Athenry hurling stalwart at the helm of St Gabriel's Hurling Club
September 18, 2013Their county title success in early October was added to in early November when they won their 10th Ryan Cup. In early February 2013 the club reached the All Ireland Intermediate Club final in Croke Park and although they did not win, it was a great occasion for the club to play in an All-Ireland final at the GAA's historic home for the first time.
Over the past 52 years, the club has had a huge impact on the London GAA landscape with players and officers representing London, and also by promoting the ideals of the Gaelic Athletic Association in the UK capital. The St Gabriel's club crest sports the following slogan 'Ag Couthú Na hIomána', meaning 'Promoting Hurling'
The Senior Team is captained in 2013 by Offaly native Neil Rogers. He joined the club in 2012 and was part the championship winning team that year. With his native club Birr, he won an All Ireland Club championship back in 2002.
The Chairman of the club is Kerril Burke from Athenry in Galway. Kerril has been involved with the club for nearly 50 years and has served in almost every capacity including player, manager, chairman, president and much more.
He hit the headline in April of last year, when our second team had only 14 players starting the second of a league fixture against Thomas McCurtains in Goodmayes. Facing having to forfeit the game, Kerril duly put on a pair of boots, a jersey and a helmet and stood in corner forward. Not one to shy away from the action even at 74 years of age he got stuck in straight away.
It was a close match and with only a few minutes left a high was hit in around the McCurtains square, Kerril put up the hurley and flicked the ball into the bottom corner of the net, thus sealing victory for the Gabriels.
News of the 74 year olds match winning goal soon went viral on the internet and Kerril was on National Radio in Ireland the following day retelling the story. "I just happened to be in the right place at the right time," said Kerril. "Will I play again? I'd never say never. I've warned the senior players to watch their backs. Nobody's place is safe," he added jokingly.
Training in East Lane in a corner of North West London, a stone's throw from the famous Wembley stadium, it's good to know that the game of hurling is alive and well in the hearts of Irish emigrants who now live and work in the big city of London. Every Tuesday and Thursday night, the skills of the game that were inherited from Ireland can be seen as young men from Kerry to Sligo and Galway to Dublin congregate to hone their skills of the great game.
Melvin Loughnane St Gabriel's Club Secretary explains, "We are honoured and delighted to have received the invitation to the festival. It will give the players and management a chance to show case their skills to their families and friends in Galway.
The club has a very close association with County Galway. While the club has hurlers from all over Ireland, we have traditionally had more hurlers from Galway than any other counties. This can be traced back the clubs beginnings, with four Galway men responsible for its foundations which were Packie Grealish (Carnmore), Marty Treacy (Cappatagle), Paddy Malone (Kilconnell) and P.J. Noone (Cappatagle)."
The St Gabriel's Galway Connections:
Chairman, Kerril Burke is a native of Athenry, (But he'll also tell you that he is a native of Oranmore!!!)
Vice Chairman, Tom Conneely is a native of Connemara.
Senior Team Manager, Tommy Duane is a native of Athenry.
Selectors Eamon Sheil and Mick Nevin are from Woodford any Eyrecourt respectively.
Chairman of the GAA's Provincial Council of Britain, Brendie Brien is a Killimor native.
Club President, Mick Kenny is from Kiltormer.
Vice Presidents, Padraic Colohan, Matty Burke and Mick Corcoran are all Galway natives also. Tweet
