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The Appreciation Award winners for 2023 were Padraig Mac Aodha amd Peadar McGranaghan Padraig Mac Aodh has been involved in football for more than 50 years and was one of the four founding members of Gweedore Utd back in 1977. He was the main driving force behind the construction and development of the current grounds at Carrickboyle in Derrybeg in the early 1980’s and is still heavily involved in the continued development of club facilities.Padraig has overseen the growth and development of membership to over 300. From just one senior men’s team initially the club now has 13 teams between female and male. After over five decades of loyal service Padraig is standing down as Chairman of his beloved Gweedore Utd and retiring from football Peadar McGranaghan from Castlefin has been a stalwart of the Club since 1974. As a parent bringing his children to training and competitions, his influence saw them progress to star in juvenile, senior and masters athletics. He also became involved in the day to day running of the club committee as well as successfully coaching juvenile athletes for events up to All Ireland Championships. When Finn Valley AC purchased an old factory in 1978, Peadar got involved in fundraising for the club. Peader worked alongside Patsy McGonagle in the development of the women’s team that went on to win 10 National Senior titles. To this day Peadar McGranaghan still travels nationally to athletic competitions with juvenile teams. Now aged 84 Peader is an Honorary Life President of Finn Valley Athletic Club.
30.
The Appreciation Award winners for 2023 were Padraig Mac Aodha amd Peadar McGranaghan Padraig Mac Aodh has been involved in football for more than 50 years and was one of the four founding members of Gweedore Utd back in 1977. He was the main driving force behind the construction and development of the current grounds at Carrickboyle in Derrybeg in the early 1980’s and is still heavily involved in the continued development of club facilities.Padraig has overseen the growth and development of membership to over 300. From just one senior men’s team initially the club now has 13 teams between female and male. After over five decades of loyal service Padraig is standing down as Chairman of his beloved Gweedore Utd and retiring from football Peadar McGranaghan from Castlefin has been a stalwart of the Club since 1974. As a parent bringing his children to training and competitions, his influence saw them progress to star in juvenile, senior and masters athletics. He also became involved in the day to day running of the club committee as well as successfully coaching juvenile athletes for events up to All Ireland Championships. When Finn Valley AC purchased an old factory in 1978, Peadar got involved in fundraising for the club. Peader worked alongside Patsy McGonagle in the development of the women’s team that went on to win 10 National Senior titles. To this day Peadar McGranaghan still travels nationally to athletic competitions with juvenile teams. Now aged 84 Peader is an Honorary Life President of Finn Valley Athletic Club.
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The Winner of the Club Award for 2023 is Finn Valley A.C. The Club dominated Donegal and Ulster Athletics in 2023. At All Ireland level the club’s successes included Cross Country in all ages from U11 up to Over 60.There were also triumphs at Masters Track & Field. The golds, silvers and bronzes kept coming at Senior Track & Field and at Juvenile U12 to 19 Track & Field.On the international stage the U20 Women’s Cross Country team represented Ireland at the European Clubs Championship.Mark English, Brendan Boyce were at the World Athletics Senior Championships. Sisters Roisin and Eilish Flanagan, Amy Greene and Hannah Murray also competed in Euro competitions while Neil Martin and Dermot McGranaghan managed Irish teams.
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The Winner of the 2023 Team Award was the Cockhill Celtic Ulster Senior League Team. Cockhill Celtic had dominated the Ulster Senior League for over a decade and won their 10th title in a row in 2023 along with the Ulster FA Senior Cup. They also reached the final of FAI Intermediate Cup for the first time in the club's history, only losing out in heartbreaking fashion on penalties to Rockmount. Gavin Cullen was a hugely successful manager during that golden era along with the man that captained the team in recent years Jimmy Bradley