Avondhu Notes - 07th May 2020
Avondhu Notes - 07th May 2020
May 10, 2020
Footballers Sprint for Special Needs
Mitchelstown Gaa footballers came up with an initiative last week end when they decide to sprint the distance from the Limerick Road grounds to Pairc Ui Chaoimh with the benefactor being local group Special Friends. This charity was set up by local parents of children with special needs to provide a better quality of life and inclusion within the local community. The charity which has a few fundraisers during the year and with the help of a donation from Independence Music Festival. However, this year all their fundraisers have fell foul the Covid 19 pandemic. The 110Km will be run on a relay basis over the weekend of May 9th and 10th and will be keeping within the 5km radius. Donations can be made via the GoFundMe page https://www.gofundme.com/f/mitchelstown-gaa-special-friends-sprint?teamInvite=UgsosGWXw4oHa8YNHPF0BD2eRg22EvUwWwIMb67LPVJXB00i5paUANNBNuBv3xde which can also be found on the Mitchelstown Gaa Facebook, twitter or website pages. We ask you to please donate to this worthy cause and if you are unable to use the GoFundMe page Mitchelstown Gaa will be delighted to take donations and can be contacted by club chairperson Ml Price on 087 6424481.
Mitchelstown and the Avondhu Senior Football Connection.
Avondhu first entered the senior football championship in 1932 and Mitchelstown’s Jackie Barrett was a member of the team which were beaten by Beara .During that decade Avondhu failed to field in 1936 and 37 but Mitchelstown men Tom Kent, Johnny Piggott, Donal Scannel, the Norris brothers Richard, Mick, and Pat , Tom Greaney and Sammy Teeney wore the divisional colours.The forties fared no better and again failed to field and along with the players mentioned above, Pearse Ryan, Davy Norris, Billy Hedderman and Pat Fitzgerald. Billy Norris, Jimmy Skinner and Big Jim Moher played in the opening round defeat in 1951. They were joined by Denis Twomey, Billy Whelan when they defeated Commercials in the first round of the championship helped 2-4 from the boot of Paddy Cahill. They lost to the Lees in round two. First round defeats once again followed to Fermoy in 53 and St Finbarrs in 54.
The mid fifties saw a new influx of players and the 1955 team who defeated Glanmire but lost out to Canovee had nine Mitchelstown men on the starting 15, Liam Power, Paddy Tierney, Noel Curley, Mickie Barrett, Paddy Fallon, Jack Keane, Pakie Piggott, PAT Coughlan and Billy Price. Inroads had been made by Avondhu and 1960 saw them reach the County final against UCC in a game which they dominated only for only for 1-1 in the last two minutes saw the championship stolen.
The opening round in 1961 saw Macroom, Victories over Seandun and St Finbarrs had the North Cork men in their second successive county final. Clonakilty were the opponents and five points from Mickie Barrett and some excellent goalkeeping form Paddy Clancy saw the historic and only championship won by the men from Avondhu. Mitchelstown had men on that historic winning team, Paddy Clancy, Kieran Curley, Dave O Keeffe, Noel Kelly, Michael O Brien, Mick Burke, Mickey Barrett, Noel Curley, Tommy O Brien. Ned Coughlan came on as a sub and Daw Whelan who had played in every round lost out to some horse trading for the final.
Though Avondhu has had no success since Mitchelstown still supply players, with Mick Burke and Bob Honahan , John McGrath, Ned Lewis, Mick Lewis, Myles O Malley, Ollie Cussen, Jack Barry, Austin O Brien, Tom Molan ,Emmet Fleming James Barrett. Davy Sullivan, Dave Russell, Mickey Mullins Ger Mulcahy, Ken Molan, Martin Dorney, Mick Beston and John Barrett to mention but a few in the 90s.Declan Power, Diarmuid Lynch, John McGrath Ned Finn, Kieran Cotter John Cleary Donegan and A O Brien. In latter years Shane Cahill, Shane Beston, Lar O Flynn, Dave Dineen, Sean O Sullivan, Lorcan Finn and Cathal O Mahony have worn the black and amber.