For attention of Alan Ahern

Taghmon/Camross GAA Notes for Wexford GAA Yearbook 2001

2001 was a successful year for the club both on and off the field. The notable highlights were the club’s return to senior football ranks by winning the Intermediate title and the official opening of the community centre extension and pitch expansion. On October 27 Shelmaliers were defeated by 1-11 to 0-4 in the decider. On June 17 the new pitch and extension were officially opened by Hugh Byrne TD and Seamus Howlin before Wexford played the George O’Connor All-stars. Club members continued to serve the GAA at County level. Michael Stafford continued as chairman of County Wexford Bord na nÓg. Denis Nolan is chairman of the transfer and regrading committee. Noel O’Gorman is chairman of the discipline committee. At the AGM there was another change at the top table when treasurer Eoin O’Gorman stepped down and was replaced by Lotto organiser, Mai O’Sullivan. The club again has in excess of 200 members and fielded at least 25 teams this year.

The Intermediate final win was particularly satisfying for the club. The last two years had seen the first adult football and hurling teams relegated and playing in grades below the club’s station. The footballers have now reversed this with an emphatic final defeat of Shelmaliers. However, the season did not start so brightly. Like every other club, foot and mouth took its toll on preparations. The campaign in Premier B of the ACFL was less than satisfactory with only one win over Naomh Eanna and a draw in the final match against the Sarsfields to drag them down with us. However, in the win over the Gorey men the team scored 17 points and one could see that the club had the potential if it could be more consistent. However, there were disappointing outings against Duffry Rovers on the Official Opening day when the team conceded four goals and under strength against Intermediate Final opponents, Shelmaliers, we lost by the same margin as we won in final in a match in which two selectors were shown red.

Early in the Skoda Intermediate campaign little indication was given to outside observers of the club’s potential. The 3-9 to 1-4 win in the first round against a young Réalt na Mara side, who were eventually relegated to Junior, was workmanlike but uninspiring. This was followed by the shock defeat by 3-7 to 2-8 to Monageer-Boolavogue, a team concentrating on the small ball game. Thank God for the backdoor. The club knuckled down and made adjustments to the back line. However, things did not turn around immediately and the third round win by 1-5 to 0-7 over St Mary’s (Rosslare) has gone down in the annals as one of the worst football games ever played in which both teams deserved to lose. Thankfully for us there can only be one loser. The quarterfinal win (1-11 to 0-11) against Ferns St Aidan’s was a big improvement especially in the first half against the wind. The inspirational Bernard O’Gorman was absent on holiday that day and it was the first match for selector, Derek Kent. But there was still plenty of room for improvement. The semifinal win by 1-8 to 0-8 over Craanford was a game of two halves. The switch of Bernard O’Gorman to centre back proved key and the overall performance in the second half showed how good the team could be. Beside him on the halfback line was David Foley, the holder of a Leinster senior football medal with Offaly, who transferred to club this year. The team knuckled down to it for the 4 week period up to the final and was as well prepared for the final as any team could be. Included in the preparations were victories over eventual Senior champions St Anne’s and Junior champions Clonard in challenge matches. It all told and October 27, 2001 was a memorable day for the club. Hopefully, we can build on it and bring home the senior cup, now absent for 43 years, in the next few years with our current talented young squad of players. Winning is a habit and 5 of the panel, including captain Adrian Morrissey, won a minor title in 2000. The under 21 team has qualified for the county semi-final at the time of writing with good a win over Rathgarogue-Cushinstown. In the district final Horeswood were defeated by 2-11 to 1-8 and captain, Jimmy Doran received the John Hayes Memorial trophy on behalf of the team. It will take a very good team to stop them bringing a second adult county football title to the club in 2001.

The junior B team had a reasonable season, but it could have been so much better. A good run of results led to promotion in the ACFL and qualification for a final that has still not taken place at time of writing. The New Ross district junior B championship was run off with two round robin groups. The opener was a draw against eventual county champions Adamstown which should have been won. However, both teams qualified for the semifinals. The semifinal was a satisfactory win by 1-10 to 1-7 over arch rivals Gusserane. In this match young Lloyd Colfer scored 1-7 of the total. He was sorely missed in the district final when Adamstown played much better than in the opener and won by 1-12 to 2-2.

Both hurling teams did well in the league. However, neither is finished at the time of writing. The championship could have gone better. It was the first year down in Junior again after relegation last year. The opener against 2000 finalists, Raparees, was viewed with some alarm, but Taghmon/Camross came out on top in a dour encounter in Cushinstown in May by 1-5 to 0-6. This was the club’s first championship win in 6 years, albeit at a lower grade. In the second round played many months later the club easily accounted for Clonee in Oylegate by 3-12 to 0-3. This may not have been a stern enough test and the club went on to lose to St Martin’s in the semifinal 0-15 to 1-7. The club was hampered by the loss of young stars Jonathon Waters on holiday and Darren Colfer to injury and several other players were carrying injuries into the match. St Martin’s ended up using 4 of the junior players on their senior side the following day. During the year, we accounted for Blackwater, the eventual champions, in 3 practice matches. The club is too strong with too much young talent to stay down in junior ranks for too long. The next few years should see a return to intermediate and hopefully more success than the club achieved in the last decade.

The junior B hurling campaign was also a round robin. It started with a loss to Gusserane, followed by a walkover over Adamstown and a win over Horeswood resulting in a three-way playoff. Taghmon-Camross was first out of the hat and qualified for the semifinal against St James’. The first match was a good performance which resulted in a draw 1-7 to 1-7. In the replay St James’ won easily. The U-21 hurlers had just one outing losing to Rathgarogue-Cushinstown on a terrible day in Grantstown.

There were no underage titles this year. The U-12 hurlers reached the county final but lost after a replay to Oylegate.

The Camogie club won its first adult title this year winning the junior B crown.

Off the field the official opening of the newly extended community centre and pitch on June 17 was the highlight of the year. The community centre was officially opened by Hugh Byrne TD, Minister of State for the Marine and Natural Resources and by Seamus Howlin, Chairman of GAA Wexford County Board and PRO of Leinster Council. This development was the result of much good work by many people over the last few years including Eoin O’Gorman as treasurer worked hard to make applications for grants and loans and Derek Kent who organised the match for the opening. The opening formalities were followed by a match between Wexford and the George O’Connor All-Star selection and was refereed by Dickie Murphy. The match was won by the more settled Wexford team by 3-22 to 1-12. The All-Star team was put together at the last minute. Clubman and Junior All-Ireland medal winner, Robbie O’Callaghan, played well for the All-Stars. After the senior match Wexford’s minor hurling team played Cork in Challenge match. The Wexford team, which four year ago won the Tony Forrestal Shield (All-Ireland U-14), played well and won by 2-17 to 2-11. Clubman Darren Colfer played at corner back. Two more matches were played later. ACFL encounters between Taghmon-Camross first team and Duffry Rovers and the juniors and Clongeen took place. Taghmon lost the former but won the latter. A lot of the crowd stayed for the full duration and festivities continued into the night in the clubhouse. Overall it was a great celebration for the club. The crowd of around 1,000 was well entertained on the day.

There were other off field activities during the year. The Lotto and Bingo continue to run to raise money thanks to the efforts of many. There was also a quiz night and other activities in the club house. Scór was revived and the club did very well thanks to the efforts of Paddy O’Gorman, Pat O'Callaghan, Diarmuid Buttimer and Breda Banville. The following won county titles. Music group: Adrian Morrissey, Larry Furlong, Barbara Walsh, Pat O'Neill and Catherine Byrne. Ballad group: Des Walsh, Pat O'Callaghan, Anne Lawlor, Barbara Walsh and Richard Banville. Solo singer: Pat O'Callaghan. Recitation: Paddy O'Gorman. Sketch: Pat O'Callaghan, Robbie O'Callaghan, John Murphy, Martin Dunne, Diarmuid Buttimer, Paddy O'Gorman and Michael Banville. The sketch group and solo singer, Pat O’Callaghan, qualified for the Leinster final. Another club member, John “Horse” Roche made his boxing debut at the Talbot Hotel in January. He defeated Joe Price from Bray by TKO. A great crowd from the club supported him making it one of the best tournaments financially for St Ibar’s Boxing Club.

Overall, it was a great year for the club and we now have facilities the envy of many. Hopefully, next year we can continue the improvements in the club’s fortunes on the field as well.

Ulick Stafford, PRO (053) 47957

Alan, Contact me if you need photos for the book.

The camogie club and ladies football clubs have separate PRO’s. Denis Nolan will get stuff to you in the next few days for inclusion in this article.