BARBEQUE: Continuing on from the enormous success of last year's barbeque, the Shelmalier GAA club are holding a monster Autumn barbeque at the Hollymount complex on Saturday next, September 4. Tickets are again priced at €15 and they can be purchased from Flanagan's of Castlebridge, Freddie's in Screen and Hotel Curracloe. The club officials ask that you purchase your ticket as soon as possible as the attendance will be limited.

GAA NEWS

The Shelmalier junior hurlers having the bare 15 players gave a spirited performance in the B championship to overcome a physical Rathnure outfit and overturn a half time deficit of 7 points.

An early second half goal from Mick Kelly, together with accurate free taking by John Redmond, Fergie Parker and Ciaran Walsh punished the indiscipline of the Rathnure side. The sides were level 112 a piece when Rathnure's no.2 was dismissed after 2 yellow cards and it was Shels all the way after that and they took the match on a final score of 1-15 to 1-12.

The under 21 footballers put in a polished first half performance to convincingly beat reigning champions St. Martins in the county semi-final on Wednesday night in Hollymount. With one eye on the clubs all-important senior hurling game on Sunday a number of players were withdrawn for a well deserved rest and all five subs introduced played their part in fashioning this great win.

St. Martins refused to lie down and threw everything at the Shels rearguard in an attempt to get back into the game but with no inch given the Shels lads snuffed out almost every attack and came away with the ball to win on a final score of 3-11 to 1-4.

The Shelmalier junior footballers took on Cloughbawn in the junior B championship in St Patrick's park on Saturday last going down by 3-12 to 1-9 after a great fight back in the second half against Cloughbawn's first football team. Brian O'Shaughnessy, Niall Kelly, Denis Kelly, Vinny Parker and Graham Lawlor were outstanding in defence.

The Shels senior hurlers' hearts were broken when leading Cloughbawn by six points with 5 minutes to go, they conceded 2 late goals and a free to lose this relegation game by a single point. 1-12 to 2-9. On the plus side, it was a very strong performance from start to finish and saw the Shels returning to the standard they are known for. The entire team gave their all, with particular strong performances from captain Tommy Barron, Alan Griffith, Brian Malone, Aidan Murphy and Conor Byrne.

DEVELOPMENT LOTTO

The Shelmalier GAA club had no winner of last week's jackpot. The numbers drawn were 7,13,16,28. There was no match 3 winner. Next weeks match 3 win or share €400.

Curracloe United AFC had no winner of their jackpot on Sunday, August 22. The numbers drawn were 3, 6, 16 & 17. There were 4 match 3 winners and each received €40, Carmel Tobin, Kilmacoe; Eddie Hore-Meagher, Ballina; Phil Doyle, Ballina and Josie howlin, Screen.

On Sunday last, August 29 the winning numbers drawn were 1, 3, 16 & 28. There was no jackpot winner and 1 match 3 winner, Catherine McKenna, Curracloe who received €150. Next weekends draw will take place in the Tavern and the jackpot stands at €7,500. Tickets available from any committee member.

DANCING CLASSES

Irish dancing classes in Castlebridge community centre on Mondays at 4.30 p.m. commencing on September 6.

LADIES FOOTBALL

The senior county final between the Shelmaliers and Clonee will take place on Saturday next, September 4 at 5 p .m in Belefield in Enniscorthy . The Shelmalier Ladies football club are encouraging all supporters to come out and support the team. We wish all involved the best of luck.

The Shield final takes place at 3 between Kilmore and Adamstown . The Shelmalier Gaelic for Mothers team will take on Taghmon Gaelic for Mothers as the half time entertainment. The Shelmalier Minor team will take on Ballyhogue in the semi final on Wednesday, September 8.

ATHLETICS

St. Killians AC will recommence training tomorrow evening, Thursday, September 2. The training will be at the new Crossabeg/Ballymurn community field in Crossabeg and training is from 7-8.15 p.m. The training is for boys and girls aged 11 years and upwards. As of next week, training will be on Monday and Thursday evenings from 7-8.15 p.m. until further notice. The cost is €2 per child and maximum of €5 per family. Newcomers most welcome.

DAY CARE CENTRE

Castlebridge Day Care centre will reopen on Wednesday, September 8 at 10.30 a.m. The committee are inviting men from the Screen, Curracloe, Crossabeg and Ballymurn areas to come and join the mens group which was recently set up.

This group meet on Mondays from 10.30 a.m. until 12.30 p.m. where they play pool and cards and a full Irish breakfast is also on offer. The womens Craft group meet on Mondays from 1.30 p.m. until 4 p.m. and their sewing, knitwear and tapesty work is providing badly needed funds for the centre.

Some members of the centre have been interviewed by RTE and will they appear on the programme `Positive Ageing Week` to be aired around the end of September. If you need any information on the centre and its work, feel free to contact any committee member.

GYM CLASSES

Enrolment for gymnastics will take place in Castlebridge hall on Friday next, September 3 from 3.30 p.m. until 3.45 p.m for existing members and 3.45 p.m. until 4 p.m. for new members. The term will commence the following Friday, September 10. Classes are open to anyone from age 4 upwards. If you require any further information please contact Emily Martin on 086-3337278.

FIT FOR LIFE CLASSES

Fit for life classes continue on Wednesdays from 8-9 p.m in Ballymurn hall. This is an excellent class for all fitness levels under the care of a fully qualified instructor. Excellent class with guaranteed results. Newcomers welcome. Contact Debbie on 086-8122535 for further details.

PARENT & TODDLER GROUP

Parent & Toddler Group re-opens tomorrow, Thursday, September 2. The group meet every Thursday morning from 10.30 a.m until 12 noon in Castlebridge community centre.

PLAYGROUP RE-OPENS

Curracloe community Playgroup Limited re-opens on Monday next, September 6.at 9.30 a.m. For further information contact Anne on 087-2898347.

COMMUNITY GAMES

Over the weekend of August 20-22 a group of youngsters representing the Castlebridge/Crossabeg Community Games area participated in the national finals in Athlone IT. We congratulate all the children who performed to the best of their abilities against the best in the country. Competition was of the highest standard over the weekend and medals were hard to come by.

However, the area did have success with Conor Devereux and Bill Eviston (Crossabeg) taking home the bronze medals in the Under 16 Marathon. The boys worked as a team with the other members James Kells from Enniscorthy and Adam Horan from the Bree/Davidstown area and Conor came home in 10th place, followed by James in 14th, Adam in 16th and Bill in 20th to see them clinch a very good bronze medal. Well done lads.

Peter O`Shea from Ballybeg, Screen, won a fourth place Medallion in the under 12 Ball Throw with a final throw of over 61 metres. Peter is a newcomer to athletics and although he has thrown further than this, nevertheless this was a superb performance by him and we look forward to seeing him in action in the coming years.

The area also had Mikey Cullen competing in the Under 14 Long Jump competition, but alas he did not make it to the last 8 jumps while Jane Shovlin had to withdraw through illness from the 100M under 14 event.

A team of Aoife O`Keeffe, Rianna Cullen, Katie-Anne Neville, Damien Reck, Ronan Devereux and Evan Kinlough competed in the under 13 Mixed Relay event. The team came through their Heat and progressed to the semi-final where they lost out on a place in the final. Nevertheless a very good team performance by the youngsters.

ITEMS FOR COLUMN

Items for inclusion in the Over the Water column are most welcome. Send notes to redcow2@eircom.net or call Anne on 086-1980775.

All notes to be sent in by Sunday evening or by Friday at 12 noon in the event of a bank holiday weekend