PLAYING ACTIVITY STILL A DISTANCE AWAY
The GAA’s Covid Advisory group met last week to discuss with the governing bodies about the short term prospects of a return to training and playing of our games. The Government representatives clarified that inter-county is not covered under the current level 5 exemptions for elite sports. As such a return to inter-county training or games is not permitted under the current restrictions.
It was also clear that there will not be any change to this position post March 5th when the restrictions currently in place are reviewed. It is looking likely at this time that that no on-field activities ie training or games, will be permitted until Easter at the earliest. It is clear now that the delay incurred here will have major knock-on effects on the inter-county season and the club games programmes originally planned for 2012. As of now no clear decisions have been made on what competitions will take place if and when the GAA season is allowed to resume. The GAA are aware of the great disappointment all those who are anxious to resume activities on and off the field are feeling at this time but there is a significant cause for optimism that there will be a lot better days ahead. It is hoped that we will eventually have a fulfilling season in both club and inter-county level in 2021, similar to last year. Once they get the go-ahead the GAA will prepare a revised master fixture calendar and plan for the remainder of 2021 once a new Government road map for society and sport is made available.
Thanks to everyone for their patience and please stay safe and healthy and we will all meet up again soon.
REBELS’ BOUNTY
Along with the new development the club still needs steady income to run on a day to day basis and this is where funds accruing from the Rebels’ Bounty draw will be hugely beneficial to us. As our weekly lotto is currently suspended due to Covid19 this is a great way for our members and supporters to help out. We are asking all our members for support in this draw as it is a great way to raise much needed funds for our club in this difficult time of Covid19. Maybe some of you are looking for ideas on how to treat your mams on Mother’s Day so how about treating her to a Rebels’
Bounty ticket from members of the family. She will have 12 chances to win some excellent prizes as well, it’s a lovely gift.
The Rebels’ Bounty initiative offers a spectacular total prize fund of €500,000, with one lucky club member set to win €100,000. Rebels’ Bounty is an initiative of Cork GAA to give clubs a significant opportunity to raise funds at a time when traditionally fundraising has been impacted by restrictions imposed to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
Tickets for the draw cost €100 each, and tickets will be sold directly by the club or online at gaacork.ie/rebelsbounty. In every draw, there are 30 cash prizes, ranging from €100 to €20,000. In April and December, the top prize will increase to €25,000. In December, the bumper prize of €100,000 will be given away. There will be three draws on March 25th. Tickets for the first 3 draws must be bought by March 11th as this is the closing date for direct debit registrations. All the funds raised by the Rebels’ Bounty will be directly and indirectly invested in Cork GAA clubs. The draw is designed to ensure that most of the funds are kept locally to help improve facilities and equipment, while the remainder will be used by Cork GAA to invest in programmes such as Rebel Óg and supports for inter-county players.
The maximum number of entries per person is 5, with a maximum of 2 names per ticket. Our members and supporters can obtain their tickets locally by ringing the following sellers in our club: Richard Kelliher (085-1427022), Flan Groarke (086-8318506), Tom O’Brien (086-3773799), Denis O’Brien (086-8230623), Brendan Keane (087-2421266) and Bosco Creed (085800397). Thank you in advance for your support.
FERMOY LADIES FOOTBALL
As you may have seen on television in the past week Lidl are creating an opportunity for all ladies GAA football clubs to raise up to €20,000 for their own clubs. Fermoy ladies football club have accepted this challenge and are asking the Fermoy public for as much support as possible. We would really appreciate it if every household would download the Lidl Plus app and sign up to our club by following the instructions. There are four easy steps to follow:
From Monday, February 15th open the app and follow the prompts. Select our club and continue to next couple of steps. Spend over €30 in store and scan your Lidl plus card to earn a stamp, spend €60 get 2 stamps etc. Collect six stamps and submit your completed card by Sunday, April 11th to earn prizes for the ladies club. You can submit as many completed cards as you like. You can also follow this on the ladies football club social media pages.
There are several prizes on offer for the club, for example 50 completed stamp cards = 1 set of Lidl sponsored team jerseys, 100 completed cards = 2 sets of Lidl sponsored club jerseys. 200 completed stamp cards = €2,000 to the club going up to 500 completed stamp cards = €5,000. This is a great opportunity to help our ladies teams, so please use your Lidl app to support this great investment from Lidl.
PLAYER PROFILES
We continue our past and current player profiles this week with the legend that is Tom O’Brien Snr and two of our current stars, Mark Flynn and Peter Murphy.
PAST PLAYER PROFILE
Name: Tommy O’Brien Snr. Age: Just out of U21!! Occupation: Retired. Position you played: Anywhere there was a vacancy but mostly in defence.
Highlight of your career: There were many of them. When playing, to be part of winning North Cork titles in juvenile hurling and football, minor hurling in 1954 (captain) but especially in being part of the junior hurling team in 1964, beating Ballyhea after a replay. That was terrific.
There were many highlights in the administration side also. For example, the development of Páirc MacGearailt; 2nd pitch, Cavanagh Memorial Stand, Sand pitch, Pitch and Putt course, squash courts. I am now looking forward to our future development programme.
The steady progression of our teams from junior through intermediate, premier intermediate and now playing senior hurling and football is surely momentous. The wining of a number of county titles in all codes to achieve senior status were certainly highlights. The launching of club’s history by Michael Barry in 1995 was real highlight too.
I cannot leave out the redevelopment of our own minor and juvenile club around 1970. Huge strides have been made in this section since with literally hundreds of players having played for our club. Presently ladies football and camogie are flourishing alongside the boys’ games and it is great to see all under the “One Club” banner.
Witnessing Fermoy players wining county senior hurling and football medals with Avondhu was also a highlight for me as well as having been a selector on the last winning Avondhu team in 1996. I also enjoyed three fairly successful years as Cork minor hurling selector in the 1980s.
I have lived through a period when the club produced three County Board chairpersons (Andy Scannell, Derry Gowen and Mick Dolan) and the current County Board treasurer Diarmuid Gowen.
Apologies for being so long winded but in reality anytime a Fermoy team takes the field to play any game is indeed a highlight for me and I am sure for everyone associated with the club.
Favourite venue: Fermoy, Kilworth and Castletownroche. Biggest influence growing up: My father, older brother Jackie, Derry Gowen and John Fenton. Favourite food: Everything! Favourite film: Chitty, Chitty Bang Bang.
Toughest opponent you played against: Most will hardly remember them but I always enjoy memories of the old days when Jimmy (Myles) O’Donovan of Araglin and Pádraig (Sturdy) Farren of Kilworth were opponents. Best GAA player you played with: Raymond Ennis.
Would you change anything about
either game? Yes, the hand pass is 50% of the time a throw in both codes. Favourite GAA player: Christy Ring. Most important skill in hurling and football: First touch. Advice for young players starting off: Practise, practice and use the hurling alley.
Lastly pick your own 6 aside inter county team: Hurling/Football.
Goalkeeper: Ned Power, Dave Roche (Rookie), Fullback: Denis Murphy, Dave Magnier, halfback: Denis Coughlan, Paddy Cronin, midfielder: Jack Lynch, Eamonn Young, half forward: Christy Ring, Eamonn Ryan, full forward: Paddy Barry, Paddy O’Grady.
CURRENT PLAYER PROFILE
Name: Mark Flynn. Age: 29. Occupation: Controls and Reporting Analyst. Position: Forward. Career Highlight: 2009 Hurling Junior A County, 2014 Hurling Intermediate County.
Favourite film: Coach Carter. Favourite food: Turkey and Ham. When and where did you first start playing? Fermoy U8 Street Leagues in St Colman’s Pitch. Favourite Venue: Páirc Uí Rinn. Favourite GAA player: Henry Shefflin. Sportsperson you would most like to meet? Richard Dunwoody. What is the hardest part of your sporting life? Getting fit (Still trying).
Toughest player to mark in training: Brian O’Sullivan. Laziest player you’ve played with: Ronan O’Callaghan. Joker on the panel: Seanie Shanahan (tries anyway).
Greatest influence growing up: Parents.
Would you change anything about either game? Get rid of the mark in football. Most important skill in hurling and football: striking and kicking off both sides. One thing you may not know about me: Can play the violin. Advice for young players starting off: Practice and have fun.
Lastly pick your own 6 aside inter county team (hurling): Goalkeeper: Damien Fitzhenry, fullback: JJ Delaney, halfback: Tony Browne, midfielder: Tony Kelly, half forward: Henry Shefflin, full forward: Patrick Horgan.
CURRENT PLAYER PROFILE
Name: Peter Murphy. Age: 26. Occupation: Teacher. Position: Defender. Career Highlight: Any county winning medal is a good one, but getting to senior was probably my favourite.
Favourite film: Gladiator. Favourite food: love a good pasta linguini. When and where did you first start playing? Pucking the ball on the top of the Boreen with the famous Marty Brennan. Favourite venue: Páirc Uí Rinn. Favourite GAA player? Patrick Horgan. Sportsperson you would most like to meet: Dan Carter.
What is the hardest part of your sporting life? Losing the two finals in 2016. Toughest player to mark in training: Paidi de Róiste. Laziest player you’ve played with: David Forde, he was never a fan of truck and trailer. Joker on the panel: Seanie Shanahan, stats man David Buckley is quick with a one liner too. Greatest influence growing up: My parents.
Would you change anything about either game? Wouldn’t change anything. Most important skill in hurling and football: Touch and kick passing… I’m brilliant at both. Advice for young players starting off: always have a hurley in your hand.
Lastly pick your own 6 aside inter county team (hurling/football). Goalkeeper: Craigy Murphy, Shaun Patton, fullback: Daithí Burke, Ronan McNamee, halfback: Tadhg de Burca Paddy Durcan, midfielder: Cian Lynch, Brian Fenton, half forward: Tony Kelly, Michael Murphy, full forward: Patrick Horgan, David Clifford.
SHOP LOCAL
Fermoy GAA Club is asking everyone to support the businesses in town and please shop locally. Stay safe! Stay healthy!
CLUB MAIN SPONSOR Laya Healthcare.