WALSH ISLAND
G.A.A. CLUB
Walsh Island
GAA Club hosted a social and awards night on Saturday 2nd
February 2008 in the Tullamore Court Hotel.
The Master of
Ceremonies for the evening was Martin Carty, and he began
proceedings by congratulating the efforts of underage
football in the parish with St. Broughans.
The
Under 10’s, Under 12’s and Minors all reached the semi
finals of their respective championships.
The highlight
of the year was the Under 14’s who were narrowly beaten in
the A Final in O’Connor Park.
Martin also
congratulated Mairead and Niamh Kavanagh, who play with
Edenderry Ladies and were part of that team which won the
Senior County Final in 2007. Mairead also played in the
minor county final losing narrowly to St. Rynaghs, and both
Niamh and Mairead could help Edenderry Ladies achieve
further success in the form of the League final which has
yet to be played.
After dinner,
a number of presentations were made by Brendan Ward,
President of Offaly G.A.A.
Walsh Island
Intermediate team suffered their only competitive defeat in
2007 at the quarter final stage against Edenderry. Prior to
the quarter final meeting, Walsh Island had beaten Edenderry
in a fantastic game in Bracknagh which would see Walsh
Island claim the top spot in the group after earlier
victories against Kilcormac/Killoughy and Kilclonfert. The
championship quarter final ties were made by open draw, and
Walsh Island were pitted against Edenderry again.
Unfortunately for Walsh Island, this time around, the
excellent Edenderry team proved too strong on the day. Walsh
Island made their exit from the championship and Edenderry
of course went on to claim the title. However, when the
curtain came down on the 2007 football season, Walsh
Island’s Intermediate team had claimed the Division 2 league
title, and in doing so have now been promoted to the top
Division in Offaly football. In fact the team remained
unbeaten throughout the entire league campaign. A fantastic
feat for all involved with the reward of Division 1 football
waiting for the year ahead. Brendan Ward presented the
panel, led by 2007 captain Gary Comerford with their medals
for winning Division 2 of the league.
The club made
a few other important awards on the night. The club ‘Hall of
Fame Award’ recipient for 2007 was P.J. Mahon. Unfortunately
P.J. couldn’t be there on the night, and all at the club
wish him well and good health. P.J.’s remarkable association
with the G.A.A. was recalled on the night. He won his first
senior Championship medal in 1938 at the tender age of 16.
In that same year he won a Leinster Junior College medal
with his school Knockbeg. He won further Championship medals
in 1942 and 1943. P.J. was a selector with the Offaly Senior
team when they won Leinster titles in 1960, 1961 and 1981.
He was also a selector for the Offaly team that were crowned
All-Ireland Champions in 1982. Also, P.J. was a selector at
Minor level, winning 4 Leinster titles in 1960, 1962, 1964
and 1965, and an All-Ireland in 1964. Again at U21 level,
P.J. was successful as a selector and teams he was involved
with won Leinster titles in 1973 and 1977.
The
name P.J. Mahon has always been, and will forever continue
to be associated with G.A.A. in Walsh Island. He was a
selector in the club through those marvellous years from
1978 to 1983 when the club won 6 Senior Championships in a
row. P.J. was club secretary for an incredible 34 years, and
this fact was recognised during the G.A.A. centenary year.
In 1984, P.J. was named as Offaly Clubman of the Year, and
also Leinster Clubman of the Year. Later, in 2001, P.J. was
awarded the prestigious Shean Gael award for his
contribution to G.A.A. in Offaly. Further to all of these
remarkable awards, P.J. is the current Life President of
Walsh Island G.A.A. Club, the only person ever to have been
awarded the title. A truly deserving recipient of this award
from Walsh Island G.A.A. Club.
On the 25th
anniversary of Offaly’s All-Ireland success in 1982, the
club awarded ‘Lifetime Achievement Awards’ to the four Walsh
Island men who played on the day when Kerry were finally
halted. Richie and Matt Connor, and Tomas and Liam O’Connor
achieved what every footballer dreams of on that great day,
and were honoured by the club for their part in that fine
victory.
The other main
award on the night was to the Player’s ‘Player of the Year’.
Alan Mulhall was this year’s recipient and the award
recognizes the high esteem in which he is held by his fellow
players. Alan showed his strong versatility as he played
effectively at full forward and centre forward. His scoring
record – 5 goals and 53 points from 14 competitive matches
has not been overlooked at county level, as he is now a
member of the Offaly Senior Football panel for 2008 along
with fellow clubmen Willie Mulhall and Gary Comerford.
Another well deserved award on the night.
After the
awards ceremony and some fitting words from Brendan Ward.
The Chairman of Walsh Island G.A.A. Willie Galvin had his
say, congratulating the team on their achievements for the
previous year, encouraging all involved and wishing all
continued success in 2008. Willie then presented the Walsh
Island community with a defibrillator on behalf of the club.
The defibrillator was accepted on behalf of the community by
Paul Flint, who is doing the community a great service by
starting the ball rolling in terms of fundraising, training
etc. with the defibrillator. Paul hopes to form a committee
very soon to organise all the necessities for this important
device.
After all the
formalities of the night, it was time to get the dancing
shoes on! Those in attendance on the night danced into the
wee hours with music provided by the excellent band
‘Mercury’.
A special word
of thanks must go to Martin Carty and Niall Corcoran for all
their hard work in organising a great night, and also to the
Photographers
Robert Smith,
Pat Cleary and Eric Molloy, for generously providing the
photos for this article.
|Picture Gallery|
