Galway Advertiser 1970/1970_07_23/GA_23071970_E1_006.pdf 

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R wn o ig
Last weekend saw more honours brought to Galway by its Rowing Clubs--St Joseph's representing Ireland at Molesey, Surrey, and Galway Rowing Club featuring at Askeaton. St. Joseph's School Eight improved on their per formance at Monmouth, Wales, Ian year, and defeated Wales and Scotland at Molesey in the 1970 International. This gave the Irish team 5 points out of a possible 6, and contributed to the overall result where Eng land won the event with 30 points Ireland were placed second with 25 points, and Scotland and Wales followed with 21 and 15 points respectively. Ireland's best perfor mance was again in the Senior Sculls, where Sean Drea defeated all comers, gaining maximum points. The Senior Eight and Senior Four got 9 points each, and the School Four picked up 4 points. Congratulations, then, te Saint Joseph's--again proved worthy representatives of Galway and Ireland. In Askeaton Galway Rowing Club featured in the Junior Fours Championship of Ireland, and de feated Garda and Limerick Boat Club to qualify for the final Garda 'A' defeated Waterford and Carlow in their heat, and Neptune B.C. rowed over. In an extraordinary final in this event

with the course abstracted by Eights, sculls and fours; Garda, with the centre station, took an early lead. A final effort by Gal way made the verdict j length with Neptune a poor third. This result was something of a triumph for Galway Rowing Club, who were consistingly the best junior Four in Ireland during the Season --the Garda crew was drawn from their Senior Eight boat. In other events--it was very much Limerick's day, with St. Michael's taking Senior Eights and Senior Fours, Athlunkard taking Junior Eights, Cadet Eights and Cadet Fours, and Limerick B.C. in the Junior School Fours. Galway Rowing Club also did well to get second in the final of the Junior School Eight, behind Marist B.C., and third in the Junior School Fours Final. On the home front, great pro gress is reported on the reconstruction of Galway Row ing Club's Clubhouse, where volunteer labour has already almost completed the blocklaying in very fast time indeed. We look forward to the completion of this new Clubhouse which will be an expression of confidence in Galway Rowing Club's future Enthusiasm for the sport is shown on many fronts at the moment--it is being noised abroad that we may again see Menlo men taking to the water in rowing craft: a sight many will look forward to with interest.

Galway v. Meath
So it's Meath we are playing in the All-Ireland semifinal at Croke Park on August 9. I was hoping 'twould be Meath, for we have the happy knack of beating them. No offence to Offaly, but any team in their second succes sive year out of a province in quest of their All-Ireland would be hard to beat. The August 9 confrontation recalls the All-Ire land semi-final of 1964. Those were the days of the "Red" Collier Peter Darby, big Martin Quinn at full back, Dave Carty, and in our own case we had of course John Donnellan as Captain, Mattie McDonagh, Sean Cleary, Mick Reynolds, Christy Tyrrell, Noel Tierney . . . Recall that game. Noel Tierney made his name that day, like Noel Colleran against Roscommon, he plucked them from the sky, getting tremendous support from Enda Colleran on his right. Galway were lucky to beat Meath that day. You had Mick Reynold's late point from a "50". It was also the day Seamus Garvey of Kerry made his name, or rather destroyed his reputation, depending on how you looked at it. A referee with authority, commonsense and a great future, if only we could have been less partisan G.A.A. referees have long ago realised that we are a very fickle public, and that they must please all sides and still remain fair. A thankless job and not nearly as appreciated as it should. The attendance at that 1964 game was 52,547. It will be interesting to compare this year's attendance with the 1964 figure. After Meath's epic win over Offaly last Sunday, the crowds will throng Croke Park again, "telly" or no "telly". For Gal way have shown a "new" appetite for the game and Meath have still to beat us. But I hadn't finished my story. In the league semi-final of 1964-65, we beat Meath again by 0-8 to 1-2. But Galway's 1966 final win over Meath was the sweetest success of all, and Gal way's greatest ever performance. This was how Paddy Downey described Galway in his Irish Times report of the game: "But how does one describe the greatness of this Galway team? Some feats and those who per form them stand out like beacons in the history of sport. A Ban nister cracking the four-minute mile; a Delaney in Melbourne; a Snell in Rome and in Tokyo; a Clay with spitfire fists in the ring; an Arkle striding over high fences . . In context of football, Galway were all these yesterday a team of superb athletes, incredibly skilful, fantas tically fast, brilliantly polished, and, to hapless Meath, demoni acally clever". Galway's finest tribute from Ireland's most polished G.A.A. writer. The comparisons still hold good, though four years have passed. The writer might now include as comparisons, the names of Nijinsky, Kip Keino and the Brazilian soccer team. But the message is still the same. The score in that final was Galway 1-10; Meath 0-7, and Galway led at half-time by 1-6 to 0-1. But we will talk more about these games in the weeks ahead. to Galway senior status by sheer dedication and without the re fining effect of college football to help him. For this, he deserves great credit. His football still needs refining, but he is improv ing all the time, and his ability to play at full steam all the time must be a great handicap to the opposition.

G L A SWIMMING CLUB'S ANNUAL AW Y GALA Galway Swimming Club held 2. Agnes Desmond Galway S.C.
their annual gala at Blackrock on Sunday last. Greatest surprise of all was the perfectly calm sea and warm sunshine which has been an unknown feature of the day for quite a few years. Had such conditions been guaranteed on the list of events, there would have been more entries for the gala. A large number of spect ators were present and saw 4 Con nacht Championships decided. Three of these were won by Gal way swimmers, and the fourth by a member of Annally S.C. The two breast stroke Championships Boys under fourteen, 100-meters and Ladies 100-meters--attracted good entries, and were both very close races. The two winners yesterday claimed their first Con nacht title. The winner of the Ladies 100-meters was in fact an under 14 swimmer--Agnes Desmond from Shantalla Road-- and also placed second in the Girls under 16, 200 meters Cham pionship--so we can expect to hear a lot about this young girl, who is a challenge to all swimmers not only in her own age group, but also in the under 16 and Ladies categories. The gala was run in record time, and the prizes were presented afterwards by Mrs. P. Hosty, President of the Ladies Section Galway Swimming Club. 3. Paula Kennedy, Galway S.C. Boys under 14, 100-meters breast stroke 1. Conor Kenny, Galway S.C. 2. Tom Croke, Galway S.C. 3. Denis Flynn, Annally S.C. Ladies 100-meters breast stroke 1. Agnes Desmond, Galway S.C. 2. Barbara O'Connell, Annally S.C. 3. Brigid Conneely, Galway S.C. Open Handicap Events: Men's 100-meters butterfly 1. Michael Cunningham, Galway S.C. 2. Des Raftery, Blackrock S.C. Ladies 100-metres butterfly. 1. Catherine McGeeney, Annally S.C. 2. Bridget Connelly, Galway S.C. 3. Anne Dunne, Annally S.C. Boys under 14, 100 metres free style. 1. Peter Cunningham Galway S.C. 2. Tom Hynes Annally S.C. 3. Tom Croke, Galway S.C. Girls under 16, 100-metres back stroke. 1. Catherine McGeeney, Annally S.C. 2. Paula Kennedy, Galway S.C. S.C. Confined to Galway Swimming Club : Boys, beginners, 30 metres. 1. Michael Langan. 2. Jimmy Croke, RESULTS 3. John Hynes. Mens 400-Meters freestyle. 1. Michael Cunningham, Galway Boys 50-metres freestyle. 1. Andrew McSweeney, S.C. 2. Michael Small, Galway S.C. 2. Jim Langan 3. Mark Cribben, Annally S.C. 3. David Curran. Girls under 16, 200-meters free Girls 50-metres freestyle 1. Valerie Small style. 2. Muriel Small 1. Gay Harney, Annally S.C. 3. Deirde Desmond

CHRISTY

FITZGERALD

' IJlj m hi

St. Ignatius' College Colts and Cadet Crews, after their highly successful Regatta Season : win ning in Fours and Eights at Cork, Limerick, Porttora, Galway and Dublin Metropolitan Regattas Colts:--M. de Paor, Bow, S. O Murchu, 2; P. O Moran, 3; N. O Donallain 4; D. O Conghaile ; 5; D. O Laoire, 6; C. O Ruagain 7; C. O Daltuin, stroke, L. O Gainin, cox.

Cadets : -- D . O Mainnin, bow; S. O Ruairc, 2; D. O hEidhin 3; M. O Faolain, 4; M. de Paor 5; N. O Donallain, 6; P. O Morain, 7; S. O Murchu, stroke; R. O Donallain, cox. With the successes of U.C.G Galway Rowing Club and Saint Joseph's Rowing Clubs, this has certainly been a most satisfactory year on the water for Galway.

Mr Brendan Sugrue, Chairman of the West Regional Branch of Cumann Na n-Innealtoiri and his wife, Flo, presenting the ColChon Cup to Mr. Sean McMahon, BE., winner of the trophy in the Open Section of the Annual Golfing Competition, and to Mr. K. Hayes, Loughrea, winner of the Regional Section at Galway Golf Club.

Te T e e m i
GALWAY GOLF CLUB Results:--Sunday, July 19th-- Naughton Cup--18 Holes Stroke Winner:--F. O Connor (14) 67 (on last 9) Runner-Up:--D. Chambers (10) 67. Best Gross:--P.O'Connor 72 1st. Nine:--P. P. Murphy (13) 28. 2nd Nine:--Tony O'Connor (11) ' 1 (on last 6) The Standard Scratch Score (S.S.S.) is the score in which a scratch player is expected to go round a course, playing from the medal tees, IN SUMMER CONDITIONS. In the case of a nine hole-hole course, it rep resents two rounds. The basis S.S.S. of a course is fixed according to its length. In some cases, an addition may be made for what is known as Course Value. Such an addition can only be made for courses with exceptional difficulties other Te h "Galway Advertiser" Ltd., Shop

s.s.s.

layout of its course, the hazards it has, whether the greens are well watered or not, whether they are guarded or open, the narrow ness or width of the fairways, the nature of the rough and the near ness of any out-of-bounds to greens and fairways. No alteration whatsoever, can be made to the basic S.S.S. of any course in Ireland without the authority of the Golfing Union. As the S.S.S. of course is fixed for Summer conditions, no de duction can be made from it be cause of easy playing conditions. This is very important and is quite often forgotten by players, when they suffer a reduction in handicap. How often have we not all heard the grumble that "the course was playing very easy". A Club Committee or Com petitions Committee MAY add a stroke, or strokes, to the S.S.S. on the day of a competition on which unfavourable weather and /or course conditions add to the difficulty of the course. No addi tion may be made for wind, unless it is stronger than a stiff breeze. is printed and published by

0'Gorman

St., Galway. Tehn 5 5 / epoe 7 89 l

Congratulations to Loma McCarthy, Mount Foran, Oran more, who won the Novice Combined Training Event (Dressage and Show Jumping) at Castletown on Friday on her mare "Golden Dawn." She had the distinction of having the only clear round in a stiff show jumping test against a large field which included international riders. She is a mem ber of the County Galway Hunt Pony Club and a pupil of the Dominican Convent, Taylor's Hill. Lorna is only one of a number of very promising young riders in the Galway Pony Club, who will surely bring further honours to Connacht at time goes on.

Liam Sammon's Brilliance Reverting to Galway's defeat of Roscommon, I don't think enough was made of Liam Sammon's brilliance. This was Sammon's greatest hour in the maroon and white. In the first half Ros common had to change one of their best footballer, Tom Heneghan off him and call their finest player of the day, Gerry Mannion, to try and check Sammon. Even though Mannion con tinued to shine, so did Sammon. Liam of course must be one of the fittest men in Ireland after his Phy. Ed. course in England last year. Another Galway foot baller somewhat shadowed by his team mates' brilliance was new midfielder, Willie Joyce. Joyce hails from Kil , if that means anything to you, and has grown

Last week, E.S.B. defeated S.P.S. to win the Galway Interfirm gaelic football championship. This was the climax of what has come to be one of the greatest socialising sporting schemes this City has known. The wonderful effect this league has on the parti cipants, the spirit engendered in teams, the pride in one's firm or factory, the social outlet, the liaison created between manage ment and working perconnei as a result the one for all and all for one spirit . . . . I could write one article on the wonder ful contribution this competition is to the life of our City. This is the third year of the league and any of you who have passed passed South Park or "The Swamp" will know the enthusiasm each game created during the past three months. The very fine programme specially printed for the final carried the following information: -- 1968 20 team took part and 18 games were played--Crown Control were the winners. 1969 21 teams took part and 46 games were played--Corbetts were the winners. 1970 17 teams took part and 36 games were played--E.S.B were the winners. Quite imposing statistics. But this is not all. During the winter the Committee intends to hold an Inter-Form Quiz, as they did a year ago, and participation in athletics, cross-country in par ticular is another aim. Brains behind the league and its secretary since the beginning is that indefatigable C L E . en ployee Christy Fitzgerald. Lime rick-born Christy makes no secret of the fact that he is a G.A.A man to the core. When I asked him for a comment, he was, as always, modest about his own con tribution. "I'm only one," he said, "what about Chairman Jimmy O'Connor whose patience and de dication in the face of adversity were always there to inspire us? And the referees and officials. We gave a special plaque to the referee for the final this year, Donol Killeen, and well he de served it. It was a team effort. I couldn't thank the other fellows enough." But, modest that he is and all that, there would never have been such a league without Christy. A great P.R.O. the man is always "on the go" and he is for me one of the uncrowned kings of Galway. Always show ering praise on others, always thinking up schemes to honour referees and others, it strikes me we should have here in Galway some means of showing our appre ciation for a man who has con tributed to life in our City. In Dublin the Mayomen there elect their Mayoman of the year. Here in Galway we have one Sports Stars of the Year for practically every sport you'd think of. But year in year out, we leave out of our honours list such men as Christy Fitzgerald and Jimmy O'Connor. Others too. The back room boys. The workers. The people who make it all possible. It's not too late yet. That's enough for this week. The fact that Dunmore were beaten by Castlebar will show that we are far from invincible. Next week, I'll continue the Galway-Meath saga--See you next week D.V. "SAM MAGUIRE"