rowley Registrar LDFC and Bobby Lynch Awards Secretary/PRO.

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