Shamrocks GAA Honour Their Minor Hero
Writes John Twomey
It was fitting and well deserved that the Shamrock Club should give due recognition to Seán Andrews a member of the Cork Minor Football team, All Ireland Champions for 2019.
A celebratory luncheon hosted by Sarah O’Grady at the Ferryboat Inn Bar & Restaurant was the perfect setting to mark this momentous occasion.
Seán Andrews
He is listed among the elite minor footballers of 2019 with his All Ireland medal to prove it.
The Andrews family have a long association with the Club over its 121 years of existence, In 1904 and 1908 Georgie and William Andrews were winning Hurling County medals with Shamrocks They went on to be great administrators and kept the Club functioning in difficult times particularly when the immigrant ships took so many of our fine players to England and America. George Jnr. Played Junior football for Cork in1933 and senior football in 1935.
Donie Andrews lined out with Jack Lynch on the Cork Minor Hurling team and Robbie Andrews was the goal scoring centre forward of the Carrigdhoun Senior Hurling team of 1945 that played Glen Rovers in the final. Seán’s father, Dick, is a dual South East Cork Junior medal winner.
Such a background and rich family Club history gave our hero of 2019 the right pedigree to compete and take part with the elite of his era.
Honour
Club President Mr. Michael Brennan made a presentation of a silver salver to Seán. It was Michael’s father Abie Brennan who introduced football to the Club in the early years of the last century. Abie captained the Shamrock Intermediate Football team which defeated Dohenys from Dunmanway in the final of 1923. Lady Vice President Helen Prout presented bouquets to Seán’s mother Kathleen and grandmother Julia Guiney.
A special guest was the Cork Minor Team Manager Bobby O’Dwyer a native of Eyries in the Beara Peninsula, Son of the legendary Riobard O’Dwyer one of Beara’s greatest athletes, footballer, musician and writer. Bobby was truly a wonderful leader and motivator who brought out the very best in his charges. Club Chairman Pat McCarthy made him a presentation to mark his great achievement.
Guests
Among the guests were Parish Priest Fr. Sean O’Sullivan PP, Fr. Con Cronin CC and Rev Fr. Silvester OFM Cap. From Rochestown Monastery. Fr. Silvester has been a Vice President of the Club since 1979. Mr. John Twomey, Chairman, represented the Club’s Under age committee and Mr. Aedan McGrath represented the Ladies Football Club
Surely a great day for the Shamrock Club and the village by the Lee.
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