Club players celebrate as teams of the year honoured
Image 1 of 7
Carole and Kieran Clarke, Clarke’s Bar, hosts of the weekly podcast; Ray Gavin, presenter; Ger Gavin, cameraman; and Tom Browne, coordinator, Iarmhí TV Podcast.Image 2 of 7
The Intermediate hurling Team of The Year. Back row: Sean Leech, Neal Kirby, Finbar Coyne, Conor Slevin, Mikie Mullen, Donie Mullen, Cian McCarthy, Cian Geary (represented by Martin Geary). Front: Darragh Smith, Joe Hyland, Eoin Aughey, Conor Leech, Niall Cully, Chris Daly and Conall Dunne.Image 3 of 7
Ronan Scally receives his jersey from Damien Maher having been selected on the Junior football Team of the Year.Image 4 of 7
Donie Mullen, Raharney, is presented with his award by Brendan Shaw, having been selected on the Intermediate Hurling Team of The Year.Image 5 of 7
Sean Leech, Turin, was selected on the Intermediate Hurling Team of The Year, and is presented with a jersey by Brendan Shaw, pundit.Image 6 of 7
Neal Kirby, Castletown Geoghegan, receives his Intermediate hurling Player of The Year award from Brendan Shaw, Iarmhí TV pundit.Image 7 of 7
Conor Leech, Turin, receives his Team of The Year jersey from Brendan Shaw.The inaugural Westmeath GAA teams of the year presentation was held in Platform 5, Clarke’s Bar, Mullingar on Monday, December 1.
Club footballers and hurlers were honoured on the night after another memorable championship season. Pundits from the popular Iarmhí TV Podcast, held weekly during the championship, selected teams of the year in Junior, Intermediate and Senior football, while Intermediate, Senior ‘B’ and Senior ‘A’ hurling teams were also chosen.
The players selected were presented with a GAA jersey, specially designed and produced by KC Sports, Mullingar.
Ray Gavin, host of the weekly podcast, welcomed players and club guests to the well-attended event and spoke of a wonderful season on the club front in Westmeath.
Westmeath GAA County Committee Chairman, Frank Mescall thanked the Iarmhí TV podcast team for their great work and for adding renewed interest to the championships this season. He paid tribute to all players, mentors and coaches.
“You have been selected as the leading players in your grade. It’s a team game, and you represent the rest of the players,” he remarked.
Ray Gavin then introduced the Intermediate hurling team of the year and Brendan Shaw, one of the pundits, presented the jerseys.
The Junior football team of the year was then introduced and Damien Maher, Westmeath Examiner sports editor, who also contributed as a pundit to the weekly show, presented the jersey.
The Senior ‘B’ team of the year was introduced and former Milltownpass footballer, Shane Donoghue, another of the weekly pundits, presented the jersey. The Senior ‘A’ hurling winners received their jersey from Brendan Murtagh, a weekly pundit. The former Clonkill and Westmeath star is now part of the Westmeath senior hurling management team under Kevin O’Brien. A dual star, Murtagh won senior football medals with The Downs.
The Senior football team of year winners were presented with their jerseys by Denis Glennon, a Leinster senior medallist with Westmeath in 2004, and a senior championship winner with Tyrrellspass.
Ray Gavin brought proceedings to a close, thanking all club players for their outstanding effort all year.
“It is you, the players, who make this weekly podcast so successful. We are grateful for the interest you have shown and it’s nice that players are rewarded for all the dedication of a long playing season,” he said.
He paid tribute to Ger Gavin, who provides the cameras and equipment for the weekly podcast, and Tom Browne, former Maryland football and a Leinster minor medallist with Westmeath in 2000, who coordinates the weekly show. He acknowledged the support of Frank Mescall, whose term as County Committee chairman comes to an end on December 10, and Westmeath GAA PRO, Marie Lynagh, whose five-year stint also ends on Wednesday. He welcomed new Westmeath PRO Sinead Kiernan.
The hosts of the weekly podcast, Clarke's Bar, one of the sponsors, were also acknowledged and Ray Gavin thanked everyone who provided support for the Monday evening broadcasts. He acknowledged the input of the various pundits throughout the season.
Finger food was provided by Clarke’s Bar and it proved a lovely end of season social gathering for the club players in Westmeath. Kieran Clarke, proprietor of the impressive Platform 5 venue, said it was an honour to host the club players: "It was a great event, a lovely way to end the year, and it was wonderful to see such a great gathering of club players. They all make such a positive contribution through sport and we are delighted to support their efforts."