1968 In the North Board Under 16 Hurling Championship Athenry trounced Turloughmore in the final and qualified to meet Loughrea in the county semi-final. In an exhilarating exhibition of hard ground hurling and a grandstand finish Athenry emerged winners by one point, 4-4 to 4-3. A brave attempt to level the scores by Kieran Fitzgerald from a fifty-yard free hit the post and was cleared. The final against Oranmore/Maree also lived up to expectations and both sides produced an excellent display of stickwork. Athenry had to fight tooth-and-nail to overcome a superb West Galway fifteen. After a spate of nervousness at the start, Athenry settled down and at the interval led by 1-2 to 0-2. According to The Connacht Tribune ‘Pep talks to both sides produced the required results after the interval. The tempo became fast and the endeavours became furious-though at no time did rancour creep into the exchanges-” Athenry stayed ahead and were winners by 4-5 to 4-3. The trophy ‘Corn Ui Chaoimh” was presented to the Athenry Captain Johnny Gannon by Mattias Mac Donnacha, Chairman of Coiste lomana who complimented both sides on the high standard of their play. Ahead of his time team manager Seamus Cullinane brought the team to the 1969 Railway Cup Finals in Croke Park on St. Patrick’s Day. On a wonderful day for Connacht they saw the footballers defeat Munster to win the title and the hurlers draw with the men from the south in a thrilling game. Among the hurling greats playing in the final were Munsters Jimmy Doyle, Eamon Cregan and Justin McCarthy while Connacht’s stars on the day were John Connolly, Sam Stanley and Padraic Fahy. Following the games they went to the Skylon Hotel for a meal and were presented with their County Under 16 Medals by Tipperary and Munster greats John O’Donoghue and John Flanagan. The team management was Paddy Ryan (Secretary), Gerald Corbett and Seamus Cullinane (Manager). Under 16 Hurling UNDER 16 FINAL LINEOUT 1968 1 Tony Kelly, 2 Joe Killeen, 3 Johnny Gannon (C) 4 John Quinn, 5 P. J. Killeen, 6 Frank Joyce, 7 Kieran Barrett, 8 Pakie Flannery, 9 Sean Hynes, 10 Gerry Connaughton, 11 Kevin Donoghue, 12 P. J. Molloy, 13 Sean Staunton, 14 Brian Hardiman, 15 Leo Coffey, 16 Christy Morrissey, 17 Michael Morrissey, 18 Francis Kilkelly, 19 Michael Donnellan, 20 Christy O’Grady, 21 Gabriel Coffey, 22 Paul McDonagh, 22 Johnny Cannon. MANAGEMENT: Seamus Cullinane, Paddy Ryan and Gerald Corbett. Under 16 hurling team captain Johnny Gannon (left) and Seamus Cullinane (right) manager of the side that won the Club’s first ever County Under 16 Hurling Title in 1968. MINOR FINAL LINEOUT 1969 1 Michael Poniard, 2 Joe Killeen, 3 Johnny Gannon, 4 Pat Kilkelly, 5 Francis Joyce, 6 Tom Burke, 7 Kieran Barrett, 8 Luke Glynn, 9 Sean Hynes, 10 Pakie Flannery, 11 Gerry Kelly (C), 12 Eugene Glynn, 13 P. J. Molloy, 14 Kevin Donoghu, 5 Leo Coffey, 16 Paddy Forde, 17 P. J. Killeen, 18 Michael Morrissey, 19 Paul McDonagh, 20 Gerry Connaughton 21 Michael Donnellan, 22 Gabriel Coffey, 23 Tom Coffey MANAGEMENT: Gerald Corbett, Pake Ruane, Tommy Lally, Bobby Gardner, Jim Ruane, Gill Ruane and Michael Mullins. County Under 16 Hurling Champions 1968 Front Row: (left to right) Johnny Cannon, Sean Staunton, P. J. Molloy, Christy Morrissey, Leo Coffey, Tony Kelly, Gerry Connaughton, Michael Morrissey, Frank Kilkelly, Christy O’Grady, Michael Donnellan. Back Row: (left to right) Sean Hynes, Kieran Barrett, Francis Joyce, Gabriel Coffey, Kevin Donoghue, Brian Hardiman, Pakie Flannery, Joe Killeen, P. J. Killeen, John Quinn, Paul McDonagh and Johnny Gannon.
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