By Paddy Ryan

The Avondhu GAA Board ‘Man of the Match’ social took place on Friday night in the Hibernian Hotel, Mallow. There was a good-sized attendance.

John O’Donnell, chairman, welcomed all to the annual awards night. He described 2013 as a reasonably successful one for the division. Three teams from the division won co titles and he congratulated Clyda Rovers on winning the Co Premier IFC championship as well as the Munster title. He hoped they would do well in the All-Ireland series. For 2014 Clyda Rovers will represent the division in the Co SFC.

Mitchelstown junior A footballers, after a number of disappointments, won the North Cork and Co JAFC titles. Charleville junior B footballers won both the North Cork and Co JBFC titles as well.

In hurling Charleville won the Co Div 3 HL title beating Kildorrery. In football Glanworth won the Co Div 3 FL title, while Fermoy took the Co Div 4 FL title.

The chairman was delighted that competitions within the Avondhu Division are very even. All clubs are putting in huge effort and success will come their way in due course. He spoke of the huge number of clubs across the country, over 2,500 in all. There is a great bond and local derby games are very important for the future of our association. He asked the question - What makes the GAA? – people, club members, great skill of our players and team effort wins out, whether it is junior B or senior, it makes no difference.

He referred to 2013 as being a very good year in the farming community with Dairygold and the Kerry Group increasing their production for 2014. He hoped that those employers as well as others would give serious thought to employing our players who need jobs. When farming is going well there is more spending. Many of the players involved in clubs in the division are involved in the dairying industry.

He referred to the importance of club sponsors at a time when gate receipts are down. The Avondhu board had 20 competitions in 2013 and just two were not finished. He spoke of the board delegates being the hub of society in club areas. He stated that the board must always try and help clubs as much as possible. In relation to the winning of titles during the past year there was a very good spread. Of the 20 competitions entered, there were 14 winners with four clubs winning two titles. Ten other clubs reached semi-finals.

Our division is very well represented with excellent referees, he declared, who look after games at divisional, county, Munster and All-Ireland levels. The referees who took charge of finals within the division came forward for their presentations as follows: John Sexton, Ciaran O’Regan (Ballyhea), Mick Sheedy (Shanballymore), Justin Murphy (Castletownroche), Dave O’Farrell Junior and Senior (Mitchelstown), Michael Sheehan (Liscarroll), Walter Cole (Buttevant), Eoin Walsh (Dromina), Noel Brosnan (Killavullen), John O’Leary (Mallow), Denis Curtin (Buttevant) and Noel Regan (Kilshannig).

The players selected as ‘man of the match’ winners in all the championship finals were also honoured on the night. They were Premier Junior Hurling: Eric O’Connor (Newtownshandrum), Junior A Football: Stephen Fox (Mitchelstown), Junior A Hurling championship: Gary Sweeney (Doneraile), Junior B Football: Andrew Cagney (Charleville), U21 A Football: Darragh O’Carroll (Fermoy), U21 B Football: Sean Keane (Kilworth), U21 A Hurling: Aaron Sheehan (Mallow) and U21 B Hurling: Conor Flanagan (Clyda Rovers).

A presentation was made to John Geaney (Kilshannig), retiring development officer, as well as Diarmuid Gowen (Fermoy) who has also completed his 3 year term as co board development Officer. Andrew O’Brien (Kildorrery) played with Cork junior footballers, while Michael Lyons (Araglin) was a selector, both were received presentations in recognition of their success. A cheque was also presented to the Primary Schools Board in recognition of the great work done at promoting the games at primary school level in the division.

Diarmuid Gowen, in his last official engagement, congratulated the board on their great achievements. He congratulated Dan Collins on being awarded the hall of fame and spoke of Dan’s contribution to the GAA, mainly at Co Juvenile board level, where he always looked after the interest of the rural clubs. He congratulated the ‘man of the match’ winners who gave exceptional performances in the various championship finals. A presentation was also made to Ned Duggan who has given very loyal service to the board as a photographer over the past four years.

hall of fame

The hall of fame award went to a man who has given outstanding service to the GAA over the past 60 years. Dan Collins (Hazelwood) started his playing career with Mallow Vocational School when the school footballers reached the final, where they lost out to Cobh 2-11 to 2-10 in 1951. The following year they won the Co U16 FC title beating Clonakilty in the final. That team was captained by Tadhg Moynihan and also included Johnny Flynn (Kilshannig) and Jack O’Donoghue (Ballyclough), who later played for Cork.

Dan played minor hurling with Liscarroll in ’52 and ’53 without any real success losing to neighbours, Buttevant. He played minor football with Castlemagner in 52 and 53 as Liscarroll did not field in football in these years. In ‘54 Dan played with Lisgriffin in novice hurling and football. In ‘55 he moved to Clyda Rovers and won North Cork novice hurling and football titles with them. He played for Avondhu senior hurlers in the 1959 Co SHC against Glen Rovers who had the late Christy Ring in their side. That game was played in Mallow. Glen Rovers who were very prominent in these years came out on top. In the 60s Dan moved to Ballyclough where he played Novice hurling. He then moved to Buttevant where he played hurling. He got married in 1965 and also retired from playing that year. The Buttevant club coaxed him back out of retirement and they beat Fermoy in the novice hurling final on the first Sunday in November at Doneraile in a game refereed by Jack Madden. Dan started refereeing in the ’60s. He took charge of many college games, he also handled games run by the Avondhu junior and juvenile boards as well as Duhallow and the co juvenile boards.

When the club in Hazelwood was reformed in 1988 Dan was their first secretary. He served as North Cork Juvenile Board treasurer for 17 years up to 2010, when the board was disbanded and the new Rebel Og formed. Dan served on the Co Juvenile Board GPC for 13 years and was Co Juvenile Board delegate for 15 years. He was co-ordinator for the summer camps for 4 years and was elected vice president Avondhu Junior Board four years ago at the annual convention in Ballyhooly.

Dan accepted his award to rapturous applause from the entire gathering. In his address he stated how grateful he was to receive this prestigious award. He spoke of his many years involved with the GAA and the many clubs he played for. In his early days he stated he played with great players like Tadhg Moynihan (Mallow) (captain), Micky Scannell RIP, Barry Nagle RIP, Johnny Flynn (Kilshannig) and Jack O’Donoghue (Ballyclough). Dan outlined that Jack holds the record for scoring with Cork hurlers, he scored 8 goals and 7 points in a league game against Antrim.

He mentioned the different clubs he played for and spoke of the many outstanding memories he had. Dan retired in 1965 on getting married, but came back out of retirement and won a North Cork hurling title when Buttevant beat Fermoy. He remembers Denis John Reilly scored four goals that day, all from penalties.

Dan served as a referee for many years and thanked all his umpires and linesmen. He declared he made some great friends and retired from refereeing in 1997 for health reasons. He enjoyed the summer camps where over 100 boys and girls took part for two weeks in the summer. He thanked his family for their great support.

CO CHAMPIONSHIP DRAWS

Co board draws for 2014: SHC: A Na Piarsaigh v Blackrock, B Newtownshandrum v Youghal, C Sarsfields v Douglas, D Bride Rovers v Carrigtwohill, E Ballymartle v Courcey Rovers, F St Finbarr’s v Bishopstown and G Midleton v Erins Own.

Round 2 losers: A v B, C v D, E v F and G v H.

Divisions/Colleges: A Muskerry v CIT, B UCC v Avondhu, C Carrigdhoun v Duhallow and D Imokilly v Carbery. Round 2 winners: A v B and C v D.

Co SFC: A Castlehaven v St Vincent’s, B St Finbarr’s v Ballincollig, C Nemo Rangers v Doheny’s, D St Nick’s v Clonakilty, E Bishopstown v Illen Rovers, F Douglas v Newcestown, G O’Donovan Rossa v Clyda Rovers and H Carbery Rangers v Aghada.

Round 2 losers: A v B, C v D, E v F, G v H.

Divisions/Colleges Round 1 UCC v CIT.

Round 2 Muskerry v winner UCC or CIT, Duhallow v Imokilly, Beara c Seandun, Carbery v Avondhu. Round 2 winners 1 v 2 and winner 3 v 4.

Premier IFC: A Newmarket v Kiskeam, B Naomh Aban v Nemo Rangers, C Castletownbere v St Michael’s, D Mallow v Grenagh, E Bantry Blues v Na Piarsaigh, F Ballingeary v Macroom, G Glenville v Carrigaline and H Valley Rovers v Ballinora.

Round 2 losers: G v F, A v H, D v C and E v B.

Intermediate football: A Ballydesmond v Kinsale, B Cill na Martra v Eire Og, C Mitchelstown v Kildorrery, D Aghabullogue v Glanmire, E Cloyne v Fermoy, F Adrigole v Youghal, G Kanturk v Glanworth and H Rockchapel v Mayfield.

Round 2 losers: E v C, A v B, F v D and G v H.

Premier IHC: A Kilbrittain v Newcestown, B Bandon v Inniscarra, C Carrigaline v Kilworth, D Kanturk v Blarney, E Cloyne v Valley Rovers, F Tracton v Ballinhassig, G Castlelyons v Watergrasshill and H Ballyhea v Mallow.

Intermediate hurling: A Aghada v Fr O’Neill’s, B Aghabullogue v Meelin, C Eire Og v St Catherine’s, D Grenagh v Dripsey, E Argideen Rangers v Barryroe, F Ballygarvan v Ballincollig, G Milford v Charleville and H Fermoy v Kildorrery.

Round 2 losers: B v D, E v G, A v H and C v F.

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