OULART & THE BALLAGH

RECENT BIRTH

Congratulations and best wishes to Denise Davitt and Des Mythen on the recent birth of their beautiful baby girl, Caoimhe, in Wexford General Hospital. Another wonderful niece, cousin and grandchild for the Mythen and Davitt families.

KEEP OULART TIDY

Concern has again been expressed about the untidy state of the area where the Recycling Bins are situated in Oulart Village, adjacent to the cemetery and opposite Scoil Mochua. If you find that the bins are full when you arrive please bring your stuff home with you and return when they have been emptied.

Under no circumstances should you leave items on the ground beside the bins. To do so would be a littering offence. The situation is being monitored and the authorities have been notified. Please play your part and take pride in keeping Oulart litter-free.

DOWN MEMORY LANE

This week we will look back at Oulart-The Ballagh GAA and camogie in 2004, sixteen years ago.

Pride of place must go to the senior hurlers who, after an absence of seven years, returned to the winners’ enclosure, on October 17-ten years and one day after their first senior championship win- and accepted the Bob Bowe Cup for the fourth time.

Meeting Rathnure in a senior final for the first time since 1974 and having overcome Faythe Harriers, Rapparees and Cloughbawn in earlier rounds, and Buffers Alley in the semi-final, the men-in-red and black won on a score-line of 1-17 to 1-10.

The team was: Paul Dempsey, John Roche, Keith Rossiter, Paul Roche, Andrew Kavanagh, Liam Dunne (capt), Pierce Redmond, Anthony O’Leary, Darren Stamp, Stephen Doyle (0-1), Martin Storey (0-2), Des Mythen (0-3), Rory Jacob (0-2), Paul Finn (1-3), Michael Jacob (0-6 frees). Subs-Willie Whelan, Darren Nolan, Declan Stamp, Lar Prendergast, David Roche, Brian Martin, Emmet Rice, Bob Jacob, Nicky Kirwan, Frank Cullen, Dennis Morton, Barry Kehoe, Ben O’Connor, Brendan Cullen. The ‘man-of-the-match’ award was won by Paul Roche. On November 28, the team went on to win the Premier ‘A’ League to complete a fine double against the same opposition (3-16 to 1-10).

The late Willie Sunderland was team manager and his co-selectors were Pat Dempsey and former Dublin all-Ireland winning footballer, Dave Synnott.

JUNIOR HURLING IN 2004 – Catherine Dunne-Hendley managed the junior squads in 2004 with remarkable success. The Junior ‘B’ team, captained by Ken O’Connor, had a very impressive unbeaten league campaign, beating Ballyfad in the final. The junior team won the John Jude Cup for the first time, defeating Davidstown-Courtnacuddy in a replay. Robert Dunne was captain and Garrett Sinnott got ‘man-of-the-match’. The Junior ‘A’ team, with Henry Quigley as captain, won league and championship and once again Garrett Sinnott got ‘man-of-the-match’ in the championship final.

INTER-COUNTY – 2004 will long be remembered for the dramatic last – minute goal scored by Michael Jacob in the defeat of Leinster champions Kilkenny and the subsequent win over Offaly in the Leinster Final, with brother Rory and Keith Rossiter also contributing to victory. Keith, Rory, Des Mythen, Stephen Doyle and Andrew Kavanagh lined out with Wexford under-21 hurlers while Emmet Rice was on the under-21 football panel.

The Wexford Minor hurling panel had input from Frank Cullen, Barry Kehoe, Garrett Sinnott, Ben O’Connor, and Nicky Kirwan while Gary Murphy played with the Wexford Minor footballers. Mick Jacob was a selector with the Wexford under-21 hurlers as well as with the Leinster hurling team.

OTHER NOTABLE SUCCESSES – Keith Rossiter and Rory Jacob won Fitzgibbon Cup hurling with WIT and both were selected on the inaugural Datapac Fitzgibbon Cup ‘Hotshots’ team at corner back and corner forward respectively. Keith Rossiter, Liam Dunne, Darren Stamp, Des Mythen, Michael Jacob and Rory Jacob were selected on the ‘Purple and Gold’ Hurling Stars team of 2004.

COISTE NA NÓG – Our Minor footballers won the Division 2 county final, in Kilmore on November 27, against St Martin’s (3-6 to 0-8). Barry Kehoe was team captain and Gary Murphy got ‘man-of-the-match’. The team was Adam Nolan, Anthony Storey, Ben O’Connor, David Redmond, Mark Britton, Barry Kehoe, Keith Kavanagh, Gary Murphy, Garrett Sinnott, Nicky Kirwan, Frank Cullen, Alan Goff, Seán Keane, Peter Murphy, Peadar Mythen. Subs were Ryan Doran, Gary O’Leary, David Morton, Ian Storey, John Murphy. Peter Murphy (captain) and Darren Redmond were on the Wexford Juvenile hurling team while Jamie Leacy, Eoin Moore and Eoin O’Connor were on the Co. Under-14 hurling squad.

CAMOGIE – Oulart-The Ballagh defeated St Ibar’s (3-9 to 3-7) to win their second senior county championship. The team was Ciara Storey, Helena Jacob, Colleen Atkinson, Karen Atkinson, Aishling Moran, Mary Leacy (capt), Siobhán Cullen, Ciara Scallan (0-1), Stacey Redmond, Úna Leacy (1-2), Diane Ryan (0-1),Tanya Stamp, Emma Moran, Fiona Dunne, Ursula Jacob (2-5). Subs: Sharon Kehoe, Caitríona Murray, Sarah-Jo Sinnott, Elaine Dempsey, Tracey McCormack, Áine Devereux, Caroline Murphy, Liz Murphy, Claire Sinnott, Caroline Fortune, Kerrie Dunne, Ciara O’Connor, Hannah Doran. The club also won under-18 premier championship, under-16 league and under-14 premier league and championship.

OTHER CAMOGIE ACHIEVEMENTS – The camogie association celebrated its centenary in 2004 and many Oulart-The Ballagh members won awards. Mary Leacy won a camogie All-Star, Ursula Jacob and Una Leacy captained Coláiste Bride in all-Ireland Senior and Junior Colleges camogie respectively, Mary Leacy and Ursula Jacob got Colleges All-Star awards and played for Ireland in camogie/ Shinty against Scotland, where Ursula was awarded ‘player of the tournament’. Margaret Leacy was selected on the Leinster and all-Ireland ‘Team of the Century’.

LOCAL NOTES

If you, your club or organisation would like coverage of your activities in these Local Notes please contact local correspondent Breda Jacob by phone (086 1686978) text or email (mickjacobjr@yahoo.co.uk) no later than Thursday at 8 p.m.