1974

Officers for 1974

President- Bro. Donard

Chairperson- Mr. Denis Wall

Vice Chairperson- Mr. John Cuddy

Secretary- Mr. Christy Phelan

Treasurer- Mr. Oliver Dunne

Committee - Mr. Joe Dunne, Mr. Donie Dunphy, Mr. James Bergin, Mr. Jim Hooban, Mr. Denis Walsh, Mr. Tom Finlay and Mr. Joe Wall

Secretary's Report 1974

Mr. Chairman,

It is my pleasure to present to you the first Annual Report of your hurling club. Our ambition at our meeting of December 23rd 1973 was to win the County Junior Hurling title and the Fr. Phelan Cup. After a lapse of 33 years that ambition has been achieved, an achievement which all associated with the club can feel proud-players, committee and especially our Chairman, Denis Wall who's foresight we must admit was responsible for the re-organisation of the club.

To revive your memories I will take a brief look back at our games which led to that historic victory.

On May 5th we defeated Clonaslee on the score 5-5 to 2-6 and but for the fitness of all our players in the game our championship would have ended. Next on to June 30th where we put paid to Kilcotton's championship hopes on the scoreline 4-8 to 3-6. In the County Semi Final on July 14th in Rathdowney we ended the hopes of a young Portlaoise team on the scoreline 3-5 to 0-5 and thus qualified for the County Final.

On Sunday August 18th when the boys in blue and white from "The Village" in a brilliant Junior A Final held on to beat Cannonswood on a score of 5-5 to 4-6.

Once again congratulations to the players and the selection committee who made a good job of the task conferred on them.

Our Minor Hurling team after beating Rathdowney in Rathdowney on April 14th on the scoreline 6-6 to 4-5 failed badly in the semi final against Abbeyleix (eventual County Champions). Our U21 team failed in the 1st Round against Ballacolla at Borris in Ossory on May 18th. A lack of interest by players towards and a lack of training was some of the cause of the heavy defeats suffered by those two teams.

Our congratulations to Con Wall and Fint Palmer on their selection on the County Minor Hurling team.

In Juvenile Competition while no big honours came this way Bro. Donard and his committee had teams competing in all competitions confined to that grade and perhaps 1975 will see a breakthrough as the younger players will be getting more matured. 

We competed in two hurling tournaments during the past year. At Kilcotton we lost a game to Clonakenny that could have been won in the Kelly Cup. In the Mountrath tournament we are in the final of the Walsh Cup against the hosts. 

We also played a number of challenge games against Abbeyleix, Ballinakill, Ratheniska and Rathdowney- all part of training for the championship. 

Your working committee met nine times during the year. I regret one job on which we did not make much progress-that is the building of dressing rooms in the local playing pitch- a facility that is very urgently needed. I ask you here tonight to tell the incoming committee what in your opinion is required? A big modern structure which will put a heavy strain on our finances for a number of years ahead or a simple structure that will serve the local needs. 

Our outgoing Treasurer Olly Dunne as you will note from this year's balance sheet despite heavy expenses shows our finances in a healthy position. Our thanks to the De la Salle Brothers for the free use of their hall for meetings. Thanks to Bro. Cornelius for coaching and training teams when available and a personal thanks to Bro. Donard for helping me with registration and other secretarial work and to others who kept our playing pitch in order we say thank you. 

To our players and supporters that suffered bereavements during the past year we tender our sympathy. 

In conclusion I wish once again to congratulate our Junior team on their great achievement and I appeal to the older players to come and train again and by doing so be old soldiers- you will never grow old. To the younger members forget about (?) etc and let every spare moment be up in the playing pitch and if that spirit can be got going there is no reason we cannot be celebrating the winning of the Intermediate title at our next AGM. 

I thank my fellow officers and committee and players for your co-operation and can assure you my successor will get my full support and help. 

I will conclude by wishing you all a happy and successful 1975 on the playing pitch, in your homes and at your work. 

Again thanking you, 

    Christy Phelan

    Secretary

Other Events during 1974

The Secretary wrote to Mr. Joe Dowling, a trustee of the local Sportsfield, seeking permission to use the field as a training ground. The three trustees, Mr. Joe Dowling, Mr. Fint Cooke and Mr. John Costigan later attended a meeting and agreed to the request.

A number of players sought transfers to Castletown-

From Slieve Bloom- Cha Palmer, Tom Palmer, Fint Palmer, Con Wall, Paddy Cuddy, Jimmy Cuddy, PJ Dunne, Mick Bergin, Seamus Bergin.

From Trumera- Mick Peters

From Mountrath- Seán Brophy

From Ballacolla- Thomas Ferns

The following players were to be asked to sign transfer forms also- Mick Boyhan, Mick Dollard, Pat Phelan, Stephen Fahy and Joe Delaney (Aghaboe). 

Social Night held on Sunday 6th January in ICA Hall-raised £6 profit. 

A Junior Hurling Selection Committee was put in place- Joe Wall, Johnny Cuddy, Jim Hooban, Jas Bergin, Patrick Killeen plus Chairman and Captain.

A 200 Club Draw was held in the ICA Hall on Sunday September 22nd. The following were the list of winners-

 £100- Mrs E Maher, Portlaoise

 £50- Joe Dowling, Kilbricken. 

 £15- Thomas Phelan, Cuddagh

 £8- James Costello, Rosenallis

 £8- James Moore, Ballycleary

 £8- Rice Family, Forest

 £3- Fintan Lalor, Gash

Bro. Donard resigned as President at a committee meeting on October 9th over a failure to observe the rules of competition during an U14 Hurling Competition. He was thanked for all his work. 

Castletown GAA Club made the following nominations to the convention of Laois Hurling Board- Denis Phelan outgoing (Slieve Bloom) for the position of Chairperson, Michael Delaney outgoing (Ballacolla) for the position of Secretary and Denis Wall (Castletown) for the position of County Board Delegate. 

The club also submitted a motion that the U21 Hurling Championship be played under the Parish Rule. 

For Match Reports from 1974 please click here                                                                                                                     

1964 1975

INDEX