GAA Strategic Plan launch on Monday
Stories behind the headlines
WEXFORD GAA’S new strategic plan – entitled Ar Aghaidh Le Chéile (Onwards Together) – will be formally launched in a remote meeting to be held on Monday, March 1. The event will commence at 8 p.m. and will be attended by County Board delegates, Chairpersons and Secretaries from the 49 clubs.
A lot of hard work has been involved in the completion of the plan which covers seven specific areas.
Micheál Martin, the new Co. Chairman, will be going into further detail on the contents which cover coaching and player development; Wexford GAA infrastructure; finance and fundraising; games programme and refereeing; culture, community and club development; health, well-being and inclusion; PR and communications.
Meanwhile, the coaching and games department of the County Board will be continuing its spring series of webinars sponsored by Zurich Insurance over the next three Mondays.
The topic for March 1 is ‘Tackling Your Feelings’, with the talk to be given by Nicholas Walsh.
On March 8, Damian Quigley will deal with ‘Club Focus – Youth to Adult’, while the five-night series will conclude on March 15 when Shane O’Hanlon discusses ‘Skill Testing and Goal Setting’.
All three events will begin at 7.30 p.m. on Microsoft Teams, with registration open to all. Just log on to Wexford GAA’s official website or any of its social media channels, and then click on whatever webinar you would like to join.
There was a positive response to the first two events, with former Kildare footballer Johnny Doyle speaking about ‘Building Resilience in Youth Players’ before Seamus Byrne and Alan Monahan outlined the thinking behind ‘Camán Everybody’, a new hurling initiative aimed at children from junior infants to first class.
This is a club/school link, developed to teach the skills of hurling in a fun and enjoyable environment.
Have you voted for your 2020 club football team of the year yet? Here’s a final reminder of the nominees before the awards night on Saturday next at 8 p.m.
THE COUNTDOWN to the announcement of the Cáirde Loch Garman club team of the year and individual award winners on Wexford GAA TV next Saturday (8 p.m.) has revived memories of the Purple and Gold Stars scheme that ran without a break from 2002 to 2008.
It was the brainchild of Jim McGovern, Glynn-Barntown’s Chairman 19 years ago, who drew inspiration from the popular Blue Stars games that were an annual staple of the playing scene in Dublin around the festive period.
He sought approval for something similar as a means of honouring Wexford’s brightest and best on the club playing front, and the Purple and Gold Stars were duly established in the last year of the late Sheamus Howlin’s tenure at the helm of the County Board in 2002.
A charity aspect was incorporated into the scheme, which was sponsored by Whites Hotel, with the teams selected engaging in fundraising matches against Wexford selections. For this reason, five or six substitutes were also chosen along with the first fifteens to cover any absentees when the games took place.
Wexford Park was the venue for the inaugural matches on December 29, 2002, with the football game ending in a draw while the hurling resulted in a five-point win for the county selection.
The first charity to benefit was the local Special Olympics, with a cheque for €7,000 presented to their representative, Seán Breen, at the January County Board meeting in 2003 by Seán Quirke, who had taken over from Sheamus Howlin in the chair.
Jim McGovern led the committee tasked with picking those first two teams, and sadly two of his colleagues have since passed to their eternal reward: Seamus Keevans of Gusserane and Johnny Cullen from Kilanerin-Ballyfad.
They were assisted by Tony Kehoe (St. Mary’s, Rosslare), Seamus O’Toole (Marshalstown), and members of the local press.
The group of selectors was bolstered for 2003 with the addition of Micheál Doyle (Crossabeg-Ballymurn), Joe Doran (Buffers Alley), Larry Cahill (Ballyhogue) and John Whelan (Rathgarogue-Cushinstown).
Those involved in future years included Tony Furlong (Kilmore), Jimmy McDonald (Adamstown), Mick Butler (Buffers Alley), the late Andy Doyle (Taghmon-Camross), Ed Rowsome (Monageer-Boolavogue), Pat Murphy (Oylegate-Glenbrien), Willie Wickham (Ballyhogue), Billy Dodd (Sarsfields) and Gerry Forde (Shelmaliers)
Other worthy causes to benefit from funds raised included the A&E Department in Wexford General Hospital, the HOPE cancer support group in Enniscorthy, Wexford Mental Health Association, the Irish Handicapped Childrens’ Pilgrimage Trust, and the Peter Bradley Foundation.
A new dimension was added in 2006 with the hosting of a gala awards night in Whites Hotel for the first time, and this continued until 2008, when the scheme ended.
Individual players of the year were selected once, in 2007, when Paul Roche saw off Rory Jacob and Ciarán Kenny for the hurling accolade, while Paddy Colfer was ranked ahead of Collie Byrne and Brian Malone on the football side.
In 2008, Ger Doyle’s second year leading the County Board, Jim McGovern was replaced as Purple and Gold Stars Chairman by Martin Quigley, while camogie and ladies’ football teams were added to the mix for the first time.
However, the management committee’s decision to end the awards was reported in early December 2009, with ‘the current economic climate’ cited as the reason.
I’ve re-produced the list of recipients from 2002 to 2008 below to jog memories, with some achievements deserving of special mention.
For a scheme that ran for seven years, it was incredible consistency on the part of Horeswood’s Leigh O’Brien to be honoured six times on the football team, three apiece as centre-back and as a substitute.
Five footballers featured on five different selections, namely Matty Forde, Colm Morris, John Hegarty, John Cooper and Paddy Colfer, while the five hurlers with the most accolades (four apiece) are the Jacob brothers, Michael and Rory, plus Barry Lambert of St. Martin’s and Rathnure duo Nigel Higgins and Antony O’Connell.
Barry and Noeleen Lambert also share the unique distinction of being the only brother and sister ever to win Purple and Gold Stars – in 2008, the last year, when all four codes were represented for the only time.
The outstanding dedication displayed by several players nominated for awards this coming Saturday must be highlighted.
Dermot Flynn (Rathnure), Colm Farrell (HWH-Bunclody), Ciarán Kenny (Buffers Alley), Brian Malone (Shelmaliers),
Ciarán Lyng (St. Martin’s), P.J. Banville (Horeswood) and Ben Brosnan (Castletown) were all still going strong with their respective clubs’ first teams in 2020.
And given that this look back focuses on a scheme that ran from 2002 to 2008, 19 to 13 years ago, such longevity of service deserves the highest commendation.
HURLING TEAMS 2002-2008
2002: Paul Carley (Glynn-Barntown); Colm Kehoe (HWH-Bunclody), David O’Connor (St. Anne’s), Dave Guiney (Rathnure); Keith Rossiter (Oulart-The Ballagh), Declan Ruth (Rapparees), Michael O’Leary (Rathnure); Paul Codd (Rathnure), Rod Guiney (Rathnure); Micheál Jordan (Marshalstown), Damien Fitzhenry (Duffry Rovers), Michael Redmond (Cloughbawn); Barry Goff (Faythe Harriers), Tom Dempsey (Buffers Alley), Frank Boggan (Askamore). Subs. - Brian Ivers (Rapparees), Joe Mooney (Rathnure), Tomás Furlong (Cloughbawn), Jim Doyle (Cloughbawn), Martin Kehoe (Cloughbawn), Fergus Heffernan (Oylegate-Glenbrien).
2003: Jim Morrissey (Rathnure); Pierce Donoghue (Glynn-Barntown), Eugene Furlong (Glynn-Barntown), Antony O’Connell (Rathnure); Michael O’Leary (Rathnure), Willie Doran (Buffers Alley), Liam Dunne (Oulart-The Ballagh); Paul Codd (Rathnure), Tomás Mahon (Rapparees); Paul Carley (Glynn-Barntown), Trevor Hogan (Rathnure), Matty Forde (Ballyfad); Robbie Codd (Rathnure), Tom Dempsey (Buffers Alley), Rory Jacob (Oulart-The Ballagh). Subs. - Stephen Doyle (Oulart-The Ballagh), Enda O’Leary (Ballyfad), Shane Carley (Glynn-Barntown), Willie Carley (Glynn-Barntown), Nigel Higgins (Rathnure), Chris McGrath (Shelmaliers).
2004: Jim Morrissey (Rathnure); Antony O’Connell (Rathnure), Keith Rossiter (Oulart-The Ballagh), Barry Kenny (Buffers Alley); Willie Doran (Buffers Alley), Liam Dunne (Oulart-The Ballagh), Kevin Kavanagh (St. Patrick’s); M.J. Furlong (Cloughbawn), Darren Stamp (Oulart-The Ballagh); Des Mythen (Oulart-The Ballagh), Redmond Barry (St. Anne’s), Nigel Higgins (Rathnure); Rory Jacob (Oulart-The Ballagh), Michael Jacob (Oulart-The Ballagh), Micheál Jordan (Marshalstown). Subs. - Noel Carton (Cloughbawn), Mark Furlong (St. Patrick’s), Gary Curley (St. Patrick’s), Patrick Whitty (Adamstown), Leighton Gleeson (Ballygarrett), Keith Burke (Buffers Alley).
2005: Michael Kelly (Marshalstown); John Roche (Oulart-The Ballagh), Keith Rossiter (Oulart-The Ballagh), Paul Roche (Oulart-The Ballagh); Rory McCarthy (St. Martin’s), Liam Dunne (Oulart-The Ballagh), Diarmuid Lyng (St. Martin’s); P.J. Nolan (Askamore), Darren Stamp (Oulart-The Ballagh); Stephen Doyle (Oulart-The Ballagh), Pat Doran (Buffers Alley), Des Mythen (Oulart-The Ballagh); Keith Burke (Buffers Alley), Micheál Jordan (Marshalstown), Barry Lambert (St. Martin’s). Subs. - Tommy Breen (Monageer-Boolavogue), Ken Furlong (St. Martin’s), Laurence Prendergast (Oulart-The Ballagh), Ciarán Kenny (Buffers Alley), Eoin Quigley (St. Martin’s), Oscar Pitt (St. Mary’s, Rosslare).
2006: Dermot Flynn (Rathn ogue-Cushinstown), Dennis Mor O’Connell (Rathnure); Diarmui O’Leary (Rathnure), Laurence Pr Paul Codd (Rathnure), Michael R (Buffers Alley), Ollie Bolger (Rathg (Monageer-Boolavogue); Nigel H (Buffers Alley), Barry Lambert (S (Cloughbawn), Brendan O’Leary ( nure), Francis O’Brien (Rathgarog (Geraldine O’Hanrahans), Micha
2007: Dermot Flynn (Rathnur Paul Roche (Oulart-The Ballagh) Darren Stamp (Oulart-The Ballag Paddy Whiteley (Rathnure); Rory Jacob (Oulart-The Ballagh); Bar Doran (Buffers Alley), Paul Carley (Oulart-The Ballagh), Rory Jacob O’Connor (Ferns St. Aidan’s). Su Alley), Brendan O’Leary (Rathnu Ballagh), Tommy Dwyer (Ferns St stown-Courtnacuddy), Andrew Sh
2008: Dermot Flynn (Rathnure Paul Roche (Oulart-The Ballagh), Jacob (Oulart-The Ballagh), Rory Kenny (Buffers Alley); Eoin Quig (St. Martin’s); Michael Lillis (Bla Anne’s), Nigel Higgins (Rathnur Rory Jacob (Oulart-The Ballagh), N Subs. - Phelim O’Connor (St. Mar Johnny Murphy (Blackwater), Dav Paudie Kelly (St. Martin’s).
FOOTBALL TEAM
2002: Jason Russell (Starligh Fran Fitzhenry (Duffry Rovers), Furlong (St. Martin’s), David Mur O’Brien (Horeswood); Willie Carle Whitty (Adamstown); Diarmuid Kin (Starlights), Patrick Naughter (R (Glynn-Barntown), John Hegarty erin). Subs. - John Cooper (Ada Philip McGovern (Craanford), Br Mernagh (Kilmore), J.J. Doyle (D
2003: John Cooper (Adamst David Currid (Bannow-Ballymitt Páraic Curtis (Clongeen), Pat Fo (Bannow-Ballymitty); Seamus H (Clongeen); Liam Murphy (Clong
nure); Walter O’Brien (Rathgarrton (Oulart-The Ballagh), Antony id Lyng (St. Martin’s), Michael rendergast (Oulart-The Ballagh); Redmond (Rathnure); Pat Doran arogue-Cushinstown), Marty Kelly Higgins (Rathnure), Keith Burke St. Martin’s). Subs. - Noel Carton (Rathnure), John O’Connor (Rathgue-Cushinstown), Michael Cleere ael Jacob (Oulart-The Ballagh). re); Bobby Kenny (Buffers Alley), , Richie Kehoe (Faythe Harriers); gh), Ciarán Kenny (Buffers Alley), y McCarthy (St. Martin’s), Michael rry Lambert (St. Martin’s), Willie y (Glynn-Barntown); Nicky Kirwan (Oulart-The Ballagh), Christopher ubs. - Seamus Kavanagh (Buffers ure), Dennis Morton (Oulart-The t. Aidan’s), Robert Hassey (Davidhore (Davidstown-Courtnacuddy). e); Antony O’Connell (Rathnure), , Lar Leacy (Blackwater); Michael y McCarthy (St. Martin’s), Ciarán ley (St. Martin’s), Diarmuid Lyng ackwater), Redmond Barry (St. re); Barry Lambert (St. Martin’s), Nicky Kirwan (Oulart-The Ballagh). rtin’s), Daithí Hayes (St. Martin’s), vid Redmond (Oulart-The Ballagh),
MS 2002-2008
hts); Philip Wallace (Gusserane), Colm Morris (Castletown); Ken phy (St. Mary’s, Rosslare), Leigh ey (Glynn-Barntown, capt.), Seán nsella (Castletown), John Hudson Réalt na Mara); Derek Leonard y (Kilanerin), Matty Forde (Kilanamstown), Tom Wall (Starlights), rendan Doyle (St. James’), John Duffry Rovers). own); Brian Hughes (Kilanerin), ty), Philip Wallace (Gusserane); rde (Kilanerin), Robert Mageean Hughes (Kilanerin), Paddy Colfer geen), John Hegarty (Kilanerin),
John Hudson (Starlights); Matty Forde (Kilanerin), Aodhán Kavanagh (Kilanerin), Stephen Sheehan (HWH-Bunclody). Subs. - Barry Hughes (Kilanerin), Colm Morris (Castletown), Leigh O’Brien (Horeswood), Seamus Ryan (Gusserane), David Shannon (Horeswood), Scott Doran (Kilmore).
2004: John Cooper (Adamstown); Tom Byrne (Ballyhogue), Philip Wallace (Gusserane), Mark Gahan (Starlights); Darragh Breen (Naomh Eanna), Michael Hanrahan (Sarsfields), Páraic Curtis (Clongeen); Paddy Colfer (Clongeen), Denis Kent (Rathgarogue-Cushinstown); Pat Forde (Kilanerin), Shane Cullen (Gusserane), Redmond Barry (St. Anne’s); John Hegarty (Kilanerin), John Hudson (Starlights), Matty Forde (Kilanerin). Subs. - Tom English (Ballyhogue), Brendan Mulligan (Sarsfields), Leigh O’Brien (Horeswood), John Harrington (Sarsfields), Ollie Connors (Starlights), Philip Cullen (Sarsfields).
2005: John Cooper (Adamstown); Colm Morris (Castletown), Jonathan Hearn (Horeswood), Niall Murphy (Bannow-Ballymitty); Darren O’Reilly (Horeswood), Leigh O’Brien (Horeswood), Shane Cullen (Gusserane); Rory Stafford (St. Anne’s), Paddy Colfer (Clongeen); Ciarán Deely (Horeswood), David Shannon (Horeswood), Brendan Kehoe (Adamstown); Darren Foran (St. Mary’s, Rosslare), Patrick Whitty (Adamstown), P.J. Banville (Horeswood).
Subs. - Tom English (Ballyhogue), David O’Connor (St. Anne’s), David Murphy (St. Mary’s, Rosslare), Adrian Flynn (Gusserane), Matty Forde (Kilanerin), John Hegarty (Kilanerin).
2006: Diarmuid Hartley (Horeswood); Darren O’Reilly (Horeswood), Jonathan Hearn (Horeswood), Paul Wilson (St. Martin’s); Diarmuid Kinsella (Castletown), Leigh O’Brien (Horeswood), George Sunderland (Castletown); Thomas Howlin (Horeswood), Paudge Barden (Bannow-Ballymitty); Ciarán Deely (Horeswood), Eddie Doyle (Duffry Rovers), Ben Brosnan (Bannow-Ballymitty); Darren Jordan (St. Martin’s), Paddy Byrne (Kilmore), P.J. Banville (Horeswood). Subs. - John Cooper (Adamstown), Colm Morris (Castletown), Shane Cullen (Gusserane), John Mernagh (Kilmore), Ciarán Lyng (St. Martin’s), Derek O’Reilly (Horeswood).
2007: Aidan Cullen (Clongeen); Tom Byrne (Ballyhogue), Lorcan Kent (Clongeen), Tom Wall (Starlights); Nicky O’Sullivan (Clongeen), Adrian Fenlon (Starlights), Colm Farrell (HWH-Bunclody); Brian Malone (Shelmaliers), Paddy Colfer (Clongeen); Liam Murphy (Clongeen), Collie Byrne (Clongeen), Páraic Curtis (Clongeen); Terry Gainfort (Shelmaliers), John Hudson (Starlights), John Hegarty (Kilanerin). Subs. - Tom Hughes (Kilanerin), Leigh O’Brien (Horeswood), David Walsh (Shelmaliers), Ciarán O’Leary (Sarsfields), Adrian Flynn (Gusserane), Darren Kehoe (HWH-Bunclody).
2008: Tom Hughes (Kilanerin); Colm Morris (Castletown), Jonathan Waters (Taghmon-Camross), Cathal Gaule (Shelmaliers); Gordon Hughes (Kilanerin), Pat Forde (Kilanerin), David Walsh (Shelmaliers); Paddy Colfer (Clongeen), Brian Malone (Shelmaliers); Redmond Barry (St. Anne’s), Philip Wallace (Gusserane), Shane Cullen (Gusserane); P.J. Banville (Horeswood), Tommy Boland (Kilanerin), Matty Forde (Kilanerin). Subs. - Walter Cosgrave (Gusserane), Andreas Doyle (Taghmon-Camross), Ciarán Deely (Horeswood), Adrian Flynn (Gusserane), David Bradley (Adamstown).
CAMOGIE TEAM 2008
Sinéad Jordan (Marshalstown); Claire O’Connor (Rathnure), Catherine O’Loughlin (Monageer-Boolavogue), Deirdre Codd (Duffry Rovers); Noeleen Lambert (St. Martin’s), Mary Leacy (Oulrt-The Ballagh), Aoife O’Connor (Rathnure); Michelle O’Leary (Rathnure), Kate Kelly (St. Ibar’s/Shelmalier); Lenny Holohan (Rathnure), Rose-Marie Breen (Monageer-Boolavogue), Josie Dwyer (Ferns St. Aidan’s); Aoife Barron (Glynn-Barntown), Una Leacy (Oulart-The Ballagh), Diane Ryan (Oulart-The Ballagh). Subs. - Louise O’Leary (Rathnure), Avril Boland (St. Martin’s), Aine Codd (St. Martin’s), Síona Nolan (Monageer-Boolavogue), Grace Hearn (Rathnure).
20/12/08, Wexford Park: Purple and Gold Stars 2-11, Wexford 2-1.
LADIES’ FOOTBALL TEAM 2008
Mary Rose Kelly (St. Fintan’s); Maeve Quill (Shelmalier), Mary Leacy (Clonee), Martina Murray (Clonee); Linda Burke (Clonee), Caroline Murphy (Clonee), Leona Tector (Shelmalier); Ciara Scallan (Clonee), Nikki Scallan (Shelmalier); Natasha Martin (Geraldine O’Hanrahans), Fiona Rochford (St. Anne’s), Georgina Moore (Clonee); Liz Evered (Clonee), Michelle Hearne (Shelmalier), Josie Dwyer (Clonee). Subs. - Mary O’Neill (Clonee), Shelly Doyle (Shelmalier), Linda Casey (Clongeen), Sharon Kehoe (Kilmore), Jo Rossiter (Gusserane).
20/12/08, Wexford Park: Purple and Gold Stars 2-9, Wexford 0-5.