Crusheen celebrate successful year

THREE hundred people attended Crusheen GAA’s victory function at the West County Hotel on Friday night to celebrate the club winning the Clare Senior Hurling Championship, intermediate hurling league and the Junior Camogie Championship and league titles.
Medals were presented to members of all three panels, presentations were made to the team mentors, while the identity of the hurlers of the year at minor, U-21, intermediate and senior levels were revealed.
Former national school principal, Gerry Kearney, a member of the senior backroom team when the club won its first county senior title in 2010, presented the senior medals, assisted by fellow Crusheen man and club sponsor Pat O’Donnell, both of whom later received special presentations from club chairman Colm O’Connor.
At the outset, O’Connor welcomed everyone to the function in the 125th year of the club, before explaining it was the unanimous decision of all that Gerry Kearney would present the medals.
The intermediate league medals were presented by county board chairman Michael O’Neill, who noted it was “a fantastic year when you were extremely unlucky not to have won the Munster title. Your performance in that competition augurs well for the future.”
Munster camogie’s development officer, Deirdre Murphy from Clooney-Quin, presented the camogie medals and paid special tribute to Mary Lenihan for her work for the game in the club. Camogie chairperson Michelle McMahon paid tribute to everyone on behalf of the camogie club.
“This is a special night for our parish. After the victory in 2010, it was difficult to get the minds focussed in the early part of 2011. When the groups were drawn, it helped to focus all minds,” team manager Michael Browne told the gathering. He said he “never saw a team so focussed as Crusheen were for the county final” and paid tribute to all the players and his fellow selectors. He described the performance by the team in the Munster club game against Carrigtwohill in Pairc Uí Caoimh as “very special”. There was, he said, “a tinge of sadness” that they didn’t win the provincial title.
Michael Fogarty spoke on behalf of the intermediate management team, while Stephen Cunningham spoke for the camogie management team and both paid tribute to the players for their efforts.
Senior captain Gerry O’Grady acknowledged the management team for their efforts and paid tribute to the supporters, before praising the club executive for their support.
Cian Dillon was named as the senior hurler of the year and was presented with the Liam Gleeson Memorial Trophy by Gerry Gleeson. The Paul McNamara Memorial Award for the top scorer at senior level was presented to Pat Vaughan by Biddy McNamara.
Rory Halpin received the Joseph Browne Memorial Award from Michael Browne when he was named the minor hurler of the year. Michael Greene presented the Trevor Greene Memorial Award to U-21 hurler of the year, Jamie Fitzgibbon. The Alan O’Donnell Memorial Award was presented by Michael O’Donnell to the intermediate player of the year, Jason Greene.
Club chairman Colm O’Connor and vice-chairman Brian Slevin presented bouquets of flowers to secretary Joanne Meaney and treasurer Orla O’Donnell for their work in organising Friday’s function. The MC for the evening was Syl O’Connor, PRO of Clare GAA.