The impressive Collooney handball 40 x 20 court
Legendary players Mick Kelly & Paddy Walsh cut the tape to mark the new court open
All-Ireland handball 60 x 30 champions in 2014: Paddy Walsh & Shane Bruen
The majestic Collooney handball 40 x 20 comples
The committee to beat all committees
The winning team: Shane Malone main contractor, Hugh McGarry Development Chairman and P.J. Moran Architect/Engineer
Collooney handball
Club P.R.O. report 2014 By Michael McGee
Bingo huge success story, All Ireland 60 x 30 Champions Paddy Walsh & Shane
Bruen, the new 40 x 20 handball court opens, club hosts its first 40 x 20 tournament some
of the highlights in a never to be forgotten year.
Collooney handball
club celebrate an historical year
The first handball for our club
players was the annual Gerard Jones Memorial Handball Tournament over in
Castleconnor on the last Sunday in January.
The club’s players that took part were
Gerry Coleman,Shane Bruen, Stanley Harte Snr & Jnr, Martin
Brannigan, Paddy Walsh, Emmett Brannigan.
Castleconnor’s Martin Cooney & Micheal Jones won the tournament.
Stanley Harte Snr & Mark Murphy took home the plate final by 31-28 over Michael Browne & Barry
McLoughlin.
Later that same week club members
met Minister for Sport Michael Ring to thank him for his efforts in the club
receiving €50,000 funding from the Department of Sports & Tourism and ask
him for help in getting funds to finish off the 60 x 20 court.
The Connacht 40x 20 championships
began in early February and unfortunately most of our players fell at the first
hurdle. Shane Bruen was well on course for victory in the Masters B singles but
a finger injury seriously hampered him in his eventual loss to Bofield’s
Michael Ginley.
In the colleges championships Pat
Fox representing St. Mary’s College Ballisodare
had a dramatic win over Aaron Scollan representing Ballinamore Community College. Fox fell behind
losing the first game before levelling it 15-11 in game two. In the tie breaker
Fox was 12-0 with Scollan just needing 3
points for overall victory. Somehow and somewhere Fox conjured an unlikely
victory when defeating Scollan in a dramatic finish 15-14 at the finish.
However Fox could not keep up the momentum and fell at the semi-final stage to
a Galway opponent in St. Mary’s
Salthill.
Progress on the new handball
court was well advanced and by St. Patrick’s Day the roof was on and work was
starting indoors.
In October the Jim Bergin Shield was
presented to the club by Jim Gilligan.
At the opening of the court in 1928 Joe & Paddy Bergin who were
residing in Tipperary at the time played
Jim Hunt & Eddie Perry. Joe Bergin
won the Junior Softball doubles with Michael O’Gorman. The shield will be used
for a Juvenile club tournament. The club
are indebted to the Bergin Family for their very welcome and generous
sponsorship
Provincial successes for Peter Chambers, Stanley Harte, Paddy Walsh
& Shane Bruen
The following month the 60 x 30
championships was in full swing and a number of our club players played
outstanding handball on the way to the All-Ireland finals. In the minor doubles
final Stanley Harte & Pat Fox lost to Mayo’s Niall Joyce and Sean Cunnane.
Peter Davey lost out to Joe Neary in the final of the Diamond Masters B
singles. Shane Bruen powered his way to
a tie break win over Mayo’s Michael Ginley played in Ballymote. In the Provincial final Shane defeated
Roscommon’s John Kenney 21012,21-10. And followed this up with a win in the
doubles with Castleconnor’s Martin Cooney over Roscommon’s John Kennedy &
Seamie Connolly by 21-15, 21-2
Club’s €200,000 40 x 20 court is finally opened
August 29th will go
down in the Club’s history with the opening of the new €200,000 40x 20 handball
court. A huge attendance which included
Joe Taaffee G.A.A. Co. Board Chairman , Eamon McMunn Sligo G.A.A. administrator
along with Wexford Handball Secretary Tony Breen and his wife Betty made the
long journey from Wexford. It was Tony’s second visit to Collooney within a few
days and I want to thank him for his wonderful words of encouragement he gave on our historic opening.
Shane Malone was the main
contractor and P.J. Moran was the architect /Engineer on the project. Malone’s
team also included Jimmy Kilgallon, Eamon Waters, Padraic Harte, Michael Harte
& the Walsh Brothers. The work of
Shane Malone and his team was first class and it is a testimony to their
professionalism that the playing court is of an excellent standard.Fr. Pat
Peyton P.P. Collooney and Rev Adam Pullen Ballisodare gave the ecumenical
blessing. Two of our legendary players
Mick Kelly & Paddy Walsh had the honour of cutting the tape to open the new court. Indeed it was a double
celebration for Paddy as he celebrated his 74th birthday the very same day. In another excellent speech by Club
Development Chairman Hugh McGarry he thanked everyone who made it all possible
and especially to all the club’s loyal bingo players who without their support
it would not have been possible. Hugh
remembered the great friends who are now
deceased people like Willy Loftus, Ned Connelly, Mrs Jackson, Mickey Finn,
Kathleen Finn, Gabriel Walsh & John
O’ Hora and there was a minutes silence for all the deceased.
Hugh and all in the club were
delighted to see Michael McElroy son of William McElroy the first club
secretary in 1928 looking hale and hearty in attendance. The Committee comprised of Hugh McGarry
Development Chairman, Connell Cannon, Shane Bruen, Stanley Harte Snr, Brendan
Carey, Peter Chambers, Seamus Duffy,
Denise Mullin, Aoife McDonagh, Michael McGee, Paddy Walsh, Peter Davey
& Mick Kelly were also thanked by
Hugh for their heroic efforts.
In the All-Ireland semi-finals
Shane Bruen had an 21-10, 21-14 victory over Limerick’s Mike O’ Connor. Bruen
& Cooney made the long journey to Dungarvan where the duo defeated
Tipperary’s David Tobin & Paul Maher
21-8, 21-10 in a hard fought game in the Masters B doubles. In the Golden Masters B doubles Stanley Harte &
Peter Chambers journey to Broadford in Limerick was a fruitless one when losing
out to Tony Hayes & Tom O’Shea.
Bruen and Walsh All-Ireland handball champions in 2014
And so it was onto the
All-Ireland finals in the Na Fianna Club in Dublin. Shane Bruen captured a long overdue
All-Ireland 60 x30 Masters B singles title with an 21-17, 21-9 victory over Wexford’s
John Roche. Paddy Walsh was in Crinkle
for his final date with his old foe in Dublin’s Mick O Brien. Walsh was in imperious form when accounting for the
Dubliner in 3 games by 17-21, 21-14,
21-1. It was Paddy’s 30th
All-Ireland title win an astonishing achievement by our legend. He won his first title back in 1974 and is
still going strong, still hungry for more success. One week later Shane & Martin Cooney travelled
to Crinkle, to take on Wexford pairing John Roche & Damien Kelly. In a close first game Bruen & Cooney did
just enough to take the opening game by 21-18. In the second their great
workrate continued while Wexford’s challenge wilted under the constant pressure
exerted by the Yeats County men. In the end Bruen & Cooney powered home by
21-10. I want to congratulate both Paddy Walsh & Shane Bruen (2)
All-Ireland titles success in 2014 a magnificent achievement. A number of weeks
later the duo were feted by the club and received pieces of Galway Crystal in
recognition of their achievements in 2014. In the Club 60 x 30 Championships Collooney easily overcame
Curraghboy in the Connacht final but
came unstuck in the All-Ireland semi-final against Broadford from Limerick. The
team on duty were Stanley Harte Jnr, Michael McMorrow, Michael McGee, Peter
Chambers & Stanley Harte Snr. With a little bit more preparation the team
has the potential of going a step further in 2015.
In the club’s first handball
tournament to be played in the new handball 40x 20 court Team G of Joe McCann , Pat Fox, Michael
Browne, Aoife Quinn, Michael Murphy & Liam Naughton defeated Team C of Michael Ginely, Pat O’Sullivan, Martin
Golden, Connell Cannon & Martin Brannigan by 123-104. Much praise must go
to Connell Cannon who organised the tournament.
A new venture the club got involved
with is the Ocean FM Sports Radio Quiz and is an extra dimension to the club’s
publicity. The team of Aoife McDonagh, Gerry Coleman and I have now reached the
quarter finals of the competition.
Just at the end of December news
came though that World Handball Champion Paul Brady will be coming to
Collooney. This has given everyone in the club a massive lift right at the start of
the new year and we await to see the world champion showing his skills in our
new court.
Club Committee
I would like to thank everyone
who made this year an extra special year in the history of our club. As a whole
this committee that I am so proud to have played my small part worked endlessly
and they never wilted or faltered. With this highly committed group there was
no taking no for an answer their resolve was heart warming and their utter
determination and steadfastness to make the project a success has to be
commended.
I want to thank everyone who
worked so hard in the last number of years Brendan Carey who is stepping down
as Chairman after having served over 40 years as Club Chairman. Brendan must be
one of the longest serving Chairman in any club in the Country. He is deserving
of his retirement and sincere thanks to Brendan for all his work in the last 4
decades. Hugh McGarry as we all know is the leading light. Hugh, like Brendan
is stepping down having served as 4 years of development Chairman. I can only
hope his impending departure will be a short one. He has fought and fought for
this court and I know he will be bring this great fight with him as he takes on
other personal challenges in the year
ahead. And I want to wish Hugh the very best with this. And I know he will be back bigger, better,
and stronger for it. Also, I want to thank Connell Cannon, Shane Bruen & Stanley
Harte for all their great work on the
committee in the last numbers of years . I know Shane has said he wants to step down
as Secretary but I would like to encourage him to stay on at least for one more
year as he has done a good job for us as Secretary. Peter “the great” Chambers did huge work for
us when securing the seats for the Collooney hall. Seamus Duffy is also very
helpful when recording club activities with his camera and I thank Seamus for
all his help in this regard. Peter Davey words or wisdom and his great work at
the bingo each week has to be commended. Aoife McDonagh on occasions has filled
in as Bingo Caller and has done an excellent job for us. Paddy Walsh helped to
organise a fundraising walk for us and Mick Kelly is always a source of great
encouragement. I want to thank each and every one of you for your tireless work
last year and in previous years. Congratulations to Mick & Sally Kelly who
celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary on Friday 12th
September last and I want to wish them both on behalf of the club every health
and happiness in the years to come.
McGarry’s midas touch
One man above all else stood out head
and shoulders above the rest and that is Hugh McGarry. From day one Hugh worked
tirelessly day and night and did exceptional and stupendous work for us. My dad
R.I.P. said to me many times that you have to die before you get praised but I want
to praise this man for what he has done for this club especially in the
last 5 years or so. He led by example and played a captain’s part his great
drive I believe rubbed off on all of us.
With the greatest of respect to all here present I believe Hugh was the
only one that could deliver this project to a successful conclusion. The work he did for us was immeasurable. For
me the one thing that really sticks out in my mind apart from his great drive
and quiet determination and willingness to gently push us all and the club to
do the best that we could.
Hugh McGarry a captain apart
His speech at the Sod Turning in
May 2012 will always live long in the memory with me particular those last few
words when he said “Stick with us and we will do it. Is feidir Linn.” Hugh’s
prophetic words finally became a reality
last August and he had the biggest smile
of anyone of us that evening and I congratulate him and the entire team who
worked, worked and worked and never lost sight of what we all wanted to
achieve. Today, we have a beautiful 40x 20 court that matches any court in the country
if not in the World, a court we can be immensely proud off. This beautiful
building we are now in will be Hugh’s McGarry’s lasting legacy and as a team we
can all be hugely proud at what this club has achieved in a relative short
space of time. Like I said in the recent press “we dreamed an impossible dream.” From a small handball club in Sligo to
achieve what we did is something out of the ordinary, very special and
something we can all be proud off.
I also want to thank all our
loyal Bingo supporters who week in week out continue to support the club at the
Bingo without them there simply would be no 40x 20 court and we should never
lose sight of this. Members also
contribute €5 a week and i encourage everyone to keep supporting the club in
this way. We need to keep building on and improving the bingo for our loyal
patrons. We have to keep working hard in
order to bring down the debt.
Media exposure
The media are very important to
us and I am very happy the amount of publicity this club achieved in the last 12 months full pages in the local
press in the Sligo Champion my thanks to Michael Moran Sports Editor and to my
friends in the Sligo Weekender Liam Maloney the Sports Editor. There was also back pages and inside pages in
the “Into the West Magazine”, great coverage in the Sligo G.A.A website my
thanks to Eamonn McMunn, Hoganstand , twitter and National G.A.A. Handball
website. Ocean FM in particular Darragh
Cox sports editor has always being a good friend of ours on the airwaves along
with Ronan Moyles.
I started our own website back in
January and it is doing very well and highlighting the club activities. The
website address is http://collooneyhandballclub.blogspot.ie/ and has over 3,000
hits already. I want to encourage
everyone in the club to keep on sending me details of fixtures, results,
photos, news items etc and will publish them on our site.
Future development
There is still a great deal of work still to be done most notably on the 60 x 30
court with a new glass wall and gallery yet to be completed and i have no doubt this work
will also be finished
Also we need to bring in more
young players into the club boys and girls and pass on the love of handball
that we all have in order for future generations to keep enjoying playing the
sport. We had an Open Day in late December that was poorly attended and we need
to organise another one in the coming months to get new members taking up the
sport. We need also to support the likes
of Paddy Walsh, Mick Kelly, Stanley Harte, Shane Bruen who coach the young members.
Already, the likes of our young
stars such as Stanley Harte Jnr, Pat Fox and Tommy Trill are beginning to show
off their huge potential and this is a source of great satisfaction for the
club. The club has to have a vibrant underage structure for future success.
Finally i want to extend my
sincere sympathies to everyone who had bereavement in 2014. My own Dad Michael
Snr R.I.P.comes immediately to mind. Lastly, want to wish everyone in the club
a very happy, prosperous and sporting new year.
Michael McGee Club PRO
