Year of great progress for Gers

The Geraldines reviewed a year of great progress by their senior men and ladies teams only to be pipped at the final hurdle.

The ladies qualified for their first senior championship, while the men reached the senior league final, the first time the club has competed in a senior competition decider in over 30 years.

The year started with a change of chairperson with long servicing Padraig McDonnell stepping down and Stephen Thornton took over the reins.

Gerry Reenan oversaw the ground maintenance, helped by a number of committee members. The two grounds personnel secured from the Tús scheme ensured the grounds looked well all year.

Again the County Board hosted a number of big matches in McGeough Park. All spectators and teams present at these matches were extremely complimentary of the grounds and the clubs hospitality, secretary Paula Hand stated in her comprehensive annual report.

The secretary paid tribute to the spotless manner in which Ger Enright took care of the clubrooms and the meticulous way he kept the team kits, ensuring the jerseys were ready for all teams neatly folded. He left in August and the new caretaker since November is Sean Keenan.

The need for a caretaker is growing as the number of team jerseys keep increasing year on year, the secretary remarked.

The club function rooms had plenty of use. They were used by a variety of community groups for School quizzes to Haggle Rock theatre group. Such was the demand for the club hall and bar a new glass washer was purchased to ensure timely turnover of glasses.

The Committee also made a decision that all team functions and club celebrations would be held in the clubrooms.

Two big club events were the ladies and girls’ presentation night in February and the celebration to honour the 1966 Junior Team, 2015 U16 team and Junior teams of 2014 and 2016. The night was a massive success. She paid a big thank you to Colm Mackin who ensures that the bar is well stocked and manned for all events.