St. Brigid's Hurling Club

 

A brief history

 

Club founded in 1956 ,first officers Chairman Larry Gavin, Secretary Frank McEntegart, Treasurer Frank Wallace-in 1957 affiliated at Junior and Minor levels. Struggled to find their feet for a few years before eventually winning the Co. Junior Championship and League titles in 1964 both at the expense of Collinstown. Senior for the first time in 1965, beaten semi finalists in 1966 and 1967 before eventually winning their first Senior Championship in 1968 beating Castletown Geoghegan on a scoreline of 3 - 6 to1-6.

Beaten in the semi-final again in 1969 before winning in 1970 again defeating Castletown Geoghegan, the panel was as follows: Vinny Bradley, Jack Eighan, Cor Maher, John Bradley, Ollie Gallagher, Liam Maher, Kevin Gavin, Ollie Egan, Tom Canavan, Albert Colgan, Jim Nugent, Albert Fallon, Joe Doonan, Conor Lanigan, Denis Casey, Colm Gavin (Captain) Frank Gavin, Ray Bradley, Tommy Colgan, Mick Casey, Mick Dunne, Michael Carey and John Nash. Defeated Raharney in the final the following year before completing the famous three in a row in 1972 Castlepollard being the vanquished

During the same period the under 21 team who were defeated in the final in 1965 went on to win back to back titles in 1966 and 1967 a title which they also won in 1969, 1972 , and later in 1979. On that 1979 team were the following: Joe Quinn, Rom Deegan, Ray Gavin, Pat Joe Bradley, Micko Hyland, Mick Alford, Paul Deegan, Johnny Bradley, Padraig Gavin, Dick Nugent, Jim Keegan, Anthony Fox, Liam Fitzgibbon, Eamon Gallagher and Ger Gavin.

Unfortunately with the exception of the under 21 title in 1979 and a Senior B championship in 1980 major successes on the playing field have few since the halcyon days of the early 70's .

Regraded back to the Junior ranks in the early 90,s we were defeated by Cullion after a replay in the Junior final of 1991. However we redressed the situation the following year defeating Crooked wood in the final with the team being as follows Declan Hogan, Rom Deegan, Ray Gavin, Denis Brady, Gordon Eighan, Martin Gavin, Mick Finn, Vinny Hoey, Pat Brady, Ken Gunning, Noel Gavin, Chris. Colgan, Tony Brady, Joe Hanney and Eamon Gallagher (Captain).

Promoted to Senior following the Junior Championship victory for a year before being regraded to the newly reformed Intermediate grade in 1994. Beaten in the semi final of the Intermediate Championship in 1994 by Southern Gaels. In 1995 after struggling to make the play- off stages we found our form and victories over Delvin and Southern Gaels in the quarter finals and semi finals respectively set us up for a final showdown against a fancied Cullion side.

In the final played on a Saturday in Shandonagh we shook off the mantle of underdogs with a spirited display to claim the title on a scoreline of 0 - 12 to 0- 7. The full panel was as follows: Nollaig Mc Entegart,Graham Gallagher Vinny Hoey , Liam Casey, Niall Seery, Ronan Bracken, Declan Hogan, Patrick Gunning, Dick Nugent, Joe Hanney, Pat Brady, Pat Hayes, Martin Flanagan, Emmett Brennan, Kenneth Berry, Ger Gill, Vivian Doonan, Padraig Gavin, Jimmy Gallagher, Kevin Connell, Maurice Molloy, Tony Brady, Michael Carley (Captain), Eamon Gallagher, Jay Faulkner, Rom Deegan, Enda Carey,and Bernard Kiernan.

However the hoped for breakthrough at top level has not happened to date and after a brief sojourn at Senior level following our Intermediate victory, we are now back in the higher regions of the Intermediate again. This year 2000, we have qualified for the Intermediate final where we face the fancied St.Oliver Plunkett's of Mullingar, having beaten Crookedwood in the semi-final on a scoreline of 3-05 to 0-8.

At underage level in the early 90s, a very strong panel of young hurlers came on stream and after being defeated in the under 16 final of 1992 went one step further the following year and defeated Rosemount in the B final. The majority of this panel then went on to win the minor B final of 1995. This panel of players had great potential but unfortunately for one reason or another a number of them gave up hurling subsequently.

However a number of them have continued to play and now form the back bone of our Intermediate team and players like John Maloney, Niall Seery, Liam Casey, Kevin Connell, Bernard Kiernan are the men that the future of Saint Brigid's depends on.

In more recent years our underage committee under the expert guidance of Sean Gallagher has made huge strides with the result that we now have under 12,14, 16 and minor teams competing in championships. Arising from Sean Gallaghers enthusiasm and dedication a number of people like Niall Seery, Pat Hayes, Jimmy Gallagher, Padraig Gavin, Paul Carroll, Ger Kenny are now actively promoting hurling at underage in the Tyrrellspass, Rochfortbridge, Milltownpass and Dalystown areas. Their efforts thankfully are being rewarded with under 14 and 16 titles coming our way in recent years and already a number of their progenies like Damien Loran, Paul Brady, Adrian and Damien Gallagher are on our Intermediate panel.

 

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