Awards handed out as Grange GAA celebrate successful year

GRANGE GAA Club held their Victory Social at the Firgrove Hotel, Mitchelstown on Saturday night. Amongst the guests were Fr Aquin Casey CC Fermoy, Arthur O’Keeffe, Avondhu Board vice-chairman and Paddy Ryan GAA correspondent.

There was a fine attendance present. John O’Gorman Secretary was MC for the occasion. He welcomed all in attendance and paid tribute to all involved with the football side who won the Divisional Junior B FC title after a lapse of 22 years. Grange attracted players in recent years from Mayo, Limerick, Kerry and Dublin. The last success was the league title in 2011. The player of the year award was presented to Johnny Magnier.

Kieran Kelleher Chairman thanked the club members for their continued dedication year after year. He thanks those who attend the North Cork Board, County Board meetings, look after the pitch and the County Board draw. He also thanked the club sponsors, team selectors and players.

Fr Aquin Casey CC spoke of his association with the Grange end of the Fermoy parish. He has alot of involvement with the school and was delighted that the GAA club are doing so well in promoting the games. It is nice to win titles but taking part in the sport is most important. He paid tribute to the work of the late Bridie Cassidy who was a great Grange lady over many years. He also mentioned John Begley who had been living in Fermoy and who was the manager of the Firgrove Hotel.

Arthur O’Keeffe Board Vice Chairman in his address thanked the club for the invitation. He spoke of the North Cork Junior BFC final where Grange defeated county champions Ballyhooly in Mitchelstown. He had the privilege of presenting the cup to team captain Michael Hennessy. Mr O’Keeffe stated he was a great admirer of Grange GAA over the years.

“I know your numbers are very tight but you are succeeding in keeping going against the odds,” ha said. He referred to the number of young people involved in the Grange club which is very positive for the future. He thanked Dave Roche for his regular contribution to the Divisional Board as the club representative.

Mr O’Keeffe spoke of the great success Grange had going back the years referring to the great late Paul Barry and to the success of the team in winning the County JAFC title in 1979. He referred to Grange’s achievements at Intermediate level and the contribution of club players to Avondhu and Cork teams. In the 60s when Glanworth had a great minor side there were some Grange players that made all the difference. Grange and Glanworth side by side have close connections over the years, Long may it continue he stated.

Paddy Ryan presented two awards to Dave Roche and Liam Flynn for their outstanding service over many years. He complimented them on their dedication and long service over many years when success did not always come their way. He stated that both Dave and Liam were key players on the 1979 Grange team that won the County JAFC title in Buttevant and 38 years later they are still very much to the forefront in promoting the club. He stated that there were rumblings of some players retiring this year. He urged them all to stay on for another year or two as there was none of them to old to compete.

2016 was a marvellous year with the championship success beating county champions Ballyhooly in the final after a lapse of 22 years. There was a presentation made to Michael and Susan Hennessy on the occasion of their marriage during the year.

Grange Ladies Club were also part of the function. Claire Fennell Assistant Secretary spoke the newly formed Grange Ladies football side who have just completed their first year in activity. Margaret Noonan presented four players with awards - Junior Player: Holly Hartnett, The most improved player Marie Kelleher, Club person of the year Sarah Howard, Senior Player Michelle Kelleher as well as Ladies Club President Liam Flynn.

The following players then came forward to receive their championship medals from Arthur O’Keeffe, Board vice-chairman.

Johnny O’Gorman, Noel Cashman, Padraigh Howard, Kevin Murphy, Christopher Roche, Darren Roche, Noel Barry, Michael Hennessy, Andrew Callanan, John Roche, Dave Keating, Niall McCarthy, John Carmody, Brian Cashman, Johnny Magnier, Kieran Kelleher, Colin Scott, Brian Garry, Don Cahill, Peter Stapleton, Shane Leane, Devon Roche, Sean O’Sullivan, Sam Cashman, Robert Richards, Darren Cody Paul Browne, Fergal Roche.

Kieran Hynes (coach) on behalf of the selectors Dave O’Sullivan, James Roche and Liam Flynn spoke of the great effort put in by the players at training. They were confident coming up to the final they would do well. The games in the county championship in recent years helped greatly and he felt that with the right commitment for 2017 that further success could be achieved.