Ken Wright
Ballyglass Football Club Presentations
By Ken Wright
5, Apr 2009 - 09:15

Ballyglass F.C. honoured its senior stars for the 2008 season in the Squealing Pig on Friday 27th March 2009.

Chairman Martin O Connor welcomed everyone and paid tribute to Colm Burke and the players for their efforts last season where they just missed out on promotion and got to the semi finals of the Chadwicks Cup. He welcomed the new Ballyglass 1st team manager, Martin McDonald to the club and wished him and the players the best of luck for the coming season.

Martin paid tribute to the three friends the club lost in the past year, Michael Keaveney, Peggy Vahey and Dave Kelly. He then invited last year’s 1st team manager Colm Burke to announce the winners.

Pictured in the Squealing Pig Ballyglass at the Ballyglass Football Club presentations Martin O’Connor Club Chairman presenting Daniel Burke with the Players Player of the Year Cup. Photo © Ken Wright Photography 2009.

The players’ player of the year was awarded to Daniel Burke and he was presented with the Ray Prendergast Memorial cup. The top goal scorer for 2008 was the evergreen John Noonan with 9 goals who just pipped Dean Connolly to the top spot. John received the Patrick Burke Memorial Cup from Cyril Burke. The player of the year was full back Darren Reilly who received the Peter Heverin Memorial cup from Padraig Heverin.

Pictured in the Squealing Pig Ballyglass at the Ballyglass Football Club presentations Marie Corbett Ladies Player of the Year being presented with a trophy by Michael Jennings, Chairman Mayo Women’s League, Cathy Jennings, secretary Mayo Women’s League and Martin O’Connor, Club Chairman Ballyglass F.C and Ladies Team Manager. Photo © Ken Wright Photography 2009.

The Senior Ladies award went to Marie Corbett. Martin praised Marie for her commitment to the ladies team where she never missed a training session or a match during the season, Marie received her award from special guest Michael Jennings, Chairman of the Mayo Ladies Football League who was present along with the League's secretary Cathy Jennings.

Pictured in the Squealing Pig Ballyglass at the Ballyglass Football Club presentations Jarlath Moran presenting Club Person of the Year Tommy Joe Walsh with the Moran Memorial Cup. Photo © Ken Wright Photography 2009.

Club Person of the Year was Tommy Joe Walsh. In announcing this award Martin stated that Tommy Joe did a huge amount of unseen work behind the scenes at the club, and he was being recognised by the club for all his endeavour, having been inducted into the Mayo League Hall of Fame earlier in the year. Tommy Joe was presented the Martin Moran Memorial cup by another Ballyglass legend, Jarlath Moran.

Pictured in the Squealing Pig Ballyglass at the Ballyglass Football Club presentations Cyril Burke presenting Top Scorer of the Year John Noonan with the Patrick Burke Memorial Cup. Photo © Ken Wright Photography 2009.

Finally there was a special recognition award presented by the club to a real football legend. In announcing the recipient, Chairman Martin O Connor outlined a fixture in round two of the Chadwicks Cup last season where Ballyglass F.C. travelled to take on Glenhest. Ballyglass emerged victors on a 1-0 scoreline but what was memorable about the game was the fact that the goal scorer on the day was John Noonan. That goal took John's overall goal scoring record for Ballyglass to 138 goals and made history with John becoming the all-time leading goal scorer for Ballyglass Football Club, surpassing the previous record held by Ray Prendergast. John went on to score two more goals to finish with 140 goals in over 325 appearances. A record which Martin stated would take a very long time to surpass, if indeed it ever would be. John was presented with a special piece of crystal by vice-chairman Tommy Joe Walsh.

 

Pictured in the Squealing Pig Ballyglass at the Ballyglass Football Club presentations Members of the Ballyglass Football Club Committee, front l-r; Nina Mahon, Sheila O’Connor, Martin O’Connor, Club Chairman, Tommy Joe Walsh, Charlie O’Malley. Back L-R: Joe Sheridan, Colm Walsh, Darren Reilly, Sean Gilligan, Brian Keane, Breege Jennings, Enda Keane. Photo © Ken Wright Photography 2009.

In concluding the awards ceremony Martin thanked Brigid McGurrin for providing the catering on the night. Lucy Flannery and the Flannery of The Squealing Pig for their hospitality and once again wished everyone the best of luck in the coming season. The crowd was then entertained by singer Paddy Thomas ‘til late.

Pictured in the Squealing Pig Ballyglass at the Ballyglass Football Club presentations Tommy Joe Walsh and Martin O’Connor, Club Chairman presenting John Noonan (centre) with the All Time Top Scoring Award 1975-2008. Photo © Ken Wright Photography 2009.

Pictured in the Squealing Pig Ballyglass at the Ballyglass Football Club presentations Padraic Heverin presenting Player of the Year Darren Reilly with the Peter Heverin Memorial Cup. Photo © Ken Wright Photography 2009.

A special word of thanks to Declan Prendergast of Dec's Betting, Spencer Street Castlebar for sponsoring some of the prizes in the raffle.



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