Great night at Ballygiblin GAA Victory Social
Ballygiblin GAA Club held their Victory Social in The Firgrove Hotel on Friday night. There was a capacity attendance present and special guests included Sean Kelly MEP; Kieran Leddy, Secretary Munster GAA Council; Noel O’Callaghan, Co Board Development Officer and his wife Ann; Arthur O’Keeffe, chairman Avondhu GAA Board and his wife Lana, along with Fr Pat O’Donoghue, CC Mitchelstown.
Club chairman Liam O’Doherty was MC for the event. He welcomed the large gathering and paid tribute to the many sponsors and supporters who helped the club in the past year.
Fr Pat O’Donoghue congratulated all involved with Ballygiblin during a wonderful season. He said despite Covid, there was a great buzz in the parish and in the schools in the lead up to the county, Munster and All-Ireland finals.
The first presentation was made to Dave and Melissa Moher by Liam O’Doherty and Fionn Herlihy. Dave, a former player, was manager of the Ballygiblin side in 2021. A similar presentation was made to team coach Ronan Dwane (Aghada) and his wife Rachel in recognition of what was a marvellous year.
‘LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD’ FOR JJ
Des McCarthy, chairman of Mitchelstown/Ballygiblin Juvenile GAA Club, presented a ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ to JJ Lynch for his dedication to the club as a player, selector, coach and administrator over the past 60 years or more. In making the presentation, Des outlined that JJ Lynch hurled for Ballygiblin/Mitchelstown, Kildorrery and Galtee Foods. He played football for Mitchelstown and Galtee Foods.
JJ won North Cork titles in both codes. He won Munster titles in hurling and football with Galtee Foods and was also on Galtee teams in both codes that reached Inter Firm All-Ireland finals in 1974 and 1975. He played for Avondhu senior footballers. He was a past chairman, vice chairman and treasurer of Ballygiblin GAA. He was a medical officer with the Juvenile club and started coaching hurling and football in 1984, concentrating on hurling from 1995. He coached teams that won North Cork titles from U12 to U14, U16, U18 and U21 levels.
He was the first coach to start at Under 6 level in 2013. Currently in his mid 70s, he is involved in coaching his grandson, Fionn and the Under 10s. He was a selector or coach of 9 of the Junior hurling side that started in the All-Ireland JHC final v Mooncoin and 7 of the substitutes, including the most experienced of the panel, his son Diarmuid. JJ very much young at heart, fun and patient, the younger players have great respect for him and he was a worthy winner of the award.
PRESENTATIONS
Fionn Herlihy and Brian O’Gorman, the main organisers of the social, organised a presentation to Grainne Lynch and Nicola Warren in recognition of their work in promoting the club in their weekly club notes. These presentations were made by Mark Keane and Sean O’Sullivan.
The club made a presentation to Marie O’Doherty, Eibhlin O’Brien and Maura O’Doherty in recognition of their work with the sale of tickets during the year and Eibhlin O’Brien’s great contribution with the Rebel Bounty draw.
Fionn Herlihy, team captain, made a presentation to Liam O’Doherty, Brian Molan, Brian Coughlan, Sean Hennessy, TJ Rea and Eddie Barry in recognition of their massive work in helping the club from their North Cork success, to their All-Ireland final in Croke Park on February 5. Brian O’Gorman made a presentation to Michael Walsh and Aidan Donegan, both of whom are leaving for Australia shortly.
There were a number of other presentations on the night. There were joint winners of the ‘Hurler of the Year’ between Joseph O’Sullivan and Sean O’Sullivan. The Young ‘Hurler of the Year’ award went to Ryan Donegan, while the Supporters’ Hurler of the Year’ award went to Christopher Noonan.
Liam O’Doherty, chairman made a presentation to Mark Keane and Darragh Flynn in recognition of their contribution to Cork teams.
A very successful raffle took place with Board chairman, Arthur O’Keeffe winning the signed Cork T-shirt.
SEAN KELLY MEP MAIN SPEAKER
On the return from Croke Park on All-Ireland final night, the club ran a very successful auction and head shave by coach Ronan Dwane and David Norris at The Tavern. There were many donations and contributions from club members and supporters. In all, €8,000 was gathered with €4,000 for ACT (Aid Cancer Treatment) and the €4,000 to the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association.
Sean Kelly, former GAA president and current MEP, was the main speaker. Mr. Kelly in his address thanked the Ballygiblin club for the invitation. He was delighted to be present on such an occasion. He flew in from Brussels during day after his flight was delayed and just made it to The
Firgrove on time. He spoke of the importance of small clubs playing finals in Croke Park. Croke Park at the start needed 32,000 to open the stadium. He himself won a Junior football final with Kilcummin and they were not even let play in Killarney.
He paid tribute to the Ballygiblin club, a small rural area who had a most successful year. He congratulated Mark Keane and Darragh Flynn who represented Cork and commented on Mark’s late winning goal against Kerry in 2020.
As regards the fundraising for ACT and the Motor Neurone Association, Mr Kelly said ‘that’s what the GAA is all about’. It is very hard to keep a club going for two years but to collect €8,000 for two very worthy causes is above and beyond the call of duty.
He then made a presentation of medals - North Cork, County and Munster - to the following players: Christopher Noonan, Brian O’Gorman, Fionn Herlihy (capt), James Mullins, Barry Coffey, Mark Keane, Michael Lewis, Ryan Donegan, Darragh Flynn, Joseph O’Sullivan, Colin English, Michael Walsh, Kieran Duggan, Sean O’Sullivan, Dean Barry, Jody Finn, Cian O’Brien, Cathal O’Sullivan, Jack Lewis, Aidan Donegan, Dillon Sheehan, John O’Donoghue, Shane Doyle, Kevin Bowler, Seamus Barrett, Diarmuid Lynch, James Crotty, Kieran O’Doherty, Sean O’Doherty, Noel Fitzgerald, Owen Burke, Brian Coughlan, Sean Lane, Diarmuid Noonan, Shane O’Brien, Mark Walsh, Jack Hennessy, David Norris, Killian Finn.
The All-Ireland runners-up medals were not available for the social and will be presented at a later date.
A great night was enjoyed by everyone in attendance – roll on 2022!