Tiobraid Árann Abú - United Sports Panel 1959-2009 in conjunction with Bulmers Ltd

Golden Jubilee Presentation of the Annerville Awards to the 2008 Tipperary Sports Stars

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in Hotel Minella, Clonmel on Saturday, 31st January, 2009 Jimmy Cooney, Seamus King, James Holohan, Ken Conway, Richie Blanche. United Sports Panel 2009: Back Row (left to right) Eamonn Wynne, Johnny O’Loughlin, Dave Hallinan, Seamus McCarthy, David Clancy, Liam Ó Donnchú; Front Row (left to right)

2 Foreword

When a number of sports enthusiasts got together in 1959, little did they realise that they were starting something that would stand the test of time and be still a force 50 years later. Led by Sean Barlow and the late Sean Lyons the United Sports Panel was formed. They felt the time was right to have an Award Scheme in the county to honour amateur sports stars in their chosen sports annually. In fact, one should note that these were the first such awards in the country. As well as honouring Tipperary’s outstanding amateur sportspersons the United Sports Panel had another aim, as expressed by the second chairman, the late Tom Halpin, when he presented the awards in 1964. He expressed the hope ‘that functions such as these, which brought the stars of various sports together, would help to promote unity in sport.’ Like all innovations, it was not without its teething problems. Finding ways to finance it and getting venues were just two of them. In the early days businesses in Clonmel were canvassed to sponsor the trophies. This problem was eliminated for the 1964 awards when Messrs Showerings Ltd. came on board as the main sponsors and the awards became known as the Cidona Awards, recently changed to the Annerville Awards. This sponsorship continues to this day and is greatly appreciated by the panel, as are the many individuals and clubs who take out Honorary Membership of the United Sports Panel annually. From small beginnings the scheme grew in stature. The committee consists of eleven persons. While some might accuse it of being Clonmel-based, the objective was always to co-opt persons from other parts of the county whenever vacancies arose thus ensuring all sport-stars came under the microscope. It is also to the credit of the committee that the so-called minority sports were not forgotten and were honoured many times. In fact, as you will read later, forty sports have been honoured over the fifty years. How does the system work? Requests are made in the local newspapers, sporting bodies, clubs and through individuals seeking potential award winners, and nominations are received. Our committee is comprised of persons with a wide knowledge of sport. They meet on four occasions to conduct what are called refresher courses. Each presentation and its merits are scrutinised in minute detail. For a sport to be nominated it must get at least 6 votes from the panel of 11 members. Any number of sports can be selected if they achieve the required number of votes. A similar criteria is in place to select the team or individual in each discipline. Like all events where there is an adjudication system in place their deliberations might not always meet with the approval of all members of the sporting public. Rest assured that final decisions are made with great diligence. One would have to say that this is the main reason why this award scheme is so successful and is 3 much appreciated by the recipients. To mark this historic year each recipient tonight will receive an appropriately inscribed award. This celebration would not be complete without a compilation of the history of these awards and we are indebted to our secretary, Seamus King, who took on this painstaking task. The fruits of his endeavours can be found within this booklet. I would like to use this opportunity to thank all the members, who have served on the panel since 1959. As you will see later in this booklet, many have served for many years, and two of the current panel, Jimmy Cooney and Johnny O’Loughlin, have been members since 1976, a tribute to their great dedication and commitment. I should also like to congratulate the stars we are honouring to-night and all the stars of the past fifty years, who received awards. They provide a roll call of the cream of Tipperary sport over half a century. All surviving members of the United Sports Panel and inaugural winners have been invited to the function. Let’s hope the present committee and future panellists will continue to honour many more Tipperary stars of the future. James Holohan, Chairman of United Sports Panel. 1998 Presentation: Sports Executive Award, Seamus McCarthy, Gaelic Football, Declan Browne, Knocknagow Award, Sean Cleary, Hurling, Tommy Dunne.

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1999 United Sports Panel: back row, left to right: Johnny O’Loughlin, Michael Guinan, Sean Barlow, John Quirke, Jimmy Cooney, Liam Delahunty, Eamonn Wynne; front row, left to right: Davy Hallinan, Sean Lyons, Vera Hewitt (Mayor of Clonmel), Paddy Doyle (Chairman), Johnny Ryan. Annerville Awards

Aidan Murphy, Managing Director, Bulmers Ltd., Main Sponsors 1964-2009

Sport plays an integral part in the lives of Irish people and is the lifeblood of many throughout the communities in which we live. The association between Bulmers and the Annerville Awards dates back as far as 1964 and is an association of which Bulmers is especially proud.

The Awards were established to recognise the wealth of sporting talent being produced in Co. Tipperary with every passing generation, and they are now recognised as the ultimate sporting accolade achievable in the region. Bulmers Ltd is wholly committed to its involvement in the awards, which is indicative of the huge pride Bulmers has in Tipperary – the home of Bulmers for over seventy years, having been established by William Magner in 1935.

Ireland is facing into challenging times and Bulmers strongly believes that sport plays a crucial role in providing direction and increasing morale for people of all ages and ability. Clubs and sporting associations need huge support to survive but regardless of financial support, local sport could not survive if it were not for the countless number of hours that dedicated people are putting in behind the scenes. At Bulmers, we hope that the Annerville Awards go some way towards thanking our local sporting heroes for the indispensable work they do and to also say thank you for the no-less important part played by trainers, parents, families and supporters alike.

Brendan McGuiness, former MD of Bulmers, reflects on the Annerville Awards sponsorship; “Bulmers was always proud to be involved with these prestigious awards and our association stretches back to the 1960s. The sponsorship of the Annerville Awards is as important to Bulmers at a local level as the Magners League is at a 5 national level, as the Awards represent the grass-roots and foundations of our country’s rich sporting heritage.”

Bulmers has played its own part in the development of Irish sport for many years, most notably with its involvement with the Golfing Union of Ireland on the historic All Ireland Cups and Shields and with our sponsorship of the hugely successful Magners League.

Each of these competitions is firmly established and represents the highest of standards in both amateur and professional competitions alike. They are a wonderful reflection of the calibre and dedication of sports people from all over the country and a further demonstration of Bulmers’ true commitment to sport in Ireland. This year is a major landmark in Tipperary’s sporting history as the United Sports Panel celebrates its 50th anniversary. The United Sports Panel has played a key role in sport in Tipperary and its real value has been the ability to highlight the importance of sport, honouring those who participate at every level. On behalf of everyone at Bulmers, congratuations on 50 years of fantastic work - and here’s to the next 50! (United Sports Panel), Sean Healy, Billy Kane. Richard Power, Ailish Redmond, Linda Kennedy, Aoife Bulmer’s), John Kelly, Casey; front row, left to right: Denis Dunne (Mayor of Clonmel), Brendan McGuinness (MD Eamonn Wynne 2004 Sports Stars: back row, left to right: Declan Browne, Jeff Hanrahan, Brian Barry, Denis Fogarty, Jackie Meagher; middle row, left to right: Harry Mulhaire, Joe Irwin, Una O’Dwyer,

6 History of United Sports Panel 1959-2009

When the original members of the United Sports Panel first met they had, in fact, no name. They assembled in the Slievenamon Hotel, Parnell Street on Saturday, December 12, 1959. When they met a week later to pick their Stars it was unanimously decided on the proposition of Sean Barlow, seconded by Eddie O’Neill, to adopt the name United Sports Panel.’ At their second meeting the panel elected the Sports Stars for 1959 by secret ballot.

In the early years the trophies were presented by various business premises in the county but with the introduction of the much-appreciated sponsorship of Messrs Showerings (Ireland) Limited came the introduction of the Cidona Awards.

First of Its Kind The Panel was the first of its kind to be formed outside Dublin. The members of the first panel were Sean Cleary (chairman), Sean Lyons (organising secretary), Sean Barlow, Bill Hyland, Christy Mulcahy, Eddie O’Neill, Bill O’Brien, Paddy Cummins, Ken Hogan, Tom Halpin and Ted Dillon. The presentation of the first awards was made at the Tipperary County Basketball Board’s ceili in St. Patrick’s Hall, Clonmel on Sunday, January 17, 1960. The recipients were presented in apparent random order. The sports honoured were Camogie, Soccer, Table Tennis, Sports Executive, Athletics, Cycling, Hurling, Boxing, Basketball and Gaelic Football. A photograph of the receipients appeared on the front page of the following week’s Nationalist. The awards were presented by the Mayor of Clonmel, Councillor Maurice Slator, and all ten recipients were in attendance. Each was cheered to the echo as he/she received the award. One of the biggest receptions of the night was reserved for John Doyle, the hurling award winner. Each winner was presented with a cup. Sean Lyons introduced the various stars, thanked them for coming, and also thanked all those who had donated trophies. New Sports Recognised Handball and Pitch & Putt were honoured in 1960 in place of Sports Executive and Boxing. In the report in The Nationalist on the 1961 Sports Stars we are told that the Stars were chosen by ballot at a meeting in the Slievenamon Hotel, Clonmel. Seven awards, all of the same design, were to be presented early in the New Year. The report goes on to state: ‘Stars considered by the panel were those who participated in Tipperary amateur sports during the year, or who represented the county in any of the sports mentioned.’ The report continued: ‘The panel was first formed in 1959 when ten awards were made. Last year the panel again decided to choose ten sports, but when the members met this year it was agreed that the number should be reduced by three. Knocked off the list were basketball, soccer and tennis.’ 7 Knocknagow Award The 1962 Awards were presented at a special dance in the Collins Hall, Clonmel on January 20, 1963.One important addition to the awards was the Knocknagow Award, which was presented to honour an outstanding Tipperary sportsperson from the past. The first recipient was athlete, J. J. Ryan of Cordangan, Tipperary. Also making its first appearance in the awards in that year was weight-lifting. The United Sports Panel picked eight stars plus the Knocknagow Award in 1963. The awards were presented in the Collins Ballroom, Clonmel on Sunday, January 26, 1964 and the presentations were made at 10 pm by the Mayor of Clonmel, Cllr. M. Kilkelly, P.C. Honorary Membership The four-page program listed the Honorary Members of the U.S.P. They included the Mayor, Christy Mulcahy, Tom Fitzgerald, Jack Pyke, Jim Power, Colm Ryan, Andy Hogan, Snr., Andy Hogan, Jnr., Garry Lonergan, Gerry Coffey, 1996 Stars William Maher & Brian Fogarty. 2004 Presentation of Knocknagow Award to John Kelly by Brendan McGuinness (Bulmers Ltd.)

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2008 Presentation to Brendan McGuinness on the occasion of his retirement as Managing Director, Bulmer’s Ltd: left to right: Seamus J. King (secretary), Johnny O’Loughlin, Brendan McGuinness, James Holohan (chairman), Cyril O’Flaherty (vice-chairman), Jimmy Cooney. Michael Hogan (Dublin), Mrs. K. O’Flaheryy (Cahir), Paddy O’Loughlin, William Byrne, Michael O’Brien, Ned Gahan, Martin Cronin, Ald. Wm Corbett, Patrick O’Neill (Ardfinnan), John O’Neill, Tom Wall (Carrick-on-Suir), Ald, Sean Treacy, T.D., William Caulfield, Bill Devereux, Senator Wm Ryan (Kilfeacle), Elmville Camogie Club, Con O’Donovan, M.C.C. (Ballyporeen), Ald, John Kennedy, M.C.C., Matt Kennedy, D.P. Honan, M.C.C. (Ennis).

Bulmers Sponsorship There was a major development when the Clonmel United Sports Panel announced the 1964 Awards. They announced that the Irish Cider and Perry Company was sponsoring the awards and that the trophies would henceforth be known as the Cidona Trophies. Also for the first time there would be a dinner-dance in connection with the presentations and it was scheduled to be held in the Ormonde Hotel on Sunday, January 31, 1965. A large advertisement appeared in The Nationalist underneath the report of the announcement of the awards and the sponsorship. It stated: ‘The Irish Cider & Perry Company Ltd. Salute The Tipperary Sports Stars of 1964 and are pleased to sponsor the Cidona Trophies. Happy Christmas to all Sportsmen and Sportswomen.’ The panel in charge of the presentation was as follows: Tom Halpin, chairman, Sean Barlow, vice-chairman, Sean Lyons, secretary, John Boyle, M.C.C., Bill O’Brien, Bill Hyland, Tom Carroll, Paddy Cummins, Eddie O’Neill, Michael O’Meara, Ted Dillon. There was a preview of the 1965 awards in the ‘Nationalist’, the week before the announcement of the awards was made. Columnist Atlas stated that the awards would be presented in the Ormonde Hotel, Clonmel on Sunday, January 23 and attendance would be limited to 200 patrons. It was hoped that the proceedings would be televised for subsequent showing. The Sports panel were pleased to announce that the Irish Cider and Perry Company Ltd. Of Annerville. Clonmel had again agreed to sponsor the awards presentation. Method of Picking the Stars Atlas went on to describe how the sports stars were chosen. According to him any sport can be proposed for a ballot of the members so long as it’s purely amateur in make-up and outlook. The sports that received 50 percent plus 1 of the panel’s voting strength were automatically selected for producing a sports star. In the ballot for the Stars each panel member makes his choice and it has to receive 50 percent plus 1 of the votes to be selected. In the event of a tie or of no candidate reaching the ‘quota’, further ballots take place. In answer to the question of influence or pull being used, Atlas stated: ‘I have served on the panel since its foundation in 1959 and I can truthfully state that as far as human endeavour will allow, every selection of sports stars is fair, clearcut and above reproach. Maybe that’s the secret of the panel’s success and its extraordinary growth from year to year.’ The 1966 Awards, which were now called the Cidona Awards, were presented in the Ormonde Hotel, Clonmel on January 29, 1967. 9 Saturday Night Presentation Three new sports, Ladies Athletics, Golf and Rugby, were honoured for the first time in the 1967 Awards. They were presented at a function in the Ormonde Hotel, Clonmel on Saturday, January 20, 1968. Up to that year the Awards were presented on a Sunday night. The 1968 Awards were presented at the Ormonde Hotel on the last Saturday in January, 1969. In a newspaper report on the selection of the Stars it was stated: ‘Thanks to the untiring work by the panel members, the continuing support of the growing numbers of honorary members and, most important of all, to the commercial sponsorship extended to the panel by Messrs Showerings Ltd (Clonmel) without whose assistance USP could never survive in these costly times.’ The 1969 Awards were presented at Hearn’s Hotel, Clonmel for the first time on January 16, 1970. The members of the panel were as follows: chairman, Sean Barlow, vice-chairman, Bill O’Brien, secretary, Tom Carroll, treasurer, Ald. Sean Lyons, John Boyle, Ted Dillon, Paddy Cummins, Bill Hyland, Ken Hogan, Michael O’Meara, Christy Mulcahy. Jimmy Cooney, James Holohan (chairman), Seamus J. King (secretary), Liam Ó Donnchú. 2007 United Sports panel: left to right: Ken Conway (treasurer), Johnny O’Loughlin, Cyril O’Flaherty (vice-chairman), Richie Blanche, Seamus McCarthy, Davy Hallinan, Eamonn Wynne,

10 New Departure There was a new departure in the 1970 Awards when the Knocknagow Award was given to the eight survivors of the Tipperary team, which won the 1920 All-Ireland senior football title (played in 1922). The 1971 Awards were presented at Hearn’s Hotel on January 29, 1972. They were picked by the United Sports Panel at a meeting in Hearn’s Hotel on December 18, 1971 and and history was made when one recipient, Michael Keating, received two awards, in hurling and football. Badminton was honoured for the first time. The 1972 Awards were presented in the Clonmel Arms Hotel for the first time on Saturday, January 26, 1973. The event commenced at 7-30 pm and the music was by the Remo Quartet. Tickets were £2 each. Clay Bird Shooting was honoured for the first time. There was an increase in the number of awards to thirteen announced in 1974 and they were presented at a function in the Clonmel Arms Hotel on the last Saturday in January 1975. Volleyball made its appearance for the first time and the Knocknagow Award winner was the well-known journalist and broadcaster, Tommy O’Brien, who was one of the finest billiard players in the county during the fifties. Brothers Jimmy and Paddy Doyle received awards in different sports.

The 1975 Awards were presented at a function in the Clonmel Arms Hotel on the last Saturday in January 1976. Rowing was awarded for the first time.

The 1976 Awards were presented at a dinner oin the Clonmel Arms Hotel on Saturday, January 29, 1977. Equestrian, Sculling and Tennis were awarded for the first time.

The 1978 Awards were presented at the Clonmel Arms Hotel on January 27, 1979. Darts were honoured for the first time.

First Lady Knocknagow Winner The 1979 Awards were presented at the Clonmel Arms Hotel at the end of January 1980. History was made when the Knocknagow Award was won by a lady, former international hockey player, Jenny O’Donnell, for the first time.

The souvenir program produced for the 1980 awards includes a greatly expanded list of Honorary Members, one hundred and seventy-six in all. Virtually every public representative and local councillor is included. Also included was a list of the officers to date. The chairmen included Sean Cleary (1960), Tom Halpin (1961-65), Sean Barlow (1966-68), Bill O’Brien (1969-71), Ken Hogan (1972-1974), Bill Hyland (1974), John Boyle (1975-78), Seamus O’Doherty (1979-81). The secretaries during the period were Sean Lyons (1960-65), Eddie O’Neill 11 (1966-68), Tom Carroll (1969-72), Seamus O’Doherty (1973-74), Ken Hogan (1975-81). Sean Lyons took over as treasurer in 1966 and was still in the position in 1981.

The names of all the Stars and Knocknagow Award winners over the twenty-one years were included. The officers were as follows: chairman, Seamus O’Doherty; vice-chairman, Ted Dillon; secretary, Ken Hogan; treasurer, Sean Lyons. The committee included John Boyle, Sean Barlow, Bill O’Brien, Johnny Ryan, Liam Delahunty, Johnny O’Loughlin, Jimmy Cooney. As many as fifteen Awards were made, with Shooting included for the first time.

The 1981 Awards included Powerlifting for the first time.

O’Callaghan & Tisdall The 1982 Awards were presented at the Clonmel Arms Hotel on January 29, 1983. Olympic gold medalists Dr. Pat O’Callaghan and Bob Tisdall, were selected for the Knocknagow Award. 1970s United Sports Panel: back row, left to right: Seamus O’Doherty, Liam Delahunty, Ken Hogan, Jimmy Cooney, Sean Barlow, Sean Lyons; front row, left to right: Johnny O’Loughlin, Johnny Ryan, John Boyle (chairman), Patricia Keeley, (Mayor of Clonmel), Brendan McGuinness (Managing Director, Bulmer’s Ltd.), Bill O’Brien.

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Group taken at presentation to 1998 Tipperary Sports Stars: back row, left to right: Seamus McCarthy (Sports Executive Award), Jimmy Quirke, Petey Savage, Michael O’Connell, Paddy Morrissey, Libby Morrissey, John McNamara; front row, left to right: Michael McCarthy, Margaret McCarthy, Margaret McCarthy, Kathleen McCarthy, Kitty Savage. The 1984 Awards were the Silver Jubilee Awards of the United Sports Panel and they were presented at the Clonmel Arms Hotel on January 26, 1985. In a press release in connection with the Awards, the panel outlined its distinguished history over twenty-five years and concluded by saying: ‘In these times when a cynical approach to all games is growing and the less acceptable face of some facets of the game are hitting the headlines, the ideals for which the Panel was formed twenty-five years ago, to further sport for its own sake, is still laudable and worthy of support.’

The distinction between men’s and Ladies’ athletics was abolished and athletics became one award, open to men and women.

The 1985 Awards were presented at the Clonmel Arms Hotel on January 25, 1986. Rallying was honoured for the first time. Motor Sport made its first appearance in 1986 The United Sports Panel of 1987 was as follows: chairman, Liam Delahunty, vice-chairman, Johnny O’Loughlin, secretary, Seamus O’Doherty, treasurer, Sean Lyons; committee included Jimmy Cooney, Davy Hallinan, Peter Tobin, Sean Barlow, Ted Dillon, Michael Guinan, Johnny Ryan.

Panel Dinner In the course of his remarks at the AGM the chairman said he would like to see a get-together of the Panel before Christmas. This would suggest that there wasn’t a get-together the previous year. At the next meeting the treasurer reported there would be a get-together for the Panel at Cahir House on Sunday, January 3. Johnny O’Loughlin recalls a Chairman’s Dinner from the time he joined, but believes it didn’t take place one or two years because of financial constraints.

Two new sports, Judo and Raquetball, were honoured for the first time in 1989, and Canine Sports and Deep Sea Angling made their appearance in 1990.

A new spotlight was introduced for the presentation of the 1992 Awards in the Clonmel Arms Hotel on the last Saturday in January 1993. The chairman’s dinner was held in Cahir House Hotel on Sunday, January 3. More sports continued to make their appearance in the Awards. In 1995 there were three, Gymnastics, Hockey and Snooker. Swimming was honoured for the first time in 1996, as was Horse Racing in 1998. At the presentation dinner in the Clonmel Arms Hotel on January 31, 1999 with 350 guests present, Johnny Ryan was presented with an inscribed silver tankard to honour twenty-five years of loyal service to the panel.

A sub-committee of the United Sports Panel was held in the Clonmel Arms Hotel on October 3, 1999 to discuss a special event to celebrate the Millennium Presentation Dinner. The following suggestions were agreed: a) selection of the outstanding sportsmen since the awards began; b) honour the surviving members of the 1959 13 Sports Stars; c) seek Showerings involvement; d) video the awards ceremony and seek exposure on Multichannel TV; e) produce a souvenier brochure, possibly in colour.

Presentations for Service to Panel After some years being held in Clonmel Arms Hotel the chairman’s dinner was held in Cahir House Hotel. Showerings Ltd. gave a ‘once off’ subvention of £500 to the panel. Three hundred and seventeen people attended the Awards Dinner in the Clonmel Arms Hotel on January 29, 2000. A presentation tankard was presented to Liam Delahunty to honour twenty-five years loyal service to the panel.

The chairman’s dinner was held in Bailey’s of Cashel in January 2002 and Johnny O’Loughlin and Jimmy Cooney were presented with mementoes for their 25 years of service to the panel.. There was a large crowd at the Presentation Dinner in the Clonmel Arms Hotel on January 25, 2002, with 348 guests attending. Sailing was honoured for the first time. 2000 Presentation: Knocknagow Award winner, 2002 Presentation of Knocknagow Award to Jimmy Jimmy Hannon (Coolcroo) ‘Butler’ Coffey by Jimmy Cooney

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Presentation of Bulmers sponsorship cheque to officers of United Sports Panel in 1969: left to right, Michael O’Meara (U.S.P.), John Kelly (MD, Bulmers), Bill O’Brien (chairman, U.S.P.), Paddy Cummins (U.S.P.), Tom Meany (Bulmers). Sean Lyons, a founder member, retired at the end of the year. As well as concieving the idea of the awards scheme, Sean was a driving force on the panel over the years and played a huge and pivotal role in its organisation and development. Unfortunately the year ended with the death of Sean, one of the founder members of the panel and for many years the inspiration behind its work.

Martial Arts was recognised for the first time in the 2002 Awards. At a meeting on November 9, 2004 it was agreed to name the Sports Executive Award the Sean Lyons Sports Executive Award. It was also agreed to inaugurate a new award, a Special Achievement Award, to be awarded to to athletes who were performaing with some deficiency.

At the November 9, 2005 meeting the members were informed that the Clonmel Arms Hotel was closing down. Seamus McCarthy offered the Bank of Ireland building in Parnell Street as a meeting place.

Move to the Minella Hotel A new venue had to be found for the Presentation Dinner and the Hotel Minella was the choice for the meal on January 28, 2006. A letter was sent to Showerings re increase in sponsorship. In reply the company agreed to increase our sponsorship by €1,000 to cover the cost of our move to the Minella Hotel. The chairman’s dinner was held in Legends, Cashel on January 14, 2006.

The AGM of 2006 was held in Mulcahy’s Bar, Gladstone Street, Clonmel on October 23. It became the new location of the Panel meetings. Officers elected were as follows: chairman, James Holohan, vice-chairman, Cyril O’Flaherty; secretary, Seamus J. King, treasurer, Ken Conway. Members: Eamonn Wynne, Jimmy Cooney, Johnny O’Loughlin, Michael Guinan, Richie Blanche, Liam Ó Donnchú, Seamus McCarthy. The chairman’s dinner was held in Lilli Mai’s, Golden on January 20 and the Presentation Dinner was held in the Minella Hotel on January 27.

The biggest change in the 2007 Awards was in the change in the name of the Awards. The Cidona brand was no longer held by Showerings Limited so they could not retain the name for the Awards. A new name had to be found and the one chosen was Annerville, the name of the townsland where the company is located. So after forty-two years as the Cidona Awards they were called the Annerville Awards for 2007 and presented as such at the presentation dinner, in the Minella Hotel on February 2, 2008. Fifty Years in Existence In the course of his address to the members at the 2008 AGM, held in Mulcahy’s Pub, Gladstone Street, Clonmel on October 8, chairman, James Holohan, looked forward to the presentation of that year’s awards and expressed the opinion that the presentation dinner would have to be something special as we would be celebrating fifty years of our existence. It would also be an opportune time to research the history of the awards. He suggested that in picking the Stars of 2008 we should remain with ‘the amateur ethos agreed by our founders.’ 15

The chairman, James Holohan, secretary, Seamus J. King, and treasurer, Ken Conway, were re-elected. Richie Blanche was elected to the position of vice-chairman, in place of the late Cyril O’Flaherty, who died during the year. At the first Refresher Meeting David Clancy, Clonmel, was co-opted on to the panel, bringing it up to its full complement of eleven members..

The 50th presentations of the awards took place in the Minella Hotel, Clonmel on January 21, 2009. Special guests at the dinner included past members of the panel as well as the survivors of the first awards. A special presentation booklet was produced for the occasion outlining the history of the awards and including the names of all the winners over fifty years. It also included the names of all the members of the United Sports Panel over the period as well as a representative selection of photographs. 1978: Camogie winner, Kay Maxwell, Presentation Convent, Cashel with her parents Michael and Ettie, and brother John at the presentation in the Clonmel Arms Hotel

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Pictured at the 1994 Tipperary United Sports Panel Cidona Awards were, standing, from left, Panel members Eamonn Wynne, Sean Barlow, Johnny O’Loughlin, Johnny Ryan, Jimmy Cooney, Liam Delahunty, Paddy Doyle, Phil Lowry and Michael Guinan. Seated, from left, Colin Gordon, Bulmers; - ; Knocknagow Award winner, boxer Michael Dwan (Ballylooby and Dublin); the Mayor of Clonmel, Cllr. Seamus Healy; Brendan McGuinness, managing director of Bulmers; Davy Hallinan, chairman, United Sports Panel; Maeve Clohessy, Bulmers and Sean Lyons, treasurer, United Sports Panel. Members of the United Sports Panel 1959-2009 (Current members in bold.)

Officers:

Sean Cleary (1959) Chairmen: Sean Lyons (1959-2001) RIP Sean Barlow (1959-2000) Sean Cleary 1959-60 Bill Hyland (1959-1977) RIP Tom Halpin 1960-66 Christy Mulcahy (1959-1971) RIP Sean Barlow 1966-69 Eddie O'Neill (1959-1969) Bill O'Brien 1969-72 Bill O'Brien (1959-1981) RIP Ken Hogan 1972-75 Paddy Cummins (1959 -1972) RIP Bill Hyland 1975-76 Ken Hogan (1959-1984) John Boyle 1976-79 Tom Halpin (1959-1965) RIP Seamus O'Doherty 1979-82 Ted Dillon (1959-1987) RIP Ted Dillon 1982-85 John Boyle (1960-1978) RIP Liam Delahunty 1985-88 Tom Carroll (1961-1974) Johnny O'Loughlin 1988-91 Michael O'Meara (1963-1976) Jimmy Cooney 1991-94 Seamus O'Doherty (1972-1993) Dave Hallinan 1994-97 Johnny Ryan (1973-2001) Paddy Doyle 1997-2000 Liam Delahunty (1973-2000) Michael Guinan 2000-03 Johnny O'Loughlin (1976- Eamonn Wynne 2003-06 Jimmy Cooney (1976- James Holohan 2006-09 Phil Corby (1981-1986) Peter Tobin (1982-1989) RIP Secretaries: Davy Hallinan (1986-2004) Michael Guinan (1986-2004) Sean Lyons 1959-66 Paddy Doyle (1989-2002) . Eddie O'Neill 1966-69 Phil Lowry (1993-1997) Tom Carroll 1969-72 17 Eamonn Wynne (1993- Seamus O'Doherty 1972-75 John Quirke (1997-2005) Ken Hogan 1975-86 Seamus J. King (2001- Seamus O'Doherty 1986-94 James Holohan (2001- Jimmy Cooney 1994-04 James Hayden (2002-2005) Seamus J. King 2004-09 Cyril O'Flaherty (2002-2008) RIP Richie Blanche (2004- Treasurers: Ken Conway (2004- Seamus McCarthy (2005- Sean Lyons 1966-2001 Liam Ó Donnchú (2005- Jimmy Cooney 2002-06 Davy Hallinan (2007- Ken Conway 2006-09 David Clancy (2008- 1959 Sports Stars: back row, left to right: Bill Hyland (Sports Executive), Patsy Ward (Soccer), Kevin Pyke (Table Tennis), Jack Lalor (Athletics), Johnny Gearon (Cycling), Liam Ralph (Boxing); front row, left to right: Leo Dooley (Gaelic Football), Terry Griffin (Camogie), Maurice Slator (Mayor of Clonmel), John Doyle (Hurling), Phil Fanning (Basketball).

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United Sports Panel members pictured at the 36th presentation of the Cidona Awards in 2000 – from left, Jimmy Cooney, Sean Lyons and Sean Barlow. USP Honorary Membership 2005-2006

Ballypatrick Sports Centre John Tobin Ballypatrick Barlo Motors Clonmel Johnny Fitzpatrick Beatrice Lawrence Clonmel Josephine Brett Clonmel Billy Byrne Clonmel Ken Conway Clonmel Billy Stokes Kilsheelan Kilsheelan And Kilcash Gaa Club Brian Tyrrell Clonmel Larkspur Park Cashel Cashel Camogie Club Michael Fitzgerald Clonmel Cashel King Cormacs Gaa Club Michael Heverin Clonmel Cashel Rugby Club Ned O Connor Cahir Cashel Town Soccer Club Niall Lonergan Clonmel Christy Alyward Clonmel P J Moloney Cahir Clancy Family Old Bridge Clonmel Phil Corby Clonmel Cllr Derry Foley Power & Co Bolton Street Clonmel Cllr Pat English Clonmel Quinlivan Family Clonmel Cllr Seamus Healy SarSfield Centre Thurles Clonmel Handball Club Seamus & Luci Foley Cashel Clonmel Town F C Seamus & Margaret Mccarthy Kinsale Eamonn Lacey Nationalist Newspaper Seamus Maher Cashel Frank O Meara Kilsheelan Sen Labhras O Murchu Cashel Ger Walsh Clonmel Senator P Prendergast Gerard Walsh Nationalist Newspaper South Tipp Gaa Board Gerry Chawke Clonmel Sureprint Clonmel Hally & Sons Ardfinnan Tipperary Gaa Board Hillview Sports Club Clonmel Tipperary Handball Board Jim Healy Kilsheelan Tipperary T S D L Jim Holohan Kilsheelan Tom O Dwyer Clonmel Jimmy Cooney Clonmel Tommy Lonergan Kilsheelan Jimmy Harney Clonmel Tony Gleeson Kilsheelan John Quirke Cahir Woodlock Developments

United Sports Panel - Paddy Cummins

Paddy Cummins was one of the founding members of the United Sports Panel. In the early years the sponsorship for the awards came from local businesses and enterprises around the locality. In 1964 Paddy, who worked in Showerings at the time, set about securing a major sponsor for the awards. He was successful in his endeavours by securing sponsorship from Showerings for what was to become known as the Cidona Awards. Paddy was in charge of purchasing 19 and preparing the trophies for the gala event every year. To this end he would hitch a lift to Dublin with a creamery truck and buy the figures for the trophies and then make the wooden bases in his joinery workshop at the back of his house in O’Rahilly Ave. Clonmel. This became a yearly ritual for the Cummins family, who would help with the trophy preparation and polishing. The practice continued until 1977 when George Glendon was commissioned to design the Paddy Cummins, centre, trophies winner of the Knocknagow Paddy Cummins received the Knocknagow Award Award in 1984, with Brendan in 1984 for his past achievements with Tipperary McGuinness, MD Bulmers One of the original trophies inter-county soccer team, who were All Ireland Ltd., left, and Sean Lyons, made by Paddy Cummins finalists in 1938/9 & 1939/40. United Sports Panel. In 1966 national athlete and sports journalist, Dave Guiney, attended the awards ceremony and made a presentation to each member of the United Sports Panel: back row, left to right: Christy Mulcahy, Ten Dillon, Tom Carroll, Michael O'Meara, Paddy Cummins, Eddie O'Neill, Bill Hyland; back row, left to right: John Boyle, Dave Guiney, Sean Lyons, Sean Barlow, Bill O'Brien.

20

1960 Sports Stars: back row, left to right: Liam Daly (Pitch & Putt), Kevin Pyke (Table Tennis), Connie & Tom Cleere (Handball), Tony Newport (Gaelic Football), Timmy O'Dwyer (Basketball), Jack Lalor (Athletics); front row, left to right: Mick Boyle (Soccer), Kitty O'Flaherty (Camogie), Sean Treacy (Mayor of Clonmel), Tom Halpin (United Sports Panel), Sean Lyons (United Sports Panel), Theo English (Hurling). Knocknagow and Annerville Awards by Tom Glendon

The design for the Knocknagow and Annerville Awards was formed over thirty years ago and presented for the first time in 1977. In the intervening years many of the people involved in the preliminary discussions have either moved onto other companies or retired; the last direct contact I had with anybody from those initial communications was Brendan McGuinness, Managing Director of Showerings. The brief was to design an award that would be presented to a county individual who in their field of sport had an achievement at an international or national level, and a smaller version to recognise emerging local sports persons.

I as a sculptor felt it was important to present a recognisable motif with a timeless character relative to Showerings, the sponsors. Through their cider and cidona products the apple or elements thereof suggested a theme to explore. The final design is a reflection of drawing and modelling in my studio, marquettes were presented to the then committee and a final shape arrived at. With minor modifications the design has stood the years well.

The Knocknagow award is made of bronze with a polished front and back and dark patination on the sides, mounted on a polished limestone base. The shape is an apple form and the concept is that of the act of paring and de-coring an apple with the stem giving a satisfying completeness to the design. The 21 aim of its size and weight ( in terms of apparent thickness ) is to give a sculptural feel to the shape and an uniqueness in the field of award design. The Annerville award is a relief of the Knocknagow award made of sterling silver mounted on a polished limestone base in a pylon shape where its size although smaller than the Knocknagow reads as a proper award in itself.

www.thomasglendon.ie Brennan, Olivia Holohan. Fitzgerald; front row, left to right: Robert Power, Kaiffe Moloney, Tom Healy, Vera Hewitt (Mayor of Clonmel), Brendan McGuinness (Bulmers Ltd.), Jimmy Cooney (Chairman), Bobbie 1991 Sports Stars: back row, left to right: Eddie Corbett, John O’Donoghue, Terry McHugh, Nenagh Golf Club representative, Sean Naughton, John Leahy, Michael Grace, Michael

22 The 2008 Tipperary Sports Stars

Athletics: Aoife Bartley (Carrick-on-Suir) 2008 was a great year for Carrick-on-Suir Athletic Club and especially 16 year-old Aoife Bartley, who broke no fewer than three triple jump records and represented Ireland at three international championships. Aoife won the U-17 long jump with a leap of 5.29 metres in the first leg of the All-Ireland Juvenile Track and Field Championships in Antrim. But she really grabbed attention at the second leg of the championships held in Tullamore, when she won the U-17 triple jump with a huge leap of 11.24 metres, an improvement of almost three quarters of a metre on the previous record of 10.61. Aoife was again in record-breaking form at the East Munster Junior Schools event, with a leap of 10.84 metres; and at the Munster Track and Field Championships, with a jump of 10.85 metres. She also enjoyed the distinction of becoming the first student from Carrick’s Scoil Mhuire to win an international schools medal when finishing third in the triple jump with a personal best jump of 11.32 metres at the Schools International at Bedford, when she was beaten by two older English girls. She wore the Irish singlet at the 3As Championship in Birmingham, where she finished sixth with a leap of 10.99 metres in very poor weather. And along with club colleagues Dara Kervick and Shane O’Dwyer, Aoife competed for Ireland at the Celtic International in Scotland, when she came third in the triple jump of 11.27 metres. This was a particularly proud meeting for the Carrick club, the only club in the country to have three athletes selected for the meeting.

Boxing: Con Sheehan (Clonmel). Con Sheehan wrote himself into the history books this time last year when he became the youngest ever senior heavyweight champion in the history of the Irish Amateur Boxing Association when he emphatically won the final of the 91 kgs. division at the National Boxing Stadium. At just 18 years of age, Con showed all the skill and composure of a seasoned senior boxer with four great wins in as many days to claim a fully deserved first senior title both for himself and the Clonmel club, which was established in 1995. It was also the first senior title won by a Clonmel man in more than 50 years. In the final he dug out a hard-fought 6-3 victory over his namesake Tommy Sheehan, representing the St. Michael’s club in Athy, after he found himself 3-0 down in the first round. His wonderful achievement was also rewarded with the Boxer of the Championship Award. En route to the final he beat Pat Phelan, also of St. Michael’s, Athy; senior international and world championship quarter finalist John Sweeney from Co. Donegal; and William Byrne from Knocknagoshel in Kerry. He had earlier won the Munster Intermediate heavyweight championship in Midleton. Con also represented Ireland at the Olympics qualifiers in Pescara, Italy, when he was beaten by the eventual gold medallist. And he was in action for Ireland at the European Union Championships, winning a silver medal with victories over Scottish and German opponents before losing out on points in the final.

23 Camogie: Trisha O’Halloran (Portroe) For a county that dominated the sport in recent years, Tipperary didn’t enjoy much luck on the camogie pitch during the past year. Defeats in the National League and Munster Final meant that they faced a tough task to get their season back on track in the All-Ireland championship. Victories over Kilkenny, Dublin and Limerick and a draw with Galway offered a glimmer of hope, but that was extinguished by Cork in the All-Ireland semi-final. The one shining light for the county during the season was Trisha O’Halloran, whose string of impressive displays throughout her campaign earned Tipperary its only camogie All Star. Trish’s talent was obvious from an early stage and she broke into the county team at just 16. Since then she has put her stamp on the game as one of its most consistent performers, and a player of great versatility who is particularly effective in any one of the central positions in defence. She also made her mark last year on the club scene with Duharra, the Portroe/Burgess combination. They had high hopes for the competition when they enjoyed a preliminary round victory over Drom/Inch but in the county semi-final were beaten by a Drom team that eventually went on to win the championship. Cycling: Sam Bennett (Carrick-on-Suir) 2008 was always destined to be a big year for Sam Bennett, and the young Carrick-on-Suir cyclist didn’t disappoint. His first major success was recorded in June, eleven days after he completed his Leaving Cert, when he won the National Junior Road Race Championship in Midleton. He followed that up two weeks later by capturing the M. Donnelly Junior Tour of Ireland in Mayo. He captained the Irish national team in that event and also claimed the Tour’s Points Classification and two stages, a time trial up the Windy Gap and a road stage in Castlebar. But the best was yet to come. In Poland in September he won the gold medal in the European Track Championships Points Race, Ireland’s first ever medal in a European cycling championship. The scale of this achievement was put into perspective by the fact that there’s no velodrome (indoor cycling track in Ireland), and Sam had to prepare for the event in Belgium; it was only his third race on a track; he had a restricted training programme because of his exams, and he was up against cyclists from all the top European nations who specialise in track cycling. These riders included world champion Michael Kwiatkowski of Poland, whom he beat into third place. An all-rounder who can climb, time trial and sprint, Sam’s performances have catapulted him straight onto Cycling Ireland’s elite squad for the London Olympics in 2012. Having won several elite events at junior and senior level in the past few years, he was ranked the number one junior cyclist in Ireland in 2007 and 2008.

Gaelic Football: Colin Morrissey (Galtee Rovers). Completing the West and county senior football championship double meant that Galtee Rovers returned from the wilderness last year. They wrapped up the first leg of that double with a comfortable 1-14 to 0-7 win over Eire Og Annacarty in the divisional final in September. They encountered much tougher opposition, however, the following month when they just got the better of Cahir by 2 points, 0-7 to 0-5, in the county final to win the title for the first time in 27 years. The experience and influence of Colin Morrissey were crucial not just in that victory but in other games when Rovers were up against the odds, particularly the county semi-final. It would have taken a brave man to bet against Aherlow when they led the Bansha team by 9 points after 17 minutes. But Colin and his team-mates had other ideas and hauled themselves off the canvas to shade the all-West affair by 2 points and resurrect their season. Rovers had that ideal blend of youth and experience during a memorable campaign and throughout the season Colin Morrissey, one of their most seasoned players, stood apart as a vital presence in the centre of the field. His first Annerville award is a fitting reward for a player who hails from a great GAA family – his sister Mairead was on the All-Ireland winning ladies football team, which was managed by their father Paddy – and Colin also has the unique distinction of having played at all grades of championship hurling and football for Tipperary.

Golf: Kieran Kennedy (Thurles). A soldier from Thurles was another who struck gold during the year when he became the first Irishman to win the 5th World Military Golf Championship in Ottawa, Canada. Kieran Kennedy, a sergeant based at Kickham Barracks in Clonmel, beat 100 competitors from 15 countries to win the gold medal. In the 72 hole competition he came from a round of 73, four behind, on the first day; a 71, one behind, on the second day; and a 73, all square, on day three to win the competition by two shots with a round of 71 on the final day. He also had to conquer the conditions at the Hylands course in Ottawa, with the summer temperatures ranging from 29 to 31 degrees. Three golfers were level in the final round on Friday and Kieran eventually beat Mike Batten of Australia to take the title, with messages of congratulations pouring into his home once news of his great achievement crossed the Atlantic. He was also part of the eight-strong Defence Forces team that finished fifth overall. 24 Kieran was selected for the championships following his success in the Southern Brigade competition and in four subsequent trials held at the Curragh involving the army, navy and air corps. A member of Thurles Golf Club, Kieran is a +2 handicapper and also won the senior scratch cup at Clonmel in September with a very impressive round of 69, three under par.

Handball: Ger Coonan and Martin McInerny Ballina Ger Coonan and Martin McInerny upheld the proud handballing tradition of their club and county by winning the All-Ireland 60 x 30 Intermediate doubles title. It was a landmark victory for handball in the county as only one other pair – Cashel’s Noel Murphy and Josie O’Dwyer – had succeeded in winning this particular title, in 1995. Fresh from winning the All-Ireland 60 x 30 singles championship, Ger Coonan teamed up with his Ballina clubmate Martin McInerny to blaze a similar trail through the doubles. They defeated the Limerick pair of Paul Hedderman and Tom O’Brien in the Munster Final in August. They then travelled to Mayo to take on Ollie Cassidy and Paul Flynn in the All-Ireland Semi-Final and were successful in the third game on a scoreline of 21-10. In that final Ger and Martin faced the Dublin pairing of Ian Griffin and Kerry Hennessey in Croke Park on the eve of the All-Ireland Hurling Final. The Tipperary pair were unstoppable on the night and accounted for the Dublin pair in two straight games on a scoreline of 21-16, 21-18. It was an outstanding performance that gave their large following plenty to cheer, as they brought more glory to that great handball stronghold of Ballina. Hurling: Shane McGrath (Ballinahinch). The ultimate prize of an All-Ireland senior championship may have eluded the county, but 2008 was still a year when a huge amount of pride was restored to Tipperary hurling. Followers of the game had precious little to get excited about in the previous few years, until the displays of Liam Sheedy’s team saw the county re-emerge as a real force. The team performed with a renewed sense of urgency and confidence, and midfielder Shane McGrath was central to the county’s recovery. The Ballinahinch man scored 3 points from play when Tipp beat UCC in their first match of the year in the Waterford Crystal tournament in Nenagh in January, and that set the standard for his performances for the remainder of the season. He was a model of consistency throughout the National League campaign, and played a typically influential role at midfield when Tipp beat Galway in the league final to claim the county’s first significant silverware in 7 years. When Tipp at last smashed that 85-year sequence without a championship win against Cork in Cork, 24 year-old Shane made another significant contribution, as he prowled the middle of the field with a calm authority. Tipp won their first Munster championship in 8 years when they defeated Clare in Limerick, with the help of three points from Shane McGrath who turned in another busy shift. His fine performances were amply rewarded when Shane was selected at midfield in the 2008 All Stars team, when he was joined in the line-up by fellow Tipperary players Brendan Cummins and Conor O’Mahony.

Ladies Football: Tipperary Intermediate Team Tipperary’s Ladies Intermediate footballers didn’t allow setbacks that occurred during the season to deter them in their quest for All-Ireland glory. They suffered a comprehensive defeat by Clare in the Munster final at the end of June, and a fortnight later in the All-Ireland series The Banner County frustrated them again, beating Tipp by 5 points. Undaunted by those defeats, the Tipp girls re-launched their campaign with victories over Roscommon and Cavan, and they then avenged their All-Ireland semi-final defeat by Wexford the previous year by beating the same opponents at the penultimate stage of the championship. Facing a side that had already beaten them twice during the season, a lesser team might have folded in September’s All-Ireland final in Croke Park. But this Tipp team had been prepared to peak at exactly the right time, under the expert guidance of manager Paddy Morrissey and his backroom staff Michael McCarthy and Martin McDermott. They looked to be sliding towards another defeat by Clare when they trailed by 4 points early in the second half. But they showed tremendous resolve to claw their way back into the game and held their opponents scoreless for the final 18 minutes. The comeback was driven by the outstanding midfield pairing of captain Angie McDermott and Mairead Morrissey and the scoring prowess of Edel Hanley, who scored a magnificent total of 10 points. Thanks to a tremendous overall team performance, Tipp eventually gained the upperhand in a pulsating affair and by the finish their three-point victory had earned the county its first All-Ireland Ladies Football title in 28 years. An All-Star award for Aherlow’s Edel Hanley was the icing on the cake on a tremendous year for Tipperary Ladies Football. Back row, left to right: Jayne Clancy, Patrice Ryan, Claire Carroll, Jennifer Grant, Maeve Corcoran, Treasa McManus, Patricia Hickey, Nora Noonan, Edel Hanley, Sheelagh Carew, Mairead Luttrell, Joanne O’Doherty, Sinead Delahunty, Samantha Lambert, Carmel Condon, Barbara Ryan; front row, left to right: Eileen Brennan, Claire Lambert, Anne O’Dwyer, Siobhan Costello, Aoife O’Dwyer, Gillian O’Brien, Mairead Morrissey, Angie McDermott (capt.), Edith Carroll, Olivia McCarthy, Caitriona Walsh, Karen Barry, Nancy Ferris; mascots: Laura Peters, Kate O’Meara. 25

Pitch and Putt: Paul O’Brien (Lakeside, Templemore) The star of the tournament when Ireland won the Pitch and Putt World Cup in October was a Tipperary man. Paul O’Brien from Lakeside, Templemore won six matches from six as Ireland powered home to win the world cup for the first time. It was a triumphant year for pitch and putt players from the county, with Tipperary winning more All-Ireland titles than any other county. But the highlight of the year was undoubtedly Paul’s performance at the world event staged in Arnhem, Holland. His three singles matchplay wins, at crucial times, were regarded as decisive and he was the hero of Ireland’s prestigious win in an event that attracted teams from twelve countries including Chile, Great Britain, Finland and several European countries. The team also included Dublin’s Derek Courtney and Cork’s Ray Murphy, the country’s top ranked player. But the Tipperary man was the only Irish player to remain undefeated, as he lost just 6 holes in 6 rounds. Ireland reached the final after a closely contested and exciting semi-final against Great Britain. Paul saved his best for the final against Holland, when he was -8 for the first 13 holes, where he was 4 up. Playing down 15 he was still 4 up and word had spread to him that his match could win the world cup for Ireland. His birdie opportunity was about 20 feet from the hole and he duly obliged, placing the ball to within 6 inches of the hole, with his opponent conceding the putt. Rugby: Niamh Briggs & Kate O’Loughlin (Clonmel)

Niamh Briggs and Kate O’Loughlin were capped for their country, played for their province and enjoyed All-Ireland success during the course of a highly successful season for both ladies. They were highly influential players on the Clonmel team that hit the ground running in the club’s first season in the First Division of the All-Ireland League by winning the All-Ireland Cup. Clonmel won the League’s Second Division the previous year and promotion represented a very big step- up, both physically and technically, for the club established 10 years previously. However their hard work, commitment and dedication were fully rewarded when they won the All-Ireland Cup, a fantastic achievement for a team participating at this level for the first time. They lifted the trophy with an emphatic 21-5 win over a well-established Highfield team in the final in Navan last March, and their victory march also included victories over Waterpark, Shannon and Cooke. The Clonmel team also acquitted itself well in the League, finishing third behind eventual winners Blackrock and UL Bohemians. Niamh Briggs and Kate O’Loughlin were two of four Clonmel players on the Munster side that won the inter-provincial crown, and they were also recognised internationally. They were both capped in the opening match of the Six Nations, a win over Italy, and went on to win further caps in the Six Nations and European Championships. Soccer: Carrick United F.C.

The old saying that you have to lose one to win one certainly rang true for Carrick United last year. Four years after a heartbreaking defeat to Fairview Rangers in the Final, the club at last reached the Holy Grail when they lifted the FAI Junior Cup for the very first time. Their success was achieved the hard way, which made it all the sweeter for players, mentors and supporters alike. They beat the holders Killester United 2-1 in the final at the RSC grounds in Waterford, coming from a goal down at half time. Although they play in the Waterford League, United are very much a Tipperary club and they became only the third team from the Premier County to win the blue riband trophy of Irish junior soccer, following in the footsteps of St. Michael’s in 1974 and Clonmel Town in 1994. With upwards of 700 teams taking part, this is the largest competition of its kind anywhere in Europe and reaches into nearly every local community in the country. Carrick played eight matches up and down the country, surviving two penalty shoot outs along the way, before facing a highly- rated Castlebar Celtic in the semi-final at Ozier Park. A 3-1 win meant a return to Waterford for the final on May 3rd, when their green and white clad supporters vastly outnumbered the fans who travelled from Dublin for the showpiece occasion. It appeared that their luck was out when Carrick trailed by a goal at the break and then agonisingly missed a penalty 9 minutes into the second half. But the team’s character shone through in the face of adversity. They never gave up and fortune favoured the brave when they grabbed a 74th minute equaliser with an own goal, before half-time substitute Alan Ryan kept a cool head to win it for United with a stoppage time penalty. Back Row (left to right) Brian Barry, Eoin Burke, Stephen Hahessy, Anthony Power,Adrain Walsh, Thomas Fitgerald, Alan Redmond, Richard Lawrance, Anthony O Donnell. Front Row (left to right) Glen Keane, Barry Murphy, Wayne Fitzgerald, Daryl Kavanagh, Ian Clery, Alan Ryan, John Walsh, Keith Walsh, James Walsh. Sean Lyons Sports Executive Award: Martin Fennessy (Clonmel). 26 It’s no exaggeration to suggest that Martin Fennessy has been one of those people responsible for the phenomenal progress made by Clonmel Boxing Club since its foundation in 1995. Martin has coached several of those stars whose exploits, including winning several Munster and All-Ireland titles and wearing the Irish singlet in international competition, have made the club one of the strongest in the country. Last year’s Irish Senior Amateur Championships at the National Stadium were a proud occasion for Martin, who coached two of the Clonmel boxers – Con Sheehan, who won the heavyweight crown, and his son Kevin Fennessy. He is also a coach with the Irish high performance team who train at weekends at the National Stadium in Dublin. He has served as an international coach at schoolboy, youth, junior and senior level. He has travelled to numerous countries as a coach with Irish teams in several competitions, including European Championships. Martin holds a diploma in refereeing/judging and last year received his European badge as a referee/judge. He has also acted as referee and judge at the senior championships on several occasions. Despite his national profile in the sport, he remains committed to his home town club and it’s his ambition to have a custom-built boxing club in Clonmel. Martin is now the third generation of the Fennessy family to receive the Tipperary United Sports Panel award. His father Bernie won the award for weightlifting while his son Kevin was twice honoured for boxing. The Knocknagow Award

Denis ‘Sonny’ O’Gorman Thurles

The Knocknagow Award, which each year honours a noted sportsperson of the past, is presented this year to a Thurles athlete whose eventful career took him across Europe in the 1950s and 1960s.

While living in the Greater London area, Denis ‘Sonny’ O’Gorman represented Great Britain at the Olympic Games in Rome in 1960, when he finished 16th in the marathon.

Earlier that year, in a marathon in Liverpool, he ran what was clocked at the time as the fourth fastest time in history for the 26 mile event.

In 1959 he finished second to world record holder Sergey Popov at the Kosice marathon in Czechoslovakia, as he displayed the encouraging form that saw him become an Olympian twelve months later.

He only made his debut over that long distance earlier that year, winning the Polytechnic Marathon from Windsor to Chiswick.

Not surprisingly for a Thurles man, ‘Sonny’ had played hurling with Sarsfields in the forties. But he found his true sporting niche when he emigrated to England in 1946, where he served with the RAF and then worked as a nurse before settling in a job at the De Havilland aircraft factory in Hatfield, London.

He joined the St. Alban’s Athletic Club in 1952 and was disappointed to be left out of the Irish team for the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, although he eventually realised his Olympic ambitions four years later. 27 He proved his talent at other distances and in 1955 he set Irish records for the 3, 4 and 6 miles events on the track.

In 1958 he broke the British Empire record for 15 miles on the track with a time of 1 hour, 17 minutes and 10 seconds, and a year later represented Ireland at an international cross-country championship in Lisbon.

Three years earlier he had the distinction of being the first Irish finisher at an international cross-country championship in San Sebastian. Eddie Webster; front row, left to right: Ned Shea, Mary Luby, Bill Hyland (chairman), Hubert Burke (Mayor of Clonmel), Digby Walsh (Bulmers Ltd.), Eleanor Carroll, Tommy Treacy. 1975 Sports Stars: back row, left to right: Tadhg O’Connor, Timmy Hally, Sean Kelly, Bernie Fennessy, Dick Fallon, Tom Morrissey, Eddie Farrell, Representative Clonmel Rowing Club,

28 The United Sports Panel Award Winners 1959-2008

1959

Camogie: Terry Griffin (Roscrea); Soccer: Pat Ward (Cahir); Table tennis: Kevin Pyke (Hillview); Sports Executive: Bill Hyland (Clonmel A. & C.C.); Athletics: Jack Lalor (Carrick); Cycling: Johnny Gearon (Clonmel); Hurling: John Doyle (Holycross-Ballycahill); Boxing: Liam Ralph (Thurles); Basketball: Phil Fanning (Clonmel); Gaelic Football: Leo Dooley (Roscrea). 1960 Athletics: Jack Lalor (Carrick); Basketball: Timmy O’Dwyer (Clonmel); Hurling: Theo English (Marlfield); Camogie: Kitty O’Flaherty (Cahir); Handball: Con and Tom Cleere (Nenagh); Gaelic Football: Tony Newport (Fethard); Cycling: Patsy Wall (Carrick-on-Suir); Soccer: Mick Boyle (Cahir); Table Tennis: Kevin Pyke (Clonmel); Pitch & Putt: Liam Daly (Clonmel). 1961 Hurling: Liam Devaney (Borrisoleigh); Handball: John Cleary (Tipperary); Pitch and Putt: Eoin Morrissey (Clonmel); Gaelic Football: Babs Keating (Ardfinnan);Cycling: Patsy Wall (Carrick); Athletics: Liam F. Gleeson (Nenagh); Camogie: Honor Flynn (Tipperary). 1962 Hurling: Donie Nealon (Burgess); Gaelic Football: Babs Keating (Ardfinnan); Weight-Lifting: John Kirwan (Clonmel); Camogie: Nora Foley (Elmville); Cycling: Patsy Wall (Carrick); Athletics: Hugh O’Callaghan (Clonmel); Sports Executive: Gerry Doyle (Thurles); Handball: Paddy Hickey (Clogheen) Knocknagow Award: J. J. Ryan (Tipperary). 1963 Hurling: Michael Maher (Holycross); Gaelic Football: Babs Keating (Ardfinnan); Sports Executive: Tommy Ryan (Clonmel); Cycling: John Lonergan (Ballylooby); Handball: Paddy Hickey (Clogheen); Athletics: Hugh O’Callaghan (Clonmel); Camogie: Kathleen Griffin (Roscrea); Soccer: Denis Halpin (Cahir); Knocknagow Award: Martin Kennedy (Toomevara). 1964 29 Hurling: Tony Wall (Thurles Sarsfields);Gaelic Football: Paddy Dawson (Emly); Sports Executive: Kitty O’Flaherty (Cahir); Camogie: Anne Carroll (Ballintaggart); Boxing: Robert Redmond (Clonmel); Athletics: Hugh O’Callaghan (Clonmel); Cycling: John Lonergan (Ballylooby); Weightlifting: Frank Rothwell (Clonmel); Knocknagow Award: Tommy O’Keeffe (Clonmel). 1965 Athletics: Michael Hickey (Dundrum A.C.); Boxing: Nicky Butler (Carrick-on-Suir); Camogie: Anne Carroll (St. Patrick’s); Cycling: Johnny Lonergan (Clonmel A. & C.C.); Gaelic Football: Paddy O’Connell (Clonmel Commercials); Hurling: John McKenna (Borrisokane); Soccer: Buddy Anderson (Clonmel); Sports Executive: John Moloney (Galtee Rovers); Weightlifting: Frank Rothwell (Clonmel); Knocknagow Award: Johnny Healy (Clonmel). 1982 Presentation Knocknagow Award winner, Bob Tisdall, by Davy Hallinan

30

1975 Presentation: back row, left to right: Seamus O’Doherty, Ted Dillon, Sean Barlow, Michael O’Meara, Liam Delahunty, Sean Lyons; front row, left to right: Johnny Ryan, John Boyle, Hubert Burke (Mayor of Clonmel), Bill Hyland (Chairman), Bill O’Brien, Ken Hogan. 1966 Athletics: Liam Gleeson (Nenagh); Boxing: Bobbie Redmond (Ferryhouse); Camogie: Anne Carroll (St. Patrick’s); Gaelic Football: Michael Keating (Ardfinnan);Handball: Paddy Hickey (Burncourt); Hurling: Mick Roche (Carrick Davins); Soccer: Andy Hogan (Clonmel Bohemians); Sports Executive: F. W. C. Ruthledge (Tipperary); Knocknagow Award: Joe Butler (Cahir). 1967 Athletics: Michael O’Sullivan; Ladies Athletics: Kathleen Leane (Thurles); Boxing: Noel Connors (Thurles); Golf: John Carey (Roscrea); Hurling: Len Gaynor (Kilraune MacDonaghs); Soccer: Marty Hogan (Tipperary); Sports Executive: Liam Delahunty (Clonmel); Weightlifting: Frank Rothwell (Clonmel); Knocknagow Award: John Ayres (Nenagh). 1968 Ladies Athletics: Nuala Bowe (Moycarkey-Borris AC); Men’s Athletics: Mick Hickey (Dundrum A.C.); Boxing: Jimmy Connors (Thurles BC); Cycling: Tony Ryan (Carrick Wheelers); Camogie: Beatrice Lawrence (Elmville); Gaelic Football: Johnny Cummins (Ardfinnan); Handball: Paddy Hickey (Clogheen) and Connie Cleere (Nenagh); Hurling: Mick Roche (Carrick Davins); Rugby: Johnny Moroney (London-Irish); Soccer: Tom O’Flaherty (Clonmel Bohemians); Sports Executive: Rev. Bro. J. C. Joyce (Nenagh CBS); Knocknagow Award: Dr. Paddy Stokes (Fethard). 1969 Ladies Athletics: Emily Hallinan (Newcastle A.C.); Men’s Athletics: Christy Maher (Golden A.C.); Boxing: Frank Cahill (Mullinahone BC); Camogie: Sally Long (Thurles CC); Cycling: John Lonergan (Carrick Wheelers CC); Gaelic Football: Mick Byrnes (Lattin-Cullen); Handball: Pat Davin (Kickham Barrack, Clonmel); Hurling: Jimmy Doyle (Thurles Sarsfields); Soccer: Eddie O’Dwyer (St. Michael’s, Tipperary); Sports Executive: John Moloney (Galtee Rovers); Knocknagow Award: Edward Beary (Clonmel). 1970 Athletics: Liam Spooner (Premier AC); Boxing: Bobby Redmond (Ferryhouse); Camogie: Margaret Cleary (Thurles); Cycling: Johnny Lonergan (Carrick Wheelers CC); Gaelic Football: Michael Keating (Ardfinnan); Handball: Willie Fitzgibbon (Tipperary); Hurling: Francis Loughnane (Roscrea); Soccer: Eddie Anderson (Clonmel); Weightlifting: Frank Rothwell (Clonmel); Sports Executive: Stephen Waters (Mullinahone BC); Knocknagow Award: Jim Ryan (Loughmore), Jim Moran (Mullinahone), Mick Nolan (Mullinahone), Dick Lanigan (Grangemockler), Mick Tobin (Grangemockler), Bill Ryan (Castleiney), Ned Cummins (Fethard), Tom Ryan (Clogheen). 31 1971 Ladies Athletics: Margaret Crosse (Donohill); Men’s Athletics: Dessie O’Connor (Tipperary); Badminton: Kathleen Marks (Roscrea); Boxing: Eddie Madden (Mullinahone); Gaelic Football: Michael Keating (Ardfinnan); Handball: Paddy Hickey (Clogheen); Hurling: Michael Keating (Ballybacon-Grange); Soccer: D. D. Cremins (Tipperary); Sports Executive J. P. McGowan (Clonmel); Knocknagow Award: Joe Bergin (Nenagh). 1972 Ladies Athletics: Freddie Cooney (St. Anthony’s AC); Men’s Athletics: Pat Healy (Coolcroo); Badminton (Mick Craddock (Thurles); Cycling: Sean Kelly (Carrick Wheelers Road Club); Clay Pigeon Shooting: Tony Sheehan (Killusty); Gaelic Football: Jim Kehoe (Kilsheelan); Handball: Paddy Hickey (Clogheen & Connie Cleere (Nenagh); Hurling: Francis Loughnane (Roscrea); Soccer: Seanie Hogan (Clonmel Bohemians); Sports Executive: Seamus Doherty (Premier); Knocknagow Award: Ned Tobin (Ballylooby). Mullinahone, representing Steven Waters. (chairman, U.S.P.); front row, left to right: Francis Loughnane, Margaret Cleary, Bulmers), P. John Kelly (MD, J. Powell (Mayor of Clonmel), Liam Spooner, Very Rev. Philip Noonan P.P. of the 1975 Stars: back row,Some left to right: Eddie Anderson, Willie J. Cronin for Frank Rothwell, Michael Fitzgibbon, ‘Babs’ Keating, Bobby Redmond, Johnny Lonergan, Bill O’Brien

32 1973 Ladies Athletics: Freddie Cooney (St. Anthony’s AC); Men’s Athletics: Liam Gleeson: Nenagh Olympic AC); Badminton: Tony Fox (Terryglass BC); Cycling: Sean Kelly (Carrick Wheelers Road Club); Gaelic Football: Eddie Webster (Loughmore-Castleiney); Handball: Willie Fitzgibbon (Tipperary); Hurling: Francis Loughnane (Roscrea); Soccer: Maurice Slater (Waterford AFC); Sports Executive: Rev. Nicholas Power (St. Mary’s, Clonmel); Knocknagow Award: Paddy Ormonde (Ballyporeen). 1974 Ladies Athletics, Freddie Cooney (Kilfeacle); Men’s Athletics: Liam Hennessy (Cappawhite); Badminton: Paddy Doyle (Thurles); Cycling: Sean Kelly (Carrick Wheelers); Gaelic Football: Eamonn O’Gorman (Ardfinnan); Ladies Football: Lilian Gorey (Drangan); Golf: Arthur Pierce (Tipperary); Handball: Tony Ryan (Ballypatrick); Hurling: Jimmy Doyle (Thurles Sarsfields); ; Pitch & Putt: Nora Daly (Clonmel); Soccer: J. J., O’Dwyer (Tipperary); Sports Executive: Frank Kent (Clonmel); Volleyball: Mary Morrissey (Fethard); Knocknagow Award: Tommy O’Brien (Clonmel). 1975 Ladies Athletics: Mary Looby (Tipperary Town AC); Men’s Athletics: Dick Fallon (Fethard); Cycling: Sean Kelly (Carrick Wheelers); Gaelic Football: Eddie Webster (Loughmore-Castleiney); Handball: Tom Morrissey & Eddie Farrell (St. Mary’s); Hurling: Tadhg O’Connor (Roscrea); Ladies Football: Eleanor Carroll (Ardfinnan); Rowing: Clonmel Maiden Fours Crew (Seamus Conway, stroke); Soccer: Timmy Hally (Clonmel Bohemians); Sports Executive: Ned O’Shea (St, Mary’s); Weightlifting: Bernie Fennessy (Clonmel); Knocknagow Award: Tommy Treacy (Illeigh) 1976 Ladies Athletics: Nora O’Grady (Nenagh); Men’s Athletics: Pat Fallon (Fethard); Cycling: Bobby Power (Carrick-on-Suir); Gaelic Football: Vincent O’Donnell (Bansha); Golf: Arthur Pierce (Tipperary); Handball: Tony Ryan (Ballypatrick); Hurling: Joe Hogan (Roscrea); Equestrian: John Watson (Clonmel); Sculling: Dermot Wall (Clonmel); Soccer: Eamon O’Meara (Nenagh); Tennis: Cyril Murphy (Clonmel); Sports Executive: Bro. M. V. O’Grady (Cashel); Knocknagow Award: John Joe Barry (The Commons). 1977 Ladies Athletics: Nora O’Grady (Nenagh AC); Men’s Athletics: Dick Fallon (Clonmel AC); Cycling: Bobby Power (Carrick Wheelers CC); Gaelic Football: Gene McGrath (Commercials); Golf: Arthur Pierce (Tipperary); 33 Handball: Tony Ryan (Ballypatrick); Hurling: Jim Kehoe (Carrick Swan); Pitch and Putt: Joan Fogarty (Hillview); Soccer: Sean Kiely (Clonmel Town); Sports Executive: Joe Holden (Clonmel AC) Weightlifting: Tony Collins (Clonmel); Knocknagow Award: Mick Cahill (Mullinahone). 1978 Ladies Athletics: Noelle Morrissey (Nenagh AC); Men’s Athletics: Anthony Barrett (Killenaule); Camogie: Kay Maxwell (Presentation Convent, Cashel) Cycling: Bobby Power (Carrick Wheelers CC); Equestrian: John Watson (Clonmel); Darts: Sean Norris (Clonmel); Gaelic Football: Sean Moloney (Fethard); Golf: Clonmel Junior Cup Team; Handball: Tony Ryan (Ballypatrick); Hurling: Jim Keogh (Silvermines); Soccer: Simon Sunderland (Clonmel Town); Sports Executive: Sean Naughton (Nenagh); Weightlifting: Bernie Fennessy (Clonmel); Knocknagow Award: Eddie Cantwell (Clonmel). Picture taken at presentation of sponsorship by Bulmers’ Ltd. for this year’s Annerville Awards presentation to the United Sports Panel. Left to right: Richie Blanche, vice-chairman, United Sports Panel, Aidan Murphy, Managing Director, Bulmer’s Ltd, Johnny O’Loughlin, United Sports Panel.

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1999 Knocknagow Award: Hurling Team of the Century members, Tony Reddin, Jimmy Doyle, Jimmy Finn and John Doyle. 1979 Ladies Athletics: Margaret Crosse (Donohill); Men’s Athletics: Tommy Moloney (Thurles); Camogie: Deirdre Delaney (Ballycommon); Equestrian: John Watson (Clonmel); Golf: Arthur Pierce (Tipperary); Handball: Noel & Tony Ryan (Ballypatrick); Hurling: Pat McLoughney (Shannon Rovers); Soccer: Sean Kiely (Clonmel); Sports Executive: Tony Smith (Rockwell College); Knocknagow Award: Jenny O’Donnell (Kilsheelan). 1980 Ladies Athletics: Noelle Morrissey (Nenagh); Men’s Athletics: Denis Finnerty (Nenagh); Badminton: Con Redican (Monard & Golden); Camogie: Maureen Maher (Templemore); Cycling: Tony Ryan (Carrick Wheelers ICF); Gaelic Football: Michael Beston (Clogheen); Golf: Arthur Pierce (Tipperary); Handball: Tony Ryan (Ballypatrick); Hurling: Jim Maher (Loughmore-Castleiney); Ladies Football: Josephine Burke (Castleiney); Rowing: Paul McGrath (Clonmel); Shooting: Nicholas Cooney (Tipperary); Soccer: Paddy Ryan (Clonmel); Sports Executive: Liam Hennessy (Cappawhite); Weightlifting: Tony Collins (Clonmel); Knocknagow Award: Surviving Members of Triple Crown Team 1930. 1981 Ladies Athletics: Noelle Morrissey (Nenagh Olympic); Men’s Athletics: Jim Sheehan (Nenagh Olympic); Cycling: Larry Power (Carrick Cidona Wheelers); Gaelic Football: Seamus McCarthy (Galtee Rovers); Handball: Pakie Mullins (Clonmel HC); Hurling: Pat Fox (Eire Óg); Pitch & Putt: Tipperary Inter-County Team; Soccer: Billy Lambe (Old Bridge AFA); Sports Executive: P. J. Kenny (Carrick-on-Suir); Weightlifting: Tony Collins (Clonmel WLC); Knocknagow Award: Michael Phelan (Clonmel). 1982 Ladies Athletics: Carmel Maher (Nenagh); Men’s Athletics: John Fitzgerald (Clonmel); Boxing: Noel Guiry (Mullinahone); Cycling: Carrick Cidona Wheelers; Gaelic Football: Paudie O’Neill (Commercials); Golf: Arthur Pierce (Tipperary); Handball: Tony Ryan (Ballypatrick); Hurling: John Flanagan (Moycarkey-Borris); Soccer: P. J. O’Reilly (Clonmel Town); Sports Executive: Mick Tyrell (Clonmel); Powerlifting: Tony Collins (Clonmel); Knocknagow Award: Dr. Pat O’Callaghan and Bob Tisdall. 1983 Athletics: Mary Martin (Tipperary); Boxing: Noel Guiry (Mullinahone); Cycling: Stephen Spratt (Cidona Wheelers); Gaelic Football: Pat McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney); Handball: Tony Ryan (Ballypatrick); Hurling: Nicky English (Lattin-Cullen); Powerlifting: Bernie Fennessy (Clonmel); Rugby: Rory Moroney (Clonmel); Soccer: Michael Bennett (Waterford FC); Sports Executive: Michael Guinan (Killenaule AC); Knocknagow Award: Jimmy Smith (Clonmel). 35 1984 Athletics: Jacqueline Stokes (Fethard); Camogie: Deirdre Lane (Celtic, Dublin); Cycling: Anthony O’Gorman (Cidona Carrick Wheelers); Gaelic Football: The County Minor Football Team; Handball: Kevin Mullins (Clonmel & John O’Donoghue (Cashel); Hurling: John McIntyre (Lorrha); Rugby: Rory Moroney (Landsdowne); Soccer: Kevin Kelly (Carrick-on-Suir); Sports Executive: Fr. Pierce Duggan (Upperchurch); Weightlifting: Michael Collins (Clonmel PWLC); Knocknagow Award: Paddy Cummins (Clonmel). 1985 Athletics: Tommy Moloney (Thurles Crokes AC); Boxing: Brendan St. John (Mullinahone AC); Cycling: Stephen Spratt (Cidona Carrick Wheelers); Gaelic Football: Willie Crowe (Arravale Rovers); Golf: Clonmel GC – Jimmy Bruen Shield Winners; Handball: John O’Donoghue (Cashel HC); Hurling: Nicky English (Lattin-Cullen); Rallying: Frank Meagher (Cloneen); Soccer: Michael Grace (St. Michael’s); Sports Executive: Billy Kennedy (Cidona Carrick Wheelers); Knocknagow Award: Surviving Members of County Senior Football Team 1935). front row, left to right: Ken O’Connell, Tricia Moloney, Kaiffe Moloney, Timmy Moloney, Chrissie Quirke, Maureen Hanley, William Hanley, Eileen Hanley, Tom Hanley. Thomas Lonergan, Evelyn Quirke, Martin Quirke; middle row, left to right: Johnny ‘Boy’ Moloney, Deirdre Lacey, Biddy Phillips, Timmy Moloney, Marian Graham, Antoinette Donnelly; Jimmy Phillips, Seamus Murphy, Tom Devitt, Betty Anne Marie Fitzgerald, Josie Moloney, Pat Connolly, Deirdre Ivors, Helen Hanley, Joe Graham, John Hanley, Ann Lonergan, Kaiffe Moloney (Cashel) winner of the Camogie award in 1991, surrounded by her family and friends at presentation dinner. Back row, left to right: Billy Tarrant, Jovita Delaney,

36 1986 Athletics: Tommy Moloney (Thurles Crokes); Badminton: Michael O’Meara (Nenagh); Cycling: Anthony O’Gorman (Bianconi Wheelers, Clonmel); Equestrian: Eamon Hickey (Clonmel); Gaelic Football: John Owens (Moyle Rovers); Hurling: Bobby Ryan (Borrisoleigh); Motor Sport: Frank Meagher (Cloneen); Soccer: Billy Byrne (Clonmel Town AFC); Sports Executive: Mick McCarthy (Moyle Rovers); Knocknagow Award: Tommy Doyle (Thurles Sarsfields). 1987 Athletics: Tom Moloney (Thurles Crokes); Badminton: Louise Hackett (Hillview); Cycling: Anthony O’Gorman (Clonmel); Equestrian: Eamon Hickey (Clonmel); Gaelic Football: Pat McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney); Handball: Eddie Corbett (Ballyporeen); Hurling: Conor O’Donovan (Eire Óg, Nenagh); Pitch & Putt: Breda Lonergan (Tipperary Hills); Sports Executive: Paddy Doyle; Soccer: Martin Quinlivan (Waterford); Knocknagow Award: Paddy Fahey (Coolcroo). 1988 Athletics: Terry McHugh (Nenagh & DCH); Badminton: Aidan Fogarty (Cashel);Cycling: Anthony O’Gorman (Clonmel); Gaelic Football: Willie O’Meara (Fethard); Golf: Jimmy Bruen Winners (Clonmel Golf Club); Handball: Billy McCarthy (Clonmel); Hurling: Ken Hogan (Lorrha); Pitch & Putt: Eddie Lonergan (Tipperary Hills); Soccer: Stephen Napier (Clonmel); Sports Executive: Joe Mernagh (Dundrum); Rugby: John Lillis (Thurles RFC); Knocknagow Award: William ‘Bunny’ Lambe (Clonmel). 1989 Athletics: John Fitzgerald (Clonmel AC); Cycling: Denise White (Killy’s Tipperary CC); Gaelic Football: John Costello (Cahir); Golf: Nenagh Golf Club; Handball: Billy McCarthy & Noel Ryan (Clonmel); Hurling: Pat Fox (Eire Óg); Judo: Valerie Colville (Fethard); Ladies Football: Ann Fitzpatrick (Ballymacarbery); Raquetball: Teresa Kennedy (Templederry); Soccer: Seamus Strappe (Clonmel & Shelbourne); Sports Executive: Babs Keating, Donie Nealon, Theo English. Knocknagow Award: Paddy Berkery (Landsdowne & Ireland). 1990 Athletics: John Fitzgerald (Clonmel AC); Camogie: Jovita Delaney (Cashel); Canine Sports: Donal O’Sullivan (Clogheen); Deep Sea Angling: Des O’Connell (Killenaule); Gaelic Football: Franny Kelly (Commercials); Handball: John O’Donoghue & Eddie Corbett (Cashel & Ballyporeen); Hurling: Michael Cleary (Eire Óg, Nenagh); Pitch & Putt: County Ladies team; Racquetball: Michael Ryan (Tipperary Town; Rugby: Tony Cooney (Kilfeacle RFGC); Soccer: Louis Coen (Killusty); Sports Executive: John McNamara (Commercials); Tennis: Eddie Grimson (Hillview); Knocknagow Award: Bill Ryan (Laha). 1991 37 Athletics: Terry McHugh (Dublin City Harriers); Camogie: Kaiffe Moloney (Cashel); Cycling: Robert Power (Cidona Carrick Wheelers); Equestrian Sports: Olivia Holohan (Killusty); Golf: Pierce Purcell Team (Nenagh Golf Club); Handball: John O’Donoghue & Eddie Corbett (Cashel & Ballyporeen); Hurling: John Leahy (Mullinahone); Racquetball: Bobbi Brennan (Fethard); Soccer: Michael Grace (St. Michael’s); Sports Executive: Sean Naughton (Nenagh Olympics); Knocknagow Award: Tom Healy (Coolcroo). 1992 Athletics: Neil Ryan (Nenagh Olympic AC); Badminton: Aidan Fogarty (Cashel); Camogie: Deirdre Hughes (Toomevara); Cycling: Michael Fitzgerald (Clonmel Cycling Club); Gaelic Football: Peter Lambert (Nemo Rangers); Handball: David Moloney (Cashel); Hurling: George Friend (Toomevara); Motor Sport: Frank Meagher (Cloneen); Racquetball: Christy Slattery (Templedery); Rugby: Kilfeacle Rugby Football Club; Soccer: Cyril Conran (Clonmel Town); Sports Executive: Bobby O’Brien (Thurles RFC); Knocknagow Award: Johnny Ryan (Moycarkey Borris). 2003 Knocknagow Award winner, Theo English with Eamonn Wynne, United Sports Panel, Mayor of Clonmel, Phil Prendergast, and Brendan McGuinness, Managing Director, Bulmer's Ltd.

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1988 Badminton Award winner, 1984 Handball Award winners Aiden Fogarty (Cashel) John O'Donoghue (Cashel) with his uncle Michael Morrissey. 1993 Athletics: Terry McHugh (Dublin City Harriers); Camogie: Mandy Quigley (Roscrea); Cycling: Michael Woods (Cidona Carrick Wheelers); Gaelic Football: Brian Burke (Fethard); Handball: Eddie Corbett (Ballyporeen); Hurling: Michael Ryan (Upperchurch-Drombane); Pitch & Putt: Tipp Men’s Intercounty Senior Team; Racquetball: Bobbi Holohan (Killusty); Rowing: Conor Fennessy (Clonmel RC); Rugby: Thurles Rugby Football Club; Soccer: Cyril Conran (Clonmel Town); Sports Executive: Michael Guinan (St. Catherine’s AC); Volleyball: Presentation Senior A Team (Clonmel); Knocknagow Award: Edmund ‘Bunny’ O’Reilly (Clanwilliam RFC). 1994 Athletics: Michael Hassett (St. Catherine’s AC); Badminton: Eimear Holohan (Killenaule BC); Gaelic Football: Philly Ryan (Commercials); Golf: Paul Byrne (Nenagh GC); Gymnastics: Mellisa Walsh (Clonmel Olympic Club); Handball: Eddie Corbett (Ballyporeen); Hurling: Jodie Grace (Toomevara); Pitch & Putt: Brian Webster (Cashel); Rugby: Noel O’Meara (Young Munster RFC); Soccer: FAI Junior Cup Champions (Clonmel Town FC); Sports Executive: Tommy Lewis (Tipperary Southern and District League); Swimming: Marie Barry (Dolphin SC) Volleyball: Presentation Senior A Team (Clonmel); Knocknagow Award: Michael Dwan (Ballylooby & Dublin). 1995 Athletics: St. Catherine’s AC (Killenaule); Cycling: Michael Fitzgerald (Cidona Carrick Wheelers CC); Gaelic Football: Derek Foley (Moyle Rovers); Golf: Dunhill Golf team (Cahir Park GC); Gymnastics: Mellisa Walsh (Clonmel Olympic Club); Handball: Carol Moloney (Cashel); Hockey: Ursuline Senior A Team (Thurles); Hurling: Kevin Tucker (Nenagh Eire Óg); Motor Sports: Frank Meagher (Cloneen); Pitch & Putt: Tipp Men’s Senior Intercounty Team); Rugby: Pakie Hallissey (Kilfeacle RFC); Soccer: Yvonne Lyons (Ballyneale & Benefica LFC); Sports Executive: Michael O’Meara (Clonmel); Snooker: Tom Gleeson (Nenagh); Knocknagow Award: Willie Wall (Carrick Swans). 1996 Athletics: Gerry Ryan (Nenagh Olympic AC); Badminton: Brian Fogarty (Cashel); Basketball: Niamh O’Dwyer (Presentation Convent, Thurles); Gaelic Football (Declan Browne (Moyle Rovers); Golf: Jimmy Bruen Team (Thurles GC); Hockey: Ursuline Senior A Team (Thurles); Hurling: County Minor Hurling All-Ireland Champions; Rowing: Audrey Phelan (Thurles & U.C.D.); Rugby: Brian Carey (Blackrock, Connaght & Clonmel); Soccer: Ollie Cahill; Sports Executive: Sean Lyons (Clonmel); Swimming: Loreto Secondary School Team (Clonmel); Tennis: Kieran Lovell (Rosanna Club, Tipperary); Knocknagow Award: Tony Reddan (Lorrha).

1997

Athletics: Gerry Ryan (Nenagh Olympic AC); Badminton: Tipperary Intercounty Team; Basketball: Kieran Quinn 39 (Cappawhite); Camogie: Noelle Kennedy (Toomevara); Cycling: Ray Clarke (Premier CC, Clonmel); Gaelic Football: Willie Morrissey (Fethard); Golf: Pearse Purcell Shield All-Ireland Mixed Foursomes (Thurles G.C.); Handball: Jackie Keating & Carol Moloney (Cashel); Hockey: Ursuline Senior A Team (Thurles); Hurling: Declan Ryan (Clonoulty- Rossmore); Rugby: Alan Quinlan (Clanwilliam & Shannon); Snooker: Brendan O’Donoghue (Nenagh); Soccer: Stephen O’Neill (Clonmel Town FC); Sports Executive: John Freeman (Thurles); Swimming: Natalie Clooney (Olympic SC, Clonmel); Knocknagow Award: Jimmy Reardon (St. Mary’s, Donore AC & Villanova, N.Y.) 1998 Athletics: Orla Power (Carrick AC; Badminton: Brian Fogarty (Cashel); Basketball: Niamh O’Dwyer (Presentation, Thurles); Boxing: Stephen O’Brien (Mullinahone); Gaelic Football: Declan Browne; Golf: Perase Purcell Team (Nenagh GC); Gymnastics: Paula Dempsey & Christina Brunnock (Cahir) and Caitriona Cahill (Clonmel); Handball: Daragh Lyons (Clogheen) & Michael John Meany (Ballyporeen); Horse Racing: Seamus Durack (Clogheen); Hurling: Tommy Dunne (Toomevara); Rugby: Frank Roche (Thurles RFC); Sports Executive: Seamus McCarthy (Bansha); Soccer: Ollie Cahill (Cork City FC); Tennis: Clodagh McMurrough (Tipperary); Knocknagow Award: Sean Cleary (Commercials). Pictured at the 33rd presentation of the Cidona Awards at the Clonmel Arms Hotel in 1998 were, from left, Noelle Kennedy, Toomevara, Camogie; Brendan O’Donoghue, Nenagh, Snooker; Jimmy Reardon, St. Mary’s, Donore A.C. and Villanova, New York, Athletics, the Knocknagow Award winner; Margaret Ryan, representing Hockey Award winners, the Ursuline Convent Senior A team, Thurles; and Gary Ryan, Nenagh Olympics, the athletics winner.

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Gaelic footballer Pakie Brennan, Ardfinnan and Geraldines GAA Club,receives the 2001 Knocknagow Award from Brendan McGuinness, managing director of Bulmers. Also pictured is the Mayor of Clonmel Cllr. Sean Nyhan. 1999

Athletics: Tom Coman (Templemore SC); Boxing: Robert Ryan (Mullinahone); Camogie: Tipperary Senior Team All-Ireland Champions; Gaelic Football (Liam Cronin (Moyle Rovers); Golf: All-Ireland Mixed Foursomes Team (Templemore GC); Horse Racing: Paul Moloney (Lagganstown) & Philip Fenton (Ballynonty); Hurling: Tommy Dunne (Toomevara); Power-Lifting: Francis McGivney (Clonmel); Racquetball: Joan Kennedy (Nenagh); Rowing: Paul Fennessy & Brendan Wall (Clonmel RC); Rugby: John Fogarty (Cashel & Cork Con); Soccer: Michael Grace (St. Michael’s); Sports Executive: Biddy Phillips (Thurles); Knocknagow Award: Team of the Century Members, John Doyle, Jimmy Doyle, Jimmy Finn, Tony Reddan..

2000

Athletics: Tom Coman (Templemore AC); Basketball: Presentation Secondary School (Thurles); Boxing: Jonathon Shaw (Clonmel); Camogie: Jovita Delaney (Cashel); Equestrian: Kevin Babington (Carrick & New Jersey); Gaelic Football: Moyle Rovers; Handball: Gerard Coonan (Ballina HC); Hurling: Brendan Cummins (Ballybacon Grange); Pitch & Putt: Jason McNamara (Hillview); Racquetball: Joan Kennedy (Dolla RC); Rugby: Nenagh Ormond; Soccer: Kevin O’Sullivan (St. Michael’s); Sports Executive: Tommy Wade (Gooldscross); Tennis: Clodagh McMorrow (Tipperary); Knocknagow Award: Jimmy Hannon (Coolcroo AC).

2001

Athletics: Mandy Crowe (Bansha); Basketball: Scoil Ruain Team (Killenaule); Camogie: Tipperary County Senior Team; Cycling: Gavin Pyke (Clonmel); Equestrian: Kevin Babington (Carrick); Gaelic Football: Willie Morrissey (Fethard); Golf: Thurles Golf Club; Hurling: Tommy Dunne (Toomevara); Motor Sport: Donie Keating (Cahir); Rowing: Andy Ryan & Paul Nugent (Clonmel RC); Rugby: Rockwell Senior Team; Sailing: Peter Bayly & William Atkinson (Lough Derg YC); Soccer: Peake Villa (Thurles); Sports Executive: Tom Fennessy (Clonmel RC); Swimming: Will Carey (Nenagh); Tennis: Clodagh McMorrow (Tipperary); Knocknagow Award: Pake Brennan (Geraldines). 2002

Athletics: Margaret Danagher (Templemore AC); Basketball: Dearbhla Breen (UL); Boxing: Kevin Fennessy (Clonmel BC); Camogie: Una O’Dwyer (Cashel); Cycling: Cidona Carrick Wheelers; Gaelic Football: Declan Browne (Moyle Rovers); Golf: Marian Riordan (Tipperary); Handball: Gerard Coonan (Ballina HC); Hockey: Suzanne O’Connor (Cashel); Horse Racing: David Cross (Clonoulty); Hurling: Paul Kelly (Mullinahone); Ladies 41 Football: County Junior Team; Martial Arts: Kayleigh Tynan (Nenagh); Raquetball: Joan Kennedy (Dolla RC); Rugby: Denis Leamy (Cashel RFC); Soccer: James Walsh (St. Michaels FC); Sports Executive: Michael Cleary (Nenagh); Knocknagow Award: Jimmy Butler Coffey (Newport).

2003

Athletics: Templemore AC; Basketball: Grainne O’Dwyer (Presentation, Thurles); Boxing: Clonmel Boxing Club; Camogie: Eimear McDonnell (Burgess); Cycling: Raymond Clarke (Cycleways, Dublin); Gaelic Football: Cahir; Horse Racing: Alan Crowe (Bansha); Handball: Fergal Collins (Ballina); Hurling: Brendan Cummins (Ballybacon-Grange); Snooker: Brendan O’Donoghue (Nenagh SC); Soccer: Kevin Blanche (Clonmel Town FC); Sean Lyons Sports Executive Award: Martin O’Loughlin (Cidona Carrick Wheelers); Knocknagow Award: Theo English (Marlfield). Pictured at the presentation of the 2002 Cidona Awards at the Clonmel Arms Hotel in January 2003 were, from left, Denis Leamy, Cashel RFC, Rugby; Maura Cross, representing her son, David Cross, Clonoulty, Horseracing; and the Handball winner, Gerard Coonan, Ballina

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1966 Sports Stars: back row, left to right: Babbs Keating, Andy Hogan, Bobby Redmond, Paddy Hickey, Liam Gleeson, F. W. Rutledge; front row, left to right: Mick Roche, Anne Carroll, John Kelly, (MD Showerings), Sean Lyons (United Sports panel and Mayor of Clonmel), Sean Barlow (Chairman, United Sports Panel), Joe Butler (Knocknagow Award). 2004 Athletics: Ballynonty Athletic Club; Boxing: Clonmel Boxing Club; Camogie: Una O’Dwyer (Cashel); Cycling: Jeff Hanrahan (Clonmel CC); Gaelic Football: Declan Browne (Moyle Rovers); Golf: Harry Mulhare & Joe Irwin (Thurles GC); Hurling: Toomevara SH Team; Ladies Football: Under-14 Girls team (Cahir); Rugby: Denis Fogarty (Cashel & Cork Con); Rowing: Ailish Redmond & Linda Kennedy (Clonmel RC); Soccer: Carrick Utd. FC; Sean Lyons Sports Executive Award: Richard Power (T.S. & D.L.); Knocknagow Award; John Kelly (Loughmore); Special Achievement Award: Orla Hogan. 2005 Athletics: Thomas Chamney (Crusaders SC & Notre Dame, USA); Basketball: Loreto Secondary School (Clonmel); Boxing: Kevin Fennessy (Clonmel BC); Camogie: Claire Grogan (Cashel); Cycling: Dan Morrissey (Carrick Wheelers); Gaelic Football: Tipperary Senior Team; Handball: Martin McInerney (Ballina HC); Hurling: Ger ‘Redser’ O’Grady (Thurles Sarsfields); Ladies Football: Angie McDermott (Cappawhite); Rowing: Women’s Junior 8 Team (Clonmel); Rugby: Nenagh Ormond RC; Soccer: Under-12 Team (Clonmel Town); Sean Lyons Sean Lyons Sports Executive Award: Seamus Roche (Kilsheelan); Knocknagow Award: Mickey Byrne (Thurles Sarsfields).

2006

Athletics: Keith Maher (Thurles Crokes AC); Basketball: Presentation Secondary School (Thurles); Boxing: Con Sheehan (Clonmel BC); Camogie: Cashel Camogie Club; Cycling: Ray Clarke (Clonmel); Gaelic Football: Senior Football Team (Aherlow); Handball: Fergal Collins (Ballina HC); Hurling: Eoin Kelly (Mullinahone); Ladies Football: Mairead Morrissey (Bansha); Pitch & Putt: James Cleary (Hillview); Rowing: Peter Heverin (Clonmel RC); Rugby: Tommy O’Donnell (Cahir); Sean Lyons Sports Executive Award: Pat Moroney (Aherlow); Soccer: Under-11 team (Clonmel Town); Swimming: Andrew Yates; Tennis: Hannah May Morrissey (Cashel); Knocknagow Award: Michael Arrigan (Clonmel). 2007

Athletics: Amanda Farrell (Borrisokane); Boxing: Dessie Fahey (Clonmel BC); Cycling: Sam Bennett (Carrick CC); Gaelic Football: James Williams (Moyle Rovers); Golf: Arthur Pierce (Tipperary); Handball: Paul Mullins (Clonmel HC); Hurling: Senior Hurling Team (Loughmore-Castleiney); Pitch & Putt: Michelle McCarthy (Hill- view); Sean Lyons Sports Executive Award: Tommy Toomey (Arravale Rovers); Soccer: James Walsh (St. Mi- chael’s FC); Special Achievement Award: Four Special Olympians – William Keane, Eddie Ryan, Julie McGrath, Siobhán McMahon; Knocknagow Award: Frank Rothwell (Clonmel). 43 2008

Athletics: Aoife Bartley (Carrick-on-Suir); Boxing: Con Sheehan (Clonmel); Camogie: Trisha O’Halloran (Por- troe); Cycling: Sam Bennett (Carrick-on-Suir); Gaelic Football: Colin Morrissey (Galtee Rovers); Golf: Kieran Kennedy (Thurles); Handball: Ger Coonan & Martin McInerney (Ballina); Hurling: Shane McGrath (Ballinahinch); Ladies Football: Tipperary Intermediate Team; Pitch & Putt: Paul O’Brien (Lakeside, Templemore); Rugby: Niamh Briggs & Kate O’Loughlin (Clonmel); Soccer: Carrick United F.C.; Sean Lyons Sports Executive Award: Martin Fennessy (Clonmel); Knocknagow Award: Denis ‘Sonny’ O’Gorman (Thurles). Toasting the 21st presentation of the United Sports Panel awards: left to right, Sean Lyons, Sean Barlow, Ted Dillon and Bill O'Brien.

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Brendan McGuinness, managing director of Bulmers 1974 Awards: brothers Paddy Doyle (Badminton) and presents Edmund ‘Bunny’ O’Rahilly (Clanwilliam rugby Jimmy Doyle (Hurling) with Maureen Dunne and Bill football club) with the Knocknagow Award for 1993. Hyland. Forty Sports Honoured Over Fifty Years

When the first United Sports Panel met in 1959 the members chose ten sports to honour in the first year. These were Athletics, Basketball, Boxing, Camogie, Cycling, Gaelic Football, Hurling, Soccer, Sports Executive and Table Tennis. Since then thirty more sports have been honoured in the annual awards. With the exception of Table Tennis, which has only been honoured twice over the fifty years, the other nine sports have been honoured regularly during the intervening years. Standing out above them all, and the only sports to be included in the awards every year, are hurling and athletics, which have 50 awards to date. The continued recognition of hurling is understandable in the light of its standing in the county. There is a strong tradition of athletics also, perhaps not as strong now as it was in the sixties and seventies. In fact from 1967 to 1982 there was double recognition for athletics, with Ladies Athletics and Men’s Athletics treated as two distinct sports and each of them honoured annually. In 1983 the panel decided to amalgamate the two with men and women athletes given equal rights to be recognised and in the first two years, 1983 and 1984, the winners were women, Mary Martin of Tipperary and Jackie Stokes of Fethard respectively. Gaelic Football takes up third place with 48 awards. It missed out in 1967 and 1979 and it is probably unthink- able that it would miss out today when the panel members vote for sports. Soccer and Sports Excutive take up fourth and fifth positions with 46 awards each. The Sports Executive which, since 2004, is the Sean Lyons Sports Execu- tive Award, named after founder member of the panel and early secretary and longtime treasurer, while mostly recognising managerial talent in sport, covers a range of performances. Handball, which was honoured for the first time in 1960, has 40 awards and is followed by Cycling with 39, a recognition of its strength, especially in the south of the county. Next in line is camogie, which has received 30 awards and the sport got regular recognition with the rise of the Tipperary senior team in the nineties. Boxing has received 21 awards and basketball 11, the latter mostly honouring secondary school achievements. Pitch & Putt, which was also recognised for the first time in 1960, has won 14 awards. Weightlifting came in in 1962, when it won its first award and it has now won 11 in all. A related form of the sport, Powerlifting, was honoured for the first time in 1981 and has received two awards. Three sports were honoured for the first time in 1967. As mentioned above Ladies Athletics was recognised as a separate sport in 1967 and until it was amalgamated with men’s in 1982, was honoured with 15 Awards. In the same year Golf was honoured and has received 22 awards to date. Rugby was the third sport on the scene that year, perhaps a rather belated recognition of a popular sport but also reflecting its low profile in the county until then, and it has been honoured with 18 awards in the meantime. Nine more sports were honoured during the seventies. Badminton was honoured in 1971 and has 12 awards to date. Clay Bird Shooting got its one and only recognition in 1972. Ladies Football came in in 1974 and has received 9 awards. Volleyball was honoured the same year but has received only one award since. Rowing made its appearance in 1975 and has been honoured 9 times in all. Equestrian Sports were recognised in 1976 and has 9 awards to its credit. Sculling got its one and only award in the same year. Tennis was also recognised for the first time in 1976 and has been honoured 7 times in all. Darts received its first and only honour in 1978. Six sports were honoured for the first time during the eighties. Shooting was honoured for the first and only time in 1980, as was rallying in 1985. Powerlifting was mentioned above. Motor Sport came on the scene in 1986 and has been honoured 4 times in all. Judo, with its first an only honour, was recognised in 1989. In the same year 45 Raquetball made its appearance and has been honoured 8 times in all. The nineties continued to recognise new sports. Two unusual ones were honoured for the first and only time in 1990, Canine Sports and Deep Sea Angling. In 1995 Gymnastics, Hockey and Snooker were honoured for the fIrst time. Gymnastics has been honured twice, Hockey 4 times and Snooker 3 times. Swimming got its fIrst of four honours in 1996 as did Horse Racing in 1998. Sailing made its first and only appearance in 2001 as did Martial Arts in 2002. In a completely different category to anything before was the recognition in a Special Achievement Award of our 4 Special Olympians in the year 2007. The great variety of sports that has been honoured in the awards over half-a-century is a very fine recognition of the openness of the members to new sports and their desire to promote them through their recognition in the awards. This work fulfils the purpose of the United Sports Panel which is to promote sport throughout County Tipperary by the annual presentation of the (Cidona) Annerville Awards to the selected stars. While constantly on the lookout for new sports to be recognised the panel have never forgotten the popular sports, which entertain the majority of people within the county, and these continue to be recognised and honoured also. 1961 Sports Stars: back row, left to right: Liam Gleeson (Athletics), John Cleary (Handball), Babs Keating (Gaelic Football), Patsy Wall (Cycling); front row, left to right: Liam Devaney (Hurling), Honor Flynn (Camogie), Eoin Morrissey (Pitch & Putt).

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1962 Sports Stars: back row, left to right: George Mossop, Gerry Doyle (Sports Executive), Hugh O'Callaghan (Athletics), John Kirwan (Weightlifting); front row, left to right: Patsy wall (Cycling), Babs Keating (Gaelic Football), Nora Foley (Camogie), Donie Nealon (Hurling), Paddy Hickey (Handball). Missing from photo is the first Knocknagow winner, J. J. Ryan. The Knocknagow Award

The format of the United Sports Panel awards has remained fairly constant over the fifty years with the exception of one major addition in 1962, when the Knocknagow Award was added to the list of awards.

The intention behind the new award was to recognise great Tipperary sportsmen of the past and the choice of name was most appropriate. The name Knocknagow resonates with so much in the minds of Tipperary people. At one level it recalls the name of Charles Kickhams’ great novel about the ordinary people in the 19th century, written by one of themselves. At another level it stands for heroic effort and triumphing against the odds, the ability to rise above one’s limitations for the credit of the little village. The name touches the heartstrings of every Tipperary man worth his salt, suggesting devotion to place and county, even to a greater patriotism. It was a most fitting name for an award honouring the greatest Tipperary sporting stars of the past. It was only fItting that the fIrst award should go to an athlete, J. J. Ryan of Drumline, who ran over all kinds of distances from the mile to the marathon in the 1920s. He won a 5000 metres international event in Berlin in 1925 with some of the best middle distance runners in Europe trailing in his wake.

Many other athletes have been honoured since then including Ned Tobin, the track and field star, J.J. Barry, the Ballincurry Hare, Pat O’Callaghan and Bob Tisdall of Olympic fame, Paddy Fahey, Tom Healy and Jimmy Hannon, who shone for Coolcroo AC, as well as Jimmy Reardon, who was one of the fIrst Irish atthetes to get a scholarship to Villanova University, and power- and weight-lifting stars, Michael Arrigan and Frank Rothwell. The latest winner of the award is another athlete, Denis ‘Sonny’ O’Gorman, a Thurles man who represented the U.K. in the 1960 Olympics.

Not surprisingly a number of hurlers have been honoured with the award. The fIrst was Martin Kennedy in 1963 and following him were Tommy Treacy, of Killea and Dublin fame, the surviving members of the 1930 Triple Crown championship winning teams, Tommy Doyle, Johnny Ryan, Willie Wall, Tony Reddin, the four players honoured by An Post for the Millennium, John Doyle, Jimmy Doyle, Jimmy Finn and Tony Reddin, Jimmy ‘Butler’ Coffey, whose exploits stretch back to the 1920s and 1930s, Theo English and Mickey ‘The Rattler’ Byme.

Gaelic footballers also made the distinguished list, commencing with Tommy O’Keeffe in 1964, and including the surviving members of the 1920 All-Ireland championship winning side, Mick Cahill, the surviving members of the 1935 Munster champions, William ‘Bunny’ Lambe, Bill Ryan (Laha), Sean Cleary and Pake Brennan.

Johnny Healy of Clonmel was recognised in 1965 and two other boxers, Jimmy Smith and Eddie Cantwell have been recognised since. Rugby has also been honoured three times in Dr. Paddy Stokes of Fethard, Paddy Berkery, who played for Landsdowne and Ireland, and Edmund ‘Bunny’ O’Rahilly of Clanwilliam. Soccer has been honoured twice, with Joe Butler of Cahir getting his award in 1966 and P. J. Cumrnins of Clonmel in 1984. Handball has also been honoured twice with Joe Bergin of Nenagh getting the award in 1971 and Paddy 47 Ormonde of Ballyporeen two years later.

A number of sports have received one award. Jack Ayres of Nenagh got the award for his achievements in billiards in 1967. Ed Beary of Clonmel got the award for rowing in 1969. Mick Phelan of Grange was honoured in 1981 for cycling. The famous Tommy O’Brien was awarded in 1974. The journalist and broadcaster was one of the finest billiard players in the country in the 1950s, winning three national amateur titles and reaching four other fInals. The only woman ever to receive the award was Janet O’Donnell from Kilsheelan. She received her award in 1979 for hockey, having been an Irish international player in the late 1930s.

The recipients of the Knocknagow Awards are a very select bunch and to date have been chosen from fourteen different sports. The presentation of the award is the high point of the annual presentation dinner. There is usually a dramatic hush among the guests in expectation of the announcement and thunderous applause as the winner makes his way to the podium to receive the presentation. The recipient is the most special person on the night. (Secretary, USP). Front row, left to right: Leo Dooley (Gaelic Football), Terry Griffin (Camogie), the Mayor, Councillor Maurice Sleator, John Doyle (Hurling), Phil Fanning (Basketball), Sean Lyons members of Irish basketball team). Billy Hoare & Sean Kennedy (both Middle row, left to right: William Hyland (Sports Executive), Patsy Ward Kevin Pyke (Table (Soccer), Tennis), Jack Lalor (Athletics), Johnny Gearon (Cycling), Liam Ralph (Boxing), Timmy O'Dwyer (basketball). (USP), Back row, left to right: T. J. O'Callaghan (basketball), TedKen Lawrence (basketball), Sean Barlow (USP), Hogan (USP), Eddie O'Neill Sean Cleary (Chairman, USP), Dillon (USP), The first United Sports Panel Stars 1959, presented in January 1960. design & print • lion 062 61258

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