We hosted our Dinner Dance & Presentation Night in the Headfort Arms Hotel on Saturday 31st March 2018.
The main event was the presentation of medals to our Junior D winning team, which was the first championship won by a second string in the club. Brendan Cummins, former LMFM sports broadcaster, performed the role of MC on the night and also presented the Junior D players with their medals.
The victory was our first championship since winning the 1993 Intermediate. The team featured a diverse mix of players with several promising youngsters playing alongside experienced stalwarts who have given years of outstanding service to the club. The team was managed by John L McGee, Tadgh Skelly, Damian McArdle and Tomás Plunkett.
We also celebrated the 25th anniversary of our 1993 victories in the Intermediate championship and A League Division 2. The team, which is regarded as one of the strongest in the club's long history, was captained and coached by PJ Gillic, trained by Alan Gillic and had Paddy Woods, Jack Smith, Aidan Gillic and John Cahill as selectors. Individual presentations were made to the squad members by club chairman John Plunkett and Paddy Woods.
Geraldine Reilly received the presentation on behalf of her late husband Seamus, a key team member who played wing back in the final. Iona and Lara Ward received on behalf of their late father Thomas who was instrumental in the victory, scoring a crucial goal and the match-winning point from centre forward.
We were also delighted to have members of the 1957 Intermediate winning team in attendance, 61 years after they brought the first Intermediate title to the club.
Niall McDonnell was the deserving recipient of the Carnaross Player of the Year Award for 2017. Niall has been a staple for the team for the best part of a decade and earned this award after a series of excellent performances in league and championship last year. Niall received the award from Geraldine Reilly, wife of the late Seamus Reilly who passed away in 2011. The player of the year trophy is named in memory of Seamus who was a key player for the successful Carnaross teams of the 90's.
Sam Reynolds picked up the young player of the year award for 2017. Sam is part of a group of talented young players that have emerged from our underage set up in recent years and he seamlessly made the transition from exciting underage prospect and nailed down a wing back spot in his first year of adult football. He caught the eye with a number of excellent displays during the year, defending comfortably while also getting forward to great effect. Sam received the award from junior manager Tom Shine.
We would like to thank everyone who came along. A great night was enjoyed by all and hopefully we wont have to wait as long before we are celebrating again.
All the photos of the night are available in our Gallery section and we thank Declan Luddy for supplying the photos.
