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Officers for 2008
President- Fr. Willie Hennessy P.P.
Vice President- Fr. Rhatigan, Bro. Bernadine, Pat Mullaney, Denis Wall, Liam Delaney, Percy Phelan, Pat Kirwan, Paddy Cuddy, Paddy Killeen
Chairperson- Seán Mullaney
Vice Chairperson- Mick Phelan
Secretary- John Finlay
Treasurer- Seán Fleming T.D.
P.R.O- P.J. Mullaney
Assistant Secretary- Willie Byrne
Assistant Treasurer- Paul Cuddy
Committee- Pauric Cuddy, Francis Hegarty, Vivian Cahill, Fionan O’Sullivan, David Cuddy, Eoin Dooley, Mark Peters, Tom Dooley, Gerry Gaughen, Pat Phelan, Damien Brophy
Senior Selectors- Patrick Cuddy, Willie Byrne Trainer- Johnny Pilkington
Junior Management- Vivian Cahill, Jim Moore, Jimmy Hanlon
U21 Management- Tom Dooley
Minor- Padraig Cuddy, Mick Phelan
Senior Captain- Brian Ferns
Secretary's Report 2008
It is my pleasure as secretary of Castletown G.A.A. Club to present the secretary’s report for 2008. This is the Club’s 35th A.G.M. 2008 was a mixed year for the club.
At senior level the year started well with a good run of success in the league culminating in securing the Brady Cup by defeating the Harp’s in the final. In the championship the seniors were defeated at the quarter final stage by Portlaoise. The year ended with a consolation prize by winning the Palmer cup (Senior B Championship) against Ballinakill.
The Junior team failed to live up to expectation and were defeated at the semi final stage against Timahoe.
The U21 team never materialised and had no games. The minors got to the quarterfinal stage and were robbed of a semi final place by some appalling referring decisions.
I would like to thank all those who have participated in club activities helped the club over the past year. I would like to thank the players for their efforts at all levels, minor U21, Junior 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 qualified for the quarter final defeating Camross and Ballacolla on the way. The team were defeated by St Fintan’s Raheen by a single in the quarter final in what was a lack lustre game, filled with controversial and clearly biased refereeing decisions. An appalling refereeing performance in the match certainly influenced the result. The competition was eventually won by Rathdowney Errill defeating ironically Camross. Potentially and with a bit more fortune the team could have gone further.
I would like to thank Padraig Cuddy and Mick Phelan for managing and training the team 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. We exited the championship without playing a match as a walk over had to be given for failing to field a team against Camross. This is unacceptable and more effort must be made in preparing teams for championship competitions from all club members and players.
Junior A
Again it was more of the same from the junior squad. The team came through the qualifying stages of the Championship easily, defeating Mountrath, Camross and Ballypickas on the way and gaining a semi final place. However in the semi final the team was defeated by a less talented but more motivated Timahoe team. Lack of fitness and training told, particularly toward the end of the match. The performance of the Junior team was again particularly disappointing. Certainly, the potential was there to win the title. Lack of commitment and poor training attendance cost the team dearly. This team has the ability to win a junior championship and every effort should be made in 2009 by all concerned to fulfil that ability.
I would like to thank team manager Vivian Cahill and the selectors, Jim Moore and Jimmy Hanlon for their efforts and dedication during the year with the Junior team. Every effort was made by Vivian and the selectors to encourage training participation and in team preparation. It is disheartening for those managing the team to know that the title could have been won with a bit more effort from all members.
Senior
The senior team had a mixed year. The team had a good run in the league winning all matches with the exception of Ballinakill culminating in a league final win over The Harps.
This year we also entered the Leinster league. We were beaten by Kilmacud Crokes and drew at home against Buffers Alley.
In the new championship structure we were drawn in the toughest group with Ballinakill and The Harps. In the first match we were beaten again by Ballinakill by a single point. This defeat put us in a situation where we had to win against The Harps to qualify for the quarter finals. A much improved team performance and selection against the harps gave us a comfortable win of seven points. In the quarter final we were drawn against Portlaoise. We were well beaten on the day by a fitter and sharper Portlaoise team. Principal reasons cited for the comprehensive defeat were lack of fitness, team motivation and confidence, team selection and a below par performance from some team members.
In the B championship we had a good win over Ballinakill to win the Palmer Cup. This game showed signs of the way we could play without the tension and lack of confidence evident in some of some earlier games.
John O’Sullivan has been appointed club trainer for 2009. I would like to take this opportunity to wish him well in what is a key position for the club and I would urge you to give every help and support during the year. John is seeking to fill a number of positions to assist him with managing the teams and I would urge you to put your name forward for selection. More volunteers are needed to help with managing of teams and running the club and the more volunteers we have the easier it is on everyone involved.
I would like to thank the team trainer John Pilkington and selectors Willie Byrne and Patrick Cuddy for their trojan work and efforts in organising training and matches 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 – Physio
Mary Hooban – Looking after jerseys
Secretaries in Sean Fleming’s office – Race night preparation and general administration,
Pat Delaney – Race night
Fionan O’Sullivan and Mick Phelan – Golf Classic organisation
Christy Foran – use of premises for race night
I would also like to thank all our supporters and ticket sellers without whom the Club could not exist. More support and volunteers are needed to ensure we remain a strong and vibrant club.
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 2009.
Is Mise,
Seán O’Fionnalaigh
Runai
Other Events during 2008
The A.G.M on 13th January 2008 was attended by the following;
Sean Fleming
Sean Mullaney
John Finlay
Gerry Gaughen
Tom Dooley
Francis Hegarty
Vivian Cahill
Pat Phelan (Pike)
Padraig Cuddy
Paul Cuddy
Willie Byrne
Mick Cuddy
Liam Delaney
Hannah Delaney
Gearoid Gaughen
Ciaran Dunne
John Gaughen
Conor Phelan (Student)
Evan Cuddy (Student)
William Delaney (student)
Damien Brophy
Fionan Cuddy
Matty Cuddy
Aisling Cuddy (Student)
Kevin Conroy
Jim Moore
Tom Phelan
Martin Phelan
Michael Peters
Mick Phelan
Christy Foran
Eoin Dooley
John O’Sullivan
Fionan O’Sullivan
P.J. Mullaney
David Cuddy
Patrick Mullaney
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Johnny Pilkington of Birr took over as Senior Hurling Manager for 2008.
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Senior Hurling Championship
In the Senior Championship Castletown were drawn in a group of 3 (with two teams qualifying) with The Harps and Ballinakill. Ballinakill beat The Harps in the first round in which Castletown had a bye. Castletown then lost to Ballinakill but recovered to beat The Harps and eliminate them. Portlaoise beat Castletown comfortably in a quarter final and so a promising year ended disappointingly.
Round 1 (17/8/08): Ballinakill 0-17 Castletown 2-8
Round 2 (31/8/08): Castletown 2-17 The Harps 1-13
Quarter Final (15/9/08): Portlaoise 1-19 Castletown 0-10
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ACHL Division 1 Results
Round 1 (15/3/08): Castletown 3-10 Clough/Ballacolla 1-4
Round 2 (5/4/08): Ballinakill 0-15 Castletown 0-14
Round 3 (13/4/08): Castletown beat Camross by 2 points*
Round 4 (30/4/08): Castletown 1-14 Kilcotton 0-15
Round 5 (17/5/08): Castletown beat The Harps by 2 points
Round 6 (31/5/08): Castletown 2-17 Trumera 0-13
Round 7 (8/6/08): Castletown 3-10 Mountrath 0-4
Round 8 (18/6/08): Castletown 1-15 Portlaoise 0-12
Round 9 (23/6/08): Castletown 3-15 Rathdowney/Errill 0-13
*As a result of playing Kieran Dunne in this game Castletown were deducted the two points won, despite an appeal. Kieran was named on the Laois Minor Panel at number 24 as they were playing Kildare in the Leinster Championship the following day. Castletown needed Kieran on the day as numbers were very short owing to a number of players decided not to play on the 12th as they had a soccer match on the 13th.
This deduction left Castletown, Camross and The Harps all level on 14 points. One team was pulled out of the hat to go straight into the final (Castletown), with the remaining two playing in a semi final (Camross v The Harps).
Final (20/7/08): Castletown 1-18 The Harps 0-12
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Leinster League Results
Round 1 (24/3/08): Kilmacud Crokes 0-16 Castletown 1-10
Round 2 (29/3/08): Castletown 0-8 Buffer's Alley 0-8
Round 3 (9/4/08): Clonkill w/o v Castletown*
*A walkover was given in this game as it was midweek and there were problems with player availability. Qualification was by then impossible. This was the first time Castletown participated in the Leinster League.
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Palmer Cup (Senior B- For teams knocked out in Quarter Finals):
Final: Castletown 1-18 Ballinakill 1-11
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Junior Hurling Championship:
Round 1: Castletown 2-10 Mountrath 0-9
Round 2: Castletown 2-13 Ballypickas 0-7
Round 3: Castletown 0-14 Camross 0-5
Round 4: Castletown w/o Slieve Bloom scr
Semi Final: Timahoe 3-8 Castletown 0-15
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Minor Hurling Championship:
Round 1: Castletown/Slieve Bloom/Ballyfin 4-14 Camross 4-8
Round 2: Portlaoise 2-20 Castletown/Slieve Bloom/Ballyfin 3-11
Round 3: Castletown/Slieve Bloom/Ballyfin 4-18 Clough/Ballacolla 1-11
Round 4: Castletown/Slieve Bloom/Ballyfin 1-12 Abbeyleix/Ballypickas 0-8
Quarter Final: St. Fintan's Raheen 2-11 Castletown/Slieve Bloom/Ballyfin 2-10
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U21 Hurling Championship:
Round 1: Camross w/o Castletown/Slieve Bloom/Ballyfin scr
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Castletown also played 7 Senior challenge matches during 2008.
They beat Kilcormac/Killoughy, St. Rynaghs and Kinnitty, drew with Loughrea and were beaten by St. Rynaghs, Liam Mellows, and Coolderry.
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In the MHC a Castletown/Slieve Bloom/Ballyfin combination were beaten in the quarter final by St. Fintan's Raheen on a scoreline of 2-11 to 2-10. It was a very disappointing end to the year, not least because of many strange and seemingly biased decisions made by referee Martin Cashen.
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A fundraising Golf Classic took place on Friday May 30th at Mountrath Golf Club.
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A Race Night took place on Saturday 25th October in the Castletown Inn.
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For Match Reports from 2008 please click here
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