Annual General Meeting

Once again the magic of Microsoft Teams provided the platform for the hosting of the Mullingar Shamrocks Annual General Meeting staged on Friday night, 3 December 2021.

Full marks to secretary, Aidan O'Donoghue who choreographed the occasion to perfection. Change was the order of the day as outgoing officers Seán Hynes (Chairman), Aidan O’Donoghue (Secretary), Maria Carroll (Treasurer), Micheál Burke (Assistant Treasurer), Debbie Newman (Chairperson of the LGF Committee) stepped down after four years of amazing service. 

Seán, Maria, Debbie, Micheál and Aidan were key officers in four of the most important years in the club’s history; They took office immediately after the all-important Club Forum and were responsible with the club executive for putting into practice the various suggestion that emerged from this meeting. Over the four years the club’s underage structures were reformed and finally in 2022 Mullingar Shamrocks will compete in Division 1 at all underage levels for the first time in several years.

The wonderful  Na SeamrÓigi concept has grown from success to success. Fundraising initiatives were elevated to a new level that provided wonderful entertainment as well as revenue, beginning with the On the Ball show in the Greville Arms Hotel where John Mullane’s stand-out performance will never be forgotten by those fortunate enough to be present in the packed hotel. Then there was Strictly Shamrocks and the incredible The Sound of the Musicals. The 2018 county senior football title achieved in the first Mullingar local Derby county final was the football highlight and was celebrated in style with a brilliant Dinner Dance in the Greville Arms. Not far behind was the capture of the Westmeath LGF intermediate title in 2020. And then Covid-19 landed and provided a host of new challenges to club officers.  Seán, Maria, Debbie, Micheál and Aidan thanks and well done for four years of outstanding service.  

The club was fortunate to have members who were prepared to volunteer their services to the club as it approaches its seventieth birthday. David Nohilly was elected chairman, a member with a mountain of GAA administrative experience as a key member of the DRA to guide him; Gareth Doyle who has been involved in many aspects of the club for many years now takes on the key administrative role of secretary. David Coghlan and Ciara Keegan were appointed joint-treasures to continue the work of Maria Carroll who now joins Karen Hegarty and Óisin Masterson in the Registrars’ team. 

Des Maguire has accepted the role of cultural officer and no better man for the job as one who has served the GAA at the highest level in matters cultural. The outgoing administrative officers Detty Cornally (President), Tom Hunt (PRO), Adrian Keaveney (Vice-Chairman), Ritchie Daly (Assistant-Secretary), Joan Ormsby (Healthy Club Officer) as well as Barry Kelly and Pat Collins (Chairman and Secretary Under-Age Committee) continue in office with both Tom Hunt and Pat Collins announcing that they intended to step down at the end of the 2022 season. Carole Finch continues in her role as Secretary of the LGF Committee (Mullingar Shamrocks operate the One Club model). Sophie Hegarty is the club executive’s appointment  as Children’s Officer.

Two additional Honorary President’s were appointed to recognise their service to the club. Ritchie O’Donoghue and Professor Kevin Nugent now join the list of those who have been recognised for their distinguished service to the club.  Our  list of honorary presidents now reads: Terry O’Dowd, John Kelly, Eamonn Byrne, Frank Tuohy, Peter Glennon, Gabriel Clancy, Mick Greene, Dan O’Dowd, James O’Dowd, Paddy Cole, Colm Connaughton, Ritchie O’Donoghue and Kevin Nugent.  

The following were elected. President: Detty Cornally; Chairman: David Nohilly; Vice-Chairman: Adrian Keaveney; Secretary: Gareth Doyle; Assistant Secretary: Ritchie Daly; Joint Treasurers: David Coghlan, Carmel Keegan; PRO: Tom Hunt; Healthy Club Officer: Joan Ormsby; Cultural Officer: Des Maguire; Children's Officer: Sophie Hegarty; Registrar: Karen Hegarty; Maria Carroll, Óisin Masterson. Under-age Committee, Chairman: Barry Kelly; Under-age Committee, Secretary: Pat Collins; LGF Committee, Chairperson: TBC; LGF Committee, Secretary: Carole Finch.  

 

LGF Minor Football Championship: Mullingar Shamrocks 4-11 Shandonagh 2-9

It is doubtful if playing the minor football championship in winter is part of the blueprint for the future development of LGF in Westmeath but the players of Mullingar Shamrocks and Shandonagh enjoyed the best of winter sunshine for this encounter. Clear blue skies and very little wind, conditions were ideal for football. 

Shandonagh were comfortably ahead at the interval (2-5 to0-4) and Mullingar Shamrocks interest in this championship was quickly evaporating. We had lost to Ballycomoyle (5-5 to 1-5) in the opening round so a second defeat would lead to elimination.

The girls responded magnificently; Shandonagh were held scoreless and goals from Tamara Molloy and a cracker from Máiread Newman as well as three points edged Shamrocks into a one-point lead at the second water break. Apart from the fluid attacking play there was also some superb defending typified by some great blocking and tackling. In the final quarter Jodi Aherne Ellie O’Sullivan Sexton and Chloe Smullen kicked fine points and Tamara notched her second goal. Shandonagh staged a recovery and kicked two points to reduce the deficit.

At this stage, a brilliant Katie O’Dowd save proved to be the crucial moment of the quarter (Yes, Katie is Terry’s granddaughter and Terry was there to lend his advice as was our new treasurer Ciara Keegan to cheer on the girls). In the next attacking movement Chloe Smullen soloed through the Shandonagh defence and finished the ball to the net. A six-point swing in a matter of minutes ended the brave Shandonagh challenge. 

A great display by the girls. 

Next weekend the girls play The Downs in what is effectively a championship semi-final. Match arrangements to follow later.  

Mullingar Shamrocks: Katie O’Dowd; Phoebe Cadwaldar, Sadhbh O’Brien, Eve  Byrne; Eve Hynes, Sinead Sweeney, Sophie Russell; Máiread Newman, Ellie O’Sullivan Sexton; Alessia Hassett, Mia Gilligan, Jasmine Haugh; Chloe Smullen, Jodi Aherne, Leah Glynn, Tamara Molloy. 

A Great End to a Great Year for our Under-11s.

 

The weather dial might have showed 2 degrees but it didn't take long for the heat to rise once the games got going and once the hot chocolate came out.

It is great to get to December 5th with this group and we finished the year with a mini blitz. Teams were chosen to represent  Westmeath, Kerry, Tyrone and Mayo. Mayo with Shay Leavy leading the charge went unbeaten in the group games to qualify for the cup final. Westmeath won two games with Darragh Daly, Manus and Tom McCaul to the fore. Tyrone managed by Vinnie Timoney played very Tyrone football with all behind the ball and only for Conor Mattews pin point clearances would have struggled. Kerry with MJ Burke and Scott Farrerly driving it on left their shooting boots behind in the group games and succumbed to three losses. 

 

Westmeath and Mayo contested the Cup final, and the final curse came back to haunt the up to then unbeaten Mayo. It was great to see Westmeath lifting the silverware. Darragh, Manus, Sam, Sean, Noah and Eddie were very respectful in victory as Pat Collins presented  the cup.

 

In the Shield final Kerry avenged their All Ireland final defeat to take the crown against Tyrone. It was Kerry’s first win of the day when they finally found their shooting boots. MJ, Scott, Cian, Killian, Alfie and Josh accepted the Shield from Pat Collins. 

 

Darragh Daly then won a football for being last man standing in a penalty competition and Theo, Shay, Josh and Sean Dooley won a ball each for catch, tackle, block and score of the day.

 

The day finished up with hot chocolate, a picture momen to of the year and a bag of goodies.

 

It was an enjoyable year and as mentioned to the lads the cups and shields were nice to win but what was more important was the numbers we had every week, the progression in skills and the behaviour of all the lads and they are a great group.

 

A big thank you to all the coaches who helped throughout the year Micheál, Anthony, Murty, Eddie, Emerson, Tom, Gerry, Vinnie and Niall. Also to Pat Collins whose work organising gear pitches, refs etc makes it all possible. 

 

Finally, to the players and their parents for making the commitment and coming training every week, stay practising and see you all next year. 

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