Clann Braonain’s history makers celebrate 60th anniversary of double success
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Team Members plus representatives of deceased players and mentors: Back Row: Frank Duffy, Des Oxley, Colm Gavin, Kevin Gavin, Sean Duffy, Eithne Eighan (rep Seamus Eighan) Ted Eighan, Sean Carley, Fr Andy Doyle, Adam Ryan (rep Mick Ryan) Robert Tormey (rep Eamon Tormey) Liam Maher (rep Cor Maher) Nollaig McEntaggart, Joe Malone and Ollie Egan. Front Row: Ciaran Moynihan, Joan Peppard, Pat Bradley, Dan Ryan, Stan Fallon, Barney Fallon, John Gavin, Barney Whelehan, Andy Whelehan.Image 2 of 4
Family of the founding members of Clann Braonain, from left: Joan Peppard, Pauric O’Riordain, Niall Moynihan, Ciaran Moynahan and Nollaig Mc Entaggart.Image 3 of 4
Back row: Vonnie and Anne Fallon with (front) Stan and Barney Fallon.Image 4 of 4
Team members from the history making Clann Braonain team. Back row, from left: Des Oxley, Frank Duffy, Colm Gavin, Kevin Gavin, Sean Duffy, Eithne Eighan (rep Seamus Eighan RIP), Ted Eighan, Sean Carley, Fr Andy Doyle, Ollie Egan, Andy Whelehan, Liam Maher (rep Cor Maher RIP). Front Row. Pat Bradley, Dan Ryan, Stan Fallon, Barney Fallon, John Gavin, Barney Whelehan.Saturday night October 14 was a night of celebration for the members of the Clann Braonain minor hurling and football teams of 1963.
That year the club which served the Rochfortbridge, Tyrrellspass, Gainstown and Dalystown areas recorded famous victories. In winning the two titles they became the only club to do so. A record still unequalled in Westmeath.
The clubs founding fathers were Sean O'Riordain (Rochfortbridge NS), Frank McEntaggart (Dalystown NS) and Eamonn Moynihan (Gainstown NS). Their aim was to promote Gaelic games in the Fartulla area. At the time St Mary's were the only football team in the area, while St Brigid's were taking their first tentative steps on the hurling fields of Westmeath.
Founded in 1960, the club made huge strides by winning FÉ 15 and FÉ 16 hurling titles. Further success followed in 1962 when they won the FÉ 17 football championship. They defeated St Brigid's (Moate, Rosemount and Castledaly) by 3-9 to 2-7 in the final. They lost to St Michael's (Castlepollard) after a replay in FÉ 17 hurling final.
In 1963 Clann Braonain defeated O'Rahillys (Castletown Geoghegan) and Brownstown on the way to a final meeting with St Michael's. They won their first minor hurling title with a score line of 8-3 to 1-0.
The winning side were Pat Egan, Colm Gavin, Dan Ryan (Captain), Andy Whelehan, Frank Duffy, Pat Bradley, Mick Ryan, Seamus Eighan, Ollie Egan, Ted Eighan, Tom Dunne, Robert Bagnall, Sean Duffy, Cor Maher and Tom Gonoud.
Other panel members were Oliver Gavin, Kevin Gavin, Barney Whelehan, Barney Fallon and John Gavin. Scorers in the final were Cor Maher 3-3, Sean Duffy 3-0, Tom Dunne 1-0 and Ollie Egan 1-0.
The footballers defeated Shamrocks and St Agnes's (The Downs, Kinnegad) on the way to the final against St Brigid’s. A repeat of the FÉ 17 final. Westmeath minor footballers had won the Leinster title and contested the All-Ireland final where they were defeated by Kerry in September 1963. Adding spice to the Westmeath decider was the fact that Clann Braonain had one representative on that team while St Brigid's had eight.
The boys from Fartulla had a point to prove and ran out easy winners on the score of 4-7 to 0-2. The team were Sean Carley, Tony Corrigan, Dan Ryan, Andy Whelehan, Frank Duffy, Barney Fallon, Colm Gavin, Pat Bradley, Des Oxley, Ollie Egan, Seamus Eighan, Robert Bagnall, Mick Ryan, Cor Maher and Tom Gonour. Other members were Barney Whelehan, Kevin Gavin and Eamon Tormey.
Andy Doyle, Stan Fallon and Ted Eighan, who played in earlier games during that campaign, had returned to their respective colleges and were unable to get permission to play in the final. Scorers in the final were Cor Maher 2-0, Mick Ryan 1-2, Tom Gonoud 1-0, Pat Bradley 0-3 and Robert Bagnall 0-2.
Pat Bradley, who played a huge part in the Westmeath minor campaign, had an outstanding year. He played in four Leinster finals, winning three. He also played in three All-Ireland finals, without success.
He won a Leinster college's senior hurling title with Patrician College, Ballyfin before losing to St Finbar's, Farrenferris in the All-Ireland final. Antrim proved too good in the All-Ireland junior hurling final. He also played with the Lake County junior football side who lost to Wexford in the Leinster final. Pat played three games in seven days during that eventful year.
Clann Braonain went on to win three more minor hurling titles, in 1964, 1965 and 1967. They contested many underage football finals without success, including the 1965 and 1967 minor deciders.
In 1971 the Westmeath County Board decided to outlaw area teams, thus ending the Clann Braonain reign.
Players from the club went on to provide the backbone of teams from St Brigid's, St Mary's and Tyrrellspass, who had great success in the late 1960s and 1970s. A fitting tribute to the foresight of the four masters. They were ably assisted by Frank Ryan, John Bradley and Jack Duignam.
The members of the victorious teams would like to thank those who organised this unique celebration and the executive of St Mary's, Tyrrellspass and St Brigid's, who supported the event.
A special thanks to Frank Martin, Tyrrellspass, Noel Gavin, St Brigid's and Declan Fletcher. The night was a tremendous success thanks to the work of Joe Malone, who left no stone unturned to make it so. Go raibh mile maith agat. Nar laga dia do lamh agus gura fada buan an tslainta agut.