20 years ago
20 years ago Gaelic Football in Oranmore and Maree in 1996 As part of the build‐up to next week’s County Junior Football final, Alan Bannon Oranmore‐Maree GAA Club PRO will review the 1996 GAA year, a year in which the Club were last in an adult football final. It would be imprudent to review Gaelic Football in 1996 without looking to its origins within the parish. Oranmore and Maree was for the most part of the past century were largely associated with Hurling until the late 1960’s and early 1970’s when organised Gaelic Football began to be played regularly in the parish. Before that there were a number of team in the 1940’s, but it never became as popular as hurling. Gaelic Football received a great boost when Pascal Hanniffy (RIP) was selected for the Minor and Under 21 County teams. Club stalwart, Michael Kelly, (Ballinacourty) who was a selector in 1996, when interviewed by the Connacht Tribune on the eve of the 1996 Senior Final stated that; ‘Throughout the Seventies lads would turn to it [football] after being knocked out of the hurling championships. But in the late ‘seventies and early ‘eighties football started to become more organised. A huge number of families started to move into the area as Oranmore and Maree began taking the overspill from an ever expanding city.’ The fruits of the work being put in by club members began to show by the mid‐eighties when Oranmore‐Maree won West Board ‘B’ titles in 1984, 1985 and 1986. Indeed, in 1986 the team won the Minor ‘B’ County Final, this team backboned the successful Junior Championship Winning side of 1990, in what was an incredible year for the club as the Intermediate hurlers Pat Malone on the ball won their respective championship. In 1991, the under 21 ‘B’ title was secured with victory over Cartoon Shamrocks and two years later we went one better when they captured the under 21 ‘A’ County title. In 1995 Oranmore‐Maree gained senior status through the league after victory over Ananghdown in a game that was played in mid‐December on a score line of Oranmore‐Maree 0‐8 Annaghdown 0‐5. In 1996 Oranmore‐Maree started their championship with a victory over Salthill‐Knocknacarra on a score line of 1‐11 to 0‐12. The game which was played on Sunday 23rd June in Castlegar saw the vastly experienced Salthill‐ Knocknacarra, as the Galway City Tribune stated; ‘shocked’ by Oranmore‐Maree. It should be noted that Salthill‐Knocknacarra placed an ad in the same paper wishing Oranmore‐Maree the very best for the Championship.
Brendan Duffy takes on the An Cheathrú Rua defence
The next round which was played on Sunday 28th July saw Oranmore‐Maree take on Caherlistrane in the quarter final and after a pitch inspection a six‐point victory saw our lads progress on a score line of Oranmore‐Maree 1‐9 Caherlistrane 0‐6.
The Semi‐Final which was played on the 21st September in Tuam Stadium, saw Oranmore‐Maree take on a young Padraic Joyce and Killererin. Eoin Pender brother of current sub goalie Paul was in unbelievable form scoring an amazing 1‐7 from play. Oranmore‐Maree were on top throughout the match and were leading 0‐6 to 0‐5 at half‐time despite playing against the strong wind. The score finished Oranmore‐Maree 1‐13 Killererin 0‐7. The final which was played on Sunday 6th October before a bumper crowd in the spiritual home of Galway Football, Tuam Stadium. The Oranmore‐Maree team lined out as follows; Derek Pender, Derek Duffy, Joe Tighe, Shane Cannon, Tim Rabbitt (Captain), Pat Malone, Cathal McConn, Hugh Bleahen, Derek Cullinane, Mark Kelly (0‐2), Brendan Duffy (0‐3), Dermot Lohan (0‐1), Willie Burke (0‐1), Eoin Pender (0‐ 3), Cathal Furey. The game which saw two early dismissals, one for each side saw An Cheathrú Rua lead on a half‐time score line of An Cheathrú Rua 0‐7 Oranmore‐Maree 0‐3, in the 29th minute Oranmore‐ Maree were 6 points to one down before a number of points before half‐time. Whatever was said in the dressing room at half‐time worked as Oranmore‐Maree burst into life and were in fact leading on a score line of 0‐10 to 0‐8 with 5 minutes remaining, however a very strong finish by An Cheathrú Rua saw the title head to Connemara for the first time since Oughterard won the title in 1938. The final score was An Cheathrú Rua 1‐11 Oranmore‐ Maree 0‐10.
Under 14 14 Féile na nGael Team that represented Galway. (Photo Credit: Connacht Tribune Archive)
Although the lads came up just short in the senior football final 1996 can be looked upon as a very successful year with victory in numerous underage grades. In May, Oranmore‐Maree won the Under 14 Féile na nGael competition and were selected to represent Galway in the All‐Ireland Series in Mayo. Over the course of the weekend Oranmore‐Maree defeated Milltown, Éire Óg and Oughterard in the group before defeating St. Michael’s in the semi‐final. In the final our lads defeated a fancied Caherlistrane team in their own pitch on a score line of Oranmore‐Maree 0‐10 Caherlistrane 1‐5. The team was as follows; Conor Killilea, David Hanniffy, Hugh O’Ruairc, Colin Lydon, Brian Richardson, Liam Rabbitt (Captain), Richie Murray, Declan Qualter, Martin McGrath, Dara Madden, Enda Earls, Cathal Hanniffy, Darren Hollywood, Aidan Diviney, Colm Cormican. In November, Oranmore‐Maree won the Under 16 County ‘B’ Championship after defeating St. Michael’s on a score line of Oranmore‐Maree 1‐8 St. Michael’s 1‐2 in Claregalway. Oranmore‐Maree won the toss and played with the wind and were 1‐6 to no score up at half time. The manager John O Sullivan used Martin Forde in a ‘sweeper role’ in the second half and it worked a wonder as Oranmore‐ Maree limited St. Michaels to 3 scores. The team was as follows; D. Joyce, M. McGrath, P. Costello, D. Heery, S. O’ Sullivan, E. Forde, D. Broderick, B. Cannon, T. Broderick, N. McBride, J. Cullinane, D. Eignor, D. Noone, M. Forde, N. Qualter. Two weeks after this victory a large number of the team won an Under 15 ‘A’ City League title against Claregalway on a score line of Oranmore‐Maree 0‐6 Claregalway 0‐3. The Broderick twins at midfield dominated and with Eddie Forde, Martin McGrath and Dominic Joyce stopping everything Claregalway threw at them. Up front David Eignor, John Cullinane, who was captain and Enda Earls kept the defence on their toes. Overall it was a successful year on the football field. Thanks to Brenda Malone for providing photos. Remember the Junior County Final is on in Pearse Stadium on Sunday 23rd October at 1:45. Please get out and support the lads!!!
Brendan Duffy takes on the An Cheathrú Rua defence
The next round which was played on Sunday 28th July saw Oranmore‐Maree take on Caherlistrane in the quarter final and after a pitch inspection a six‐point victory saw our lads progress on a score line of Oranmore‐Maree 1‐9 Caherlistrane 0‐6.
The Semi‐Final which was played on the 21st September in Tuam Stadium, saw Oranmore‐Maree take on a young Padraic Joyce and Killererin. Eoin Pender brother of current sub goalie Paul was in unbelievable form scoring an amazing 1‐7 from play. Oranmore‐Maree were on top throughout the match and were leading 0‐6 to 0‐5 at half‐time despite playing against the strong wind. The score finished Oranmore‐Maree 1‐13 Killererin 0‐7. The final which was played on Sunday 6th October before a bumper crowd in the spiritual home of Galway Football, Tuam Stadium. The Oranmore‐Maree team lined out as follows; Derek Pender, Derek Duffy, Joe Tighe, Shane Cannon, Tim Rabbitt (Captain), Pat Malone, Cathal McConn, Hugh Bleahen, Derek Cullinane, Mark Kelly (0‐2), Brendan Duffy (0‐3), Dermot Lohan (0‐1), Willie Burke (0‐1), Eoin Pender (0‐ 3), Cathal Furey. The game which saw two early dismissals, one for each side saw An Cheathrú Rua lead on a half‐time score line of An Cheathrú Rua 0‐7 Oranmore‐Maree 0‐3, in the 29th minute Oranmore‐ Maree were 6 points to one down before a number of points before half‐time. Whatever was said in the dressing room at half‐time worked as Oranmore‐Maree burst into life and were in fact leading on a score line of 0‐10 to 0‐8 with 5 minutes remaining, however a very strong finish by An Cheathrú Rua saw the title head to Connemara for the first time since Oughterard won the title in 1938. The final score was An Cheathrú Rua 1‐11 Oranmore‐ Maree 0‐10.
Under 14 14 Féile na nGael Team that represented Galway. (Photo Credit: Connacht Tribune Archive)
Although the lads came up just short in the senior football final 1996 can be looked upon as a very successful year with victory in numerous underage grades. In May, Oranmore‐Maree won the Under 14 Féile na nGael competition and were selected to represent Galway in the All‐Ireland Series in Mayo. Over the course of the weekend Oranmore‐Maree defeated Milltown, Éire Óg and Oughterard in the group before defeating St. Michael’s in the semi‐final. In the final our lads defeated a fancied Caherlistrane team in their own pitch on a score line of Oranmore‐Maree 0‐10 Caherlistrane 1‐5. The team was as follows; Conor Killilea, David Hanniffy, Hugh O’Ruairc, Colin Lydon, Brian Richardson, Liam Rabbitt (Captain), Richie Murray, Declan Qualter, Martin McGrath, Dara Madden, Enda Earls, Cathal Hanniffy, Darren Hollywood, Aidan Diviney, Colm Cormican. In November, Oranmore‐Maree won the Under 16 County ‘B’ Championship after defeating St. Michael’s on a score line of Oranmore‐Maree 1‐8 St. Michael’s 1‐2 in Claregalway. Oranmore‐Maree won the toss and played with the wind and were 1‐6 to no score up at half time. The manager John O Sullivan used Martin Forde in a ‘sweeper role’ in the second half and it worked a wonder as Oranmore‐ Maree limited St. Michaels to 3 scores. The team was as follows; D. Joyce, M. McGrath, P. Costello, D. Heery, S. O’ Sullivan, E. Forde, D. Broderick, B. Cannon, T. Broderick, N. McBride, J. Cullinane, D. Eignor, D. Noone, M. Forde, N. Qualter. Two weeks after this victory a large number of the team won an Under 15 ‘A’ City League title against Claregalway on a score line of Oranmore‐Maree 0‐6 Claregalway 0‐3. The Broderick twins at midfield dominated and with Eddie Forde, Martin McGrath and Dominic Joyce stopping everything Claregalway threw at them. Up front David Eignor, John Cullinane, who was captain and Enda Earls kept the defence on their toes. Overall it was a successful year on the football field. Thanks to Brenda Malone for providing photos. Remember the Junior County Final is on in Pearse Stadium on Sunday 23rd October at 1:45. Please get out and support the lads!!!
