Junior , Intermediate & Senior Medal Presentation Night
On Saturday 17th February 2024 we held our medal presentation night for the 2023 Westmeath Junior A Championship winning team along with our 2020 winning Slevin’s Coaches Senior and Intermediate Hurling Championship winning teams. This was a well-attended event took place in our clubhouse, our home venue, with special guest of honour, former Tipperary player and manager Liam Sheedy.
The 2020 medal presentation was delayed due to the restrictions imposed during the Covid 19 epidemic and this was an opportunity to acknowledge these two teams along with last year’s junior winning team on their achievements. For our junior team this was the 10th title in 11 years which is a remarkable feat for any club and demonstrates the strength and depth we have in the club to be able to field three adult teams, and 4 adult teams when taking the U19 team into consideration.
Chairman Oliver Scally and Liam Sheedy with the haul of silverware
For the 2020 winning teams this was also another considerable achievement for the club, not only did the senior team win a third title in a row but on the previous day the intermediate team won their championship. Again, this demonstrates the strength and depth within the club to field two highly competitive teams in two separate competitions and triumph in both in consecutive days. This achievement has firmly kept Clonkill HC on top of the County table for the foreseeable future with currently with 17 senior county hurling titles with our nearest rivals who are currently on 15. However, this is something that we cannot be complacent about or take for granted, and the continued hard work from players, team management & mentors, club committees and executives is essential to continue this success in the nurturing and cultivating of all players and mentors from nursery level all the way to the senior panel. This is something the club strives towards and noted in Liam Sheedy’s inspirational address to the tentative crowd in attendance.
It is worth noting that the by winning the senior championship title in 2020 and completing another three in a row this team has emulated Clonkill teams of the past where we now hold three in a row title in 2018, ’19 & ‘20 along with that of 1939, ’40 & ‘41 and the coveted four in a row teams of 1929, ’30, ‘31 & ’32. We remain the only club in the county with a quartet of titles and 2 sets of trios.
The night began with Liam putting our senior team through their paces in a fantastic training session under lights in St Loman’s GAA grounds earlier in the evening. This was a great intense series of drills to kick start the coming year of hurling competitions and the lads thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Liam’s attention to detail, his ability to converse to players and his enthusiasm for the game was so prevalent in this session and we would like to express our sincere gratitude for taking the time to fit this into his schedule.
Back in the clubhouse Liam was introduced to the club executive, committee members, players and all members in attendance on the night and we were very proud to have on display, the three championship winning cups along with the coveted minor championship cup and U15 Championship Cup and Shield from 2023.
The night started with a buffet style dinner supplied by Derek Tuite Catering and this was followed with all three teams being presented with their medals from Liam Sheedy. In addition, Liam also presented the Man of the Mach awards to each of the deserving winners, who were;
Scott Murtagh for the 2023 Westmeath Junior A Hurling Championship Final
Matt Glynn for the 2020 Slevin’s Coaches Westmeath Intermediate Hurling Championship Final
Darragh Egerton for the 2020 Slevin’s Coaches Westmeath Senior Hurling Championship Final
Photos of our Championship winning teams
Chairman Oliver Scally addressed the crowd and thanked Liam for attending and taking the training session earlier in the evening. He also spoke of Liam’s achievements both on and off the hurling field, winning an U21 Hurling All Ireland title with Tipperary 1989 and going on to win the National Hurling League Title 1999. He also noted Liam’s success with his club Portroe winning the Tipperary U21 Hurling title in 1989 and going on to win the Tipperary Intermediate Hurling title in 1990, the clubs first county title at adult grade. Liam was appointed coach, with his brother John Sheedy as manager of the Protroe Senior hurling team in 2012 and went on to win their first ever North Tipperary Hurling Championship title. It didn’t go unnoticed that Liam’s club colours are also green and gold, like ourselves, which would make him feel right at home here should he ever consider the move.
Liam also worked his way through the different grades management in the Tipperary County set up and enjoyed great success which accumulated in managing Tipperary to two All Ireland Titles in 2010 and 2019.
Liam then addressed the crowd with words of praise and encouragement on the accolades the club has achieved to date. He was delighted to be able to present medals to so many young men and congratulated the players and the club on its recent and historic successes. He was also impressed with the recent underage success at U15 & U17 in 2023 and the U13 reaching the county final, along with the great work going on with underage. He stressed the importance of nurturing the continually developing the underage structure within the club, this being fundamental in building and maintaining a successful club as he drew parallels with his own club Portrow. He also praised the club on its recent development works with the construction of the Astro training area, installation of new floodlights on the pitch, and the current redevelopment works of the gym whilst also acknowledging the fantastic facilities we have within the club especially our clubhouse and indoor sports hall. He praised the current and past committee members for their great work over the years and encouraged everyone to step forward to take on committee and managerial roles within the club to keep the club moving onward and upward. Liam was presented with a memento of his visit to the club by Chairman Oliver Scally, the Club’s history book “From Tenant’s Pasture to Croke Park – A History of Clonkill GAA (1917 – 2017)”. Liam also mingled with the crowd posed for many momentous photos and shared and traded many stories of Portroe, Tipperary, Clonkill and Westmeath, and hurling in general.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank Liam for visiting us in our club and we extend our warmest welcome to return at any time.
Liam was presented with a memento of his visit to the club by Chairman Oliver Scally, the Club’s history book “From Tenant’s Pasture to Croke Park – A History of Clonkill GAA (1917 – 2017)”
2023 Westmeath Junior A Hurling Championship Final
The Junior final was played against Lough Lane Gaels in Jourestown Park, Raherney GAA in cold wintery Saturday afternoon where a better balanced Clonkill side took the spoils. Lough Lane Gaels were reduced to 14 after 7 minutes but led by one point at half time with the help of a strong breeze in the first half however as the
second half progressed it was Clonkill’s superiority and game management that drove us on to win on a score line of 1-12 to 0-08 to claim our 10th title in 11 years.
2023 Junior A Championship Panel
Philip Dowdall, Christopher Austin, Paul Kelleghan Cillian Doyle, Eoghan Egerton, Luke Kenny, Scott Murtagh, Ciaran Egerton, Liam Moran, Mark Keegan, Paul Poynton, Oisin Loughlin, Evan Scally, Ciaran Nooney, Oisin Murray, Niall Folan, Matt Glynn, John Fagan, Eoin Kenny, Adam Bradley, Robbie Cleary, Alan Dowdall, Paddy Dowdall, Michael Heffernan, Alex Smyth, Brian Gaffney
2020 Slevin’s Coaches Westmeath Intermediate Hurling Championship Final
The 2020 Slevin’s Coaches Westmeath Intermediate Hurling Championship Final was played in TEG Cusack Park against Ringtown, in a tough hard-fought game played in very good playing conditions. A goal by Philly Dowdall gave Clonkill the edge but the blend of youth and experience along with the introduction of experience substitutes form seasoned players really stood to Clonkill. When Ringtown won a penalty with 15 minutes to go, it was goalkeeper against goalkeeper, but Paul Kelleghan pulled of a fantastic save to retain an 8 point advantage which we were able to maintain even in the dying minutes of the game when Ringtown fought their way back into contention, but we managed through a committed defence to come out on top on a full time Score of 1-13 to 1-10. This was a great frontrunner and a fantastic result ahead of the hugely anticipated Senior Hurling Final the following day
Clonkill Intermediate Panel 2020: Paul Kelleghan; Ciaran Morrisson; Cian Quinn; Eoin Egerton; Andrew Shaw; John Fagan; Jamie Coffey; Christopher Austin; Liam Moran; Matthew Glynn; Mark Keeghan; Ciaran Crenstil; Enda Morrisson; Gary Healey; Paul Poynton; Niall Folan; Enda Loughlin; Evan Scally; Darragh McLoughlin; Philip Dowdall; Stephen Sheridan; Ciaran Gavigan; Adam Conneelly; Fergal Fagan; Cillian Doyle; Paul Mulligan; Eoin Rhattigan; Danny Lennon; Liam Murtagh; Luke Kenny; Joe Moran
2020 Slevin’s Coaches Westmeath Senior Hurling Championship Final
This senior team emulated their predecessors on winning the clubs second three in a row by defeating Castletown Geoghegan after extra time at TEG Cusack Park in what was a fabulous game of hurling in wintery and extremely wet conditions. This was a vast contract to the good conditions experienced by the Intermediate winning team the day beforehand. As the game progressed it eas a hard-fought battle all the way to full time in normal time when Castletown-Geoghegan looked set to claim the title, but a goal from Niall Mitchell, scored in the fourth minute of additional time forced the game to go to extra-time. This is where Clonkill pushed on in the extra period to win on a score line of 3-16 to 2-16. This was hailed as a great game of hurling, but it was Clonkill’s strength and depth with the introduction of substations at key moments that made the difference between the two sides. This win has increased Clonkill’s overall number of senior titles in the club to 17
Clonkill Senior Panel 2020: Andrew Mitchell; Mikey McGrath, Alan McGrath, Kelvin Reilly; Oisin Dowdall, Darragh Egerton, Paddy Dowdall; Shane Power, Peadar Scally (0-1); Alan Dowdall, Luke Loughlin (0-1), Ciaran Nolan; Jordan Smyth (1-1), Brendan Murtagh (0-12, 8f, 1 ‘65), Eoin Price (0-1). Subs: Christopher Austin for Scally (37mins), Niall Mitchell (2-0) for Nolan (39), Jack O’Brien for O Dowdall (42), Anthony Price for Power (48), Niall Dowdall for Smyth (62), Peadar Scally for E Price (64), Ciaran Nolan for Austin (10, ET), Mark Keegan for P Dowdall (HT, ET), Paul Kelleghan, John Kenny, John Fagan Ciaran Crenstil, Dan Sheridan, Liam Moran, Andrew Shaw Darragh McLoughlin.
Slevin's Coaches Senior Champions 2020 Cluain Cille
Special Note of Mention following the 2020 Senior Hurling Championship Win
Westmeath Examiner Sports Awards Special Achievement 2020
There was a special note of mention after this game when dual GAA star Paddy Dowdall was the winner of one of two Special Achievement awards at 2020 Westmeath Examiner Sports Awards, sponsored by the Mullingar Park Hotel, Home Instead Midlands and ORS Consulting Engineers, Mullingar having secured his 14th Westmeath Senior Championship title, with 9 hurling Championships with Clonkill and 5 football championships with St Loman’s. This is a wonderful achievement, and he has now gone on to manage St Loman’s to win their latest title in 2023 as he continues his search for silverware, and we certainly look forward to when he takes the reigns in the green and gold colours in the future.
Photo Gallery - A selection of photos taken on the night
If you have other photos on the night please forward them as we would live to include them in our Gallery
