Clan na Gael News Archive 2008 to 2006 Hurling 7 A-side in Charlotte December 13th 2008 A panel of 9 players joined by Scott from Orlando traveled to Charlotte for the  annual South East hurling challenge match. Charlotte made a a very strong start to the game with some early scores and kept CNG under serious pressure for the duration of the first half. A reorganized CNG squad put up a great second half performance but could not close the gap before the final whistle. Final score Charlotte 6-12 Clan Na nGael 4-10. Clan Na nGael - Brian Anderson, Johnny O'Sullivan, John Boyce, Jim Whooley, Dan Kuemmerle, Ronnan Culliane, Alan Mobely, Mike Mulherin, Chris Cairney, Scott Graves (Orlando) Referee - Fenton from Charlotte The game was followed by a Puc Fada` (Long Strike) Competition which was open to all players. The test was for both distance and accuracy,  the ball had to go over the bar to count as a valid puc. After 2 rounds, Brian Anderson of CNG won as the only player with a successful strike over the bar from 60 yards. The afternoon was wrapped up by another hurling match in which both teams were mixed up randomly and another fine game was played. Points of note for day are recognition of Scott Graves for traveling to Charlotte from Orlando, FL to play and hopefully this trip will fuel his ambitions to get a club off the ground in Orlando. Also note the commitment made by Chris Cairney to travel all the way from Milledgeville, GA with his wife and four kids so he could participate. Additionally Brian Anderson had an outstanding game as keeper in his first ever hurling match. Later in the evening the CNG players were guests of Charlotte GAA at the Charlotte end of year awards banquette and the opportunity was taken to make a presentation to Kevin Devin with Charlotte in recognition of all his support for Gaelic games in the South east in the last 8 years. Clan Na nGael Hurling Team Back - Kieran Claffey, Dan Kuemmerle, John Boyce, Alan Mobely, Mike Mulherin, Scott Graves Front - Johnny O'Sullivan, Brian Anderson, Ronan Cullinane, Jim Whooley, Chris Cairney Annual General Meeting and Award Banquet Report 2008 A very well attended AGM and Award night was held at the Harp in Roswell on November 15th. Chairman Dan Kuemmerle gave a round up of the years actives and achievements. April - CNG Hurlers went to Chicago and took part in the Annual Junior Hurling weekend at Gaelic Park. May - 12 th Annual Golf Tournament was held at Gold Creek golf course. June - 3rd Annual Peach Cup 7 a-side Men's & Ladies Football Tournament Won by CNG Ladies & Charlotte Men July - CNG travel to Charlotte for the Connolly Cup, win the Ladies tournament and field men's hurling and football teams. July - CNG Youth Clinic is held, great work by Ann Collins - Youth Officer. August - CNG Ladies seal the double, Southeast League and Championship. September - CNG Ladies took part in the NACB finals in Boston playing at Junior A level for the first time in club history. December - CNG Hurlers head off to Charlotte for a 7 aside challenge game. A brief review of club finances was made by club treasures Sinead Lynch, at this time the overall finances are down for the year due to the fact that the golf tournament for 2008 broken even. Thanks to surpluses carried into 2008 the club is still in relatively good hands heading into 2009 but a focus on fund raising will be important to ensure stability going forward. Committee Election - all of the 2008 committee will continue in their existing rolls except for Jim Whooley who stepped down as vice-chairman. John Boyce was unanimously elected as the new vice-chairman for 2009. Committee for 2009 will be Chair - Dan Kuemmerle Vice-Chair - John Boyce Treasurer - Sinead Lynch Secretary - Pernille Christensen Registrar - Cathi Dugger PRO - Mairead Stack Youth Officer - Ann Collins Awards Presented by Chairman Dan Kuemmerle Men's Hurling Awards 2008 Most Improved Player of the Year - Brian Anderson Player of the Year - Jim Whooley Ladies Player of the Year - Cathi Dugger, a long over due recognition of all her hard work and efforts for the last 7 years Cathi delivered a fine prepared statement from 2008 Ladies Coach/Manager Catharine Burke highlighting the talents of each player in the ladies squad before the announcement of the ladies awards and coaching staff for 2009. Catharine could not attend thanks to recent arrival of her daughter little Asilin. Ladies Football Awards 2008 Most Improved Player of the Year - Lauren Gloster MVP @ NACB Championships = Emily Violette 2009 Ladies Coaching Staff Coach - Micheal Dermody Assistant Coach - Todd Walker 2009 Co-Captains Emily Violette & Kelly Taylor Plans for the 2009 Golf Tournament were also announced, to be held on April 18th at Browns Mill Golf Course in Atlanta. The evening was finished up with a photo montage of the years highlights and memorable moments put together by club PRO Mairead Stack which was highly entertaining. Thank you very much to The Harp for hosting the event and the excellent food and service as always. Link to pictures Clan na nGael Ladies seal 2008 South East League Thanks to a solid and determined performance the ladies held off a very spirited challenge by Charlotte to maintain their winning form. With this their 3rd win of the league compete the ladies once again top the division to win the South East League title. Cathi Dugger, team captain prepares her thoughts for a speech after receiving the cup from Johnny O'Sullivan. Also in picture Catharine Burke, CNG manager & Bill Carroll, Charlotte manager Click here for Team Photo 3rd Annual Peach Cup 7 Aside Football Tournament June 7th 2008 Click here for Tournament Results It was a little warm on Saturday June 7th for the 3rd Annual Peach Cup. With temperatures reaching into the high ninety's there were some great displays of football were put on by all teams. In attendance were Clan na nGael Atlanta Men & Ladies, Na Fianna Atlanta Ladies and James Connolly's Charlotte Men & Ladies. Despite the high temperatures all games were played in great spirit. Great talent and sportsmanship were on display for the entire day. Congratulations to Clan Na nGael Ladies on winning back the Peach Cup this year from  local rivals Na Fianna in a thrilling and very close final.   Pic - Andrea Nardello taking the ball up the field against Na Fianna in the final.     Congratulations to Charlotte men on their overall victory in the men's completion closed out with a fast paced 9 a side game. At least there was a little less running with the extra few players on the field.     Pic - Johnny O'Sullivan trys his best to keep Charlotte from heading up the field with the ball Naturally the day was wrapped up by an evening at Fado Irish Pub continuing to be a great supporter of Gaelic Games in Atlanta. All told a great day was had by all with thanks to everyone that assisted in making it such a great success. 12th Annual Golf tournament at Gold Creek, Dawsonville, GA May 10th 2008 On a beautiful May afternoon many of Clan na nGael's regular supporters and players took to the golf course to display their golf skills. Gross Winning Team - Ray Lee, Jerry McFadden, Mark Shay, Jeff Masisak 2nd Gross Dave Douglas, Pat Lee, John Hyhan, Denis Wilson Net winning Team - Chris Sullins, N Paidrmann, B Baker, Larry Smith 2nd Net winning Team - Josh Micko, James Whiting, Jim Riscaard, Marc Chillion Men's Longest Drive - Mark Shay Men's Closest to the pin - Ryan Jones Women's Longest Drive - Teresa McGowen Women's Closest to the pin - Lisa Cregan Thank you to everyone that participated and thanks to all our sponsors that supported this event.   2nd Annual Peach Cup 7-a-side Tournament Men's & Ladies Football - June 9th 2007 A great day of football at South East Athletic complex was thoroughly enjoyed by players from St Louis, Charlotte and Atlanta. Over 100 players participated in 22 games all played in the Atlanta June, 90 F plus temperatures. Clan na Gael Chairperson Andrea Nardello putting the finishing touches to the coveted Peach cups in preparation for the big event .       Congratulations to Charlotte and Na Fianna on clenching the much treasured Peach Cups. Thanks to everyone that helped make the tournament such a great success. And a special thank you to St Louis and Charlotte for traveling to participate. Results can be view at this link.   To participate in next year’s Peach Cup, please contact Atlanta GAA Chair Andrea Nardello at chair@atlantagaa.org   St Patrick's Day Parade, Atlanta - March 17th 2007                      2007 was Atlanta's largest and best attended St. Patrick's Parade & Festival since the first Atlanta St. Patrick's Parade held 149 years ago in 1858. Our club players circled the Fado float playing football and hurling while the St. Baldrick's Families waved to the crowd. We were proud to introduce our new sponsor, The JCB, and enjoyed the lovely sunshine and festivities.   North American Championship Playoff weekend - September 1 -3 2006                                   The North American County Board (NACB) of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) promotes the sports of hurling, Gaelic football and camogie in clubs across the U.S. These clubs participate in Divisional Championship competitions to qualify for the North American Finals in their respective sport and grade of competition. The 2006 North American Finals were held in Philadelphia, PA, over Labor Day weekend (September 1-3, 2006). One of Atlanta’s two women’s Gaelic football teams, Clan na nGael, advanced to the North American Finals where they were defeated by Philadelphia. The Clan na nGael men’s Gaelic football team advanced to the Finals where they were defeated by Charlotte. The Atlanta GAA is proud of the efforts put forth by all teams and look forward to another successful season in 2007. First Annual Peach Cup 7-a-side Tournament - May 2006 In May, the Atlanta Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) hosted the First Annual Peach Cup 7-a-side Tournament. Men’s and women’s Gaelic football teams from Atlanta, GA, Charlotte, NC, and Philadelphia, PA, participated. Atlanta’s Clan na nGael women’s Gaelic football team defeated Philadelphia and Atlanta’s Na Fianna team to win the ladies’ division, while Atlanta’s men’s Gaelic football team defeated Charlotte to win the men’s division. The Atlanta Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) looks forward to next year’s Peach Cup 7-a-side Tournament. To participate in next year’s Peach Cup, please contact Atlanta GAA Chair Andrea Nardello at a.nardello@att.net. Sam Maguire All-Ireland Football Cup in Atlanta, GA - March 2006 Clan na Gael Chairpersons pass & present - Michael Dermody, Andrea Nardello, Tom McSorley, Martin Conway with Sam at Fado`. Samuel Maguire was born in 1879 in Mallabraca, Ireland. A skilled football player, he participated in the All-Ireland Championships from 1900 to 1903. He later became chairman of the London county board, delegate to the annual congress of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), a Lieutenant General of the Irish Republican Brotherhood and directory of intelligence in Britain. He returned to Dublin in 1921 and got a job in the newly established Irish civil service. In 1928, shortly after his death, a group of his friends formed a committee in Dublin to raise funds for a permanent commemoration of his name. They decided on to present the GAA with the Sam Maguire Cup. The Sam Maguire Cup is presented annually to the winner of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship. In March, Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) representatives brought the Cup on a tour of seven U.S. cities, including Atlanta, GA. Representatives of the Atlanta GAA’s men’s and women’s Gaelic football teams, the men’s hurling team and members of the Irish community greeted the Cup at the homes of two of the team’s sponsors, the Harp Irish Pub and Fado Irish Pub.   CNG 2006 Annual Newsletter   View our Events page for more information.