By Seamus Hayes
The most successful year in the history of Cratloe GAA was celebrated by a sell out attendance at the Ryan Suite in the Radisson Blu hotel on Friday night.
Tickets for the victory social were sold out two weeks ago as members and supporters of the club all wanted to be in attendance to celebrate the Clare senior football (Jack Daly cup) and hurling (Canon Hamilton trophy) championship titles as well as their inaugural success in the Clare Champion cup (senior hurling league), the winning of the division 3 senior football league and the junior B football championship titles.
Photograph by John Kelly.
All star award winner Sean McMahon from St. Josephs, Clare’s All-Ireland winning centre back in 1995 and 1997, was in attendance to present the medals to all involved.
He joined with Munster Council chairman Robert Frost and Clare GAA chairman Michael McDonagh in congratulating all involved on their achievements during 2014.
Cratloe parish priest Fr. Liam Enright who is the club president also addressed the gathering.
The presentation ceremony was rolled into two elements with the football presentation taking place first followed by the hurling presentation. Football manager Colm Collins introduced the football medal winners and hurling manager Joe McGrath did likewise for the hurlers.
The club chairman told all present that it was an outstanding year and paid tribute to all involved. “Our fitness levels were very high and the regular matches at weekends helped our fitness. A Munster club would be the next step and this group are certainly capable of that but a lot of things need to fall
into place in any given year”. He went on to wish “both county teams success” in the year ahead.
