Rathkeale GAA Club

Football & Hurling Training Resumes
It is time to refocus for the 2015 season and training has already commenced for our footballers (Senior, Junior, U-21 & Minor) & hurlers (Junior, U-21 & Minor). The new Senior Football Management team of Billy McElligott (Manager), Graham Shine (Fitness\Training Coach) and Brian Duggan (Selector) are managing the sessions but it is important that our hurlers also attend. The focus is very much on fitness, conditioning and nutrition for the next couple of months so it is important that all players attend. Training is currently scheduled for Mondays in Mick Neville Park at 7.30pm and on Saturdays in the Bog Garden at 3.30pm. All players to be togged out and ready 15 minutes before training commences. The Club would like wish the new management teams and players every success in the coming season.

Club Membership now due
Club membership for the 2015 season is now due. Rates for 2015 are as follows: Adult €30, Under-18 €15 and a family rate of €60. All players must pay their membership prior to taking part in any games or training. This will be strictly enforced this year so make sure you contact Philip O'Donnell, who is the club registrar again for 2015.

AGM Update
Rathkeale GAA Club recently held their AGM in Rathkeale House Hotel where the activities and financials from 2014 were discussed, Pat Sheahan, Club Secretary has given a comprehensive report to cover the year in general:
2014 - A year of high and lows for St Marys/Sean Finns GAA Club!!
Pride of place this year must go to our U21 players who won the County Premier U21 final last January and then completed a memorable double by winning the West U21-A hurling championship in early 2014. Huge congratulations to all players involved and especially to their respective management teams - Brian Duggan, Dean Maune & Colin Barry (Football) and Willie Coffey & Maurice Hurley (Hurling).
Another notable success was achieved by our under-16 players who also captured a football/hurling double. Again congratulations to these players and their managements.
Other notable achievements during the year were the awards dinner dance in early February, holding on to our status as a senior football club despite a long injury list, the performances at the All-Ireland sevens in Ratoath and indeed on any Wednesday evening in the Bog Garden during the summer when the field is full of young players being coached in hurling and football by our very active under-age setup.

The deepest of lows arrived just two days after the high of the dinner dance when news broke of Shane Hourigan's untimely death following a road traffic accident. I would describe it as a moment when all else was very quickly put into perspective. Without doubt, Shane was one of our foundation blocks in the club. Apart from being a highly rated referee, he was a coach/ mentor and friend to everyone involved in the club. He was also of course a father, a husband, a brother and a son to fellow club members. To his son Shane, his wife Marie, his mother Helen and his brothers, sisters and other family members, I know I speak for everyone when I again express our sympathies on your loss. He is sadly missed by everyone and will continue to be missed into the future.
Another disappointment for the club was our removal from the Junior Hurling championship for failing to field a team in the West Semi-final. Despite our best efforts to get this match changed from its unsuitable mid-week fixture, we got absolutely zero co-operation from both the opposing club and the West Board for our efforts. Indeed we were heavily fined for the "offence" and I must say that it was particularly galling for our club officers to be present at the recent West Board convention where we had to listen to sanctimonious speeches from some Board officers accusing us of dis-respecting the junior hurling championship and expressions of hope that our club had learned a lesson to play games when they are fixed. Our position remains that the match should not have been fixed on the night in question and one still wonders why this was done.

Sponsorship
A special word of thanks to Sean Hennessy of Sean Hennessy Electrical Superstores who continued as sponsor of the clubs adult football and hurling teams in 2014. Again, I hope Sean enjoyed the year and would like to take this opportunity to encourage all our members and supporters to support Sean's business.

Finance
Financially, we ran a very successful Christmas draw at end of 2013 and tickets are in circulation for the 2014 staging. We ran a successful "Goal-time" fundraiser around the Munster hurling final and managed to exceed our targets for the Limerick GAA Development Draw and again ran a small scale scrap metal collection during the year. I am sure that Mary Liston will provide a full account giving details of these and all other financial matters shortly.

Further Development
Take your pick from a spectator stand, 2 team shelters, floodlights, a club gym, a training pitch. All or any cost a fair bit of money which has been in short supply for the past few years due to outstanding debts on the pitch re-development.

Representation on County teams.
Congratulations to the many players from this club who represented us on county teams during the year. I will refrain from listing them in case I leave someone out, but it is really great to see that the number is increasing every year. Long may it continue!! A personal wish of mine would be to see some of our players on the adult county hurling teams over the next couple of years.

Minor Football
We entered the A- Championship and went unbeaten in the group stages winning 6 from 6. However a poor performance in the semi-final saw us going down to Feale Rangers and we were out. For the record, Adare won the West and went on to win the county final. Thanks to both Jimmy Dillane, Joe Roe & Co for their involvement with these lads during the year.

Minor Hurling - 13-a-side
Our Minor Hurlers were entered in the County13-a-side competition and started well beating Bruree. A walkover from St Pats in Round 2 saw us on maximum points but we went downhill from there and lost to Knockainey & Kileedy before eventually giving a walk-over to Askeaton when we hadn't enough players to make a team on the night. For the record, Bruree beat Askeaton in the county final. Thanks to Jerry Molyneaux, Frank Geary & Brian O'Dwyer for their efforts with this team.
U21 Hurling
As already mentioned, our U21 hurlers won the West A-Championship defeating Askeaton/St Kierand and Daithi Broudairs in the group stages. On 22-Feb we played Allaughaun Gales in the final and beat them 2-09 to 1-11 after extra time. We then progressed to the county semi-final and were very unlucky to be beaten by Pallasgreen (0-15 to 1-11) who were beaten in the final by Monaleen (22-11 to 1-10). Thanks to Willie Coffey & Maurice Hurley for their Trojan work with these lads.

U21 Football
Since our last AGM (Dec 2013) our U21 footballers (playing as Rathkeale/Cappagh) were crowned 2013 county premier champions after a really exciting run of results that saw us beat Fr Caseys in the quarter final, Newcastlewest in the final, and Drom/Broadford after a replay in the final. A fantastic result that augers well for the future of the club. Congrats to the players and their management team of Brian Duggan, Dean Maune & Colin Barry for that achievement.
The 2014 championship is still underway and we are in the Knock-out stages after finishing 2nd in the group. At the moment, we have a Quarter final replay against Athea Mountcollins this Friday night to look forward to. Best of luck to the team and their management in this.
Junior Hurling
Our Jun Hurlers were managed by Brian Wilmott, Pat Gilbourne & Pat Madden. We entered in 3 competitions, the County League, the West League and the Championship. In the county league we finished in 2nd place (winning 3 from 4) only beaten for the top-spot after losing by the narrowest of margins to Crecora (3-13 to 2-15). Crecora went on to win the final easily beating Fedamore (2-17 to 0-08).
In the West league we topped our group winning 3 from 3 (Adare, Templeglantine & Askeaton) only to unfortunately lose the final to our neighbours Croagh/Kilfinny 1-08 to 2-11.
Onto the championship, well equipped from promising league engagements. We beat Askeaton and Monagea to ensure a knock-out place before losing the last group game to Feohanagh leaving us in a quarter final against Drom/Broadford. We won this 0-18 to 0-16 to qualify for the semi-final. The draw saw us pitted against Feohanagh but unfortunately (as already mentioned) we were forced to concede a walkover after the Bord fixed this game mid-week when we would be missing 4 of our starting team. Despite our efforts we were thrown out and that ended our hurling season. Thanks to Brian Wilmott, Pat Gilbourne & Pat Madden for their efforts during the year. For the record, Feohanagh went on to win the county final.

Junior-B Football
Our junior footballers finished 2nd in the group stages of the West league only to lose the semi-final to St Senans (2-12 to 0-15). In the championship we weren't that competitive winning only 1 of four games, thus failing to make the knock-out stages. Thanks to the management of Sean Harnett, John Lyons for their efforts with these lads.

Senior Football
Our first year at senior level and the clear goal was to maintain that status.
Good preparations in the league when we finished top of the group in the senior football league with a clean sweep winning all 7 games against Castlemahon, Ballysteen, Oola, Hospital, Pallasgreen, Mungret & Mountcollins. However the final was delayed and when we did get to play it we faced St Patricks where we were eventually beaten after a decent performance despite the injuries to key players.
In the championship the draw put is a tough group alongside Drom/Broadford, St Patricks, Ballylanders, Monaleen and Pallasgreen. It wasn't going to be an easy task as most of these teams had appeared in the senior finals over the past 2 years. We won our opening game against Pallasgreen (0-14 to 1-06) but in truth we struggled from then on. Injuries to some key players were definitely a major contributing factor. We lost our remaining games against Ballylanders, ST Patricks, Drom/Broadford & Monaleen but the win over Pallasgreen was enough to ensure our status so goal was achieved. Well done to the team and their management trio of Brian Nolan, Sean Harnett & John Lyons. Now that these three have decided to step aside from management for a while, it would be remiss of me not to thank them and congratulate them for their achievements over the past few years with our footballers. Under their guidance, the club has gone from Junior to senior in a few short years. For that alone all in St Marys/Sean Finns GAA club will be forever grateful.

Bord na nOg
The club is deeply indebted to the Club Na nOg officers and team trainers. This small group have looked after promoting both Hurling & Football to all groups from under-8 to Under 16 as well as looking after the financing and running of all affairs at this level. Suffice for me to say - Well done and thanks to all involved. I am sure that Mike Barrett will be producing his own report covering this most important area of club activities. I know a very successful year was enjoyed by one and all, but I'll let Mike provide the details.
Coaches/Managers/Officials/Workers
Thanks to all those people who freely gave their time and effort to look after a team, take an officer position, or maybe worked in the Bog Garden, or fund-raised in 2014.  It's not easy to give your time and effort and sometimes you may have felt that your effort was not being appreciated by all and sundry. However, I'd like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for the dedication, the effort, the time and commitment that you have given to this club throughout the year.  It is precisely because of your involvement that our club is going from strength to strength. You can justifiably feel proud of your involvement. You have chosen to "make a difference" rather than sit at home giving out about it and you deserve everyone's gratitude for that decision. You have brought this club another step along the path to success, so well done to all and on behalf of all the gaels in the parish, Thanks for the effort, it is much appreciated!!

Happy 2015!!
Finally let me take this opportunity to wish all our members & supporters a happy and sporting 2014.

Pat Sheahan - Secretary St Marys/Sean Finns

 

Shane Hourigan (Snr) Honoured over Festive Period
On Sunday 28th December 2014, St Mary's/Sean Finns honored Shane Hourigan in a ceremony at the Bog Garden.  A plaque in honour of Shane was blessed by Fr. Phonsie Cullinan and then unveiled by his son Shane Jnr and his wife Marie. Shane's mother Helen and his sisters and brothers were also in attendance along with a large crowd of family friends and club members. Both Oliver Mann, representing the County Board and Michael O'Sullivan, representing the West Board paid tribute to Shane. The Plaque which was made by Star Granite described Shane as 'Player, Coach, Officer, Mentor and Referee'.

Later that evening Sean Finns played in an entertaining match against a Limerick Referees Selection in Mick Neville Park. The Club would like to thank everyone who attended the ceremony and match that day.

Shane Hourigan Snr Memorial Plaque displayed in the Bog Garden

Marie Hourigan with Shane Jnr, Connie O'Connor and Pat Sheahan at the recent Memorial day in honour of Shane Hourigan Snr. 

Shane Hourigan Jnr with Shane Hourigan's (Snr) mother Helen and sisters Elaine and Karen at the recent Memorial Day.

2015 GAA Presidents Awards
Congratulations to Eithne Neville from the Rathkeale GAA Club who has been chosen as a recipient of a 2015 GAA Presidents Award in light of her outstanding voluntary contribution to the GAA over a prolonged period.
A special banquet will take place in Croke Park on Friday, 6th February next to honour all the recipients.  Tickets for this banquet will be made available to the Clubs of each recipient should any of your members wish to attend.  The cost is €30 per ticket and tickets can be purchased through http://www.gaa.ie/tickets/presidentsawards and are available on a first come first served basis. The event on the night will be filmed by TG4 and shown at a later date.
Referee Recruitment Campaign
At Páirc an Chrócaigh today GAA President, Liam O'Neill launched a new Recruitment Campaign aimed at bolstering the number of volunteers involved in refereeing at all levels of the Association.
The "Think you can do better?" campaign will involve Inter County Referees acting as Recruitment Ambassadors in their own counties. The aim of the campaign is to increase the number of referees officiating at club games throughout the country and consequently, pushing on to Provincial and National level over the next few years.

As part of the campaign the GAA has produced a Recruitment Video, Poster for distribution to clubs as well as an Advert which can be used in Allianz League and pre-season Provincial competition programmes.

Uachtarán, Liam Ó Néill said "I am delighted to launch the Referee Recruitment campaign today and thank the National Referee's Committee for their efforts in this regard. It is fair to say that there is an ongoing requirement for new referees in our counties and this campaign should see an immediate swelling of referee numbers.  I look forward to seeing the fruits of these labours as young referees progress through the ranks to eventually take charge of games on the biggest stage".
Chairman of Coiste na Réiteoirí, Pat McEnaney said "Already a number of counties have plans in place for attracting new referees. The resources we are providing should assist in their drive to increase refereeing numbers. Our new recruits can look forward to a revitalised Club Referee Training Course in February and March next and, with ongoing training and mentoring thereafter we are confident that a considerable number will come through the system and, hopefully, progress to the highest level of our games".

The GAA today also launched a campaign aimed at retired Inter-County players. A Pilot Project is planned whereby four former players (Two hurling/two football) will train as Club Referees in their counties. They will receive enhanced support, with the ultimate aim, based on their progress, of developing the individuals to Inter County standard. Counties will be asked to nominate retired players for inclusion on this project, and selection will be made from these nominees, to commence their training in February next.
From the commencement of the Allianz League the Inter County Referees will be sporting new gear, which was also launched today. 

More details are available on www.gaa.ie/referee or from Pat Sheahan or Dave Gilbourne.

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