St Molleran's GAA Club's five county title winning juvenile teams receive their medals

St Molleran’s U13 Camogie team, winners of a 2022 Waterford U13 county championship, with Waterford camogie stars, Ellen Boylan (back row, left) and Beth Carton (back row, right). Pictures Anne Marie Magorrian

Carrick-on-Suir’s St Molleran’s GAA Club presented its five county championship winning teams of 2022 with their medals before a large crowd at a ceremony in the Carraig Hotel last week.

The function began with St Molleran’s Club Chairman Dermot Moore giving a presentation on the latest proposed development at the club’s grounds that will include an astroturf area and ball wall.

The club will organise a meeting when the project’s final details are drawn up.

Juvenile Chairman Jerome O’Shea welcomed everyone and thanked the club’s fantastic coaches, parents and supporters for their support and constant work throughout last year. It was an honour to have five county championship winning trophies on the table.

A very special face missing from the medals night on Sunday, February 12 was the late John (Toddler) Maher with his infectious smile. His absence was marked with a minute long standing ovation in his memory.

St Molleran’s Camogie Chairperson Frankie Torpey then called on the U13 county championship winning camogie team to accept their medals from Waterford Senior Camogie team stars Ellen Boylan of Portlaw and Beth Carton of De La Salle in Waterford.

Ellen and Beth recognised the hard work the club is doing for camogie and encouraged the girls to keep working hard and attending training.

Camogie section PRO Emily Keane was presented with a small gift in recognition of all her work over the last couple of years.

Emily intends to travel abroad this year but will stay involved with the club.

Waterford Senior hurler Dessie Hutchinson from Ballygunner and Ciarán Conroy of Glenvale Stud co- presented medals to club’s county championship winning U12, U13, U14 and U15 teams.

Ciarán is a neighbour of the club’s in Carrickbeg and has generously gifted the club a small parcel of land where it is hoped to locate the proposed astroturf and ball wall development.

Dessie Hutchinson encouraged all the boys to “keep training hard, keep working and stay with each other over the next few years”.

“You are the future of the club, and it is fantastic that you have had so much success to date, but like everything you must keep working hard.”

Three boys were members of four winning teams and were presented with Special Achievement Awards to mark their success.

St Molleran’s Juvenile Secretary and PRO Adam Hunt said the club is so proud of this bunch of boys and girls and their achievements.

“They are a credit to their parents and their parish. A lot of people have said to me over the past couple of months that the club is thriving and doing so very well.

“Without the strong community that we have in Carrickbeg our club wouldn’t be where it is now with regards to juveniles and camogie success.

“Our various coaching teams and administrators are fantastic, as well as the parents and supporters,” whom he thanked for driving their young members to training and matches.

“The past few months have been tough on the club but John (Maher) would have liked us to drive on, keep our heads high and nurture our kids to be great at sport but even greater people.

“His memory will live long in our club. I think the proposed development is a great idea. A facility like that has many ways of being used. It’s a very exciting time and it is a privilege to be involved,” Mr Hunt added.

Meanwhile, club membership fees are due for payment. See club social media pages for information.