Club Sacair Iorrais Aontaithe

Eric O’Reilly has announced that he is stepping down as Manager of the Clubs Super League side. Eric took over the position from Micky Dixon in 2005 and has worked hard in that time, a role which was difficult at times.  The highlight of his time  in Senior Management was the sides progress to the Semi-Final of the F.A.I. Junior Cup last year. The Club would like to thank Eric for the commitment, drive, patients and dedication that he has shown over the years. He intends to concentrate more on under age coaching and administration.

Over the weekend of the 26th/28th February a party of 28 travelled to the North East of England for a weekend of R/R after the long football season. The group was made up of Players/Officers/Committee members/Supporters. The group left Belmullet, twice, in the heavy rain. The Party boarded a flight in Belfast in the evening, and on arriving at Newcastle the Erris United Vice President had arranged a bus to ferry the club to Durham, were they stayed, and later that evening the club played a friendly against a Dickie Ord (former Sunderland and England U21 International and now Durham City coach) eleven at the Club ground.   Later again, that evening and morning, the party got to know the young and old in the social night spots. On Saturday, after a long lie in, the group were free to explore Durham and further afield. On Sunday the party travelled to Sunderland F.C. and the Stadium of Light where they were given a guided tour of the Stadium (As a rule, no stadium tours on match days, one off special for Erris). The Sunderland Chairman, Niall Quinn, welcomed Iorras Aontaithe/Erris United, before the afternoons game v Fulham, plus the club was featured in the match programme, the Iorras Chairman presented Naill with copy of the clubs 25th anniversary book. While waiting for their flight back to Belfast, later that evening, members of the group met Fulham F.C. and their Manager, Roy Hodgson when they were returning to London.

Pictures from a, great weekend, are now uploaded on the website, and each photo will say a thousand words, more photos will be added as they become available. Click on the page above. Copy Right on all photos.

Congratulation to Eric O’Reilly on receiving the Mid-West Radio Sports, Edge Award, for February 2009 in recognition of Iorras Aontaithe/Erris United great run in the F.A.I. Junior cup last year and the teams win away to Kinsale. He received his award at a function in the Abbeyfield Hotel, Ballaghaderreen on Thursday night 25th.

NOTE. Copy Right on all Photos

Iorras Aontaithe/Erris United U13 continued there good league form at home to Westport United on Saturday 20th, winning  5-2. There first half was disappointing with the visitors taking the lead on 14 minutes but Kyle O’Reilly had Erris level on 20 minutes with Westport restoring the lead 3 minutes later. It was 2-1 at half time. When play resumed, Iorras played with more commitment and purpose, and with goals from, Eoin Healy (37 minutes), Gary Boylan (41 minutes), Owen O’Donoghue (60 minutes) and Ryan Ruddy (63 minutes), the points were secured in the end. Will done to everyone. This win makes it 4 from 4 with two games lift.

TEAM. Scott Kilker; Tamara O’Connor,Mikey Barrett, Eoin O’Donoghue, Tom Ivan; Ryan O’Donoghue, Gary Boylan, Enri Healy; Kyle O’Reilly, Eoin Healy. SUBS- Darren Dixon for Tamara O’Connor (H.T.), Pete MacArthur for Eoin Healy (38 minutes), Tony Conway for Ryan O’Donoghue (52 minutes) and Jamie Flannery for Tom Ivan (58 minutes).

Match Official- Jimmy Donoghue.

A club registration evening’s will be held at the clubhouse in Carne Nash for all under age, 6 years and upwards, on Thursday evening 9^th and 16th March from 6-8pm. With free club crested socks and shorts to those who register on the evening. Membership for the year is, Senior-€150, Youths-€75, Two youths-€140, Family-€200 and Over 35-€75 and non playing members 30 Euro. New members are always welcome.

Over the weekend of the 26th/28th February members/supporters from the club will be in the North East of England were they will, once again, sample the delights, of Newcastle, Durham and Sunderland. On Friday night the team will play Durham City in a friendly and on Sunday the party will attend the Sunderland v Fulham game at the Stadium of light, and in between all of this football, the travailing party will be checking out the cultural delights of the region.

Iorras Aontaithe/Erris United were knocked out of the F.A.I. Junior Cup 5th round at Carnenash Park  on Sunday 7th against Carrick United, after the game had ended nil-nil, plus extra time, with  the visitors going through 4-2 0n penalty’s.

Carrick did most of the running in the opening half, but Iorras maintained their composer, resilience and shape with very few clear cut chances on goal, for both sides. In the second half Iorras imposed themselves a bit more and had the visitors on the back foot at times. On 85 minutes the visitors, Keith Walsh received a second yellow card, and was shown the line, when he brought down Shane Nallen.  Late in extra time, Brendan Nallen had to clear off his line when the ball glanced of, Iorras keeper, Enda Conroy in a goal mouth incident. Penalties were called for to decide the tie. Carrick booked their place in the next round, scoring four, with Iorras keeper, Enda Conroy, saving one.  Unlucky for Iorras from the spot kick was, Brendan Nallen, Ivan Barrett with Henry Gaughan and Jonathan Donohue scoring the other two. For the home side, it was a very cruel way to exit this competition, after the heroics of last year.

Next up for Iorras is a friendly, away to Durham City in the north east of England, and a weekend R and R plus a visit to the stadium of light and Sunderland v Fulham, at the end of the month.

Match Officials- D. McGrath,  M. Regan, K.Cox.

TEAM- Enda Conroy, Neil Geraghty, David Reilly, Henry Gaughan, Liam Donohue; Sean Gaughan, Anthony Mills, Brendan Nallen, Shane Nallen; Ivan Barrett, Garth O’Malley; Subs Used-Stephen Carolan for Garth O’Malley (55 minutes). Mickey Togher for Sean Gaughan (59 minutes) and Jonathan Donohue for Shane Nallen (In extra time).

Iorras Aontaithe/Erris United Over 35 maintained  there position at the top of their group in the Masters League in Castlebar on Wednesday night the 3rd, against third placed side, Swinford United. It was 1-nil at half time, thanks to a goal from  Harry Reilly.  But shortly into the second half, Swinford levelled the score. Iorras then showed their vintage form with goals from Tom Gruddy, Vincent McGrath and Gerry Lavelle to claim the points. Iorras have two more games to play in this section, and if they wish to progress to the next round, they most continue this good run of form. There currently on 20 points.

PANEL. Harry Reilly, Tom Gruddy, Anthony Duffy, Mickey Dixon, Eamon Dixon, Gerry Lavelle, Vincent McGrath, Kenneth Lynskey, Eric O’Reilly, Michael John Nallen.

Please, feel free to comment on there progress so far in the league, and go easy on them, there very sensitive.