1950-1954 History & Photo Gallery

1950-54 Athenry GAA History

Galway Oireachtas winners in 1950 & 1952 and a National Hurling League winners in 1951.Front Row; (left to right: M/J (Inky ) Flaherty, Fr Paddy Gantley (who played under the name Paddy Gardiner ), Dr Joe Glynn (Oranmore ), Tommy Moroney, Michael Joe Badger, Dick Quinn, Tom Boyle, and J Murphy. At the back are Miko McInerney, Mick Sylver (selector ), W Keane, Mickey Hughes, Hubert Gordon, Frank Flynn, John Killeen, W Fogarty, Seán Duggan, and Jack Whelan (county secretary ). Joe Egan from High Street came on as a sub,

Galway Oireachtas winners in 1950 & 1952 and National Hurling League winners in 1951.
Front Row; (left to right: M. J.(Inky) Flaherty, Fr. Paddy Gantley, Joe Glynn, Tommy Moroney, Michael Joe Badger, Dick Quinn, Tom Boyle, J Murphy. Back Row: (left to right) Miko McInerney, Mick Sylver (selector ), W Keane, Mickey Hughes, Hubert Gordon, Frank Flynn, John Killeen, W Fogarty, Seán Duggan, and Jack Whelan (County Board GAA Secretary).

Galway Senior Football Team 1950
Front Row: (left to right) Seamus Reidy, Seamus O'Rourke, Paddy Higgins, Tom O'Sullivan, T. Byrne, Charlie Casey, Mick Greaney. Back Row: (left to right) Sean Purcell, Jack Mangan, Mick Costello, Seamus O'Halloran, Tom 'Pook' Dillon, Iggy Hannify, Jimmy Kearns and Jimmy Ward.

Galway Oireachtas Senior Hurling Champions 1952
Front Row: (left to right) John Killeen, Mickey Burke, Paraic Nolan, Joe Salmon, M. J. (Inky) Flaherty, Jose Gallagher, SEan Duggan. Back Row: (left to right) Ned Quinn, Tadhg Kelly, Johnny Molloy, Colm Corless, Tommy Moroney, Billy Duffy, Hubert Gordan and Billy O'Neill

Galway All-Ireland Minor Football Champions 1952 (Photo semi-final v Cork)
Front Row: (left to right) Laurence (Lory) Cunningham, Mick Geraghty, Mark Lohan, Brian Waldron, Albert Kelly, Mick Ryan, Eugene Dunleavy, Brian Mahon captain, Martin Kelly, Sean Hoban, Tommy Brosnan. Back Row: (left to right) Patsy Geraghty selector, Brendan O'Donoghue, Paddy Coady, Brian Naughton, Tommy O'Toole, Jimmy Staunton, Gerrry Kirwan, Seamus Kyne, Kevin Cummins, Inst Mick Hawkshaw, Liam Manning, Johnny Joyce, Seamus Mitchell, Johnny Cotter Vice Chairman and Fr. Paddy Mahon Chairman Galway Football Board.

Galway Junior Hurling Team 1953
Front Row: (left to right) Billy Conway, Tony Shaughnessy, Paddy Brody, Peter Briggs, Bobby Gardner, Johnny Spellman, Tim Sweeney. Back Row: (left to right) Martin Murphy, Tom Connor, Vincent Treacy, Sean Farragher, Thadgh Lyne, Joe Duffy, Tommy Kelly and Patrick Callinan.

Tommy Madden of Derrydonnell A.C., pictured with local supporters following his victory in the County Cross-Country Championships in 1954 in the grounds of Liam Mellowes College, known then as the Farmyard. Carrying Tommy are Dinny Sullivan (Club Secretary) and John Joe Ruane. Also in the picture are Michael Freaney, Tomsie Cannon, Frank Rabbitte, Ned Qualter and Michael Madden.

County Cross-Country Champion 1954 - Tommy Madden
Tommy Madden of Derrydonnell A.C., pictured with local supporters following his victory in the County Cross-Country Championships in 1954 in the grounds of Liam Mellowes College, known then as the Farmyard. Carrying Tommy are Dinny Sullivan (Club Secretary) and John Joe Ruane. Also in the picture are Michael Freaney, Tomsie Cannon, Frank Rabbitte, Ned Qualter and Michael Madden.

Handball Club reformed following World War II

During the war years handball championships were disrupted and the local Club disbanded, but games continued to be played. The Club was reformed in 1952 at a meeting held in the Old Boys' School on 3rd August, and a committee elected as follows: Chairman: Mickey Hession; Secretary: Murty Qualter; Treasurer: Jim Barrett, Committee members: Christy O'Grady and Christy Barrett Jnr. The Club held their first AGM on 23rd September with Donald Barrett taking over as Secretary and Joe Howley, Michael Doherty and Joe Whyte added to the Committee.

The new Club officers included men who had given great service to Athenry handball - Jim Barrett who was foremost in getting a site for a new alley at Kenny Park. Michael Doherty, Joe Howley, Joe Whyte and Christy Barrett who were very involved during the 1920`s and '30's, Christy O'Grady and Mickey Hession who together won many Tostal Tournaments.

The early fifties were not very successful for local hurling and football teams. Boyhill affiliated minor and junior hurling teams in 1953; they reached the North Board Junior Final but lost 6-4 to 2-1 to Colarne at Tuam. Newcastle minor team won the North Final but were hammered by St.Gabriels 8-6 to 2-0 in the County semi-final at Loughrea. That year also Newcastle's Willie Morris won the All-Ireland Cross-Country title in Dublin.

In 1954 Cussane qualified for the North Junior Final but they lost 4-4 to 1-4 to Coolarne while Athenry`s junior footballers, lost the North League Final to Annaghdown 3-9 to 1-4. The following year`s records show that Boyhill and Newcastle failed to field for games while Cussane were involved in drawn out objections and counter objections with Abbeyknockmoy.