Dromard club notes
January 10, 2017Sympathy: Last week saw the sad ending of an era with the passing of Charlie Murtagh, Clonelly. Charlie was the last surviving member of the first Dromard Senior Championship winning team of 1946. Charlie was also part of the Dromard team that secured a double in 1944 by winning both the junior championship and league titles. This success saw Dromard advance to the senior ranks in 1945, before winning the Club's first senior championship in 1946. The 1946 Senior Championship Final was not played until April 1947 owing to bad harvest weather in 1946. James McNerney's superb book on the history of the Dromard parish - "From the Well of St Patrick" - provides an account of the delayed 1946 County Final in which Charlie played. That account of the match in James' book is partly reproduced here. The preview of the match in the Longford Leader stated that: "Dromard play the strong, direct game typical of North Longford, while Ballymahon are more polished in their methods". The first clash between Dromard and final opponents Ballymahon on Easter Sunday April 6th 1947 ended in a scoreless draw, itself an unprecedented event. In the replay which took place on Sunday April 13th 1947 at 3.15 pm in Pearse Park, Dromard emerged the victors on a scoreline of Dromard 1-4, Ballymahon 0-3. It is impossible to be entirely accurate about the team who played in the final but Charlie was a regular in the Dromard starting line-up over this period and typically played in the half-forward or full-forward positions. The full 1947 panel from whom the County final teams (for both the drawn match and the replay) were picked was as follows: Panel: Tommy McConkey, Peter Duignan, Brendan Morris, Dinny Gallagher, Philip Briody, Packie Duignan, Mickey Reilly, James Murphy (Aughamore), Felix Kiernan (Annagh/Cunnareen), Eugene "Stevie" O'Reilly, Frank McNerney, Fr Michael Murtagh, Charlie Murtagh, Johnny Murtagh, Pee Kiernan, John Maguire, Paddy Briody, Peter Briody, John Smyth. Tommy Reilly (Corrick), Frank Reilly (Clonelly), Fr Frank Kiernan (Aughaga), Fr Brian Reilly (Moyne). After his successful playing days were over, Charlie continued to be a loyal supporter of his Club and Parish and he will be sadly missed in the local community. Dromard GAA offers its condolences to Charlie's sisters Bridget (Clonelly), Maureen (Carrigallen), brother Pat (Carrick-on-Shannon), nephews, nieces, relatives and friends. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.
County Teams: Hard luck to the Longford Senior Footballers on their defeat to a strong Kildare side on Saturday last in the first group game of the O'Byrne Cup. From Dromard, Paul McGee and Diarmuid Masterson started the game at corner back and wing-half forward respectively, while Ronan McEntire (recently returned from the US) was among the substitutes. Longford take on Offaly this Wednesday (11 January) in Newtowncashel at 7.30 and IT Carlow on Sunday at 2pm in Glennon Brothers Pearse Park. Well done to the Longford U21 footballers on their great win over Cavan in the Hastings Cup on Saturday last. Their next fixture is against Roscommon in McGann Park Kenagh on Friday night (13th) at 8pm.
Dromard GAA Healthy Club and Operation Transformation: Thanks to everyone for the fantastic turnout at the launch of Operation Transformation on Sunday last. The first running/walking group started on Monday at the Clubhouse and continues on Wednesday and Friday mornings. Details of a later walking group will be confirmed in the next few days. Our Sunday morning group continues at 9.30am. For anyone who couldn't make the launch on Sunday, but would like more information, please contact Nicola Reilly on 083 3428231 or [email protected].
Dromard Ladies Notes
Happy New Year: To all our players and supporters we wish you all a Happy and Prosperous New Year in 2017 both on and off the pitch
Birthday Greetings: After the rash of Birthdays over the Christmas period, namely the Murphy twins, Aedin Mimnagh, Clodagh Duffy and Alyssa McErlean, we start the New Year by saying Happy Birthday to Aoife Brady who turns 16 and Mariah Reilly who is now 10.
Resumption of Training: This will be starting shortly for our Senior Panel with fitness work in the gym. If you were on last year's Senior Panel you are already on the Group Messaging, but if you wish to join that Panel for 2017 contact any of the girls on the team and they will get you added to the Group. Last year many of the Minor and U/16 Panel preferred to train with the Seniors instead or as well as Saturday mornings and that's fine again this year. Also there were a few Mammys who used it as a workout and that's fine too. Just don't show your daughters up !!!!
Fuel Draw Results: This was drawn on Sunday last and the lucky winners keeping warm for nothing this winter are as follows: 500 litres of heating oil -Pamela Lennon (Kildare) Trailer of turf - Maura Corrigan (Legga) 30 bundles briquettes -Edel Reilly (Dublin and Ballyduffy) 10 bags coal Majella Sheridan (Legga) Trailer of timber Frances Cooke (Moyne) and Trailer cut logs Erin Kearney (Cornakelly). The sellers' prize of €30 went to Alyssa McErlean (a late birthday present Alyssa). We would like to say a huge thanks to our six sponsors and everyone who supported us by buying tickets from our young ladies or from our local shops and bars who never fail to help our sales every year.
County Training: This is now getting underway for all age groups and we are pleased to see Dromard players putting themselves forward. We realise this is a big committment for you all and we thank you for your efforts in making sure Dromard are well represented at all age groups on the County Panels.
