The All Ireland Winning Ballad Group (l-r) John Devanney (Chair Down Co Board), Agnes Morris, Colleen Walls, Paul Kelly, Caroline Carvill, Martina Cunningham, William James Smith (Down County Cultural Officer)
Clonduff Clubrooms was packed to capacity on Saturday 25th November 2017 for the Annual Awards. Francis Quinn was Fear an Ti for the evening and after Chairperson Jimmie Cousins introduced the guests – John Devanney (Vice Chair Co Board), William Smith (Co Cultural Officer), Deirdre McGrath (Chair Co Camogie), Francis Rogan (Co LGFA Board), Peter McGinn (INF Hilltown), Plunkett McConville (St Patrick’s PS) and Special Guests of Honour the Clonduff All Ireland Winning Ballad Group – Caroline Carvill and Colleen Walls (two members of the Ballad Group) led the singing of Amhrán na bhFiann.
The Club was very tastefully decorated for the occasion – thanks to Social Club Officer Dermot Fitzpatrick and his hard-working team – and the atmosphere was very congenial! The Awards were generally made between the courses of the delicious meal.
Club Person of the Year Lorraine Bloomfield accepting the Hugh McShane Memorial Trophy from Goretta Cairns (nee McShane) and her her daughter Noleen Cairns
First up were the Footballers and the awards were presented by John Devanney – John also presented the Hurling Awards.
U21 Footballer of the Year – Noel Grant (Award received by his Grandmother Eileen McCusker
Thirds Footballer of the Year – Patrick Gribben
Seconds Footballer of the Year – Gary McDonald (Award received by his twin sister Bernice Fitzpatrick
Senior Footballer of the Year and Peter McGinn Trophy presented by Peter McGinn – Shay Murnin
John presented the Minor Footballers with South Down 7s Runners Up medals, All County League and Championship Runners Up Medals
Minor Footballer of the Year and Brown Bros Trophy presented by Aidan Brown – joint winners John Boden and Tiarnan McEvoy
Then it was the turn of the Hurlers who were presented with 2016 League Winners Medals and 2017 Championship Runners Up Medals by John Devanney.
Senior Hurler of the year – Jamie Lynch
The outgoing Camogie Chairperson Deirdre McGrath who is relinquishing that post to take the helm of her home club Aghaderg/Ballyvarley addressed the crowd before presenting the League and Championship Medals to the Senior Camogie team and
Senior Camogie Player of the Year – Jenna Boden trophy accepted by her manager Damien Farnon.
Damien himself was also a recipient (from Camogie Chair Guinevra McGilligan) in recognition of his success with the Senior team in his first year in charge.
Minor Camogie Player if the Year Clara Cowan
Guinevra also presented a bouquet of flowers to Deirdre McGrath.
Hall of Fame Inductee Eamon McGinn with the PJ McAlinden Memorial Trophy presented by Mrs Bronagh McAlinden
The All Ireland Winning Ballad Group – Agnes Morris, Colleen Walls, Paul Kelly, Caroline Carvill, Martina Carvill – was presented with trophies on behalf of the Club by Co Cultural Officer William Smith.
Other special recognition awards were made to:
Clara Cowan and Beth Fitzpatrick on winning Ulster Colleges Camogie All Stars – presented by Guinevra McGilligan
Gaelic Life Senior Camogie All Star – Jenna Boden
Sigerson Cup Winners Medal – Stephen McConville accepted by his Uncle James McConville – presented by Club Chairperson Jimmie Cousins.
Irish News All Star – Darren O’Hagan accepted by his wife Paula – presented by Club Chairperson Jimmie Cousins.
The two final awards of the evening were:
Hugh McShane Trophy for Club Person of the Year – presented to Lorraine Bloomfield by Goretta Cairns
PJ McAlinden Hall of Fame Award, so eloquently introduced by Fintan Mussen, presented to Eamon McGinn by Bronagh McAlinden.
The Ballad Group then entertained us with their two winning songs ‘Neansai Astór’ and ‘If I were a Blackbird’ which brought the house down. Then four members of the Murray Family – Sean, Mary Catherine, Eoin and Gavin accompanied by Paul Kelly took to the stage to conclude a very successful night (or early morning) in Clonduff’s history.
