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Declan Lovett (seated centre) accepts the Hall of Fame award from Chairman of Kilmoyley GAA Club Joe Walsh at the Kilmoyley GAA Social in Ballyroe Heights Hotel on Saturday night. Also included are seated; Noreen Lovett, Nora Lovett and Karen Daly. Back; John Nolan, Xavier Lovett and Tom Daley. Photo by Dermot Crean
2016 was another good year for Kilmoyley GAA Club. But then again, any year you win the county senior hurling championship is certainly one worth celebrating – especially when you win back to back titles.
And that’s just what around 200 of the club faithful did at Ballyroe Heights Hotel on Saturday night at their annual social.
It was a time to reflect on past glories and look forward to what should be another intriguing year on the field. Joe Walsh, Chairman of the club, spoke about 2016.
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“It was fantastic year. We had a new manager and when you win one you got to work harder for the next one and that’s what happened. The whole panel worked so hard all year. Both games against Ballyduff in the final were epic. They played six games to win it which is the first time I can recall that happening,” said Joe.
Progress in the Munster Intermediate Championship was also noteworthy.
“We beat Monaleen for the first time in the competition but we came up short against Lismore. It was a great experience for them though, as it was the first time we had a win in Munster,” said Joe.
He said the intermediate team had a good year despite falling at the final hurdle, while there’s always work to do in the juvenile setup with good coaches in charge.
There were three trophies on display – the Neilus Flynn County Championship trophy, the County League and North Kerry Championship. There were also awards handed out to Donal Kennedy for Intermediate Player of the Year, Colman Savage for Senior Player of the Year and Tom Murnane received an award for winning an Inter-Provincial title with Munster.
The annual Hall of Fame award was given on the night and the worthy recipient this year was Declan Lovett who was attending with his family.
“I feel very humbled because there are so many people who could receive it. You really appreciate when your own club does something like this for you,” Declan told TraleeToday.ie.
The former Principal of Kilmoyley school won five senior championship medals in 1962, ’63 and ’64 and in 1970 and ’71 and instilled the love of hurling in his pupils over the years. A deserving recipient then. Scroll down for photos…
Pia Thornton and Sean Maunsell at the Kilmoyley GAA Social in Ballyroe Heights Hotel on Saturday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
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Gretta O’Connell and Gillian Gentlemen at the Kilmoyley GAA Social in Ballyroe Heights Hotel on Saturday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
John Murphy, Laura Collins, Maura Murphy and Padraig Murphy at the Kilmoyley GAA Social in Ballyroe Heights Hotel on Saturday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
Corcorans
Mary O’Regan, Lorna O’Regan, Regina O’Regan and John Moriarty at the Kilmoyley GAA Social in Ballyroe Heights Hotel on Saturday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
Jason Roche, Conor Corrigan, Marcus Leane, Darragh Nolan and Ronan Walsh at the Kilmoyley GAA Social in Ballyroe Heights Hotel on Saturday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
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Louise Ryan and Kevin Burke at the Kilmoyley GAA Social in Ballyroe Heights Hotel on Saturday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
Paddy O’Sullivan, Kathleen O’Sullivan, Anne Fitzgerald and John Fitzgerald at the Kilmoyley GAA Social in Ballyroe Heights Hotel on Saturday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
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Kim Geraghty, Fergie O’Loughlin, Catherine and Tom Godley at the Kilmoyley GAA Social in Ballyroe Heights Hotel on Saturday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
Woody O’Leary, Xavier Lovett, Noreen Lovett and Therese O’Leary at the Kilmoyley GAA Social in Ballyroe Heights Hotel on Saturday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
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Annette Nolan, Marianne Nolan, Fr Francis Nolan, Rebecca Tobin and Brian Nolan at the Kilmoyley GAA Social in Ballyroe Heights Hotel on Saturday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
Jim Brick, Joe Walsh, TJ Maunsell and Patrick O’Connor at the Kilmoyley GAA Social in Ballyroe Heights Hotel on Saturday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
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Leanne Ryan, Ian Brick and Triona Brassil at the Kilmoyley GAA Social in Ballyroe Heights Hotel on Saturday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
Micheál Regan, Lorraine Regan, Claire Savage and James Savage at the Kilmoyley GAA Social in Ballyroe Heights Hotel on Saturday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
