Vol 4 Jan 2017 - 2016 in review

SARSFIELDS GAA CLUB

Newsletter Volume 4, January 2017

Sarsfields GAA Club in 2016

Dear Club Member,

On behalf of Sarsfields GAA Club I present you with our Newsletter on the club’s activities during 2016, the year in which our club celebrated its 50th anniversary.

It gives an overview of how the club performed on and off the field.

✤ Performance of our hurling teams

✤ Our on-going Pitch Development

✤ Break-down of fundraising events

✤ Our 50 Year Celebrations

We wish to thank everyone involved for all their hard work.

Thanks to our main sponsors Sean & Stephanie Lawless. We also wish to thank Power Sports for their sponsorship.

We look forward to what we hope will be another successful year for our club.

Finally, we want to extend our wholehearted congratulations to Sarsfields Senior Camogie Team on their wonderful victory over Thomastown in the All Ireland Senior Club Championship Semi-Final. We wish them every success on March 5th in Croke Park.

Le gach dea ghuí. Is mise le meas,

Seán Fahy

(Chairman Sarsfields G.A.A. Club)

SARSFIELDS GAA CLUB OFFICERS 2017

Uachtarán/President: David McGann

Cathaoirleach/Chairperson: Sean Fahy

Rúnaí/Secretary: Ruth Mulkerins

Cisteoir/Treasurer: Mary Fox

Vice Chairperson: Aidan Donohue

Assistant Secretary: Fergal Connaire

Assistant Treasurer: Maureen Morrissey

County Board Delegate: Sean Fahy

Hurling Board Delegate: Joe Dolan

Public Relations Officer: Eoin Leslie

Registrar: Paul Naughton

Lotto Officer: Deborah Morrissey

Insurance Officer: Pat Cullinane

Health & Wellbeing: Pat Hynes

Irish Language and Culture: Fergal Connaire

Children's Officer: Pat Hynes

Coaching Officer: Gerry Donohue

Executive: Brendan Cooney, Gerry Leslie, Tom Fox, Pat Hynes, Joe Dolan

Player Representatives: Ronan Quinn; Ciaran Dolan

Bainisteoir Senior: Cathal Murray

Bainisteoir JHC A: Paraic Forde

Bainisteoir JHC C: Liam Mulkerins

Bainisteoir U21: Tomás Murray

Bainisteoir Minor: Peter Cooney

REVIEW OF THE YEAR - G.A.A. CLUB

In a very successful year we fielded teams at Senior, Junior A, Junior C, U21, Minor A hurling and Junior B football. All teams represented the club with pride and were competitive in all grades.

Senior All-Ireland Club Semi Final

The semi-final was played on Saturday 6th February in Navan, Co Meath with Ruairí Óg Cushendall the opposition. As always we had excellent support with busloads of supporters departing New Inn and Bullaun that morning. Unfortunately, we came up against a very strong Cushendall team and lost out on a score line of 3-12 to 1-6. Sincere thanks to Cathal Murray, Padraig Earls, Francis Madden and John Hardiman for all their hard work in preparing the team for the All-Ireland Semi Final.

Senior Hurling Championship 2016

Captain: Joseph Cooney

23-4-2016 Sarsfields 1-18 St Thomas 1-15

1-5-2016 Sarsfields 1-14 Gort 2-14

7-5-2016 Sarsfields 0-14 Loughrea 0-15

22-5-2016 Sarsfields 1-15 Turloughmore 0-18

9-7-2016 Sarsfields 0-19 Castlegar 0-17

Preliminary Quarter Final

27-8-2016 Sarsfields 4-21 Kilnadeema-Leitrim 2-23

Quarter Final

18-9-2016 Sarsfields 1-12 Gort 1-16

Our senior team showed great courage and determination to bounce back from an All-Ireland Semi-Final defeat to reach the knockout stages of the championship this year. They were beaten at quarter final stage by eventual county finalists Gort. Sincere credit and gratitude must go to every player on the senior panel for their level of commitment to the club. Many thanks to Cathal Murray, Padraig Earls, Diarmuid Murray and Willie Earls for all their help in managing and training this team.

Junior A Hurling Championship

Captain: Barry McMahon

4-6-2016 Sarsfields 1-14 Salthill Knocknacarra 1-10

11-6-2016 Sarsfields 0-13 Micheal Bhreathnachs 0-14

17-6-2016 Sarsfields 1-12 Ardrahan 0-14

26-6-2016 Sarsfields 1-16 Meelick Eyrecourt 1-10

17-8-2016 Sarsfields 2-15 Turloughmore 0-16

3-9-2016 St Thomas conceded game to Sarsfields

Quarter Final

1-10-2016 Sarsfields 1-16 Tommy Larkins 1-12

Semi Final

29-10-2016 Sarsfields 0-14 Meelick Eyrecourt 2-12

This year our Junior A team reached the semi-final stage of the competition where they were unfortunately defeated by Meelick Eyrecourt. The team worked very well together and showed great team spirit in all games. Our Junior A team have huge potential and have represented the club with pride and determination this year. Sincere thanks to all the players for their dedication to the team. Management Team: Paraic Forde, Francis Cahalan, Vincent Corcoran and Philip Madden.

Junior C Hurling Championship

Captain: Mark Scully

12-6-2016 Sarsfields 3-16 Moycullen 0-4

20-6-2016 Sarsfields 2-15 Liam Mellowes 2-13

2-7-2016 Sarsfields 0-08 Turloughmore 2-09

15-7-2016 Sarsfields 2-15 Sylane 0-7

7-8-2016 Sarsfields 3-6 Kilbecanty 3-8

11-8-2016 Pearses conceded game to Sarsfields

Quarter final

11-9-2016 Sarsfields 0-6 Beagh 2-11

Our Junior C team reached the quarter final where they were beaten by eventual champions Beagh. This team worked very hard and were competitive in all games. A number of players progressed on to Junior A. Management Team: Peter Corcoran, David Corcoran, Damien Moran and Stephen Noone.

U21 A Hurling Championship

Captain: Eoghan Spellman

7-4-2016 Sarsfields 0-13 Athenry 4-12

14-4-2016 Sarsfields 3-14 Cappataggle 4-19

This year our U21 team entered the A competition and were competitive in both fixtures. It is of great benefit for our young players to be playing at the highest grade possible. Management Team: Liam Mulkerrins, Tommy Fox, Cathal Dolan, Alan Ward and Tomás Murray.

Minor Hurling Championship

Captain: Kevin Cooney

25-4-2016 Sarsfields 2-17 Cois Fharraige 1-18

2-5-2016 Sarsfields 1-8 Ballindereen 6-17

24-6-2016 Sarsfields 1-11 Ballygar 1-11

1-7-2016 Sarsfields 1-14 Craughwell 3-10

With limited numbers and a young team our minors performed very well throughout the year and were unlucky not to reach the knockout stages of the competition. They finished the group on equal points with two other teams and unfortunately this meant scoring difference was the deciding factor which resulted in our team not progressing. Management Team: MacDara MacLochlainn, Martin Keane, Gerry Donohue and Gabriel Leslie.

Juvenile

There is a huge amount of work being put in at Juvenile level within the club and the future of Sarsfields hurling is looking bright with 140 young players registered this year. Many of our underage teams reached the knockout stages of their respective competitions. Next year both the U13 and U14 teams will compete in the ‘A’ competition.

Congratulations to Alex Connaire and Robert Connaire on representing the club on the Galway U14 development squad and to Mark O’Regan and Evan Cox on representing the club on the Galway U15 development squad.

Once again a successful summer coaching camp was run with 98 boys and girls taking part over three days.

Huge gratitude must go to every manager, coach and selector who has helped out with the Juvenile Club and ensuring that the future of Sarsfields hurling is being nurtured and developed to high standards. Many thanks to the officers of the Juvenile Club Paul Moran, Paul Naughton and Ollie Fahy.

We wish our Juvenile Club an enjoyable, successful year in 2017.

County Teams

Congratulations to Joseph Cooney on representing the club on the Galway Senior hurling panel this year. Congratulations to Ian Fox who was on the Galway U21 panel this year and to Kevin Cooney on representing the club on the Galway Minor panel. Congratulations to Pat Cullinane who represented the club at Master’s Football level. It is a great honour for the club to have representatives on county panels.

Camogie

Best of luck to the Sarsfields Senior Camogie Team and their Management on March 5th in Croke Park as they take on Slaughtneil of Derry in the All Ireland Senior Club Final at 3:15pm.

This year our camogie club enjoyed immense success. In addition to their achievements at Senior level the club won the Minor ‘A’ title, the U16 ‘A’ title, which is their fourth year in a row to win, the Division 4 Regional Féile title and the Division 1 U10 title. The club also had a number of representatives on county panels. The club is going from strength to strength and we wish them every success in 2017.

St Killians

St Killian’s College New Inn continue to promote and encourage their students to participate in Gaelic games. Many thanks to Padraig Kelly, Anthony Byrne/Andy Lawlor and Tony Connolly and also Sinead Holland, Emer Larkin and Iggy Clarke and all the staff who dedicate their time to promoting hurling, football and camogie within the school.

Primary Schools

Bullaun N.S competed in the 13 a side Cumann na mBunscol Roinn A. Despite performing well they failed to reach this year’s final, however they did reach the final of the hurling Seven’s competition. The girls competed in the Roinn B camogie competition and also made history by becoming the first girls football team from the school to win a county final. Management: Gemma Flynn and Evan Kilroy. New Inn N.S reached the 13 a side Cumann na mBunscol Roinn B hurling final but unfortunately lost out to a very strong Clarinbridge team. Well done to the girls on their performance in the camogie competition. Management: Diarmaid Burns.

Pitches

Many thanks to New Inn Community Council and Bullaun Sports Club Committee for the use of the facilities for matches and training this year.

Sponsors

Sincere thanks to our main sponsor Sean and Stephanie Lawless of the Harbour Bar, Bullaun for their continued loyal sponsorship of the club.

This year Power Sports came on board with the club also and the club would like to take this opportunity to thank them.

It is important to show our gratitude and to support our sponsors as much as possible throughout the year.

Fundraising

The main fundraising event this year was held on Easter Sunday night, 27th March in New Inn Leisure Centre. A ‘Sars in Your Eyes’ competition was organised by our hardworking finance committee.

This event took an immense amount of organisation and hours of preparation by both the committee and all involved in the competition. It was an excellent night’s entertainment.

The Lotto continues to be a great source of income for the club. Congratulations to Sean and Geraldine Dolan and family on winning the €20,000 jackpot earlier this year. Thanks to all who support the lotto by buying or selling tickets on a weekly/annual basis and to those who assist with the running of the weekly draws.

Last Man Standing was run by the club this year and proved a great success. Many thanks to all who supported this. Anyone who would like to take part in the current competition which commences on Saturday 11th February is asked to contact any club officer as soon as possible.

It is important to continue our efforts in fundraising and for everyone to get involved to help meet the running costs of the club.

5 Year Strategic Plan

Work is continuing on the strategic plan within the club.

Pitch Development

The pitch development is continuing and it is hoped that it will be open for games in 2017. Huge thanks must go to the officers of the pitch committee, Michael Cooney, Michael Kenny and Joe McGrath along with the pitch subcommittee and all who are involved in its development.

50 Year Celebrations

This year the club celebrated 50 years since its foundation. A full weekend of celebrations was carefully planned by a hard working committee. The committee put a lot of thought and consideration into the planning of this special event for the club and the feedback received from people has been extremely positive.

The weekend commenced on Friday 29th July with Mass in memory of the deceased members of the club in Bullaun church. An exhibition of memorabilia, photographs and awards was set up in the hall for people to view. This exhibition was extremely well put together and sincere thanks to all who worked so hard to ensure everything was so well displayed. It was so successful that it was left on display for over a week and numerous people passed through the hall, all enjoying learning and reminiscing about the history of our wonderful club. Also on the Friday night there was a music session in the Harbour Bar Bullaun. This also gave the club the opportunity to officially launch the club jersey with sponsor Sean and Stephanie Lawless and Power Sports present for this launch.

Saturday 30th July saw Hurling on the Road take place in New Inn for the Jimmy Kelly memorial trophy which was won by Cathal Murray, Niall Morrissey and Kevin Ward. In addition to Hurling on the Road, the Golf Society provided an opportunity for people to play golf in Loughrea golf club.

On Saturday night a function took place in Wards, Ballyfa which saw winning teams from 1966 to 1980 along with the founding members of the club being honoured. Jim Carney was our special guest at this function.

On Sunday 31st July a Gala Event was held in New Inn Leisure Centre where Sean Walsh was special guest. This saw winning teams from 1980 to the present day being honoured. The event was catered for by Turoe Pet Farm and was well attended. It proved a fitting end to a very special weekend.

This weekend could not have happened without the hard work of the 50-year subcommittee who were led by Chairperson Jimmy Cooney and Secretary Gerry Leslie. The club would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their commitment to ensuring the weekend was a successful, enjoyable event.

50th Anniversary DVD

The success of these celebrations prompted the production of the club’s 50th Anniversary DVD. The DVD comprises of an oral history of the club, film and photographs of the club’s successes, a dedication to the club’s faithful departed, a special feature on the story of the club’s pitch development and a photo presentation of the 50th Anniversary Celebrations. Produced just in time for Christmas, the DVD was extremely well received within the club. There is still a limited number of copies available. To purchase a copy, please contact the club officers as copies will run out in the near future and will not be reproduced.

SYMPATHY

The club would like to extend its sincere sympathy to all families who suffered bereavement in 2016. May they Rest in Peace.

Sarsfields Golden Jubilee DVD

Only a Limited amount remaining

Should you wish to purchase a copy, please contact a club officer.