Roscrea Honours Sporting Heroes
On Friday last, Roscrea and the wider community gathered together in large numbers to recognise the sporting achievement of those from the area who have reached their highest echelons in their chosen sport.
The major sponsor again this year was Rosderra Meats who have sponsored the event for the past few years and without this support R.C.T.L.C. acknowledge that it would not be possible to continue staging these Sports Awards on an annual basis.
Many sports which are played in the area were represented in the Awards Presentation in Racket Hall Country House Hotel and the individual award winners
are profiled hereunder: -
Pictured are all the winners of the 2011 RCTLC Sports Awards. Also pictured are members of the organsing committee, the sponsors and guest of honour for the event, Marjorie McCorduck.
Hall of Fame Award
Jimmy Kelly
The Hall of Fame at the RCTLC Sports Awards was awarded to Jimmy Kelly from Borris in Ossory. Jimmy received his secondary education at St.Kieran’s College, Kilkenny.He played a number of matches in the 1947-48 Leinster Colleges championship, but missed out on the Leinster and All Ireland finals due to illness.
He won a Leinster Colleges senior hurling medal with Kierans in 1949. There was no All Ireland final that year. He played for Leinster Colleges against Munster. He was on the Borris in Ossory minor team which was beaten by Abbeyleix in the county final of 1948. He played with Belmont in the Offaly junior championship in 1952. In 1953 he was on the Borris in Ossory team that won the Laois intermediate title. Senior county medals followed in 1956, 1957, 1960 and 1961. He played with Laois in the Leinster championships of 1956 and 1957. In 1970 he was on the Borris team that defeated Timahoe in the county junior final, and was the top scorer in the championship for them.
Contribution to Sport Award
Gerry Slevin
At last year’s R.C.T.L.C.’s Sports Awards Presentation Ceremony the late Gerry Slevin presented a narration on each Award recipient as he/she came forward for their Award, and as he had done for a number of previous Award Presentations.
This was not Gerry’s only involvement with the R.C.T.L.C. Awards as he was also a member of the press adjudicating committee who decided on the Award recipients and was a valued member of that committee with a huge depth of knowledge in sport.
Special Recognition Award :Martin Byrne
Garda Martin Byrne received a Special Achievement Award at the R.C.T.L.C. Awards ceremony for reaching the summit of Mount Everest on May 26th last. In doing so at 58 years of age he became the 19th Irish person to do so, the oldest Irish person and the only ever serving member of the Garda Siochana to reach the summit of the World's highest mountain.
Special Recognition Award Rugby
Denis Meagher/Ger Horan
Badminton Award
Roscrea Badminton Club: - Chairman Brian King Accepted The Award
If cups or trophies count for anything which invariably they do, then 2011 was without doubt the most successful year in Roscrea Badminton Club’s history. In 2011 the Club contested 16 finals and won it’s second All-Ireland in two years, making Roscrea Badminton Club one of the most successful in the country last season.What is more staggering about last year’s success is that the club was only reformed in 2006 with just six members.
David Power, manger of the winning Tipperary Minor All-Ireland Football team 2011 congratulates Brian King, Chairman of Roscrea Badminton Club and fellow members on the Club’s RCTLC Sports Award which was presented on Friday evening last in the Racket Hall Hotel.
L/R:
Pat Hartnett, David Power, Brian king, Frank Coleman, and Therese Dooley.
Since then we have gone from strength to strength with many members who never picked up a racquet in their lives before 2006, having won county and provincial honours.While the club has enjoyed almost unequalled success on the court, perhaps it’s greatest success is providing a social, sporting and competitive outlet for many members that would not have played sport before at any competitive level. Badminton is a fun way of staying healthy and the competiveness of our matches gives added significance to those who want to compete on a regular basis.
Athletics Award
Michael Mulhare
Michael’s achievements are as follows:-
2011: 34th European U23 Cross Country Championships, Celtic u23 International C.C Champion, 1st Ras Na hEireann International C.C , 3 National Cross country Titles (Novice, Intermediate and u23), PB’s over 1500, 3000 and 5000.
2010: 16th European U23 Cross Country Championships, Team Gold medal European U23 Cross Country Championships. PB’s over 800,1500 and 5000 even with interrupted summer.
2009: 18th European U23 Cross Country Championships, Celtic University Cross Country Champion Individual
2008: 59th European Junior Cross Country Championships, 75th World Junior Cross Country Championships, Celtic Junior Cross Country Champion Individual
2007: 58th European Junior Cross Country Championships
10 time National Champion over track and cross country. 20 plus Irish Internationals.
Camogie Award
Harps Camogie Club
The Harps Camogie Club caters for girls from the Cullohill / Durrow and surrounding areas of County Laois from under 8 to adult. Our adult team have had achieved major success in the past six years since 2006 winning 4 County junior titles, 4 Leinster junior titles, 3 All Ireland Junior titles, 2 County intermediate titles, 2 Leinster intermediate titles
They competed in the Intermediate All Ireland final in Croke Park in 2011 but were defeated by Eoghan Rua of Derry and this year will meet the same team in the All Ireland Intermediate semi final on 5th February, 2012.
Gaelic Football Award
Liam England
It was a night of great celebration for Liam England at the RCTLC Sports awards which took place on Friday last. Liam is pictured here with family and friends including members of the Minor football All-Ireland winning team.
Back Row L/R:
Joe Hanningan, Shane Brophy, Noel Morris, Eamon England, Michael Power
and Aisling Minogue
Front Row L/R
Mai Morris, David Power, Liam McGrath, Liam England and Debbie England.
Liam has represented Tipperary in Football at all levels from Minor to Senior with the hi-light of playing in 2 Munster Senior Finals. He has also represented Tipperary in Hurling at U21 level, winning a Munster Medal in 1999 and Senior level in the 2006 NHL.
Golf Award
Roscrea Ladies Minor Cup Team - marian O'Connor Team Captain Accepted The Award
The 2011 Golf Award went to the Roscrea Ladies Minor Cup Team which was Captained by Marion O’Connor. Pictured receiving their award are
Back Row L/R:
Eleanor Ryan, Noreen Ryan, Marie Kennedy, Ann Parlon, & Trish Rowland
Front Row L/R:
Marion O’Connor, Marjorie McCorduck (Guest Of Honour) and Kathleen Tynan.
The Minor Cup Team, with Manager Marian O’Connor had a very successful season. In September the team travelled to Ardee GC for the ultimate prize of All Ireland success, and beat Northern Regional Finalists Spa GC in the quarter finals, Connaught Regional Finalists Portumna in the semi-finals to reach the All Ireland final against the Munster Regional Finalists, Templemore. However in the final the last match went down to the 19th and Templemore emerged as winners. The team members who played in the All Ireland final were Trish Rowland, Eleanor Ryan-Carroll, Marie Kennedy, Ann Parlon and Noreen Ryan, and reserves were Irene O’Meara and Kathleen Tynan, with each receiving an ILGU All Ireland silver medal.
Hurling Award
Joe Brady
Coolderry 1999-2011 and Offaly 2001-2011.
Soccer Award
James Mullaney
Achievements of soccer to date:-
2003-2006: Played for St Aengus, Mountrath, 2007-2010: Played for Portlaoise Afc
2011-: Play for Shamrock Rovers, Part of the FAI Emerging Talent programme since 11 years old, Played for the Midlands in the 2009 Kennedy Cup, Became the 1st player from the Midlands to be selected for an Irish schoolboys team, Made debut against Holland in April 2010, Played 11 times for Ireland u15 and u16 teams against teams like Italy, Turkey, Belgium and Hungary, Portlaoise Player of the Year 3 years in a row, Won player of the week at the 'Ciociaria Cup' with Shamrock Rovers in Italy, Won the All Ireland Inter Provincial Competition with Leinster in October, Signed for Shamrock Rovers u19s in December.
The Team Award
Tipperary Minor Football Team - All Ireland Champions 2011
Team Manager David Power Accepted The Award
Youth Award
Peter Dooley
Peter is a son of Jerry and Martina Dooley Hillside Birr, he is 17 years old and presently a sixth year student in St Brendan’s Community School Birr. Peter’s interest in rugby began at u8 level when he began training with his local club Birr under the guidance of David Baker and his dad Jerry. With his club he was a member of the U11 community games team that won 2 All-Ireland community games rugby titles. He also won various midland leagues with Birr at different age groups and captained his side to an u14 leinster league title in 2009. Also in 2009 Peter was selected onto the u17 midlands area development squad where he helped the squad win the u17 Shane Horgan Cup. In 2010 Peter was a member of the successful Leinster U18 youths team where they won the inter provincial competition playing Munster, Ulster and Connacht. As a result of his performances in this competition Peter was then selected for the Irish Youths U18 team that played Germany, England and France where they had 2 great victories over Germany and France and a draw against England. In 2011 Peter was again eligible for the Leinster U18 youths team where he was selected as captain and had another successful inter provincial championship beating Munster Connacht and Ulster to retain the inter-provincial title. Peter is again selected on the Irish 18 youths team for the 2011-2012 season where they will play Italy France and England in the new year.
