Club and Community
Big Community Support for U9 player Ollie Farrell’s life-changing surgery – Candlelit prayer service in field on Monday 2nd January, eve of surgery in Turkey, following on from Sponsored Dip for Ollie on Christmas Eve.
Pre-Season Coaching Clinics with Michael Gerard Doherty, Barry Mullane and Philip Kerr.
Adult players in all codes embarked on a Strength & Conditioning Programme under the guidance of renowned Cork Coach Ian Jones.
Clonduff GAA Community Survey launched in preparation for 5-Year Strategy Plan.
Great Community Day on Easter Tuesday in Clubrooms – weather shocking outdoors but the fun and laugher indoors were not at all dampened.
Autism Awareness Workshop in Clonduff Club for coaches and parents.
Juvenile Player Development Day on Friday after Easter for boys and girls.
Club’s original Defibrillator replaced after serving Club and Community since 2007. A second Defibrillator acquired just before 2020 lockdown was donated to the village.
Clonduff Gear Swap Shop 11th June – included County and Cul Camp gear also – highly successful.
Plant-based Nutrition – presentation/workshop in Clonduff Club – presented by Senior LGFA player Lorraine Maginn.
Amy McAvoy, Clonduff Dual Player participated in a Boxing Tournament in aid of Pips Charity.
60 youngsters attend Clonduff’s first Cúl Camp of the Summer for Hurling and Camogie (1st Week in July).
Alistair McGilligan Ulster Schools Games Coordinator.
Clonduff joined ‘The Green Club’ Initiative, led by Fionnuala Carr – Club has undertaken to plant 2,000 native Irish trees.
Clonduff re-entered Healthy Club Programme and acquired Bronze Award
Clonduff Awarded 5th in a row Platinum Club Maith Award
Plunkett McConville – Pairc Esler Stadium Announcer; Brain Canavan, Anita Brannigan, Maureen and Gerard Stewart – County Gate Collectors.
Clonduff hosted Regional Feile na nGael (Hurling) for the last 2 years and the County Camogie Feile 2023
Cultural and Social
Clonduff original Novelty Act (Penned by Caroline McGreevy) won South Down Scór na nÓg title; three other acts were runners up – Instrumental Music, Solo Singing (Jordan McPolin) and Recitation (Sinead McPolin).
Clonduff Club participated in new Hilltown Storytelling Festival – ‘The Gathering’ by hosting traditional singers Danny Doran & Leon; and Children’s Singing workshop.
Clonduff Scór Musicians Paul and Thomas Kelly (father & son), along with Cathal Murphy (Musical Director) supplied the music for the Irish Dancers in Clonard Monastery Belfast on St Patrick’s Day.
Clonduff Club hosted Scór na nÓg Trath na gCeist – 4 Clonduff teams participated.
Laura Close, Clonduff Dual Player, completed ‘BUA’ Young Leadership and Life Skills Programme.
14-year-old James Matthews earned Down County Board Gaeltacht Scholarship – James plays both Football and Hurling and is a member of one of the Scór na nÓg teams
Numerous Primary Schools Discos hosted by Clonduff Club.
Clonduff ‘Be Active’ programme started with ‘Clonduff Lights Up’ in January, continued with ‘Walk and Talk’ throughout next 3 months. Fitness, Dance and Well-Being for 4 weeks from mid-April.
Lunch & Learn Club and Community six-week initiative involving the local ‘Cosy Club’ (Senior Citizens) and P7 boys and girls from both St Patrick’s and St Paul’s Primary Schools.
21 teams participated in Clonduff Golf Classic held on Festival Sunday 9th July in Kilkeel Golf Club.
Fantastic weekend of fun and fundraising at Friends of Clonduff Carnival which returned after a 15 year absence.
Two County Scór Sinsir titles in Recitation (Eileen McCusker) and Set Dancing (Francis Quinn, Michael Walls, Ursula Kearney, Lisa Gribben, Laura Mackin, Caroline McShane, Wendy Farrell, Nicola Ward) – Dancers won Ulster and represented County & Province in All Ireland Finals in Killarney.
Anita Brannigan County Scór Secretary.
Camogie
Our Lady’s Grammar School, Newry win Ulster Senior Schools Camogie Championship with 10 Clonduff girls on the team – Ella Beth Rooney, Hannah Shields, Blaithín Shields, Ceallagh Byrne, Katie Morgan, Amy Morgan, Ellen Shields, Lily Rafferty, Cara Savage and Niamh McConville. Niohmi Murray (member of Clonduff Senior Camogie team), a teacher in the school was joint coach.
Clonduff Camogie Children’s Officer Orla Morgan selected as Down’s Volunteer of the Year.
Sara Louise Graffin selected as Ulster Intermediate Club Player of the Year.
Erin McAlinden on Ulster University Camogie team that won Aisling Murphy Memorial Cup.
Clonduff host Foundation Coaching Awards – 6 Clonduff coaches participated
Five members of Clonduff’s All Ireland winning Camogie team honoured with Gaelic Life All Stars – Fionnuala Carr, Sara Louise Graffin, Paula O’Hagan, Jenna Boden (Captain), Katie Morgan; Joint managers Alastair McGilligan and Kieran McGourty also recognised.
Clonduff Camogs won the major awards at the Newry Mourne and Down District Council Sports Awards – Senior Club Team of the Year; Senior Volunteer of the Year – Orla Morgan; Senior coach of the Year – Guinevra McGilligan.
Fionnuala Carr secretly organised the ‘Mystery Tour’ for the All-Ireland Winning Camogie team – a 2-night away trip to Santa Ponsa.
Niamh McConville and Cara Savage selected as QUB ‘Future Stars’ for Camogie – they are both Dual players for Club and County.
Clonduff host and win County Camogie Féile – girls reach Final of National Féile Div 3 – narrowly beaten after extra time.
Ceallagh Byrne captained Down Minors to All Ireland Final (beaten by 4 points), also included Cara Savage (who captained U16 County team), Niamh McConville, Hannah Shields, Grace Clancy and Amy Morgan. Cara, Niamh and Hannah, along with Zara and Grace Kelly, Lily Rafferty and Therese Cowan on U16 County team.
The May Ball – a night of glitz and glamour for the All-Ireland winning Camogie team.
8 Clonduff girls and their Clonduff coach steer St Mark’s to the Year 9/10 Ulster Camogie Championship – Sophie Fitzpatrick, Therese Cowan (joint captain), Abi Hannaway, Anna Rose Carvill, Katie McAlinden, Blaithin Kelly, Katie Farrell and Annie Fegan. The team coach is Lorraine Maginn.
Seven Clonduff girls on Sacred Heart Grammar School team that won their Ulster title in May – Mary-Kate McPolin, Ruby Binks, Amy McEvoy, Niamh McEvoy, Blaithnaid Kelly, Mya Burns and Ellen Webster.
When Clonduff Camogs won their first County title in 2007 they presented the Club President the late Dean Davies with a signed hurl. In June 2023, 2 years after the Dean’s passing some members of that team and committee members presented the hurl to Club Chair Ross Carr to put in pride of place in the clubrooms.
Sarah Louise Graffin received Gaelic Life Ulster Camogie Club All Star and selected as Irish News Ulster Intermediate Camogie Player of the Year.
Niamh McConville and Cara Savage (both dual players) selected as QUB Future Stars in Camogie.
Teresa Carr County Camogie Chair; Eileen Hamill on THDC; Ursula Kearney Ulster Camogie Vice Chair
Football
Clonduff have 4 players on Senior inter-county team – Barry O’Hagan (unfortunately sustained horrendous knee injury in first game of the season knocking him out for the rest of the year), Paddy Branagan, Eamon Brown and Ross Carr – the latter three playing vital roles in the team’s run to Tailteann Cup Final.
4 Clonduff lads on Down U20s that won Ulster Championship – Patrick Cowan, Shane Close, Senan Carr and Dan Rafferty.
St Mark’s High school won Ulster U16 Championship (The Arthur’s Cup) with 7 Clonduff boys on the team – Eddie Clancy, Conor Ward, Tommy Smyth, Eoin McCaffrey, Danny McLogan, Callum Green (Vice Captain) and Shea Morgan.
Four Clonduff lads participated in half time exhibition games in Pairc Esler during the Down v Longford Allianz League game – Aidan Óg Fitzpatrick and Austin Matthews represented St Patrick’s Hilltown; Naoise Ó Ceannubhain and Dultach Ó hÍr represented Bunscoil an Iúir.
St Mark’s win U13 Ulster title (JJ Reilly Cup) with 9 Clonduff lads on the panel – Shea Murray, Niall Murtagh, Dara Ward, Ruairi McCaffrey, Callum Branagan, Ollie Maginn, Daineal Ward, Luca McLogan (capt) and Ethan Magee.
Clonduff U15s win Down Div 2 Féile Peil and went to Regional Finals in Stewartstown and won all their group games, the Cup Semi Final but were narrowly beaten in the Final by a strong Na Fianna, Dublin team.
St Mark’s win inaugural Edmund Rice Cup for Year 8 boys hosted by Abbey CBS Newry. Winning team backboned by 8 Clonduff lads – MJ Copeland, Ross McConville, Kayden McEvoy, Jack McGinn, Jamie Óg Fegan, CJ Grant, Charlie Carvill and Ethan Magee.
St Patrick’s PS win Canon Esler Shield comprising players from the Club’s U11.5/U9.5 players.
Three Clonduff lads on Down U16 team – Danny McLogan, Ailill Morris and Eoin McCaffrey.
P7 pupils Oisin McConville and Senan Power play in half-time exhibition games in Pairc Esler during Down v Donegal game.
5 Clonduff lads on St Colman’s Dalton Cup Winning team (Year 9/8) – Aodhán Gilbey, Daniel Gribben, Sean Óg Cowan, Tom Smith and James Morgan.
Clonduff U9s participated in the new-look Kilmacud Festival of Football. They won all their games and like everyone else received a certificate at the end.
Around 250 Primary School Children participated in the annual Connor McConville Primary School Tournament in Clonduff Park, organised by the local school and sponsored by the McConville Family.
47th Gary Murray Memorial Tournament won by Burren – re-organised to U12.5 (Year 8) to meet current regulations.
22 mini teams from 10 different clubs participated in the Brian McGreevy Blitz – games were refereed by Clonduff U15, U17 and U19 boys. No medals or cups but all given the chance to have team photo taken with the silverware sponsored by the McGreevy Family prior to 2023.
10-year-old Ollie Farrell presented with signed Down jersey by Clonduff’s representatives on the team – Barry O’Hagan, Paddy Branagan, Ross Óg Carr and Eamon Brown.
3 Clonduff lads on Down U15 Team that reached Buncrana Cup Final – Conor Ward, Eoin McCaffrey, Danny McLogan.
Hurling
P6/P7 boys participated in a Primary Schools Hurling blitz hosted by St Colman’s College Newry – Dara McVeigh, Jake Morgan, Austin Matthews, Oisin McConville, Tadhg Osgood, Connor Carville, Senan Quinn, Daithi McConville, Patrick Bradley, Danny Quinn and Joseph Matthews. Austin selected as one of the Players to Watch’.
U10 Hurlers enjoyed Go Games Experience in Croke Park on St Patrick’s Day.
U11, U13 and U15 Hurlers had an away day to O’Donovan Rossa Belfast before watching the Antrim v Tipperary League game.
Clonduff host U9 Hurling Blitz involving Ballygalget, Ballycran, Carryduff, Warrenpoint, Newry Shamrocks and Bredagh as well as the home side.
U15 Hurlers participate in Féile na nGael and proceed to Regional Finals hosted by their home club.
Clonduff fielded an U17 Hurling team for the first time in 15 years.
3 Clonduff lads on Down U15 Development team – Conrad Moan, Eoghan Rooney and Eddie Clancy.
Senan Quinn and Austin Matthews, Clonduff U11 Dual Players played in half time games in Down v Carlow Joe McDonagh game in Ballycran.
Seven Clonduff Hurlers on St Colman’s team that reached Final of McFarlane Cup Final for Year 10 students – Ryan McPolin, Shaun Rice, Eoin Crosbie, Lorcan Matthews James Matthews, Sean Óg Cowan and Danny Doyle.
Peárce Branagan Memorial Poc Fada on Hen Mountain in June 2023 – Winners were: Oisin McConville PS Boys; His sister Niamh won the Secondary School Girls competition; Eoghan Rooney won the Secondary School Boys Competition. John Murphy regained the senior men’s title.
U13 Hurler, Adam Fox won European Taekwondo title.
13 Clonduff lads on St Colman’s Hurling team that won Ulster McGreevy Shield.
Clonduff fielded Minor Hurling team for first time in 15 years.
Ladies Football
U6/U8 girls separate from boys because of growing numbers and difference in age grades.
A number of Clonduff Coaches attend LGFA Introduction to Gaelic Games.
Clonduff Féile team make history reaching final of Div 1 County Féile – lost by 2 point to Burren.
St Patrick’s Primary school reached the Schools’ Shield Final for the first time in their history. They were defeated by 2 points.
Aimee Kenny (P7 St Patrick’s) played during the half-time games in Pairc Esler during the Down v Derry Senior LGFA game.
Clonduff G4MO entertained Mayobridge G4MO in their first game of the season sporting their new jerseys sponsored by The Walk-In Wardrobe Online, Banbridge.
Emily Bingham, Clonduff Minbor/Senior Player on Down County Team that won LGFA Junior All Ireland in Croke Park.
Former LGFA player and All Star, Michaela Downey selected to represent Down on ‘Masters’ (Over 40) International Rules Squad 2024
Handball
Oisin McConville reached the final of the Cumann na mBunscóil (Primary Schools’) Handball Singles competition.
Therese Cowan won Ulster U15 Handball Singles title, younger brother Sean Óg reached U13 final as did Clodagh Kelly in U17 Singles – all having won their respective County titles.
