2009

Officers for 2009

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, Mick Peters

Chairperson- Seán Mullaney

Vice Chairperson- Mick Phelan

Secretary- John Finlay      

Treasurer- Seán Fleming T.D.

P.R.O- Monica Delaney

Assistant Secretary- Willie Byrne

Assistant Treasurer- Paul Cuddy

Committee-  Pauric Cuddy, David Cuddy, Gerry Gaughen, P.J. Mullaney, Robert Kelly, Joe Delaney

Senior Trainer- John O' Sullivan Selectors- Mick Phelan and Patrick Cuddy

Junior Management- John O' Sullivan, Brendan Peters, Patrick Phelan

U21 Management- Seamus Lyons, Damien Brophy, Mark Peters

Minor- Padraig Cuddy, Gerry Gaughan

Senior Captain- Paul Cuddy

Secretary's Report 2009

It is my pleasure as secretary of Castletown G.A.A. Club to present the secretary’s report for 2009. This is the Club’s 36th A.G.M. 2009 was a varied year for the club. Four club teams competed in eight county hurling competitions and despite improved performances from the teams no honours were secured in 2009 in any of the competitions

At senior level the year started a mixed run of success in the league and finished mid table with five wins. In the championship the seniors started badly but improved immensely and reached the semi final stage for the first time since 2005 where they were unfortunately defeated by Portlaoise. The performance of the senior team gives renewed optimism for success in 2010.

The Junior team had a good run in the league. In the championship they lost out on qualification based on scoring difference. A small improvement in both matches would have secured a quarter final place.

The U21 team was knockout in the first match of the championship. Minor league and championships were separate competitions this year. We were knocked out in the first round of the minor championship and finished mid table in the league.

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 Minor competitions were changed this year to a league and championship format. The team competed in the Minor A league and championship. In the league competition the team won 2 out of the four matches beating St Fintan’s Raheen and Portlaoise and losing out to Borris Kilcotton and The Harps. The championship format was on a knockout basis. The team were defeated in the first match by a stronger Rathdowney Errill team.

I would like to thank Padraig Cuddy and his selectors 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. The competition was run on a knockout basis. The team got a bye into the quarter finals but were beaten by a superior Borris/Kilcotton side in their first knockout match by a margin of 7 points. I would like to thank Mark Peters Damien Brophy and Seamus Lyons for preparing the team.

Junior A

The Junior team started well this year with a good run in the Division 3 league winning 4 out of 5 matches. The championship structure was changed this year with 4 groups of 3 and 2 to qualify from each group. In the first round of the championship they went down badly against Camross by a margin of 16 points. The second game against Portlaoise saw a much improved performance and the match was won by a margin of 8 points. Scoring difference came into play for qualification. The significant loss to Camross and 2 Portlaoise goals from placed balls cost us a place in the quarter finals. The performance of the Junior team was again particularly disappointing. Certainly, the potential was there to win the title. This team has the ability to win a junior championship and every effort should be made in 2010 by all concerned to fulfil that ability

I would like to thank team manager John O’Sullivan and Selectors Brendan Peters and Patrick Phelan for their efforts and dedication in preparing the team.

Senior

The senior team had a varied year. The Palmer Cup format was changed this year with a knockout league played at the beginning of the year. We lost in the opening match of the competition to St Lazerian’s Abbeyleix.

In the ACHL Div 1 we had a mixed run and finished mid table with four wins, four losses and one walk over.

In the championship we were drawn in a group of four with Colt, Portlaoise and Tinnahinch. Qualification in the group seemed straightforward with two teams to qualify for the quarterfinals. However a first round loss for us against newly promoted Colt, threw qualification in the group wide open. Our performance on the day was appalling and Colt punished us severely for our complacency by winning by a single point. This defeat put us in a situation where we had to win the remaining two matches to qualify for the quarter finals. The next match was against Tinnahinch. Team performance improved immensely in this match and we ran out easy winners on a margin of 15 points. To ensure qualification for the quarter finals we had to win the final match of the group. In what was a spirited performance we beat Portlaoise by 2 points. For the quarter finals we were drawn against the reigning champions and favourites Rathdowney/Errill. A determined and gritty team performance resulted in the shock result of the championship we beat Rathdowney/Errill by a margin of 4 points and for the first time since 2005 we qualified for the semi finals. Indeed the team showed glimpses of past performances when winning championships was the norm. In the semi finals we were drawn against Portlaoise. At half time in the match we were down 10 points. We simply did not show up for the first half. The second half saw a huge revival. However time ran out for us and we lost what should have been a place in the final by a margin of 3 points.

Overall performance in the championship was hugely encouraging with excellent performances at critical times in the competition. Unfortunately we took our eye of the ball at a crucial stage and a bit more focus at the final stages could have resulted in another championship returning to the Village. Huge strides have been made in 2009 and we need continue to build on this in 2010.

I would like to thank John O’Sullivan and his team for all the work they put in, preparing and coaching the teams. I would also like to thank Monica Delaney for the tremendous amount of work she put in as team secretary, for organising practice matches physio’s etc throughout the year and for the communication of fixtures and events to all players, mentors and club members. Certainly everybody was kept up to date regarding fixtures, practice matches etc.

John has been re-appointed club trainer for 2010. 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. Hopefully success is not too far away.

Membership

The GAA has introduced a new electronic membership and registration system for all players and members. Under the new rules all players must have their club membership paid and be registered by the end of March. If membership is not paid he cannot be registered. If a player is not registered by the 31st of March he cannot participate in club games or training for the remainder of the year. Similarly if a player is not registered and he incurs an injury he cannot avail of the GAA player’s injury fund. It is important for team management to ensure all players they require are registered as they cannot be registered after 31st March. This also applies to all juvenile players. They have to be registered with the parent club.

Changes to the player’s injury fund will also be introduced in January. These changes are likely to be reduced benefits to injured parties as the fund is currently in deficit. 

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

Pat Phelan – Sale to Tipperary Draw tickets

Tom Doheny  – Physio

Mary Hooban – Looking after jerseys

Secretaries in Sean Fleming’s office – Race night preparation and general administration,

Pat Delaney – Race night MC and preparation

Fionán 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 2010.

Is Mise,         

            Seán O’Fionnalaigh

                        Runai

Other Events during 2009

The A.G.M on 11th January 2009 was attended by the following;

Seán Fleming

Seán Mullaney

John Finlay

Monica Delaney

Brendan Peters

Joe Delaney

Mattie Cuddy

Ben Cuddy

Martin Phelan

Mick Cuddy

Fionán Cuddy

Robert Kelly

Loughlin Hegarty

Padraig Cuddy

P.J. Mullaney

Pat Phelan (Pike)

William Delaney

Damien Brophy

Willie Byrne

Fionán O’Sullivan

Mick Phelan

David Cuddy

John O’Sullivan

James Dooley

Paul Harding

Gearoid Gaughen

Kevin Conroy

Gerry Gaughen

Tom Doheny

Paul Cuddy

Declan Keenan

James Hooban

Tom Phelan

Apologies:

Fr. Hennessy

Patrick Mullaney

Tom Dooley

Brian Ferns

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John O' Sullivan was chosen as Senior and Junior Manager for 2009 when winning a vote against Johnny Pilkington by a large margin. John was the first home appointed manager in many years.  

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A new, independent all parish football team was entered in 2009 with neither Slieve Bloom nor Castletown entering their own team. This team was known as Shamrocks. A new club was formed to facilitate this with Mick Phelan acting as Chairman, John Paul Campion as Secretary and Seán Fleming as Treasurer. 

Gerry Gaughan and Tom Delaney formed the team management for the year. 

Shamrocks reached the Junior C Football final in their first year but were beaten by Portlaoise. 

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Senior Hurling Championship

Quarter Final: Castletown 3-15 Rathdowney/Errill 1-17

Semi Final: Portlaoise 1-18 Castletown 3-9

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ACHL Division 1 Results;

Camross 4-13 Castletown 3-10

Clough/Ballacolla 1-15 Castletown 2-10

Castletown 1-12 Ballinakill 1-12

Rathdowney/Errill 2-11 Castletown 1-12

Castletown 2-13 The Harps 1-15

Castletown 3-13 Abbeyleix 0-10

Mountrath 0-11 Castletown 1-7

Castletown 1-13 Kilcotton 0-14

Castletown 2-12 Borris in Ossory 1-8

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Palmer Cup Results;

Abbeyleix 1-14 Castletown 2-9

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Junior A Championship Results;