Carrigeen Club Grounds: Asper Park Carrigeen

Committee 2006
President; Neddy Power Vice-Presidents; Willy Delahunty Neddy 'Fox' Madden
Chairman; Richie Quinn Vice-Chairman; Nicky Dunphy Secretary; Hilary Delahunty
Assistant Secretary; Eoin Gallagher Treasurer; Michael Murphy
PRO; Pamela Horgan County Board Delagate; Pat Dalton
South Board Delagate; Claus Dunphy First Aid; Maria Walsh
Trainer/Coach: Noel Maher

Synthetic Pitch
Carrigeen Hurling Club's year began in earnest a couple of months before Christmas when it hosted the Eddie Quinn Memorial Cup on its new All-Weather, synthetic grass surface pitch.
The pitch was opened in mid-September by Nicky Brennan (President Elect) and Paddy Buggy (former President) and blessed by Father Eamonn O'Gorman. Shortly after, the Eddie Quinn U-12 tournament began, with eighteen clubs, mostly from south Kilkenny, south east Tipperary and Waterford City, battling it out over five weekends. In the end, Ballygunner took the Group A Cup, while Windgap won Group B and Ferrybank took the Group C shield. Kilkenny hurler, Richie Mullally, presented Cups and Trophies.

Johnny Walsh Memorial Cup
After Christmas, the Johnny Walsh Memorial Cup began, involving some thirty-eight clubs, fielding forty-two teams. During one weekend alone, twenty-one hours of hurling took place. Over five hundred and seventy hurlers togged out, every weekend, for the six weekends of preliminary matches.
The clubs came from five counties; Cork, Tipperary, Waterford, Kilkenny and Wexford. Teams such as Knockavilla Kickhams, Oulart-the-Ballagh, Blackrock, Lismore and Clara found that their strongest competition was often the local teams. Nicky Brennan himself has said that, taking the unusual playing environment into account, nothing like it had been attempted before.

Final Stages
The Group A final saw Dicksboro beat Joe Deane's Killeagh, under the guidance of former renowned inter-county goalkeeper Michael Walsh, while Group B went to Clonmel Óg. Tullaroan won the Group C final and brought All-Star Tommy Walsh with them to present medals and trophies. Many thanks to the Barry Henriques (Kilkenny People), Michael Brophy (Munster Express) and the other local papers for their assistance in promoting the tournaments.

Action on the Playing Fields
Training was under the guidance of Carrickshock stalwart Noel Maher and selectors; Nicky Dunphy, Ray Murray and John Fripps, and Kevin Kennedy.
With narrow defeats to the Rower Inistioge, Callan and Slieverue, we missed out on the League semi-finals, but qualified for the Joe Walsh Memorial Cup, with victories over Piltown, Muckalee and Black and Whites. However we lost to O'Loughlin Gaels in an entertaining final by 1-11 to 1-8.
In the Championship, after a three point, first round defeat by Mooncoin, we overturned previous League defeats with wins over Rower Inistioge, Slieverue and Kilmacow, to qualify for the Junior B semi-final, losing to Mullinavat in a close encounter. The club was very pleased with having reached a southern semi-final. It is a testament to Noel Maher's efforts that we made it that far, and everyone is determined to build on that success next year.

New Challenge
Training ended in mid September after the Club traveled to Borris-on-Ossory for the Bob O'Keeffe Memorial Cup. Borris had a huge panel and it was a very enjoyable encounter. Next year, they will travel down to Carrigeen and it is intended that it will be a permanent fixture on both club's calendars. Bob O'Keeffe was a native of Carrigeen, President of the GAA in the 1930s and spent most of his life teaching in Borris-on-Ossory.

New Tournament
The Eddie Quinn U-12 Floodlit Tournament began again, with twenty-three teams from six different counties taking part. Kilmacud Crokes, Blackrock, Ballygunner, Sacred Hearts and Gorey have made it to the semi-finals in Group A. Urlingford Emeralds, Kilsheelan, Piltown, Mount Sion and St. Mary's, Clonmel are contenders for Group B. In Group C, Clonmel Óg, Clonea, St. Mary's Waterford and Ferrybank remain.

Further Club Developments
On the development scene, the club hopes to progress in the New Year with new dressing rooms, clubhouse, gym and sports hall. With the aid of €200,000, the club would like to sincerely thank our local and national politicians for their efforts and assistance.

Condolences
The club would like to offer its condolences to Paddy, Breda, Jackie & Hanna and all the Ryan and Flynn families, on the tragic death of young Richard. The club was also greatly saddened at news of the death of our former PP, Father Frank Grace and would like to offer condolences to his sister, nieces and nephews. Also, our condolences to Bea, Paddy, Joe, Father Watty, Mary and Betty on the passing of Dick Dunphy, Treasurer of the County Board.