Last season was a very busy year for the club. As the club continued to grow we needed to enlist the help of more coaches. The club welcomes Liam Egan, Coach of U11 boys, James McDonagh, Coach of U13 boys and Liam Ryder, Coach of U15 who joined us at the beginning of last season. Thanks also to Kieran Moran and Louise Moran for assisting with the U13 boys and U11 girls last season. The club greatly appreciated their help and commitment. Our Assistant Coaches for this season are Anthony Hughes, Louise Moran, Maria Moran and Kiera Skelly. This season the club has introduced a new U9 training session and I would like to welcome Fiona Duggan, Cormac Evans, Mary Glynn, Micheal Murray, and Patricia Newell on board to look after them. Welcome also to Nicki Broderick as Assistant Coach for the U15 Girls.
Last year we entered 6 teams into the Galway Juvenile League and I am delighted to report they all performed very well, getting to quarter final and semi-final stages in most competitions. Our U11 Girls reached the final but were narrowly beaten by Moycullen. Congratulations to Coach Pauline Walsh and her team.
Four teams from Claregalway and one from Annaghdown were entered into the Community Games. Congratultions to the U13 team coached by Sinead Greally and the U16 team coached by Mike Murrary who won County Silver Medals. Congraulations also to Annaghdown who entered a team for the first time into the U16 Community Games.
There was also a one day U18 tournament held in Claregalway in May with teams from Limerick, Mayo and Roscommon attending. It proved to be very successful and I would like to congraulate Emmet Hartigan, Kieran Moran and Eoghan Hartigan on taking the initiative to organize this event. I would also like to thank their Sponsors Mike Thornton of Galway Cleaning Equipment Ltd., Madge Burke and Ocean Hackneys.
Last Season saw the introduction of a Ladies Basketball Team, which was entered into the Galway Senior League. Hopefully our young players coming up from the Juvenile League will join and I am confident that this team will go from strength to strength. AVE Medtronic Senior Men’s Team started training in Claregalway Leisure Centre last season and allowed our young players to train with them. I would like to thank AVE for providing this opportunity.
Our marathon, which was run in November proved very successful with all members from the oldest to the youngest participating. Almost £2,000 was raised on the day. Thanks to everyone who contributed.
Through Liam Egan’s contacts, 3 sets of jerseys were sponsored to the club last season. Thanks to Liam Egan of Egan Screeding, Sean Crowe of Crowe Plant Hire and Malachy Flaherty of Western Ironcraft. It is greatly appreciated.
Thank you to Jimmy Roche of Roco Engineering for designing our new basketball boards. They were installed over several weeks and I would like to thank Tony Clarke, Sean Harte, Gerry Moran, Frank Moran, Mike Murray, Jimmy Roche, Liam Ryder and Ronan Walsh for all their help. I would like to take this opportunity in thanking the Leisure Centre Committee for all their support over the last year. I would also like to say a special thank you to Jimmy Roche for sponsoring two new Mini-boards for the sides of the hall for the under 9 teams. We hope to install these in the near future.
During last season Mike Murray, through his contacts in the IBA, managed to secure two outdoor Basketball Boards, which were sponsored by the ESB to the IBA last season. These boards were then donated to the Claregalway National School. Mike with the help of Liam Ryder, Francis Moran, and Gerry Cullinane installed these in the school yard over three evenings. Thanks to all for providing their equipment and time.
Recently, the club through the Leisure Centre arranged for 2 benches to be made. Thank you to Gerry Mooney who designed and made these.
Our club returned the visit to Sligo last season. All of our members played and we were also treated to a National League Game in the afternoon. Thanks to all the parents who volunteered their services. It is hoped that Sligo will come to us again this season.
Finally, thank you to the Committee for their commitment and support over the last year. A special thank you to our Secretary Michelle Murray, not only did she work hard for the Juvenile club, she also very graciously looked after the Senior Ladies team.
The Committee elected for the forthcoming season are as follows:
- Chairperson Maura Harte
- Assistant Chairperson Mike Murray
- Secretary Michelle Murray
- Treasurer Joannna Giles
- PRO Sarah Mooney
- Assistant PRO Maria Moran
- Irish Promotions Officer Kiera Skelly
- Committee members Pauline Walsh, Mary Glynn, Liam Egan, Cormac Evans, Liam Ryder, James McDonagh.
This year’s season is already well underway and I wish everyone a very enjoyable year.
Maura Harte, Chairperson
