24th January 2010: Offaly AGM

The Offaly AGM took place in Tullamore Pitch & Putt Club on January 13th.

Main Points Summerised: The meeting went smoothly and all officers gave detailed reports on the year that was 2009. There were no big changes in personel apart from Registrar Paddy McIntyre stepping down from the position. A lenghty discussion took place regarding the format of Inter-County Team selection. A motion for a new selection and trials process was put forward and agreed upon for 2010. The new selection process will be announced soon once the final details are finalised. The officers of the Offaly Co. Board wished to thank the sponsors of 2009 for their generous support especially those who sponsored an entire event; Niall Martin (Martins Golf Athlone) - Offaly Masters, Dermot Kenny (Kenny's Newsagents Clara)- Offaly Juvenile Strokeplay, Michael Egan (Clara Sports & Leisure Centre) - Offaly Inter-County Teams and William Buckley Jnr - Offaly Matchplay. We would ask our members to continue to support our sponsors in 2010. Also, the officers wished all clubs and players the best of luck in 2010, that it may be as successful for our Offaly players as in 2009. The officers reflected on a very succesful and proud year in 2009 on and off the course.

At a glance we experienced one of the most successful years in 2009 in terms of National titles claimed, including the heroics of PJ Dunne and Brendan Gorman winning respective Inter and Junior Seniors titles at Tullamore and the historic double national victory of Tracey McGrath winning Senior Matchplay and Strokeplay titles at Castletown and Glenville, a feat only performed by 5 other Senior ladies in the game. We hail our National Champions and also our representatives at Juvenile level who performed impressively in 2009, we saw the Offaly Juvenile Inter-County team reach their potential by claiming a Leinster Inter-County Championship at Kilbeggan while the Galvin sisters claimed the top two places in the Girls 10-13 grade at Kilbeggan also. At Leinster Senior level we celebrated an unprecedented three-in-a-row Leinster Mixed Foursomes of Tracey & Joseph McGrath when they posted an unbeatable score of 24up at Ryston.

We also cannot forget our members who were part of the Tullamore College and Ard Scoil Chiaran Naofa teams who claimed the top two places at the Leinster Schools Championships at McDonagh. At local County level we saw the ever popular Offaly Alliance successfully set the pace for 2009 and we witnessed new names being added to the record books.

At our Strokeplay Championships Paul O'Gorman reigned supreme at Erry with Graham Newman running close in the Senior Grade. Two of Tullamore's young guns claimed the Junior and Intermediate respectively, Jamie Hogan and Sean Galvin, certainly two names to look out for in 2010. In the County Matchplay Graham Newman went one step further than the Strokeplay and claimed an impressive run of victories as he secured his first County Senior title, the first of many for this exciting talent. Another Erry man back to the game in 2009 took the Intermediate Grade; Eric Kinahan showed he hasn't lost his swing. Tullamore's John Conneely came to the fore in the Junior Grade with some great play. In the Ladies Grade Tracey McGrath added another County double as Linda Flanagan claimed the 7-18 Strokeplay title. At Juvenile level the top boy in Offaly Brian Doyle almost claimed a County double but was haulted in the final of the Matchplay by his rival David Newman. Overall we can celebrate a great year with further successes at Scratch Cups and at International level recorded.

We will have detailed results for 2009 and a photographic look back over 2009 in the coming week as we look forward to another exciting season in 2010!!