Clonduff
Awards Night for 2002 - 12/02/2003
Taken from The Outlook Website
Wednesday the 5th February 2003
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Pictured at the Clonduff GAC
annual awards night are Mrs Madeline Brown,
who received the Jubilee team award for Pat
Brown, with her sons Patrick and Maurice and
grandson Jason (right) joint minor player of
the year.
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THE Golf Club Inn at Newry was the
venue on Saturday night for the Clonduff GAA
Dinner Dance and presentation of
awards. Upwards of 300 guests were welcomed by Fear
A Ti Jerry Quinn who introduced the guests, who reflected
the wide ranging interests in the club.
Guests included were; Club President Canon A Davies,
Dinny Cahill manager of the Antrim Hurling team, Helen
McAleavey Chairperson Ulster Camogie Council, Eileen
Hamill Chairperson Clonduff Camogie Club, Marion Murphy
(St Patrick’s School) Vincent Devlin (St Paul’s
Cabra), Club Referees John A Gribben and Ciaran Brannagan,
Frank Dawson (2002 Football team manager) Paddy Braniff
(2002 Hurling team manager) Paddy Moran (Branch John
O’Neill INF). Members of the 1952 team with their
families were also present.
Club Chairman John McPolin welcomed patrons and guests
and reflecting on the past year thanked all those
who in any way helped to keep the club on the high
level of activity that it pursues.
Speaking on behalf of the County Board the vice chairman
Jerry Quinn thanked the club for the huge contribution
which they make to the affairs of Cumann Luthchleas
Gael in the county, a contribution which encompasses
Administration, Games Development and cultural Activities.
Three club members Jerry Quinn, HJ Harper and Fintan
Mussen are all members of the county management and
all three play a major part in the administration.
Each holds down his own post and also serves on a
number of sub committees. Other club members of the
club who also serve include Anita Brannagan who brings
her expertise to the IT committee. Des McNeill is
the secretary of the Development committee, and also
serves on the Handball committee along with Tony Wilson
and Brendan Murray is a member of Bord Na nOg.
“Members of your club also play an active role
in the promotion of our games and the development
of our county teams. Johnnie McComiskey is a valued
member of Paddy O’Rourke’s management team,
Martin Farnon is a member of the U21 Football management
team and Ross Carr who brought so much honour to the
county is now the minor team manager and players from
your club are in all our county football teams. Your
hurlers have formed the backbone of the county Junior
hurling team and Sean Cairns was a valued member of
Paddy Braniff’s back up team”, Mr Quinn
said.
The vice chairman thanked the club referees J.A. Gribben
and Ciaran Brannagan for their input into the playing
of our games.
Trophies presented were, Camogie, Junior league and
championship winners, runners up Senior League. The
Camogie trophies were presented by Helen McAleavey.
Football; Premier Reserve league winners, U21 Football
runners up (South Down), presented by Canon Davies.
Hurley; League Division 2 winners, Junior Championship
winners, Betsy Gray Shield winners, presented by Dinny
Cahill.
Individual awards presented;
Senior Camogie Player; Guenevra McGilligan
Junior Camogie Player; Ursula Quinn
Ladies Football Player of the Year; Joanne Brannagan.
Minor Footballer; (Brown Bros. Trophy) Joint Award,
Jason Brown and Eamon O’Reilly.
U21 Footballer; (Pat Brown memorial Trophy) Gary McDonald.
Reserve Footballer; (Horseshoe bar Trophy) Hugh McShane.
Seconds Team player; Bradley Family Trophy; Joint
Award Joe McGinn and Aidan Carr.
Senior Footballer; Peter McGinn Trophy; Padrig Matthews.
Senior Hurler (James Matthews Memorial Trophy) Sean
Curran.
Most Improved Hurler (Paddy Braniff trophy) Fionbharr
Murphy.
Club Person of the Year (Hugh McShane memorial Trophy)
Brian McGreevy.
Hall of Fame (PJ McAlinden memorial Trophy; Patrick
Gribben.
Jubilee Team
The Fear a Ti in his preamble to the presentation
of the Golden Jubilee gave a brief resume of the years
ahead of the 1952 championship. The club had won the
county senior football championship in 1944, ‘45,
‘47 and ‘49 and six players from the club
had been part of the county team which won the All
Ireland Junior title in 1946. Because the team had
been suspended in 1950 they had not been allowed to
defend their title and when they did get the opportunity
to do so they were defeated in the first round in
1951. If the team was not to be remembered for all
the wrong reasons they needed to win another championship
and for that reason 1952 was special. Some of the
old stalwarts like PA Morgan Frank Murray and J.J.
Brown had hung up the boots, some like Eamon Andy
Paddy and James were coming to the end of their careers,
but there were young players coming along to fill
those boots.
Two of these young players had just helped St Colman’s
College to win their first ever MacRory cup and were
making a huge impression in Ulster Colleges and Down
football. The team had to win one more championship,
to erase the memory of the suspension and to preserve
the wonderful memories of the 40s.
Golden Jubilee trophies were presented to Paddy O’Hagan
(captain) John Lowry, John Gribben(rep by Sally),
Eamon Grant (Bridie) James Brown (Irene) Patrick Gribben,
Kevin Mussen, Jim Devlin, Andy Murnin ( Jim) Sean
Spiers, Tom Travers, Henry Downey (John O’Hagan),
Willie Ronan, Robbie Ronan, Henry Brown (Lily) Leo
Lowry Pat Maginnis (Conor) Desi McGarry(Mary) Liam
O’Hagan Pat Brown (Madeline) Eddie Gribben Stephen
Murnin.
