Guests - Daniel Hughes (Saval and Down), Mal
O’Hare (former county footballer) and
Leanne Oakes (Down Clubmark Development Officer)
Under 12
Sportsperson of the Year Patrick Keenan &
Barry McAnulty
Player of the Year Kevin Keenan
Outstanding Contribution Conor Gilmore
Under 14
Sportsperson of the Year Rory Doyle
Player of the Year Darren Burns
Outstanding Contribution Hugh Flanagan
Under 16
Sportsperson of the Year Declan Gilmore
Player of the Year David Milling (Frankie
Rooney Memorial Cup)
Outstanding Contribution Anthony Doran
Under 18
Sportsperson of the Year Thomas Levaranus
Player of the Year Conor & Ryan Flanagan
Outstanding Contribution Sammy Truesdale &
Gerard McAnulty
Ladies Football
Sportsperson of the Year Martina Cunningham
Most Improved Juvenile Cushla Savage
Player of the Year Aoife McClean
Camogie
Sportsperson of the Year Sinead McMullan
Player of the Year Shileen McDonald
Merit Awards
Young Referee Cormac McMullan
Young Coaches Daniel McKay, Neil Magorrian,
Gerard McAnulty
Scór na nÓg Shane Rice, Siobhan
McCann, James Walsh, Siobhan Walsh, Neil Magorrian,
Martina Cunningham, Dervla Arkins and Catherine
Walsh.
East Down Gaels All including Glenn McBride
of Drumaroad and Peter Watts of Clarkhill
Juvenile Clubperson Gerard McAnulty (Gus McElroy
Memorial Cup)
The St John’s clubrooms were packed
on Friday 23rd November as the Brendan McCann,
MC for the evening, welcomed young and old
to the 2007 St John’s juvenile presentation
evening. All age groups and their mentors
were well represented from the under-8 through
to the minors. Guest of honour for the evening
was Daniel Hughes of Saval and Down who spoke
of the need for young players to work hard
to develop their skills, to work for each
other and to demonstrate loyalty and commitment
to their club. Our other guests were Mal O’Hare,
former county footballer and Leanne Oakes,
Down Clubmark Development Officer.
The awards started with the under-12 age groups
and the first people to be called forward
were Patrick Keenan and Barry McAnulty who
shared the accolade of “Sportsperson
of the Year” for this group. Patrick
was heralded for his hard work all year, always
supporting his team mates even when things
weren’t going according to plan and
always attending training sessions. Barry
was commended as he too always worked hard
and gets on well with everyone in the teams
he plays for. He always gives 100% and is
always at training.
Next up was Conor Gilmore who received the
“Outstanding Contribution” award
– he was described as a pleasant young
gentleman who has everything you could ask
for in a player at this grade and can only
improve as he progresses through the age groups.
Completing the under-12 awards was Kevin
Keenan – “Player of the Year”
– he is indeed a workhorse for his team-mates,
he has outstanding ability and has a lot more
to give. No doubt he will do so as he matures.
At under-14 level the “Player of the
Year” was Darren Burns. He was described
as a good strong honest player who will always
give 100% and more if necessary, he is never
afraid to take the initiative and take the
scores as well – he can be a leader
of the future. The other under-14 awards went
to Hugh Flanagan – “Sportsperson
of the Year” - and Rory Doyle –
“Outstanding Contribution”. Brendan
McCann described Hugh as “the wee guy
with the big heart” and he can play
a bit of football as well. Rory is a player
who seems to have a hand in everything that
is going on around him and he never tires
in his duties.
Stepping up to under-16 level the “Sportsperson
of the Year” title went to Declan Gilmore
– a player with a great attitude to
his game and always willing to learn and indeed
help others. Hopefully this will rub off on
his team-mates. It is no surprise that Declan
won this award last year as well – two
in a row – well done Declan.
Anthony Doran has come on in leaps and bounds
this year. He has had a change of attitude
and temperament which can only be good for
those around him. He was the most improved
players in the under-14 squad last year and
that improvement is obviously continuing as
he picked up the “Outstanding Contribution”
award
The Frankie Rooney Memorial Cup goes to the
under-16 “Player of the Year”
and this year it was picked up by “a
giant amongst men. Someone who is sure in
his handling, strong on the ball and direct
in his approach; someone who has the ability
to become a very valuable asset to the development
of our future teams” Our under-16 “Player
of the Year” accolade was won by David
Milling.
Thomas Levaranus was recognised as the “Sportsperson
of the Year” at minor level –
he attended “90%” of the training
sessions, worked at 100% during training and
on his own as well. He is improving his stamina
and work rate and shows a very positive attitude.
The other awards at minor level were shared.
The “Outstanding Contribution”
make by both Sammy Truesdale and Gerard McAnulty
was recognised. These two did indeed make
outstanding contributions week in and week
out all season from their ability to win possession
in difficult areas and turn it into positive
advantageous situations. Their presence, even
though somewhat different in style, on the
field spurs on and encourages the other players
to stick to their tasks and to believe in
themselves. The duo are “class acts”
and no doubt will go onto even better things.
The minor “Player of the Year”
award was shared by Conor and Ryan Flanagan.
It is often difficult to separate these two
and this proved to be the case again. Brendan
reported that looking back though his notes
from previous years their names kept cropping
up. In the 2001 season, six years ago, one
of them won a share of the under-12 Player
of the Year award while the other was “Sportsperson
of the Year”. Every year since, Brendan
went on, it seemed that he had been calling
out the same names for similar and other awards.
Surely these statistics tell us something
of the measure of these two players. Their
commitment, attitude, dedication, and lifestyle
will surely reap their rewards now as they
head into the senior ranks. Brendan concluded
“if anyone wants to know how St John’s’
Youth Policy is progressing – well here’s
your answer.”
Brendan McCann then gave out the first awards
for Ladies Football at juvenile level –
our team is only in its infancy but already
beginning to make its mark. Brendan knows
a thing or two about this group as he is co-manager.
The “Sportsperson of the Year”
award went to Martina Cunningham – she
is a dedicated and n committed player, attending
training as regularly as she can and always
gives 100% in game situations and can score
as well. She has the ability and attitude
to grow into a mature player.
Cushla Savage was the “Most Improved
Juvenile Girl”. She more than holds
her own with the boys at under-10 and even
under-12 levels. She was a good player at
the start of the year and if this improvement
continues in the years ahead she will be truly
outstanding.
The girls “Player of the Year”
accolade went to Aoife McClean – she
has a very good attitude towards her game.
She goes about he job with a certain aplomb,
has improved her basic skills and especially
the tackle which is the hardest skill of al
to master. She is also a good honest hard-working
player.
We have presented awards to underage camogie
players before, but not for the past couple
of years. Therefore it was good to see them
recognised again. The juvenile camogie “Player
of the Year” was Shileen McDonald. Shileen
has so much talent – her stamina was
described as her greatest asset, but she also
has a “never give up” attitude
and is constantly involved in all that is
happening on the field so it is no surprise
that she collects awards like this year after
year.
Sinead McMullan was recognised as the juvenile
camogie “Sportsperson of the Year”.
She has loads of talent but her low-key personality
holds her ability in check somewhat. As she
builds her self-confidence her ability will
show through and she will become a top player.
With footballers, ladies football and camogie
recognised attention then turned to some “whole
club” issues. Cormac McMullan was given
a “Merit Award” for his work as
a young referee. Not every young person has
the desire to become a referee but in Cormac
we have someone with that vocation. He has
refereed at the Go Games and at several other
games and it was in recognition of this selfless
contribution that he was given the merit award.
Another “Merit Award” went to
“Young Coaches”. This is now an
on-going award to recognise the under-18s
who give up their time to help with running
the younger teams. The award went to Daniel
McKay, Neil Magorrian and Gerard McAnulty
– hopefully others will join their ranks
in the New Year.
The St John’s set dancing team which
won the County Scór na nÓg title
for the third consecutive year were also recognised
– Shane Rice, Siobhan McCann, James
Walsh, Siobhan Walsh, Neil Magorrian, Martina
Cunningham, Dervla Arkins and Catherine Walsh.
Mal O’Hare was then invited to come
forward to make presentations to the players
from the East Down Gaels special needs group.
These boys and girls had attended Summer Camps
at St John’s last year and this. The
squad, including locals Glenn McBride of Drumaroad
and Peter Watts of Clarkhill, had gone on
to play in the half-time games during the
Ulster Championship at Clones. We are delighted
to be involved with this good work –
gaelic games are for everyone a St John’s.
St John's U-10s
Under-8s and under-10s were left to the end
of the evening proceedings for a very good
reason. Both teams brought silverware back
to the club this year. Between them the under-10s
and under-8s played 26 matches in Go Games
and tournaments this year. From the panel
of under-8s twelve players were picked to
play a 9-a-side tournament in An Riocht. This
young team played and beat teams like Castlewellan,
Rostrevor, Ballyholland and An Riocht to take
the Shield that day. From the under-10s panel
a team was picked to play at an indoor tournament
at the same venue. We were the only East down
team to be invited. Our youngsters went into
the heart of South Down and took the medals,
the trophy and the accolades. They beat Longstone,
An Riocht, Mayobridge and Rostrevor in the
final. Everyone in the under-10 and under-8
panels received a medal.
The last award was for the “Juvenile
Clubperson of the Year”. The Gus McElroy
Memorial Cup is awarded for the young people
who have made the greatest contribution to
the life of the club, be it on the playing
field, through Scór na nÓg,
through their involvement in coaching or whatever.
The nominees were Daniel McKay, Ryan Gordon,
Gerard McAnulty, Siobhan McCann.
Sport has often been described as achieving
personal goals. This demands dedication, sacrifice
and commitment. However, other qualities such
as loyalty and recognition of the contribution
of others in the development of sporting talent
is recognised by the true sportsperson.
To embrace other sporting codes, with their
particular skills and ethos, helps develop
the truly rounded sportsperson. This adds
to and improves their team’s performance.
The St John’s Youth Person also gives
back some of what they themselves have received.
Whilst all the nominees are of such a young
age this quality is evident in all of them.
The St John’s Juvenile Clubperson for
2007 has all the above qualities and attributes.
The winner is someone who has set tremendous
example to all in the club – Gerard
McAnulty.
Chairperson Jackie McMullan concluded the
evening by congratulating all the prise winners
and all the players who won nothing but had
worked hard all year. She also thanked our
guests Daniel Hughes, Mal O’Hare and
Leanne Oakes, those who had coached the children
all year and those behind the scenes who had
made this such a successful evening for St
John’s.
