News

A first for Roche!

November 8, 2018

At the Roche Emmets ‘Club Night’ in the Park Hotel held on Friday night last Roche Emmets and Roche Emmets Ladies were celebrating the unique double, two Minor Championships in the same year. The clubs won the Louth Ladies Minor Championship for the first time and the Louth Minor B Championship for the first time in a decade. The night was very enjoyable and very well delivered by the organising committee and an admirable performance by Dermot Craven as ‘compère’. The nights entertainment also included a pictorial review of the 2009 year narrated by Dermot.

The club Chairman Sean Murphy welcomed the large attendance players and special guests. He praised the organising committee and the Park Hotel. He praised all the successful teams and individual recipients. Sean spoke of how the minor team came good at the end of the season with two trophies. His praise also went to all the selectors of both minor panels.
The club President Very Rev. Fr. C. McElwee said grace before the meal and praised Roche Emmets for its help over the years when required at parish events.

Another first was the attendance of Pauric O’Connor in his first official club function as Louth County Board Chairman, in his address he spoke of his contacts with Roche Emmets over many years. He also recalled memories of his family’s involvement with Roche Emmets on and off the field as near neighbours and friends. He complimented the club on their successes in 2009 and the clubs members involved at county level, special mention was made of Brendan Carthy’s efforts on the Darver Project and Brian McCoy who served as County Board Delegate to the Leinster Council for a number of years. In concluding he hoped that the ‘them and us’ attitude between the County Board and clubs would end and together the county could move forward.
Other special guests were the new Louth Senior Team Manager Peter Fitzpatrick, Louth Minor Chairman Brendan Carthy and Louth Ladies Football Chairman Dermot Woods. Brendan Carthy during his few words to the gathering recalled that the early season signs for the minor panel did not indicate that there would be huge success at the end of the season but like their championship final performance they showed their true form in the second half to become worthy double trophy winners.
Pat Gribben Chairman of Roche Emmets Ladies GFC said the club was in existence for the past ten years and they compete at all age levels from U-12 to Senior. They have won all the championships to date bar the Senior championship which is firmly in their sights for the coming seasons. Pat spoke of how special it was to win the Ladies Minor title for the first time and how they overcame all the fancied teams to become the champions. Pat recalled that the team found the will to beat the favourites and holders for the past three years St. Marys in the semi-final and St. Vincents in the final, a team Roche had never beaten at any underage level before to become the 2009 County Champions. Pat after praising the boys for their achievements noted the uniqueness of the Roche Emmets clubs winning two minor championships in the same year. Pat also thanked the selectors and Cathal Heeney as coach.
Dermot Woods congratulated the winning team and the club for its contribution to the county teams both as players, mentors and officials.
Prior to presenting the medals Peter Fitzpatrick talked of his memories playing against Roche Emmets and his wish to see some of the young talent being presented with medals progress onto the county teams.

The 2009 Louth Minor B Championship and Louth Minor Division 2B League Winning Panel was presented with their medals by Brendan Carthy and Peter Fitzpatrick. Championship Panel Members: David Quigley (Captain), Gerard McKay, Niall Treanor, Niall McConnon, John Rafferty, Aaron Rice, Declan Wiseman, Andrew Carroll, John Patrick Rafferty, Enda Murphy, Barry McConnon, Patrick Quigley, Dermot Carthy, Jason Mulligan, Darren McArdle, Ciaran Savage, Conor Murphy, Conor Myers, David O’Connell, Jamie O’Hare, Dermot Sloane, Jamie Duffy.
League Panel: David Quigley (Captain), Gerard McKay, Niall Treanor, Niall McConnon, Ciaran Savage, Conor Myers, Aaron Rice, Andrew Carroll, John Patrick Rafferty, Enda Murphy, Barry McConnon, Patrick Quigley, Dermot Carthy, Darren McArdle, Dermot Sloane, David O’Connell, Conor Murphy, Jamie O’Hare, Jamie Duffy, Declan Wiseman, John Rafferty, Jason Mulligan, Kevin Quigley, Mathew McCrave.
Mentors: James Quigley, Malachy Quigley, Cathal Heeney (coach), Paddy McArdle and Brian McConnon.

The 2009 Louth Ladies Minor Championship Winning Panel was presented with their medals by Dermot Woods and Peter Fitzpatrick. Panel members: Margaret O’Hare (Captain), Tara McGivern, Fiona Levins, Tracey Rogers, Aoife Halligan, Roisín Begley, Niamh Callan, Fionnula Begley, Clare O’Hagan, Lauren Meehan, Emy Gribben, Jennifer McCourt, Shannon Murphy, Megan Fitzpatrick, Shauna Finn, Urla Halligan, Aisling Begley, Rebbeca Rice, Lauren Duffy, Megan McGill, Megan Kelly, Caoimhe McSurley, Tracey McConnon, Katie Halligan.
Mentors: Maria McCourt, Cathal Heeney (coach), Peter McArdle, Kevin Callan and Pat Gribben.

The Intermediate Players’ Player of the Year award for 2009 was presented to Aaron Callan
The Junior Players’ Player of the Year award for 2009 was presented to Aaron Callan
The Minor Players’ Player of the Year award for 2009 was presented to Enda Murphy
The Ladies Senior Players’ Player of the Year award for 2009 was presented to Olivia Grant
The Ladies Minor Players’ Player of the Year award for 2009 was presented to Niamh Callan
A Special Presentation was made to Cathal Heeney for his efforts as trainer of both successful Minor panels.
Special Presentations were made to club members of three other successful teams:
Panellists of the De La Salle College team that won the Louth U14 Colleges Championship were Sean McCann, Sean Watters, Niall McArdle and Eugene Murray.
Panellists of the Bush Community School team that won the Louth Colleges U18 B Championship were Enda Murphy, John Patrick Rafferty, Ciaran Savage and Jason Mulligan.
Panellists of the Louth Team that won the Leinster Ladies Junior Championship and voted as Louth Ladies All Stars for 2009 were Rosanne Heeney and Olivia Grant.