A very enjoyable Awards Night was held on Saturday last in conjunction with the Juvenile Club’s Christmas Draw in Cullen’s The Hill. As always, club President Eddie Forde, did a great job as Master of Ceremonies introducing the various awards winners with his carefully researched citations.
The winners were:
- Hall of Fame: Pat Bowes;
- Senior Clubman of the Year: Des Byrne,
- Juvenile Clubman of the Year: Ger Doyle;
- Intermediate Player of the Year: Ronan Doyle;
- Junior Player of the Year: JP Doyle;
- Young Player of the Year: Shane McGrath;
- Minor Player of the Year: Jordan Kane.
Congratulations to all the Award Winners especially Hall of Fame Winner, Pat Bowes, an outstanding player in the 1960s& 70s who represented the county at Minor and U-21 level and was one of the stars of the Clonmore teams that reached the 1963 and 65 County Senior finals.
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The Club is very happy to announce that the Hall of Fame Award winner this year is Pat Bowes, formerly of Tinneclash, now living in Dunlavin. Pat was an outstanding player in the 1960s & early 70s. Having played at full-back on the Minor Championship winning team of 1962*, he made the wing back position his own on the Senior team and was one of the stars of the last Clonmore teams to contest the County Senior Finals of 1963 and 65. Described as a stylish player, strong in the tackle and with speed to burn, Pat represented the county with distinction at Minor and U-21 level. He is married to Laura Dalton, daughter of Din Dalton who trained the 1955/56 County Championship winning teams. Pat’s own daughter Aine is married to Ivan Byrne, Marian Terrace, who has played for the Clonmore Junior team.
The Club Person of the Year is our hardworking PRO, Des Byrne. Originally from Tullow Street, Carlow, Des was an excellent hurler winning two Minor Hurling C’ships with Carlow Town in 1981 & 82 and playing County Hurling at U-16, Minor and U-21 level. Des has the rare distinction of holding an All-Ireland Minor B hurling medal won in 1982 when Carlow defeated Derry in the final in Parnell Park. Des is married to Margaret, sister of distinguished player and former Chairman, Mick Byrne, and has 5 children – Craig, Mark, Gary, Adam & Amy. Des is a very enthusiastic and efficient PRO and keeps everyone informed of the activities of the club through text messages and by putting up over 20 posters around the town.
Other Clonmore men with All-Ireland medals are Mick O’Brien of The Green who was on the Carlow team that won the All-Ireland Intermediate hurling final in 1962 and Philip Cullen and Thomas Doyle who were on the Carlow panel that won the All-Ireland B Football Championship in 1994.
PHOTO: *The 1962 Clonmore Minor Team with 2013 Hall of Fame Winner, Pat Bowes, middle of back row.This team beat Ballinabranna by 1-6 to 1-2 in the Final but lost the title on an objection. This team included some players from the Rathvilly area.
Back (L to R): Hugh Murphy (Ballasalla), Joe Kinsella (Clonmore), Jim Boland (Hacketstown), Paddy Byrne (Hacketstown), Pat Bowes (Tinneclash), Matt O’Brien (Hacketstown), Seamus Doyle (Tombeigh), Mick Byrne (Portrishin), PJ Kelly(Rathvilly).
Front: Harry Pollard (Coolmanagh), Jim Kelly (Hacketstown), Denny McDonald (Hacketstown), Tom Boland (Hacketstown), PJ Conway (Barnhill), Tony ‘Canty’ O’Brien (Knocklishen), Fay McCoy (Hacketstown), Ger Foley (Rathvilly).
