Embedded Files
Officers for 2007
President- Fr. Willie Hennessy P.P.
Vice President- Fr. Rhatigan, Bro. Bernadine, Tom Ferns, Pat Mullaney, Denis Wall, Liam Delaney, Percy Phelan, Pat Kirwan, Paddy Cuddy
Chairperson- Bill Delaney
Vice Chairperson- Seán Mullaney
Secretary- John Finlay
Treasurer- Seán Fleming T.D.
Committee- Pauric Cuddy, Mick Phelan, Mick Butler, David Cuddy, Willie Byrne, Eoin Dooley, James Hooban, P.J. Mullaney, Mark Peters, Tom Dooley, Gerry Gaughan, P.J. Cuddy.
Senior Selectors- Patrick Phelan, John Lyons, Mick Peters Trainer- Tommy Buggy
Intermediate Management- Seamus Cuddy, Vivian Cahill
U21 Management- Tom Dooley, James Hooban
Minor- Gerry Gaughan, Padraig Cuddy
Senior Captain- Declan Keenan
Secretary's Report 2007
IIt is my pleasure as secretary of Castletown G.A.A. Club to present the secretary’s report for 2007. This is the Club’s 34th A.G.M. 2007 was a very difficult year for the club. The year saw the untimely and premature passing of our Chairman Mr Bill Delaney. Bill worked tirelessly for the Club over the past number of years and served in all club positions, on the committee, as treasurer, secretary and Chairman. He played a key role in the earlier part of 2007 in the Club’s negotiations with the county board to regain entry to the 2007 senior hurling championship. On behalf of the Club I would like to extend sympathy to his Family.
On the competition side we failed to achieve success in any of the county competitions. This is the first time in a long number of years that no trophies were won or that we failed to get to a final.
I would like to thank all those who have helped the club over the past year. I would like to thank the players for their efforts at all levels, minor U21, intermediate and senior. I would also like to congratulate and thank all the players from the Club who represented Laois at county level.
Minors
This year our minors amalgamated with Slieve Bloom and Ballyfin. The team competed in the Minor A championship and finished second in their Group. The narrowly and somewhat controversially lost one game in the group stages to The Harps who eventually went on to win the competition. The semi final was lost to Camross in what was a below par team performance. The team did not do itself justice on the day and the result was somewhat flattering of the camross performance. It is particularly disappointing considering Camross were subsequently beaten by The Harps in the final.
I would like to thank Pauric Cuddy for managing and training the team and also Mick Phelan and mentors from Slieve Bloom and Ballyfin for assisting with the team preparation.
U21
The U21 team was also an amalgamation of Castletown Slieve Bloom and Ballyfin and it also competed in the A Championship. The team was knocked out of the competition in the first match when they were well beaten by Clough Ballacolla. However the team is still a young team and they should have a good chance in 2008 if players and managers give the commitment to training. There are a number of promising players at this level that have the potential to win if proper coaching and training is adhered to. I would like to thank Tom Dooley and his collegues from Slieve Bloom and Ballyfin for managing the the team.
Junior A
The intermediate team was relegated to Junior at the beginning of the year. The team was disqualified from the league for failing to fulfil fixtures. In the championship they lost out at the semi final stage to Clough Ballacolla by a margin of 4 points. Clough Ballacolla went on to win the competition. The performance of the Junior team was particularly disappointing. Certainly, the potential was there to win the title. Lack of commitment and poor training attendance by some players cost the team dearly. If the team is to succeed in 2008 a substantial improvement in dedication and commitment to training is required. The team has the ability to win and it is a shame not to fulfil that ability because of lack of training.
I would like to thank the selectors, Vivian Cahill and Sham Cuddy for their efforts and dedication during the year with the Junior team.
Senior
For the senior team the year started off on a sour note with disqualification from the 2007 championship. However after numerous meetings with Camross and extensive negotiations with the county Board and their Mediator, we were allowed back into the championship subject to fulfilling a number of conditions.
The year was a poor one for the senior team . For the first time since the early nineties we failed to make the qualifying stages of the championship. The championship started with a heavy defeat to Portlaoise. This was followed by victory over The Harps. The loss to Kilcotten was a key turning point in our championship fortunes. A combination of bad luck, lapses of concentration and player injury cost us the match. The motivation levels also dropped after this match and our performance in the Rathdowney Errill match reflected this. In the final match of the qualifiers we had a facile win over Ballyfin.
In the B championship Mountrath defeated us in the final.
There were a number of key factors underlying the senior teams performance in 2007. Late appointment of trainer, loss of players through injury, lapses in concentration during matches and lack of interest by some players were all mitigating factors. However , I do believe, with the right training and full commitment from all players, the team still has the ability to win more championships.
I would like to thank the team trainers and selectors Tommy Buggy, Patrick Phelan, John Lyons and Mick Peters for their efforts and dedication during the year.
In conclusion I would like to thank all those involved in Castletown GAA Club over the past year. The operation of the Club requires a lot of effort and I would like to thank my fellow officers and committee members for their help and co-operation.
I would also like to thank the following:
Carroll’s Quarries – Main Sponsors
Tom Doheny and Anna Campion – Physios
Mary Hooban – Looking after jerseys’
Secretaries in Sean Fleming’s office – Race night preparation and general administration,
Sean Mullaney – Good Friday table quiz
Pat Delaney – Race night
Fionan O’Sullivan and Mick Phelan – Golf Classic organisation
Christy Foran – use of premises for race night
ICA – use of hall for AGM
I would also like to thank all our supporters and ticket sellers without whom the Club could not exist. Support at our games has declined somewhat in recent years and I think it is imperative for each and every one of us to encourage support at our matches from our families and friends.
I wish to sympathise with all those who have suffered bereavements during the year.
Finally I would like to thank all those who have helped me during the year and wish the Club every success in 2008.
Is Mise,
Seán O’Fionnalaigh
Runai
Other Events during 2007
The A.G.M on 7th January 2006 was attended by the following;
Seán Fleming
Bill Delaney
John Finlay
Paul Cuddy
Padraig Cuddy
Gerry Gaughan
P.J. Cuddy
P.J. Mullaney
Mick Cuddy
Mick Phelan
Eoin Dooley
Seamus Cuddy
Vivian Cahill
Ger Mullaney
Pat Phelan
Seán Mullaney
Tom Doheny
Martin Phelan
John Bergin
Donie Doheny
John O’Sullivan
P.J. Delaney
Paddy Cuddy
Paul O’Gorman
Mark Peters
James Hooban
Declan Keenan
John Gaughan
Joe Delaney
Jack Peters
Mick Butler
Barry McKelvey
Kevin Conroy
Jim Moore
John Lyons
Cyril Cuddy
Fionán O’Sullivan
Fionán Cuddy
David Cuddy
Tim Dooley
Brian Ferns
Apologies
Michael Phelan (Pike)
Mick O’ Sullivan
Willie Byrne
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
An E.G.M. was held on Tuesday 20th February. The purpose of the meeting was to explain to the entire club membership the conditions under which Castletown (and Camross) had been allowed to enter the SHC for 2007, despite previously being banned from doing so.
A group from both clubs, along with a mediator, had drawn up a proposal that was presented to the County Board. Both clubs also paid their €5,000 fine.
The proposal was;
1. A joint juvenile summer camp would be run by both Clubs assisted by senior players from both clubs.
2. A charity match will be held on 19-3-07. Teams will be of mixed players from both Clubs
3. A social / fundraising event will be run i.e. a golf classic
4. On match day for matches between both clubs, the following measures will be adopted
Only the team manager will be on the sideline.
Water and Hurley carriers will be U16 players
Extra security will be provided and paid for by both clubs as necessary
5. Regular meetings between a committee from both clubs will be held to review progress.
6. An amalgamated minor football team will be entered in the B championship named Upperwoods
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tommy Buggy took over as Senior Hurling Manager.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Senior Hurling Championship
In the Senior Championship Portlaoise defeated Castletown by a large margin in the first round. This was followed by a victory over The Harps, a draw with Kilcotton, a win over Ballyfin and a defeat to Rathdowney/Errill in the last group match. This meant that for the first time since 1992 Castletown had not qualified for the knockout stages of the SHC.
In the Relegation semi-finals Clonad were easily dispatched and this earned qualification for the SHC "B" final, where Mountrath beat Castletown in a final played at Raheen.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A Presentation Night took place at Mountrath Golf Club on Saturday 21st April where the U21 HC "B" and ACHL Division 3 medals from 2006 were presented by Dick Miller, Chairman Laois GAA.
Philip Condell was also presented with the "Young Player of the Year" award for 2006.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Club Treasurer, Seán Fleming was re-elected to Dáil Eireann for a 3rd time on Friday 23rd May.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A fundraising Golf Classic took place on Friday June 1st at Mountrath Golf Club.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Club Chairman, Bill Delaney, died on Saturday 14th July, after a long illness.
Bill was one of only two people to have served in all 4 Officer positions within the club. Bill worked tirelessly for Castletown GAA during good and bad times. He was selfless, hardworking and always conducted his business with the utmost integrity. Bill has been sorely missed by all in Castletown GAA.
Suaimhneas síoraí dá anam uasal.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A Race Night took place on Friday 26th October in the Castletown Inn.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For Match Reports from 2007 please click here
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse