Ward Seals it on the Double for Ireland

The multi-talented AIBA World junior champion and Westmeath Independent Sport Star of the Month Joe Ward continued on his winning way as he sealed victory for Ireland on two occasions last weekend. On Friday night with Ireland and England tied at 4-4, the deciding bout was Joe Ward against Tom Buckley. Buckley fought bravely but Joe Ward was in scintillating form and the English boxer was retired in the second round with Ward 18-0 ahead. In the second international on Saturday Joe continued his great form when he defeated Germany's Roman Fress, who claimed bronze at middleweight in the AIBA World Junior Championships in Armenia earlier this year. Joe turned on the style in this bout sealing a 5-3 win for Ireland at the National Stadium. Moving up to middleweight from light middle last year Joe was 4-0 ahead at the end of round 1. The German who is usually a toe-to-toe fighter adopted more conservative tactics against the young Moate boxer but all to no avail. The score at the end of round two was 7-1 and in the third round the world junior middleweight bronze medallist was given a standing count before succumbing to a 15-3 loss. Moate boxing club coach Seamus Dorrington, who was in the corner for Joe Ward, told me he had never seen Joe perform better. The extra weight has made Joe a much more powerful boxer and with his great skill, balance and ring craft he is performing at a new level. Never one to get carried away, Seamus is already talking about the dangers in the forthcoming Irish championships where a win is needed if Joe is to get the opportunity to contest the qualifying round for the forthcoming junior Olympics where there is a qualifying process similar to the adult Olympics, although the juniors only have one opportunity to qualify. Three time Irish champion James Moore who lost out in Olympic year to Henry Coyle is being cited, as Seamus ensures that Joe Ward takes nothing for granted. Moate All Whites U16 Final Straight from the green of Ireland at the National Stadium to the All White jersey for Joe Ward where he is a key member of the Moate All Whites U16 team who will try to overcome St Michaels in the under 16 county football final which will take place on Thursday, November 5 in St Lomans at 7.30pm. Please come along and support this team in their biggest game of the year. St Vincent De Paul Quiz The St Vincent De Paul quiz held in Coughlan's Lounge on Friday night last attracted a total of fourteen teams on the night. Quiz master Pat Malone brought his usual variety of humour and curiosities to the proceedings and the evening was a great social success. The St Vincent De Paul Society would like to thank Terry Coughlan for his hospitality on the night and Pat Malone for his help with the quiz. The main sponsor of the night was Anthony Browne of AB Oil and his continued support is appreciated. The Society would like to thank all those who contributed prizes for the night and all those who turned out to support the quiz. Moate Bridge Club The results for last week were: 1st net, Eithne Pettit and Catherine Roche; 1st gross, Joe Casey and Kathleen Cooney; 2nd net, Marjorie Lowe and Kathleen Grogan; 2nd gross, Joe Creggy and Larry Flanagan. Moate Tennis Club Moate Tennis Club is holding a table quiz on Friday next, November 6th, in the Auld Shebeen. A team of four is €40 and registration for the quiz is at 9pm for a 9.30pm start. Tables can be booked with any member of the committee, Ray Claffey 087-2645782, Melissa Claffey 086-3766041, Danny Murray 086-8339774 or Jimmy Raleigh 087-6104460. Moate Partnership Group Food and Craft Fair Day The Moate Partnership Group food and craft fair day will take place on Sunday, November 29th in Moate Community Centre from 12pm to 6pm. This promises to be a great day and with your help and support we can help everybody shop local for Christmas. This will be a special family day out with face painting and many other events. Several stands have been booked already and a full list of traders will appear in newspapers prior to the event. This event will start the Christmas programme. Anybody interested in taking a stand at the fair should contact Paddy Casey (Chairman) on 086-2446574 or any member of the committee. For further information, Log on to our website: www.moatepartnership.ie Committee Members: Liam Claffey, Darren Doyle, Annette Dalton, Martin Murray, Frank Murphy, Jean Keenan and Yvonne Keenan. Midland Warriors The Midland Warriors u 8's to u 12's were left without a fixture when the heavy rain last weekend caused cancellation of the trip to play West Offaly Lions. The U17 squad managed to field against Navan in Navan despite losing eight players to illness. The team that travelled met a very strong Navan team and although defeated will take great heart from the quality of the performance. O'Halloran Merits Special Mention Those who have being reading this page over the last year will know that Tiernan O'Halloran is one of the up and coming stars of Irish rugby. The Irish Independent has now taken note as they singled Tiernan out on Monday last as their One to Watch. We will even excuse him for scoring a try against Buccaneers last weekend, if only because Buccaneers did eventually collect the points from Galwegians, always a great pleasure for a Buccaneers supporter. His parents will be surprised to hear that Tiernan is "the son of former Offaly footballer Jim". More forgiveness required, as most Moate people know Tiernan's parents are Moate native Aidan and his wife Maura. The article went on to describe Tiernan as 'a serious talent with size and speed making him a real handful for opposing defences'. Carmelite Notes Recently Deceased Tom Killian, brother of Ann; Mary Ann Ballesty, Ballymore; Rose Hynes, Ballinahown. We extend our sincere sympathy to their families and loved ones. May they rest in peace. Tubber First Friday Holy Communion calls to the homes Thursday and Friday morning, November 5th and 6th. Adoration Could you spare an hour for Jesus once a week? Adores needed for 5pm to 6pm on Thursdays. Moate Community School 0-10 4-16 Killina On Monday last, Moate Community School Under 16 Hurlers played a very strong Killina team that were in front for most of the game. Moate kicked off the scoring with a brilliant free from David McCormack who was playing in midfield. From the puck out, David pulled a ball out of the clouds and took a brilliant shot to put Moate two points in front. Killina then began to pick up a gear and slotted over two points to draw level. From a Moate Community School puck out Killina took a shot that seemed to be drifting over the bar only to drop short and land in the back of the Moate net. Moate responded quickly as David McCormack slotted over two more frees to leave Moate behind by a single point. Killina then began to pull away, scoring four unanswered points. From a Killina puck out their wing back took a shot which ended up in the back of the net. Things seemed to be going downhill as Killina led by 2-02 to 0-4 points before another quick response from David McCormack narrowed the gap by two more points to leave it Moate 0-6 Killina 2-06 at half time. The second half began with Moate introducing four substitutes as David McCormack, Jack O'Kelly Lynch, Moe Scanlon and Joe Kinahan were going to represent the Westmeath schools hurling team. From the thrown in Killina possession led to another magnificent point. Killina then began to pull away from the Moate side, scoring an unanswered 2-04. Moate forwards did not get much action in the second half but when they did they were dangerous with Richard Moran scoring some lovely points, along with Niall Keegan. Killina then added another six unanswered points before the full time whistle. Team: Ciaran Clarke, Robbie Marsh, Lee Colgan, Andrew McCormack ,Sam Moran, Eamon McCabe, Niall Keegan, David McCormack, Jamie Carnally, Moe Scanlon , Jack O'Kelly-Lynch, Richard Moran, Robbie Gorman, Joe Kinahan. Hairspray A huge success for the staff and students of Moate Community School 'Wonderful show', 'The best yet', comments like these abounded, as audiences filling the gym to capacity left, having spent the best part of two hours reliving their teenage years and the fantasies and hype that was the sixties in America. The musical was a cornucopia of memories, from the bouffant hairdos of Jackie Kennedy, to the dresses and shoes. Many social issues such as racism and inequality were coming to the fore in the sixties and Tracy the gutsy teenager of the play addressed some them, transforming the group in which she circulated. The cast comprised of almost one hundred and seventy teenagers full of life and exuberance which encapsulated for themselves and the audience, life in another time and showed that life today is not all that different. Packed houses all week was a fitting tribute to the amazing dedication and commitment of the director Colin Hughes and of the Music team, Lorna Duignan and her able choristers Neasa Ni Chonghalie and Annemarie Farrell. The beautiful harmonics which abounded from the nostalgic ballads recalled the blues era of Ella Fitzgerald and was the result of painstaking practice by all. The icing on the cake for many was the band; a typical sixties big band line-up of saxophone, flute, trumpet, trombone, bass and drums accompanied by keyboards. The wide community of MCS was delighted to have Sr. Ann O'Flanagan come out of retirement for another wonderful MCS musical, and her performance on keyboards added an extra dimension to each evenings performance. With all of this effort and talent at the helm it is no wonder the energy and excitement was reflected on stage. This was a whole school event, the result of many weeks work by many people. The artistic director, Pamela Keogh led her team of seven students who worked in conjunction with the stage construction and management team of eleven students and three members of staff led by Mark Walsh, the props team of three students led by Naomi Brennan, the make-up team of five students and five members of staff led by Yvonne Fahy, the hair dressing team of seven students led by Sinead Neilan, the wardrobe team of three members of led by Anne Beades and the catering team of seven students led by Fidelma Nolan and Colette McEnroe. Maura Murray co-ordinated and oversaw supervision for the event while Tom Lowry took care of the ticketing and raffle. The booklet was painstakingly researched, designed and printed by Carmel McCormack, Margaret Lynch and Finnuala Bracken. The billboards were created by the art department of Moate Business College and the event was publicised by Nessa Lawlor and Kevin Duffy. The English department led by Lisa Buggy prepared the two MCs, Ruth Galvin and John Warburton. The shop was manned at the interval every night by five members of the school's ancillary staff. There were four nights of public performance and one night of dress rehearsal. Each and every person involved is saluted for his and her dedication and work rate, without which this musical could not have the resounding success it was. This event could not have taken place without the support of the people and businesses of the town of Moate and its surrounding areas. The school management wishes to publicly express its appreciation for this ongoing help, in this event and all the school's ventures. In particular thanks goes to the hands on help given by MOHH Hairdressing and Ultimate Image Hairdressing. And so the curtain has fallen for the final time on Hairspray. Despite the tiredness, there was a satisfied aura emanating through the corridors of MCS on Friday morning last, echoing the pride felt by all involved in the hugely successful event. There were even whispers of curiosity as to when the next musical would begin. Roll on the next production for MCS!