A n D r o i c h e a d C l u b N e w s

Vol. 1 Issue 5 18th December 2014

Joe Greally: Laoch Gael

Who contributed most to the development of Clarinbridge GAA Club over the past 125 years of it’s history? One man certainly high on the contenders’ list is the great Joe Greally (1904-1988).

Joe Greally was born in Barrack St. in 1904. One of a family of six, he was steeped in the Clarinbridge GAA from childhood. His family were passionate about hurling including his brothers Mick and John and sisters Mary, Celia and Christina who later married Jimmy Lane and also lived in Barrack St. Interviewed in 1983, Joe recalled travelling by side car to the Co. Final in Loughrea in 1918 when the ‘Bridge lost to Abbeyknockmoy. “All Clarinbridge were there in side cars” to watch the team captained by Pat Fahy of Lavally.

Joe played senior hurling at a time when the game had a much more physical dimension than today and skirmishes on and off the pitch were common. In these years there was fierce rivalry with Craughwell, Oranmore and Castlegar who with Clarinbridge, were the leading teams in the county championship. Joe recalled hiring a bus to bring the Clarinbridge team to a game in 1927 and returning home “In the frame of a bus” as all the windows were smashed by the opposition’s supporters.

Joe played in two Co. Senior Finals with Clarinbridge, unfortunately losing both. The first of these finals was for the year 1928 but not played until 1930. The opposition was a strong Tynagh side which had five

county hurlers including All Ireland senior medallists Ignatius Harney and Mick Dervan. Joe said that Clarinbridge lost due to “Lack of brains” as the team pursued goals instead of taking their points.

The 1929 Co. Final against Mullagh was also played in Loughrea and this time Clarinbridge were beaten badly having been depleted by the emigration of good players such as Martin Casey.

In 1933 Joe lost his left eye playing for the Junior team, which he was called on to play with because they hadn’t sufficient numbers. Despite all his setbacks on the hurling field, Joe stayed loyal to the Clarinbridge club after his playing days were over. He took a lead in the club serving simultaneously as secretary/treasurer/senior

team trainer and grounds man. He coached the team that won the 1948 South Board Junior final as well as the Intermediate team which was defeated in the 1953 Co. Final. Joe was the main organiser of fund-raising dances held in Kilcornan and recalled standing with George Fleming to collect the entrance admission of 4 bob. Once when he refused to give a player some money from the admission for a few pints, he paid the price of getting his suit torn!

He prepared Clarinbridge pitch for the Co. Board games: lining the pitch, putting up nets and collecting admission. He recalled how Fr George Quinn CC of Clarinbridge helped to acquire the pitch from the Land Commission. Joe challenged Canon O'Dea, chairman of Galway Co. Board, and local parish priest, when he claimed that our GAA pitch, then called the Sandpit, belonged to the Co. Board. He also defended the club’s entitlement to a commission on championship games played on the pitch.

Known locally as a witty character and a tee totaller all his life, Joe was postman for the Clarinbridge/Stradbally and Maree areas delivering post on his bicycle. Sadly he was not around for the club’s success in winning 2 Co. Senior titles and an All Ireland final. It is the dedication of men like Joe that must never be forgotten because it inspires others to give unselfishly to the ‘Maroon and

White’.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

Beannachtaí na Nollag

Nollag Ó Cuinn - Cathaoirleach CLCG

Tá mé fíor bhuíoch do gach duine a thug cabhair don chumann i rith na bliana. Bhí bliain réasúnta maith againn. Comhgháirdeachais do na fóirne ar fad a thóg páirt, go mór mór na fóirne a thug abhaile na duaiseanna. Beannachtaí na Nollag agus na hathbhliana oraibh go léir.

Helen Ryan - Camógie Chairperson.

2014 has been a very successful year for the club with a significant increase in membership and silverware at underage and adult level. We are delighted that Clarinbridge Pharmacy will be our main sponsor for the next three years. Thanks to all the management

teams, parents, players, sponsors and the hurling club: our success this year is a reflection of your commitment and support. Wishing you and your families a very happy Christmas and looking forward to building on the success in 2015.

The Droichead Team:

Joe Murphy (Features), Carol Kelly (Typesetting & Camógie), Micheál Forde Jnr. (Hurling), Michael Butler (Juveniles) and Martin Greene (Club Executive).

We hope that you have enjoyed reading this newsletter during the year. Wishing you all a lovely Christmas and a happy and GAA filled New Year.

S en io r

Camóg ie

Juveniles

Reflecting on another great year for the club which saw us awarded Best Juvenile Club in Galway by the county board, we had huge crowds at U-6 and U-8's showing up for training, As we all know these lads can't drive so we thank all the mums and dads that brought them to the field and especially if they stayed to watch. We encourage these parents to become members if they are not already. U-10 and U-12 had great turn outs and while there are no county competitions, they performed well in all their games and their future is bright. At U-14 the lads again excelled under the guidance of Gerry Spelman and congratulations to Gerry on

his recent success with the Gort seniors. Well done once again to our U-16 hurlers and footballers who both took home county spoils this year. These hurlers have never lost a league or championship since U-12 - an amazing record to be very proud of. Special mention to their manager Jarlath Niland who has been with them throughout this period. The last lads out this season were the U-15s who won a tight county final by two points against a strong Turloughmore team under Michael Butler with great help from Brendan Touhy, Eanna Ryan and Jarlath Niland. It was great to see players like our captain Sean Tynan, Shane Donoghue,

Dylan Butler, Luke Egan, and others gain confidence and belief in themselves. Well done to Sean Tynan for taking on the captaincy and showing great leadership both on and off the field and thanks to the parents for their support and having the lads always on time.

Lastly we would like to encourage everyone

to become a member of Clarinbridge GAA

club. Membership can be paid in January

and this year we have some great value for

families. Finally, wishing you all a very

Happy Christmas and hope to see you all in

the New Year.

Clarinbridge hurlers won their first ever Junior B Co. Final on 27th November in Ballinderreen after a hard hitting encounter with Kinvara on a score line of 2:9 to 2:5.

Kinvara started stronger and were 2 points up after five minutes. Liam Donoghue had to cry off with a hamstring on seven minutes after scoring a point on the run. Half way through the first half Clarinbridge suffered another blow when Aidan Quinn, at full forward had to call it a day after pulling his hamstring. He was replaced by Brian Carr. Cian Coughlan was beginning to dominate the mid-field area and delivered good ball to the forwards while Daniel Ryan and Damien McLoughlin were doing well in defence. John Cannon scored a classy point from 70 yards out, which was followed by a Kinvara point leaving the half time score 6 points to 3 in our favour.

Early in the second half Brian Carr had to depart due to injury and was replaced by fellow Cave man, Micheál Forde. It was a fairy tale day for Forde who crashed two goals to the Kinvara net in what was an inspirational substitution by manager Jamie Cannon. Padraig Cormican pointed for Clarinbridge before Kinvara retaliated with a goal and to add spice to the game they netted a second goal two minutes later.

It was a nervous ending for the ‘Bridge but their sterling defenders meant that there was no way through for Kinvara with Ronan Geraghty and Cathal Connolly holding firm to the end.

It was a great way to finish the year for Clarinbridge and it was lovely to see that Liam Donoghue and Barry Daly played a role in both the camógie and hurling county

successes. A win to savour over the Christmas.

We are delighted to announce Clarinbridge Pharmacy as our major club sponsor for the next three years (above). We are indebted to John and Aoife Killeen for their generosity. We also thank our other kind sponsors this year: Paddy Burkes, Morans’ Oyster Cottage, Clarinbridge Garden Centre, Árd Rí Windows, AXA Insurance

and St. Columba’s Credit Union. We urge our members and friends to support all our sponsors in 2015. Our U-13 girls (right) ended

the year on a high with a fine

ten point win over Oranmore

Maree in the City League final.

This was a super achievement

for these girls who progressed

with every game of their campaign. Well

done to all involved.

The Juniors were narrowly defeated by

Athleague in the Connacht Final in front of

a fine home support. The girls have already

turned their attention towards next season

and are eagerly anticipating playing at

Intermediate level. With the club also

making great strides at underage, the future

looks bright. Many thanks to all those who

supported our teams in any way this year.

Stephen Ryan, Kilcolgan RIP

Sincere sympathies to the Ryan family on the death of Stephen (52). A prominent player on the Clarinbridge Intermediate team which won the club’s first adult Co. Championship title in 1983, he played a star role in the Co. Quarter Final against Craughwell when moved from his customary corner forward position to midfield. A true Gael, he played for a short time with St. Gabriel’s in London and his family continue his GAA legacy on the playing pitch with the Ballinderreen club. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a

anam dílis.