Ballinagar's remarkable season crowned with Offaly GAA club of the year accolade

THE icing was put on a very sweet tasting cake for Ballinagar GAA Club when they were named as club of the year at Offaly GAA Convention on Tuesday evening.

The presentation of the Fr John McWey perpetual cup by chairman Michael Duignan to Mick Dunne and Paurig Gallagher on Tuesday evening will be greeted with satisfaction by all in Ballinagar GAA Club.

There had been a mini campaign by some in the club to secure the award when they won the Junior and Junior “C” Football Championships and Division 4 and 5 Football Leagues in 2022 with club chairman Ciaran Darcy canvassing for them to be given it when Michael Duignan officially opened their new gym some weeks before Convention.

Apart from their playing successes being in Offaly football's fourth and sixth tiers, the time was not right for Ballinagar to be named club of the year as Shinrone's achievement in winning their first ever Senior Hurling Championship meant that it was very much a one horse race that year – Shinrone's win trumped everything else done in the Offaly GAA world that year.

In a different year, Ballinagar's on and off field achievements could have got it in 2022 but their coronation on this occasion was way more deserving. It has been a sensational year for Ballinagar as they followed up their Intermediate Football Championship win in Offaly by winning the Leinster Club Junior Football Championship in terrific style.

The club also have impressive playing facilities with a stand and gym along with a community walkway around their pitch while they have more development plans for the coming years. Clearly a club going very well, they play Galway's An Ceathra Rua in the All-Ireland junior football semi-final in January.

Paurig Gallaghger thanked the County Board for recognising them in this manner, outlining a few years ago that the club was “on its knees”, struggling to field one team. They reached out to Offaly coaching officers, Alan Mulhall, Liam O'Reilly and others and managed to turn the corner, leading to unprecedented success. He urged other clubs who may be struggling to also seek help. “If you are prepared to reach out and do the hard work, things can turn,” he smiled.

The underage club of the year was presented to Birr in recognition of their success in the U13 and 15 Hurling Championship in 2024. Accepting it, Birr chairman Michael Loughnane said they had a good year, coming off a few lean years. “We hope to get back up to the top,” he declared.