Shanballymore GAA hold AGM

Our AGM was held recently and in these unusual times we had to resort to a virtual meeting, which was well attended. Our chairman Eddie Fitzgerald and secretary Brian O’Regan, gave us a very detailed account.

TREASURER’S REPORT

Our treasurer Mary O’Regan gave us very heartening details our of financial progress. It showed we are in a sound position and we would like to thank her on a job well done.

OFFICERS FOR 2021

President Ted Fouhy; vice do Mikey Burke, Jenny Sheedy, Tom Palmer, Dan Roche, Pat Curtin, Pat Walsh, Dave Sheedy, Bro John Burke, Fr Pat Ryall, Bob Sheedy; Chairman, Eddie Fitzgerald; Vice John Murphy; Secretary Brian O’Regan; Asst. Noreen Burke; Treasurer Mary O’Regan; Asst. Maurice Hayes; Social media officer Shane Cronin; Cultural officer Padraig Fitzgerald; PRO Bob Sheedy; Asst. PRO Jimmy Burke; Fixtures sec. Eoin McHugh. Football club - Chairman John Buckley; secretary Davy Sheedy.

GAMES AND PLAYING ACTIVITIES

2020 began as any other year with our playing members beginning an indoor training plan under Eamonn Fitzgerald in early January. By the end of January, Ray Murphy and Michael Dunne had come on board as the main coaches for the playing squad. Some rough weather in the spring saw a number of early league games postponed before we got our season off to a start in a county league fixture in Whitechurch on March. Unfortunately we lost out on the occasion 1-11 to 11 points. We next saw action on 5th March vs Kilshannig in the North Cork div 1 hurling league, winning on a scoreline of 1-11 to 11 points.

This proved to be our last game for quite some time as the full effects of the Covid-19 pandemic put paid to the majority of the playing season.

Activities were limited over the following months with the group keeping in contact via WhatsApp and Zoom training sessions. Group non-contact training resumed on 25th June with all necessary precautions being taken. A number of challenge games were organised in early July as we kickstarted preparations for the re-drawn junior A hurling championship. In this, we were redrawn to group 4 along with Ballyhooly and Castletownroche, with the top 2 teams advancing this was a fantastic opportunity for the club. The Avondhu board made the decision to abandon league fixtures for the season. One of these challenge games was our own Stevie Burke Memorial Cup game which we played against old friends Kileedy from Limerick. A tough game with some high scoring periods for both teams, the game ended in a draw at 3-17 a piece.

Championship hurling began with a game against old rivals Ballyhooly on 2nd August. A tough game from the get go, we unfortunately lost out on this occasion 1-22 to 1-8. Missed chances were unfortunately an issue for us on the day. The 2nd game of group 4 saw us play neighbours Castletownroche on 9th August in Kildorrery. This game was a close and tight affair however Shanballymore were generally on top. A sending off for Shanballymore made the game a bit more nervy in the closing stages but in the end, we won out on a score of 2-14 to 0-19. This win was enough to see us qualify for the knockout stages of the championship. On 29th August we faced Ballygiblin in a replay of the 2018 final. Fantastic conditions in Castletownroche led to an open and fast game of hurling. Despite some spirited periods of play particularly in 2nd half, the old saying “goals win games” rang true for Ballygiblin as they beat us 2-14 to 0-13.

The development committee, which has great plans for 2021, has done a lot of work behind the scenes in a difficult year. Players and team management group, a thankless task at times and made very difficult by the year we’ve just had. In fairness when it mattered most they dug deep and left the club able to lift silverware again in a very strange season.

To those who’ve helped out in pitch and dressingroom maintenance, being able to steward at games in the pitch or to assist the club referee this year, thank you all too. Thanks also to Brian Murphy for acting as club referee for the year.

OBITUARIES

Dave Curry died recently. A native of Shanballymore he was a long-time member of our club and represented us at the North Cork Board and was in the Scór committee as well. We offer our sympathy to his family and his brother Michael.

To the Palmer family on the death of Nelly Daly, who died in England and also to the O’Regan family, Castletownroche.

To Mona and the Mellerick family, on the death of Michael Magner in the USA. Better known as ‘Stocky’, he played with our club before his emigration to the USA in the early sixties.

Nancy O’Connor, Ballysheehan, Mallow. Her brother Beau won a county with us in 1951 and her husband Johnny was a former Waterford hurler and played in our carnival tournaments with Castletownroche.

Phil O’Connor, Doonawanly. Her grandson played with Mill Rovers and her brothers-in-law Danny and Fr Denis played for Shanballymore.

Denis Roche, Doneraile. He was a well-known plumber in the area and was a native of Griague.

Kathleen Wedel, Mallow. To the Wedel and the Burke families on the death of Kathleen in Mallow. To the O’Donovan family, Knocknagapall on the death of Dinah O’Donovan.