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THE SEASON THAT WAS:
The GAA season in NSW ended on a high note for Cusacks on Sunday 11 of September when they did the double by winning both the hurling and ladies NSW GAA championship finals. This was a great achievement for the club who had more downs than ups this season when dealing with the bureaucracy that surrounds GAA in Sydney. However both teams let their on-field performances do the talking and the only pity was that our footballers were not there too. They lost out at semi final stage to eventual champions, Young Ireland.
The hurlers got finals day off to a good start when Mick Mulcahy captained a brilliant Cusacks team to an excellent victory over Shamrocks by 3-17 to 1-10. This was just reward for a Nelius Murphy coached team which had mixed fortunes throughout the season. They were unlucky up the coast when they failed to make the finals and they also underachieved when beaten in the League final in June. However, the championship trophy made up for all and Mattie Conroy was a worthy winner of the best and fairest award on the day.
Next up were the ladies who continued their fine form this season by beating Irish Australians by 8-19 to 1-07. This was an awesome victory, which was fashioned on pure determination after enduring setbacks of gigantic proportions during the season. If evidence was ever required that Cusacks ladies are the premier team in NSW this was more than provided as they absolutely steamrolled their opposition. Captain Siobhan Toolin was more than happy to receive the winner's trophy on behalf of a team coached by Laurie Connolly while Angie Whitmore was the worthy recipient of the best and fairest reward. Cusacks ladies ended their season as they started when they won the Central Coast competition by beating Clan na Gael by 3-11 to 1-3. The League competition resulted in forfeits, objections, appeals, refusals to play and hence was a non-event.
Despite the fact that the footballers didn't make championship finals day they too had a great season with the highlight being their brilliant victory in the league final in June when they outscored Young Ireland by 2-11 to 1-11. Dave Farrelly ably captained the team and Fluer McAuliffe was the worthy winner of his man of the match award.
MANY THANKS TO:
- Our generous and ever-supportive sponsors, The Illinois Hotel, Durty Neilly's, Shamrock Nursing and Rosmon Construction.
- Our very vocal supporters who cheered our teams every Sunday.
- All the girls and guys who did the weekly washing of the jerseys.
- All the people who provided lifts to and from training and games.
- Our trainers and managers - Shelly, Grainne, Ally, Laura Connolly, Nelius Murphy, Ivan O'Brien, Mickey Mul, Garreth Kelleher, Barry McKieran, Stephen Doohan, Maxie, Paudi Cooney & Conor Bourke.
- Dee Stephenson, Padraig Hurley, Conor Bourke, Paudi Cooney and Nelius Murphy for attending the NSW GAA meetings.
- The ever-obliging people who helped out at the Games - doing canteen and bbq duties and refereeing and umpiring games.
- Everyone who continually emailed us on their trips around Oz.
- All who bought our amazing range of club merchandise.
- Dee Stephenson for promoting and selling our merchandise
- All who have recruited for the club - keep up the good work.
- All our former players who sent good luck sms messages, good luck emails and forum messages.
- All our past players and fans who made the effort to travel out to games during the season.
- And last but not least - a special thanks to Ned and Pam of the Illinois for all their support - both financially and at meetings during the year - they will be missed.
CONGRATS TO:
- Club members who have made NSW State Teams for the Australasian Games in Bisbane in October.
- Hillary Bright and Micheal Cunningham who tied the knot in June.
- All the party animals who partied on whether we won or lost.
- Ex-Cusack player Katie McDermott on the recent birth of baby Kitty.
- Roisin Cooper and Paudi Cooney who got married in Cork.
- Hurler Ivan O'Brien who is getting married to Kim.
- Ex-Cusack hurler Neil Ronan who came on as a sub in the All-Ireland hurling final for Cork.
- Cusack hurler Noel Farragher whose brother Ger was a member of the Galway hurling team in the All-Ireland final.
- Paul and Lil Convey who got married this year.
- Our chairman Conor Bourke and Denisa Kozma who have announced their engagement.
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