Kilshannig flash the silverware at glitzy awards night
OVER 200 people attended at the Silversprings Hotel Cork last Saturday night for the Kilshannig GAA Victory Social to celebrate what was a massive year for the club, culminating in winning the County JAFC title.
Club chairman John Geaney welcomed the large attendance and welcomed Ronan Dwane, County Board Coaching Officer, and Fr Gerard Coleman P.P., Glantane and Barry Aherne, Avondhu Board chairman.
The Chairman outlined how, during 2019, the club won six titles and then finished off a great season by winning the County JAFC title. This is the third for the club as they were previously County JAFC kingpins in 1985 and 1996. Mr Geaney outlined the JAFC games.
In Avondhu they had wins over Ballyclough, Killavullen and Kilworth in the final. In the County JAFC Kilshannig had good wins over Passage and Ballinhassig before coming up against a tough county semi-final where they had two points to spare over Iveleary.
In the County final Kilshannig overcame St. James (Ardfield) by 0-22 to 0-11. They faced Kerry champions Na
Gaeil the following week in the Munster championship. Na Gaeil were winners and were crowned All Ireland kingpins earlier today. He thanked the coaches, physios, mentors, players and all who helped in any way. It brought great enjoyment to the parish and beyond. He also acknowledged the big number of Kilshannig players who featured on Co teams at all levels. 2019 was also a big year for Scor in the parish.
The Scor Sinsear team won Cork County, Munster and All-Ireland titles in Music. This was a first ever for the club. He paid tribute to Miceal O’Sullivan and the O’Sullivan family for their great work in promoting Scor year after year. Mr. Geaney stated that more volunteers are needed in the club and said the club has a big fund raising venture Strictly Kilshannig coming up on April 25 in the Charleville Park Hotel. He thanked the Junior A football selectors Michael Guerin, Richie Ryan and Mark Sheehan for their great work during the year.
The Junior A hurlers won the Division 1 HL for the first time. Mr Geaney also paid tribute to the work of their mentors Alan Cronin, Roy Cronin, Ger O’Donovan, Michael Guerin and Mark Sheehan.
Jack Twomey one of the key players in ther JAFC success in his address thanked the Clayton Silversprings Hotel. He thanked the Avondhu Board and County Board for looking after the fixtures and also Kilshannig Club Chairman John Geaney and Secretary Ger O’Donovan. He paid tribute to the work of physio Caroline Coughlan who was with the various teams all year. He paid tribute to the ladies committee who provided tea and refreshments on many occasions.
“We took a look at the success of Dromtarriffe the previous year and we felt that we had the players to win the County title in 2019. It was great to win the Division 1 FL and we also collected the Division 2 FL title,” Mr Geaney said, while paying tribute to the selectors John O’Riordan, Colm O’Dea, Ger O’Connell and Michael O’Connell.
In 2019 the U-21 A footballers retained the Divisional title and reached the County semi-final where they lost out narrowly to ouright winners St. Michael’s. He paid tribute to the selectors Richie Ryan, Mark Sheehan and Michaedl Guerin.
Barry Aherne, Board Chairman, spoke of the huge success both on and off the field last year. The winning of the Scor Sinsear All-Ireland title
was tremendous. He thanked Miceal O’Sullivan for his promotion of the native language and culture. Kilshannig collected six titles at Avondhu level.
Last year when Cork won the All-Ireland Under-20 football title, Kilshannig had four players involved. Cork minors who won the All-Ireland last year were also represented. Killian O’Hanlon has been a regular on the Cork Senior football team.
The Chairman paid tribute to the work of club delegate Noel Sheehan and also Noel O’Regan Oifigeach Oiulana who has done great work over the years.
Ronan Dwane, County Board Coaching Officer, thanked the club for the kind invitation. He spoke of his first contact with Kilshannig club in 1983 when Kilshannig and Aghada met in a County Under-14 FC final where Aghada had a close in. He spoke of John Geaney being an outstanding referee over many years and his team of officials were always present which is so important. He congratulated all the players
within the Kilshannig club. He thanked their selectors and mentors. Kilshannig he stated is a real GAA club. He spoke of the great work done by Kevin O’Callaghan at County Board level. He felt that with the talent available Kilshannig had a right chance of winning the County IFC title.
Barry Aherne presented trophies to the Scor team of Darragh O’Shea, Sheila O’Callaghan, Veronica O’Mahony, David Callaghan and Fergus McGrath.
Ronan Dwane presented the players with their medals. Some received seven medals, others six and five, with a few receiveing a smaller number.
The Kilshannig players who received their awards were Killian O’Hanlon, Colm O’Dea, Conor Murphy, Eoghan Burke, Colm O’Shea, Brian Guerin, Roddy O’Mahony, Bill Curtin, Jack Twomey, Eanna O’Hanlon, Eoin O’Sullivan Jack Kearney, Conor McMahon, Dermot Twomey, Kieran Twomey, Gavin Creedon, Conor Casey, Frank McCarthy, Barry O’Shea, James O’Hanlon, Pa Egan, Darragh O’Sullivan, Denis Cloghan, Billy Walsh, Gerard Murphy, Tony Brennan, Killian Barrow, Shane Murphy, David Cronin, Danny McAuliffe, Barry O’Hanlon, Eoin Healy, Kevin McMahon, Denis McCarthy, David O’Riordan, Phelim O’Connell, Tadhg O’Sullivan, David Kearney, Michael Twomey, John P McAuliffe, Patsy O’Connell, John Quinn, Darren O’Riordan, Tony Kelly, Diarmuid O’Sullivan, Trevor O’Regan, Graham
Timoney, Kieran O’Donovan, Vincent Kiely, Denis Taylor, Ciaran O’Sullivan, Michael Cogan, David Cogan, Shane Lyons, Jack Lyons, Ian O’Donoghue, Rory McSherry, Brian Sheehan, Neil Shannon, Liam Casey, Chris Taylor, Pa Cronin, Michael O’Regan.
Killian O’Hanlon on behalf of the players made a presentation to the selectors Michael Guerin, Mark Sheehan and Richie Ryan.
Barry O’Hanlon, captain of the Junior A hurlers, made a presentation to their manager Alan Cronin. Kevin O’Flynn Captain of the Junior B team made a presentation to their manager Colm O’Dea.
Presentations were also made to Kieran and his wife Erin O’Donovan and John P McAuliffe and his wife Karen on the occasion of their weddings.
Proceedings concluded with two annual presentations. Noreen Kingston presented the ‘Billy Kingston Memirial Trophy’ to Player of the Year ‘Killian O’Hanlon’
The final presentation was by Phyllis Cotter who presented the ‘Jack Cotter Memorial Award’ to the Clubman of the Year. Richie Ryan Manager of the Junior A football side that won the County JAFC title was a very popular award winner.