1981

Officers for 1981

President- Fr. Richard Phelan C.C.

Vice Presidents- Bro. Bernadine Cunniffe, Dinny Phelan

Chairperson- Denis Wall

Vice Chairperson- John Costigan

Secretary- Seán Mullaney

Treasurer- Christy Phelan

Secretary's Report 1981

It gives me great pleasure to present this, my third report as Secretary, at Castletown GAA Club's 8th Annual General Meeting and to welcome you all here tonight. 

Though I have not the privilege of congratulating any of our teams on a victory during the year in any championship or tournament it was nevertheless a relatively good year fir sine reasons at least. It was good in that we made an impressive return to the Senior Hurling Championship and were it not for objections against us we would have fulfilled our aim for the year- namely to qualify for the quarter finals of the Championship. It was also good in that we succeeded in obtaining the services of a great trainer and motivator in the person of Michael Cleere. In some aspects however it was disappointing in that we lost the services of the three Dollard Brothers as the Laois County Board saw it fit to deprive them of playing with their own Parish Team. It was also disappointing in that for the first time we failed to field a minor hurling team and made little progress in the Under 21 Championship. 

In all the Club played 16 competitive games participating in the Senior and Under 21 Hurling Championships, the Junior Hurling League and Championship in addition to the Junior and Minor Football Championship plus Senior Hurling Tournament. Of these 16 games we won 8, drew one and lost 7. A number of challenge games were also played. 

Senior Hurling: Our Senior Hurling team was probably our most successful team, winning four and drawing one, out of  a total of seven Senior Hurling Championship games played. It entered only one tournament-reaching the semi final, but unfortunately this tournament was not concluded. 

Having won the Intermediate Championship in 1980, Castletown received a great boost to morale when after a long wait the Laois Hurling Board granted the request of Paul, Michael and Oliver Dollard to transfer from Borris in Ossory to Castletown- and we were looking forward to a good season back in the Senior Hurling Championship. 

According to "The Nationalist" we would be "quite happy to survive in the grade" and they reckoned we "should collect the four points necessary for this". Our ambitions however extended further, with qualification for the closing stages of the competition the least of these. 

We began our preparations with a number of challenge games- our first resulted in a victory over St. Brigids in Kildare. On St. Patrick's Day we made the trip to Killimor in Galway to play the local side and while the game itself was useful, the trip proved to be a financial disaster with only 22 making the trip by bus resulting in a loss of £50, and making the future of such trips very doubtful. In many ways our challenge games were disappointing in that the oppositions were often too weak to motivate us or else we couldn't muster a strong enough squad to give a good game and in one instance couldn't get a sufficient number to fulfill a challenge with Drumcullen. 

Towards the end of March we had the good fortune to obtain the services of Michael Cleere, thanks mainly to the efforts of Seán Brophy and Johnny Cuddy and he outlined his plans for training for the year. We had to wait until May, however, before playing our first competitive games due to postponements but beforehand we were dropped a bombshell when we heard that the Borris in Ossory appeal against the Hurling Board's decision to transfer the Dollards was upheld. This was a severe blow to Castletown who thought that the sanctioning of the transfers was a mere formality but not receiving any official notification the Dollards were included in our lineout in out first game against Ballyfin. In atrocious conditions on Wednesday May 6th we were happy enough with a share of the points (2-5 to 1-8). We were back in action again on the following Sunday and had a great, if slender, victory over Ballinakill (2-8 to 1-9).

Controversy was to follow, however, as the local papers highlighted our "defiance" of the County Board's ruling in playing the Dollards in both games and were forecasting a confrontation. This soon came in the form of objections from Ballyfin and Ballinakill and so Castletown Senior Hurlers were debarred from playing pending investigation. On Sunday June 2nd the County Chairman suspended the Castletown team, Chairman and Secretary for 3 months. An Appeal was lodged with the Leinster Council and activity came to a standstill. The Leinster Council awarded us the point earned against Ballyfin and recommended later that the rest of the players be re-instated so Castletown returned to action with a good win over Ballacolla on July 19th.

The controversy was not yet over though as the eagerly awaited tie with Borris in Ossory fixed for the following Wednesday did not materialise as Borris did not attend claiming they received no notice. Castletown's hopes were dented on the following Saturday, losing to Rathdowney in a game which should have been won but hopes were raised again on the following Saturday with a victory over County Champions, Camross and on the following Wednesday with a record victory over a very weak Colt side. 

The game with Borris in Ossory was to be the crunch match to decide who qualified for the quarter finals and when it finally was refixed for Sunday August 23rd Castletown gave a very poor display losing by 0-10 to 1-15 and so bowed out of the 1981 Championship. 

Shortly afterwards Castletown defeated Ballacolla in the semi final of the Mountrath Tournament but the final never took place and so the season ended. 

Junior Hurling: The Junior Hurling team had mixed fortunes during the year. In the league they had a surprise victory over Shanahoe but were very disappointing in their next game against Mountrath and suffered a heavy defeat. Hopes were raised after a rather comfortable victory over Clonaslee in the first game of the Championship but Rosenallis put an end to these and Castletown's interest ended. 

Under 21 Hurling: Castletown once again combined with Ballyfin and Slieve Bloom for the U21 Championship but came up against a much sharper and fitter Portlaoise team in their first round game and despite a tonic start were soon overtaken and in the end well beaten by a side which has since qualified for the County Final. 

Minor Hurling: This was a disappointing season for minor hurling in Castletown and after a walkover from Ballinakill we failed to field a team for the second round game against Durrow. This arose due to the fact of being back "on our own" unlike other years when we combined with Ballacolla or Ballyfin and our chances were further jeopardised when Slieve Bloom fielded a minor team earlier thus depriving us of further players and reducing our "pick" to a very small area in which interest wasn't sufficient. 

It was also disppointing from the point of view of our players involved with the County Minor team as having being training with the squad Joe Dollard and John Bergin were deprived of the honour of playing with their county team against Wexford and shabbily treated in the process. 

Hopefully this season we will be able to work out a satisfactory arrangement and field a minor team again which can threaten for honours. 

Football: After many years of competing Castletown at last made a little bit of history when our Junior Footballers had their first ever victory when cruising to a surprise win over Ballylinan with a 20 point margin to spare. In the second round game against Clonad however things did not turn our as well with Castletown losing 0-3 to 0-6 in a game in which chances were thrown away. Had Castletown been at full strenght and taken their chances they might have advanced further.

Castletown were joined by Camross players in Minor Football but suffered a heavy defeat to eventual County Finalists Portarlington in their first game. 

Scór: Castletown made a return to the Scór Competitions in 1981 but were unsuccessful though the "Question Time" team was very narrowly defeated in the final. I would like to thank those who participated in these competitions and appeal for more support and interest in Scór than has been shown in the past. (We have made no progress in the 1982 competition with all of our entries falling at the first round stage but nevertheless we played our part by competing). 

Juvenile: I will not dwell too long on the activities of the Juveniles during the year but on behalf of the the Adult Club I would like to pay tribute to all those concerned in maintaining the Juvenile Section of the Club. As in previous years the juveniles were looked after by a very small number of people, not least among these being Bro. Bernadine, Jack Bergin and Paddy Cuddy. Last year's appeal for more involvement seemingly fell on deaf ears and the policy of bringing the juvenile section back under the umbrella of the Adult Club doesn't seem to be a success to me. The thankless job of catering for the juveniles still remains with the dedicated few. 

Social and Financial: Thankfully all  our social and fundraising ventures were successful though as in previous years support from our players has been far from satisfactory. The Dinner Dance in which we combined with the ICA and Gun Club and at which we held the presentation of Intermediate Hurling Championship medals was a tremendous success and a most enjoyable occasion. We held a successful Disco in Mountrath but our only other social venture- a cabaret in Horan's of Mountmellick was not a financial success though we didn't lose on it. 

Our main source of income for the year was the Monster Draw held in July which brought us in a profit of £558 and helped to keep the club solvent. Membership fees and gate receipts, which improved on previous years, were also a great help but expenditure rose accordingly with hurleys still causing a major problem and supposedly interested players still arriving at games and practice without hurleys. 

On behalf of the club I would like to thank all the people who supported the various functions and especially those who sold tickets for the draw in July. I also hope that in the coming season any social and financial endeavours which may be attempted will be supported even better as the costs of running a club are rising yearly while it becomes harder to raise the necessary finances. 

I wish on behalf of the club to congratulate our players who were successful in other areas of the game. Gerry Phelan on being selected on the Laois Senior Hurling panel and U21 team. Joe Dollard on his success in Inter Firms Competition. I also wish to congratulate John Bergin, Joe Dollard and Michael O' Sullivan on being selected on the Minor team but must commiserate with the latter pair on the scandalous way in which they were debarred from playing and hope that they will overcome the disappointment and rise to greater heights in the future. 

I wish to than Chairman Denis Wall, Vice Chairman John Costigan, Treasurer Christy Phelan and all the committee and selectors for their co-operation during the year. I would like to thank all the players who turned out for the Club in the last year. I thank also our supporters and followers who have remained loyal to us throughout. I wish to express a special word of thanks to our groundsman Joe Dunne, one of our most reliable members who once again as in former years prepared the field for matches, often in very bad weather conditions and mostly on his own. I would like to thank anyone who has helped the club in any way. Those who helped with transport, our hurley maker Seán Brophy who could always be relied on to supply us with hurleys and often at very short notice. 

I would like to thank the De la Salle community, the ICA and Delaney's for the use of their premises for meetings. 

I wish on behalf of the club to extend sympathy to all members who have suffered bereavements during the year and hope that all who have suffered injuries during the year have recovered completely and will be fit to assist the Club during the coming season. 

With regard to the coming season, I think our prospects in Senior Hurling must be brighter than for a long time. If the transfers which were refused last year are granted we will have a very strong squad which should be high in the running for honours but our preparations will have to be much better than last year. It was very disappointing last year, having secured the services of Michael Cleere, to find that on many occasions only a fraction of the players turned up for training. It is a great tribute to Michael Cleere that he kept coming back when most other trainers would most certainly never have returned. If our players could show the same commitment and interest as Mick Cleere, whose services we hope to have again in the coming season, then I'm sure we could certainly be well in contention to the end.

Our Junior Hurling squad should also be stronger and might with more committment be more successful than last year and hopefully our minor and U21 teams will also make more progress than last season. 

Having overcome the losing streak in Junior Football with a great win last year I am confident that with greater  commitment we could do even better this year. 

On a personal note I am not seeking re-election as Secretary for the coming year. I have filled the this position now for three years and do not wish to continue at this time. I feel that this post should not be dominated by one person for too long and am therefore opting out. Furthermore I wouldn't be available during July and August which is the peak of the GAA season. 

I would like however to continue to be involved at committee level and to help out in any way I can in the maintenance of the club. 

I will conclude therefore by wishing all our members and supporters all the best for 1982 both on and off the playing field and hopefully when we assemble again in a year's time we will have progressed and be proud of our achievements during the year. 

    Go raibh mile maith agaibh

            Seán Ó Maolanaigh

                    Runai

Other Events during 1981

A cabaret was held in Horan's Mountmellick on Saturday 9th May. It was not a financial success as it was very badly supported with only 10 from the area attending (including 4 committee members). 

Door takings were £71. Costs included the band (£60) and Raffle (£5) leaving a profit of £6. Later subs brought that figure to £9. 

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Arising from an appeal by Borris in Ossory into Laois Hurling Board's decision to award transfers from Borris in Ossory to Castletown for brothers Michael, Oliver and Paul Dollard, Laois County Board upheld the appeal and ruled the transfers out of order. 

Castletown claimed they did not receive any notification of the decision prior to the SHC game with Ballyfin on 6/5/81. Castletown proceeded to play the three against Ballinakill three days later, despite having received notification. 

An article in the Laois Nationalist quoted Denis Wall, Castletown Chairman, stating that "the Hurling Board acted correctly when transferring the Dollards back to Castletown" and that it was the first time he could remember the County Board over-ruling the Hurling Board. There was also some disquiet that the County Board ruling was seemingly swung by "football votes".  

At the County Board meeting where the appeal was discussed, Michael Lawlor (Chairman of the Hurling Board), Dinny Phelan and Jimmy Lyons all proposed that the transfers be upheld. A vote to over-turn it was successful however 10-8. Both the Chairman Seán Ramsbottom and Vice Chairman Bill Phelan voted to over-turn the transfer. The vote was conducted on a show of hands. 

Subsequently at a meeting of Laois Hurling Board on Tuesday 19th May all remaining games in the Laois SHC were postponed until Laois were beaten in the All Ireland Championship. 

Meanwhile Ballinakill and Ballyfin lodged objections against Castletown and the team they fielded in the SHC games of May 6th and 10th.

Meanwhile on Saturday May 23rd two Castletown players on the Laois Minor Hurling Panel were informed moments before the Leinster Minor Hurling Championship 1st Round V Wexford that they could not be considered for selection due to doubts about their eligibilty. The players were John Bergin and Joe Dollard. A third player, Michael O' Sullivan, was brought on as a sub in the game. He had had not lined out in the Castletown games that were under investigation. 

At Laois County Board's June meeting (2/6/13) Castletown had to defend the objections from Ballyfin and Ballinakill. John Costigan, Seán Mullaney and Mrs. Dollard represented Castletown but one was asked to leave as only two were permitted. Seán Mullaney left the hearing. 

After a brief hearing the delegates from all 3 clubs were asked to leave before being called back after a short time. They were informed that Ballyfin and Ballinakill were to be awarded the points from the games involved. Finally, the Castletown Senior team, Castletown Chairman and Castletown Secretary were to be suspended for 3 months. 

This decision prompted a furious reaction from a number of delegates at the meeting. These included Michael Lawlor who queried the vote count, Jimmy Lyons who stated "we are trying to do something as regards hurling in the county but are wasting our time". 

Pat Delaney and Dinny Phelan were also critical of the decision and process. Dinny Phelan labelled it a "sad situation" and a "lineup of football members against hurling members". He was also critical of the County Chairman and his role in the Castletown Minor Players being withdrawn from action and the manner in which it was done. 

Michael Lawlor agreed regarding the football votes and wondered "There's a little more than transfers in this". 

Mrs. Dollard was critical of her son "being made little of by Borris people" when he was stopped from playing with his county, after training for six months to do so. 

Michael Lawlor, after a spat with Bill Delaney (Stradbally) left the the meeting in protest. 

One of the more controversial elements of the vote was that Tom Hassett (Secretary of Laois Hurling Board) voted to uphold the appeal. Thus he voted against a decision made by the body which he was Secretary of. 

An appeal by Castletown GAA to Comhairle Laighean on Tuesday 9th June. John Costigan (Vice Chairman) and Seán Mullaney (Secretary) attended this hearing on Friday 26th June. Laois GAA were represented by Seán Ramsbottom (Chairman) and Michael Carroll (Secretary). 

The Leinster Council ruled as follows;

1) Castletown to get benefit of the doubt regarding Ballyfin game and not to lose the point gained here.

2) Castletown to lose points from Ballinakill game.

3) Suspension of players who played that game and officials to stand.

4) Michael Dollard's appeal lost through default.

5) Paul and Oliver Dollard's appeal lost.

The only difference therefore was that Castletown were allowed to keep the point won in the first game V Ballyfin. 

The following day, Saturday 27th June, Michael Carroll informed the Castletown Secretary that following further discussions at the Leinster Council meeting it was recommended that Laois County Board consider reinstating the players who played the games in question, other than the Dollards. Laois County Board agreed to this recommendation. 

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While all of this was happening, Castletown GAA ran a fundraising disco in St Fintan's Hall Mountrath om Saturday 23rd May. The event passed without any trouble and doortakings of £134 led to a profit of £94 when the D.J. (£30) and Hall Rental (£10) were paid for. The D.J. was "DJ Hy-Fi" (William Fitzpatrick).

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On Sunday July 19th Castletown GAA held a raffle in the ICA Hall. It had been postponed from Monday July 13th as all sold tickets were not returned. Tickets were £1 each.

Profit on the draw was £558. 

Prizewinners;                                                                          

£100- Gerry Seale, Clonenagh                                                    

£50- Barbara Dowling, Westfield                                                 

£10- Patrick Farrell, Ballyfin                                                        

£10- J.J. Peters, Campclone                                                       

£10- Martin Butler, Borris in Ossory                                            

£10- Tom Phelan, Drim                                                               

£10- Anne Moore, Ballycleary      

Sellers;     

110- Denis Wall    

100- Paddy Cuddy 

54 - Joe Dunne

50-  Seán Brophy

40- Seán Mullaney

35- Paddy Killeen

27- Tom Finlay

27- Christy Phelan

26- Johnny Cuddy

25- Con Wall

25- Johnny Costigan

25- Kathleen Doheny

22- Seán O' Sullivan

21- Mick Peters

21- Vinny Palmer

20- Richie Phelan

20- Seamus O' Brien

20- Jimmy Cuddy

17- Mick Boyhan

15- Billy Doocey

14- P.J. Mullaney

13- Josie Coss

13- Tom Ferns

13- Jack Bergin

10- Tom Donovan

10- Tom Palmer

10- Donie Doheny

6- Joe O' Connor

6- Mick Bergin

5- Jimmy Hanlon

5- Seán Bergin

4- Others

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More controversy involving Castletown and Borris in Ossory. On Wednesday 22nd July a large Castletown contingent travelled to Rathdowney for the SHC game v Borris in Ossory. There was some confusion about the fixture date. Borris later claimed they received notification of the fixture for the 29th July. 

On foot of a rumour the Castletown Secretary, Seán Mullaney, sought clarification from Tom Hassett, Secretary of Laois Hurling Board, and was assured that the game was on 22nd July.

The groundsman and referee also received notice that the game was on 22nd July.

Pat Delaney (Referee) threw the ball in and called off the game. 

Castletown played a practice match under the eye of trainer Michael Cleere. 

At a meeting of Laois Hurling Board on Thursday 30th July in Mountrath, Castletown delegates were John Costigan, Tom Finlay, Christy Phelan and Tom Ferns. The fixtures committee chairman J.J. Conway had earlier awarded the points to Borris in Ossory, but they had objected. 

No decision could be reached at the meeting and so the quarter final draws were delayed. 

There were several games awarded in this manner by the fixtures committee. Castletown, Borris in Ossory, Park/Ratheniska and Portlaoise were awarded the points arising from games against Borris in Ossory, Colt, Clonaslee and Clonad respectively. 

John Dalton (Colt), Phil Dillon (Clonaslee) and George Conroy (Clonad) all questioned the powers of the fixtures committee to do this. Conroy said the Chairman of this committee was hard to contact, "as elusive as Charlie in Charlie's Angels!". 

With regard to Castletown's game, Borris in Ossory delegate Edmund Sheeran produced the notification they had received showing the 29th July date. 

Over the course of the weekend after the meeting it was decided that this game would be refixed. 

At another meeting of Laois Hurling Board on Thursday 6th August the Castletown delegates were John and Seamus Costigan, Tom Ferns, Percy Phelan and Seán Mullaney. Before the quarter final draws were made John Costigan informed the meeting that Castletown had lodged an appeal to the Leinster Council regarding the decision to refix their game V Borris in Ossory.

The quarter final draw was made as follows;

Ballinakill V Borris in Ossory OR Castletown

Rathdowney V Portlaoise

Camross V Abbeyleix

Durrow V Cullohill

Seán Mullaney informed the meeting that Castletown would not be travelling to Rathdowney for the refixture. B. Kirwan of Borris in Ossory said his club would indeed be present. 

Castletown Chairman Denis Wall later withdrew the appeal at the request of Leinster Council Secretary Michael Delaney. This decision was discussed in a heated debate at a committee meeting later in the year on October 1st with several members expressing the view that once the appeal was lodged it should have been seen through. 

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Trainer Mick Cleere met with players and officials in the De La Salle Hall on Saturday October 10th to review the year and put in place plans for the following year. An open and frank discussion was held with several views expressed. It was generally felt that there were many events that occurred off the field which had a disturbing effect on the team (suspensions, appeals, refixtures etc). The following attended;

Players: Mick Boyhan, John Bergin, Con Wall, Mick Peters, Richie Phelan, P.J. Mullaney, Gerry Phelan, Joe Dollard, Gerry Gaughan, Seán Mullaney, Bernie Ferns, Vinnie Palmer, Charlie Phelan, Tom Donovan, Declan Doocey, Donie Doheny.

Officials: Denis Wall, John Costigan, Tom Finlay, Paddy Cuddy, Tom Ferns, Christy Phelan, Billy Doocey, Jack Bergin

Paul Dollard also attended. 

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A large Castletown delegation attended the Laois Hurling Board Annual Convention at St Fintan's Hall Mountrath on Thursday 3rd December. Those who attended were John Costigan, Christy Phelan, Jack Bergin, Tom Finlay, Tom Ferns, P. J. Mullaney, Mick Peters, Joe Dunne and Seán Mullaney. 

The meeting passed without much controversy and there was no change of officers.

Officers Elected;

Chairman- Michael Lawlor

Vice Chairman- William Whelan (Defeating George Conroy)

Secretary-Treasurer- Tom Hassett (Defeating Brendan Dunne)

Delegates to County Board- Denis Phelan, John Cashin, Ollie Byrne and Jimmy Lyons

Castletown moved one motion "That all Senior Hurling Championship games be played at weekends". Seán Mullaney moved the motion and Seán Byrne, Mountrath, seconded. It was carried by a show of hands. 

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Seán Mullaney, P.J. Mullaney, Jack Bergin, John Costigan, Seamus Costigan, Christy Phelan, Liamy Delaney and Tom Ferns represented Castletown at the Laois County Convention on Sunday 24th February (1982) in the GAA Centre Portlaoise. The same motion as above was proposed by John Costigan and was carried without any opposition. 

Officers Elected;

Chairman- Seán Ramsbottom (No Vote)

Vice Chairman- Bill Phelan (No Vote)

Secretary- Michael Carroll (No Vote)

P.R.O.- Pat Delaney (Defeating Joe Dwyer)

Youth Officer- Peter Ivory (Defeating Ken Allen)

Delegates to Leinster Council- Mick Carroll, Danny Delaney (Seán Ramsbottom Defeated)

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The club had expenditure totalling £1456.82 for the year 1981

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For Match Reports from 1981 please click here

1980                                                                                          1982

INDEX