BEFORE St Andrew’s steps up to the many challenges of senior football, they took time out to hold their awards night and dinner dance at the Woodford Dolmen Hotel on Friday 10 March.
Shane Clarke, Kim Whelan, Anna Meaney and Jamie Clarke
The event was held to mark the club’s successful progress through the 2016 Carlow intermediate football championship and to give due recognition to the many people, both on and off the field, who contributed to the club’s return to senior ranks for 2017.
There was a great turnout of players, their families, friends and supporters with an attendance in excess of 170 showing their appreciation for all the hard work carried out during the 2016 season.
Katie Donoghue and Liam Galway
Chairperson Aidan Coburn expressed the club’s appreciation to all for their support and, in particular, for the presence of Carlow GAA chairman Sean Campion, the representatives of Muinebheag juvenile club, Erin’s Own hurling club and the club’s sponsors MCM Engineering, Clear Connections, Brennan Agri. Trailers, KD Flooring and Barrow Training.
Members of the St Andrew’s committee pictured at their dinner dance in the Woodford Dolmen
Sean Campion addressed the gathering and congratulated the club on their progress in 2016. He paid special tribute to Liam Barry and George Darcy for their sterling work as county board officers and to Ken Hickey for all his dedicated work as manager of the county minor football team.
Declan Salter, John Doyle, Teresa Meaney, Margaret Doyle and John Doyle
He also congratulated the Presentation De La Salle College football team on their outstanding achievement in reaching the upcoming All-Ireland schools senior football ‘C’ final. Included on the school’s panel are 10 members of the club’s minor team.
Liam Cummins and Aoibheann Hickey
There was also special mention given during the night to the St Andrew’s minors and juniors, and to the U21s who only lost a thrilling final to Éire Óg by the very smallest of margins. One of the club’s players, Leon Power, was also congratulated for his work in coaching the Presentation De La Salle College U19 girls basketball team to their recent All-Ireland title.
Jamie Whelan, Shauna Fitzpatrick, Rachel O’Brien and Alan Whelan
Tokens of appreciation were presented to Ann Hickey and Carol Clarke for their unseen and unheralded work for the club during the year and there were also presentations of framed scrolls of appreciation to club sponsors.
It was then the turn of the panel of players who all stepped forward together to accept their intermediate championship medals from Sean Campion.
Finally, the Young Player and Senior Player of the Year awards were presented to Jamie Clarke and John Doyle respectively who contributed massively to the club’s championship-winning season.
