AGM update
Our AGM took place on Friday last through Zoom technology. We had black screens, pictures with sound and without. Our chairman welcomed Kieran Geary to the role of treasurer as he takes over from the late Mairead Sheehan. He stated that in the post lockdown period we hope to have a Mass for all those who died and had a connection to the club. On our financial situation, the lotto and Déise draws have brought security to our club even though the lottery has stopped for nearly three months and put us under pressure. We added the online lottery facility for all those unable to purchase the standard ticket. John O’Sullivan, Martin Sheehan, Tanya Hallahan, Donna Buckley and Terence operated the lottery as a structured and precise enterprise.
The officers of the club are the same as last year, namely Chairman, Terence McSweeney. Treasurer, Kieran Geary. Secretary, Lindsay Murphy. President, Eddie Cunningham. Vice presidents, Johnny Curley, Tom McSweeney, John Lyons, Tom Cunningham, Mikey Prendergast, Canon Seán Cotter, Dinny Cunningham. Lotto, John O’Sullivan. Deise draw, David O’Brien. Registrar: Lindsay Murphy. Membership officer, Billie Jean Sheehan. Irish officer, Liam Mulcahy. PRO, David O’Brien. County board representative, Kate Ryan. Field officer, Dinny Tobin. Chief medical officer, Georgina Cunningham. Child welfare, Kate Ryan. Committee, to be finalised.
Last year was a year that was all about survival both on and off the field and the chairman stated that he was extremely proud of how we came together as a club and not only survived but took a chance to review what we do and how we do it. Our grounds got a bit of facelift during the year with the painting of the railings and the two Toms from Woodview had the lay-out ready every Saturday morning for our smearing, buffing and polishing. We added two solar lights to the car park and would like to thank Eoin Condon at Econ Solar Solutions for his donation.
On the playing front our senior hurling team lost our two games of the championship to Ballygunner and Passage respectively. This year’s senior hurling management consists of Denis Walsh trainer, with James Beecher, Paul Kearney and Seán Gleeson as selectors. Once our seniors exited the championship our junior hurlers proved some great nights in Páirc Eamonn de Paor but for the third year running we ceased participation at the semi-final stage when we lost to Ballyduff in the Ballysaggart venue. The same management team is staying on this year with James Murray as manager aided by his lieutenants
Trevor Sheehan, Seán Slattery and Luke McCarthy. Our junior footballers, after an opening loss awoke and made our way to the Western final, playing some great stuff alone the way. The excitement of the semi-final will live long in the memory along with the performances of Kieran Geary throughout the year as the team’s driving force. The management of the football is not picked as this went to print and I will notify once it is decided.
We gained new sponsors last year in Goalpost Ireland. We would like to thank Seán Tobin and family for their commitment and we hope to work with them in future projects for the club. With Covid we were unable to do a photo to mark the event but it can be done in the future.
A new development of the Covid virus was the allocation of tickets to games. Once again Lindsay rose to the occasion though she wasn’t helped at times with all her hard work seemed to be to no avail as some grounds seemed to be a free for all and non-ticket possessors were allowed access. Our grounds are closed at present and for a period of time during the year and we hope that they will be open in the not too distant future.
What Covid did show is that people’s lives were too busy and that life was going at too fast a pace. If anything our club was a perfect relief to the stress of working from home, home teaching, lockdown etc. Junior games that would normally have small crowds had healthy numbers. We hope to see a gathering again and that people can mingle freely and support our club.
Sponsored by Goalpost Ireland Tallow.