Offaly GAA celebrates as players of year and hall of fame inductees feted at gala awards night

THERE was a great atmosphere in the Bridge House, Tullamore on Saturday night when the outstanding Offaly GAA performers in 2022 were honoured.

Almost 300 people gathered for the annual Bridge House/Offaly GAA awards night with the players of the year in football, hurling, camogie and ladies football and the referees of the year joined by family, club members and supporters.

As usual the highlight of the evening was the induction of two former stars into the hall of fame. Rhode's Jody Gunning, a member of the Offaly 1971/1972 All-Ireland senior football champions and trainer of the Offaly team that won the All-Ireland U-21 Football Championship in 1988 went into the football hall of fame.

Loud sheers also greeted Lusmagh folk hero, Jim Troy who was the hurling honouree. An All-Ireland senior hurling medal winner in 1981, 1985 and 1994 and the holder of several other accolades, Jim Troy is one of Offaly hurling's most cherished and loved personalties.

Both hall of fame inductees spoke with great pride about the recognition with Jody Gunning joking that most of the people present would not remember him. Jim Troy told the large gathering that he felt like he had won the lotto when he received the phone call that he was being honoured.

Interviewed by Offaly GAA chairman, Michael Duignan, they both recalled humourous stories and recalled incidents and games from their long careers. “I wouldn't change a bit of it and we would love to be back there again,” said Jody Gunning.

Jim Troy said the night was particularly special as his 88 year old mother was present. He drew laughter when he recalled that his mother always send him out to games with a cleaned white togs but by the time, he got to the gate, she would have them “drowned with holy water”.

“I am delighted to be here. Anything I won was because of Offaly, not because of me and I was just delighted to be part of it. It was the same with Lusmagh. I played in three county finals and thank God, I won one. I really enjoyed it and I still love going to matches,” Jim Troy smiled.

The goalkeeping super star stated that the memories were more important than the medals. “You might lose the medals but you will always have the memories. When you meet the lads you played with, you don't talk about the All-Ireland's, you talk about something that happened in a practice match somewhere. That is what the GAA is all about. Only for the GAA, I don't know what we would do.”

Jody Gunning remarked: “It was great to be on the first team that won anything. I remember we had great minor teams in Offaly from 1960 to 1976. We won a few Leinsters and we made the breakthrough by winning the All-Ireland in '64. 8 or 9 lads of the panel went through and won All-Ireland's in '71 and '72. We all hated one another when we were playing for our clubs but when we were playing for Offaly it was a different kettle of fish. We were all brothers. We played like that on the field and we gave it everything.”

Michael Duignan spoke eloquently about both men and thanked them for their contribution. “It is amazing what you have given, what your families have given and what your clubs have given. You come from two great clubs and it is all about community.”

Mr Duignan noted that the awards have been running since 2001, has become a huge social night for Offaly GAA and is particularly important for all the award winners.

He spoke about the challenges facing the GAA in maintaining its volunteers ethos. “It is a huge huge job and it is under appreciated at time,” he told club and county workers.

He thanked the Bridge House for their sponsorship and all other sponsors.

THE AWARD WINNERS

Hall of Fame Football: Jody Gunning (Rhode)

Hall of Fame Hurling: Jim Troy (Lusmagh)

Senior Football: Anton Sullivan (Rhode)

Senior Hurling: Jason Sampson (Shinrone)

Ladies’ Football: Roisin Ennis (Naomh Ciarán)

Camogie: Mairead Jennings (Birr)

Senior B Football: Peter Cunningham (Bracknagh)

Senior B Hurling: Ger Crowe (Tullamore)

Intermediate Football: Stephen Conneely (Ballycommon)

Intermediate Hurling: David O’Toole Greene (Shamrocks)

Junior Football: Geordi O’Meara (Ballinagar)

Junior Hurling: David Hanlon (Edenderry)

Under 20 Football: Luke Egan (Tullamore)

Under 20 Hurling: Alex Kavanagh (Kilcormac-Killoughey)

Handball: David Hope (Fahy’s Cross Handball Club, Rhode)

Football Referee: Fergal Smyth (Kilclonfert)

Hurling Referee: Shane Guinan (Drumcullen)