The heroes in questions are the members of the 1959 and 1961 junior hurling teams who captured junior hurling glory in both North Tipperary and Offaly.
In 1959, Ballyskenach defeated Lorrha in the North Tipp junior hurling fmal on a scoreline of 4-5 to 2-4 whilst two years later they overcame Blackwood Rovers by three points in the Offaly junior hurling final. That time the final score was 2-7 to 2-4.
Readers may be puzzled as to why Ballyskenach were hurling in North Tipperary in '59 but two years later were competing in the junior championship in neighbouring Offaly. Ballyskenach club or Mountheaton club as it was originally known was founded in 1925. It affiliated with Offaly and took part in the junior championhips, winning the junior title when they overcame Eglish in the final two years later.
No further honours came their way and in 1940 the club lapsed. Two years later it was reformed and the present club started, though this time they affiliated with North Tipperary, thus explaining how they won a junior championships in North Tipp in '59.
The winning team on that occasion was J. Dooley, W. McLoughlin, J. McDonnell, D. Walsh, R. Cashin, M. Hogan, S. Keeshan, P. McLoughlin, E. Delaney, R. Franks, W. Campion, P. Franks, S. Hogan, P. Dooley and M. Moloney.
In 1961, due to a County Board bye-law which allowed only one hurling and one football club in a parish, Ballyskenach were refused affiliation and so ended 18 years in North Tipperary. However, later in the year the Offaly Co. Board agreed to accept affiliation from Ballyskenach and in their very first year were successful in the junior championship.
The winning team on that occasion was J. Dooley, W: Mcloughlin, P. Dooley, D. Walsh, S. Keeshan, P. Mcloughlin, M. O'Shea, P. Franks, R. Franks, J. Nolan, S. Hogan, E. Franks, P. Feehan, J McDonnell and M. Moloney.
Five members of the teams have since pased to their heavenly reward and they are Ned Bergin, Billy Moloughney, Johnny McDonnell, Paddy Franks and Pat Feehan.
The dinner dance starts at 9.00 pm sharp and music is being provided br. 'Top Level' . Tickets are available from any club committee member. The chairman of Offaly Co. Board, Brendan Ward will also be in attendance and local man, Donal Franks will be presented with his Walsh Cup medal.
By Ger Scully
Those momentous events were recalled at Ballyskenach GAA club's dinner dance on Friday night last when the club's hurling heroes from 1959 and 1961 were honoured.
In 1959, the club won the North Tipperary junior hurling final when they defeated Lorrha on a scoreline of 4-5 to 2-5. Two years later and this time playing in Offaly, the club defeated Blackwood Rovers in the junior final on a scoreline of 2-7 to 2-4.
In the period between '59 and '61, the club were forced to leave North Tipperary because of a parish ruling and affiliated to Offaly.
It's now 35 years since the club won the North Tipperary junior championships and to mark the occasion, Ballyskenach's young progressive Chairman, Noel Russell decided to officially honour the men of both '59 and '61. And Noel also persuaded Offaly Co. Board Chairman, Brendan Ward to make the presentations to the surviving members of the two panels at the dinner dance. Also honoured at the dance was Donal Franks, who was presented with a 1993 Walsh Cup medal.
The dance, which took place in Dooly's Hotel, Birr was attended by a large number of people from Ballyskenach, Roscrea, Shinrone and neighbouring areas. Among those in attendance was Very Rev. Seamus Gardiner, P.P. Roscrea and Rev. Frank Meehan, C.C. Shinrone.
Welcoming the large attendance, Noel Russell paid a special welcome to the men of the '59 and 61 teams. These men hold the unique distinction of having won championship medals in two different counties and this presentation is the club's small way of paying tribute, pointed out Noel. He added that five team members has since passed to their heavenly reward.
Brendan Ward revealed that it was his first time to be with Ballyskenach at a function and he said that he would like to pay tribute to them. He stressed that he was very grateful to the people of the Ballyskenach area who had continued to support'our games' and the spirit of the GAA.
Brendan outlined that he was very privileged to meet Fr Seamus Gardiner once again. He had many discussions with Fr Gardiner in the past and was glad to see that he was moving closer and closer in Offaly's direction. 'I am very pleased that he has the top job in Roscrea and I wish him well in that parish and hope that he will continue to give his support to the GAA,' he added.
The various members of the teams were then honoured with their presentations:
Mick Hogan, who was Captain of the '59 team;
Ned Delaney, who was on the '59 team and also on the 1977 team which won the county championship;
Billy Flynn, a member of the '59 team who has done much for underage hurling in Ballyskenach;
Ned Bergin RIP, a member of the '59 team whose presentation was accepted by Frank Kennedy;
Dickie Cashin, wing back on the '59 team who could not be present at the dinner dance;
Billy Campion, centre forward on the '59 team;
Mick Delaney, on the '59 team;
Paddy Ormonde, '59 team whose presentation was accepted by John Ormonde;
Billy Moloughney RIP, comer back on the '59 and '61 teams and his presentation was accepted by his wife Lil;
Johnny McDonnell Snr, RIP, full back on the '59 team and full forward on the '61 team - his presentation was accepted by his son, Johnny who is a well known referee;
Sean Keeshan, wing back on the '59 and '61 teams;
Mick O'Shea, on the panel in '59 and wing back in '61;
Paddy Franks RIP, half forward on the '59 and '61 teams and his posthumous award was accepted by his wife, Anne;
Paddy Feehan RIP, on the '59 panel, comer forward two years later and his award was accepted by his wife, Kitty;
Jack Dooley, goalkeeper on the '59 and '61 teams who is now Club President;
Paddy Dooley, full forward on the '59 team and full back on the '61 team;
Dan Walsh, cornerback on the '59 and '61 teams;
Paddy Mcloughlin, a midfielder in '59 and centre back in '61 (Paddy has the distinction of having won championship medals in four different decades);
Dicky Franks, a wingforward in '59 and midfielder in '61 whose award was accepted by his brother, Monty;
Mick Moloney, comer forward on both teams;
Jimmy Shanahan, on the '59 and '61 panel whose award was accepted by Martina Feehan;
Jim Nolan, a midfielder in '61;
Jim Bolger, a member of the '61 team who was also on the 1977 junior team which won the county championships (it was a doubly happy occasion for Jim and his wife Peg as they were celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary);
Pat O'Hara, on the '61 team whose presentation was accepted by Eileen O'Hara;
Eddie Franks, half forward in '61 and a member of junior championship winning teamsin '77 and '79;
Sonny Hogan, captain of the '61 team when he played corner -forward.
Sonny made a presentation to Brendan Ward on behalf of the Ballyskenach club while Mick Hogan extended thanks to the club for making the presentation to the two teams. He said that he had happy memories of 1959 when against all odds Ballyskenach beat Lorrha in the final. Mick recalled that in 1961 the team bus broke down on the way to the final but they got to Tullamore and beat Blackwood Rovers there.
The 1959 captain added that he could not let the occasion pass without paying tribute to Sean Feehan, Paddy O'Brien and Joe Feehan, who were team mentors. Mick also paid tribute to the five deceased players. Paying tribute to Noel Russell, Mick described him as the club's energetic Chairman and outlined that he had been the driving force behind the presentation. 'Let us hope that 25 years into the future we will be honouring the men of 1994,' he concluded.
Noel Russell extended thanks to the club's sponsors - Dooly's Hotel, Jimmy Brady, Dromakeenan and Thomas McDonnell of the Hogan Stand in Roscrea. A bouquet of flowers was also presented to Noel's girlfriend, Caroline Talbot.