Glasdrumman
G.A.C. Awards Night 2003 - 02/02/03
By Tony Bannon PRO Glasdrumman G.A.C.
A well known politician used the
phrase “EDUCATION EDUCATION EDUCATION” as catch phrase
to get elected. At Glasdrumman ‘s annual award night
on Saturday past in the Balmoral Hotel, Warrenpoint
all speakers used the word DETERMINATION to sum up
the Mourne Club’s drive to promotion in the past year.
Club joint president Father Michael
Murray in his address to the guests ,recalled how
at one particular match against Bosco at the Quarter
Road things were not going well with Glasdrumman trailing
at half-time and looking as if there was no way back.
He noted that the second half performance full of
DETERMINATION, grit and skill convinced him that this
year was to be ours. He congratulated the Club not
only on the Senior team’s achievement but also on
the club’s central role in the community and wished
everyone a very successful new season.
After thanking the Balmoral Hotel
for their excellent hospitality and service Club Chairman
Dan McCArtan in his address not only commended the
Senior team players and mentors on their achievement
,he also praised the underage players and mentors,
our amalgamation partners Attical but also his fellow
committee members, club referees Terry Joyce and Patrick
Trimble ,County Board Delegate William James Smith
and the band of volunteers who assist in the provision
of transport ,fundraising and bringing to fruition
the billboards and floodlighting projects. He also
thanked all who assisted in the many cultural projects
Feis patronage and scholarship provision.
He thanked team sponsor Pat Maginn
of Quinn’s the Spirit Grocer Newcastle for his continuing
generosity and Pat and Emmet Haughian of the Halfway
House ,Annalong for their hospitality in the past
year.
In conclusion he stated the year
was going to be a challenging one but if met with
the same DETERMINATION our club would go from strength
to strength. He finished with the thought “ASK not
what your club can do for you but what can you do
for your Club.
First Guest speaker Double All Ireland
winning former Down manager Peter McGrath thanked
the Club for the kind invitation. He congratulated
the Senior team on promotion to Div 2 and recalled
attending the Club Dinner Dance in 1992 when the challenge
was to get out of Div 4 . He pointed the importance
of good underage structures to encourage the early
development of the skills and talent in the area.
He used the examples of Ballinderry and Mayobridge
to point to the success of good Youth development
practices. He was encouraged to hear of the cooperation
between ourselves and Attical in amalgamation. He
pointed out that with DETERMINATION,skill and hard
work the Club’s future success would flourish.
He thanked the Club and its’ supporters
for all the encouragement he received during his tenure
s County manager through both the goods and bad times
and looked forward to coming to the Quarter Road in
the season ahead.
Our last guest speaker Glasdrumman
man and Irish News editor Noel Doran held the audience
in thrall as he regaled all present with his humourous
, poignant, reflective and anecdotal potted history
of his and his brothers sucessful or not involvement
as players with the Club when he was growing up in
Glasdrumman. His stories about Killens Field the “character
building “ hammerings by Lisnacree, the formidable
home support of Glasdrumman and one Bridie Higgins
in particular struck chords of great fondness among
all present. He recalled the talent of players like
Liam and Dermot McGreevy, Kevin Joyce (the last Glasdrumman
man to feature in a Down Senior Squad) and Paddy (Crerand)
Cunningham scoring a vital goal for Down Minors in
Croke Park. He remembered the great joy that ran throughout
the Club when for the first time the Senior team won
its first trophy The Home Produce cup and how as a
special privilege they were allowed to drink tap water
from the cup.
The club’s proudest moment, he felt,
was when in 1997 at St. Patrick’s Park Newcastle the
Junior County Championship was won for the first time
. He re called the great boost it gave to his late
father (who was ill at the time ) when the trophy
was brought to him while he was convalescing. He congratulated
the team on the magnificent achievement and stated
that his father often said that in a parish with three
clubs the people of Glasdrumman had about them an
air of quiet DETERMINATION which would see them through
tough times and how proud he would be of the Club.
He was delighted to see that the Club was reverting
to the three colours for the Senior jersey inspired
by the late MASter Doran’s vision of Glasdrumman.
The GREEN of the grass, the BLUE of the sea and the
PURPLE of the heather . Turning to our other guest
he thanked Pete for bringing two all Irelands back
to the County and giving him some of the happiest
days of his life in Gaelic Games and pointed out the
huge support he had from the Glasdrumman contingent
throughout the 91 and 94 campaigns in particular the
presence of the HARDCORE ON TOUR BANNER and the appearance
of one MR. Liam Harrison on the roof of the Nally
Stand giving Down a psychological edge. He wished
Pete well for the future and looked forward with great
interest to the season ahead for his club Glasdrumman.
After the applause died down Club
Chairman thanked both Pete and Noel for their kind
words and extended a welcome to them both to the Quarter
Road. Noel was presented with a new jersey and Club
Clock made from Mourne Granite by Club man Patrick
Trimble. Peter was presented with a special gift in
gratitude for his encouragement.
The Club awards were as follows:
CLUBMAN OF THE YEAR (presented by Club treasurer Jim
Cunningham) Terry Joyce
Supporter of the year (presented by Club secretary
Art McCArtan ) Paddy Grant.
Next were the players awards.
Team Manager John McDowell thanked all the players
for their DETERMINATION ,hard work effort and skill
throughout the past season. He said success ws due
to hard work and help from a lot of people. He thaked
his fellow team mentors Terry Joyce and Paul McDowell
for their hard work and encouragement and said they
had the respect of both himself and all the players.
He paid tribute to Agnes Joyce who
ensured that the team was always well turned out.
He also thanked both Gerard McCartan
and Liam Murphy for helping out in his absence. He
also thanked team medical officer Carol Murphy who
assisted in the immediate and effective treatment
of injuries in the season past. He thanked the supporters
and exhorted all present that their support would
be crucial at ALLl the games in the season ahead.
He encouraged parents to send the young players to
training whenever it is organised as the YOUTH is
our Future. He encouraged all the players to show
the same DETERMINATION IN the year ahead.
Players Awards;
SENIOR PLAYER OF THE YEAR (JOINT AWARD)
(THE JACKIE O’HARE TROPHY) PRESENTED BY PETE MCGRATH
AND TERRY JOYCE :.
KEVIN BURNS AND MICK MOONEY
TRAINER OF THE YEAR (THE ARTHUR DORAN TROPHY ) PRESENTED
BY NOEL DORAN AND DAN MCCARTAN :
RONAN MCDOWELL
SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY PETER MCGRATH :
DECLAN GRANT
SPECIAL CONTRIBUTION TO UNDER AGE FOOTBALL PRESENTED
BY DAN MCARTAN.
ALAN GRANT
SPECIAL AWARD FOR SERVICES TO THE SENIOR TEAM PRESENTED
BY JOHN MCDOWELL :
SEAN MCDOWELL
SPECIAL PRESENTATION TO TEAM MENTORS BY DAN MCARTAN,
PETER MCGRATH AND NOEL DORAN TO:
TERRY JOYCE, PAUL MC DOWELL AND JOHN MCDOWELL
AWARDS ON BEHALF OF ATTICAL G.F.C. MINOR PLAYER OF
THE YEAR PRESENTED BY JOHN BRENNAN AND DAN MCCARTAN
:
FRANCIS O’NEILL
RUNNER UP U-16 PLAYER OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY JOHN
BRENNAN :
SEAN MCDOWELL
MEDALS FOR BALLYMARTIN SPORTS ; PRESENTED BY JOHN
BRENNAN TO
PAUL BRENNAN, SEAN MCDOWELL AND MARK GRANT
SPECAIL PRESENTAION TO SENIOR TEAM FOR GAINING PROMOTION
AND LEAGUE RUNNERS UP MEDALS PRESENTED BY PETER MCGRATH
AND DAN MACCATAN TO:
ROANAN MCDOWELL, KEVIN BURNS, MARK TRIMBL;E, SHAUN
BRENNAN, DANIEL MCCARTAN,SHANE O’NEILL,COLUM CARR,
FRANCIS O’NEILL, ROBBIE MCGIVERN, PAUL MCDOWELL, MICHAEL
MCGUINESS,GARY MCGREEVY,DECLAN MINOGUE, DECLAN GRANT,
BRIAN MCCAVERA, SHANE FEENEY, PAUL GRANT, BRIAN (OG)
BURNS,MARTINO’NEILL,PAT MALLON,EUGENE SMITH,GARY TRIMBLE,
RAYMOND CLARKE , RAYMOND MAGORRIAN, PAUL BRENNAN,
AND MICK MOONEY.
A great and memorable night topped
off by the very entertaining Francie C and the CASAblanca
Road show. On a personal note may I thank the three
photographers for their patience forbearance and professionalism
and most importantly their attendance
Tony Bannon PRO Glasdrumman G.A.C.
