Erne Eagles celebrate another outstanding year

Rounders

At their recent Presentation Night in The Piker’s Lodge, the Erne Eagles Rounders Club celebrated a wonderful year of success. This included a 16th All-Ireland Senior Men’s title and a first-ever U16 All-Ireland Girls title, as well as wonderful success for Erne Valley Community Games U10 Throwball Rounders and U13 Girls rounders who both won Ulster and All-Ireland titles. The club also had 13 players who received a nomination for a GAA All-Star, and took home five All-Star awards on the night they were presented.

The club night is also to acknowledge the hard work, dedication, and commitment of all involved in these successes and who set the stage for future achievements.

Erne Eagles has many thriving underage teams. 2021 marked the return to encouraging underage players and the club now has over 60 enthusiastic young players who represent the club with distinction. Not every rounders club in the country has underage teams and the time and effort that is put into the young players is vital for the future of any club.

Thanks was expressed to the dedicated coaches who invest their time, energy, and expertise to help players grow and excel in rounders. Their selfless commitment and countless hours of training is very much appreciated. They lead teams through the highs and lows of competition and show them that it's not just about winning; it's about teamwork, friendships, and most of all, having fun.  The coaches Patricia Galligan, Ollie Fitzsimons, Paul Mollahgan, Darryl Dolan and Alan Lonergan were acknowledged along the contribution of Emma Perrin, who has done so much to promote the club in recent years.

The Achievements during the year for the young players included:

In GAA Competitions:

U14 Girls Féile semi-finalists

U14 Boys Féile qualifiers

U14 Mixed All-Ireland runners-up

U16 Girls All-Ireland champions

In Community Games:

U 10 Mixed Throw Ball Rounders Ulster and All-Ireland Champions.

U13 Girls Ulster and All Ireland Champions.

U 13 Boys Ulster Runners Up.

U15 Girls Ulster Champions and All Ireland Bronze Medal winners.

The Senior Men’s team were presented with their All Ireland medals on the night and the recipients of the GAA Rounders All-Star awards were congratulated.

It was fitting to see seven of the senior men nominated for All Star awards this year: Darryl Dolan, Paul Mollaghan, Shane Sheridan, Karl Dolan, Nathan Loughnane, Owen Roe O’Reilly and Fionn Higgins and, congratulations to Shane Sheridan (1st Base), Nathan Loughnane, (Right Outfield)  and Paul Mollaghan (Catcher) who secured All-Stars.

Testament to the talents and skill within the ladies’ team, six players were nominated for All Stars including Aine Reilly, Rachel Reilly, Lindsey O’ Reilly, Lisa Flood, Maggie Brady, and Sarah Galligan and on the night both Lisa Flood, Left Outfield and Aine Reilly, Catcher were awarded All Stars.

The Club Player Awards as voted by the Erne Eagles committee members. These awards represent excellence and dedication in the club.

Intermediate Male Player of the Year – Ronan Halton, a gentleman who has proven his dedication to the club, always eager to take to the field and never misses a training.

Intermediate Female Player of the Year - Rachel Reilly, she has shown immense talents in the short time she is playing rounders. She is one to watch for the future as an All-Star nominee in 2024.

Young or Emerging Male Talent - Adam Perrin a very promising young man who demonstrates a wonderful talent in rounders. Again, one to watch for the future.

Young or Emerging Female Talent –Aoibhe Reilly Captained the first ever U16 All Ireland winning team 2024.  The Senior ladies look forward to welcoming her to the squad next year.

New or Returning Male Player – Justin Perrin made his debut in the All-Ireland Senior Men’s team this year. An exciting player who shows great promise.

New or Returning Female Player – Amy Lynch, her first year to play with the senior women, commanding her position at right outfield. We look forward to seeing this young lady develop into a future All Star.

Supporter of the Year – Emma Perrin is an outstanding asset to the club, she’s generous with her time and goes above and beyond to recruit underage players, ensuring we have teams for the various competitions.

Players’ Player of the Year – as voted by the Players.

Female Player of the Year 2024 – Lisa Flood

Male Player of the Year 2024 – Fionn Higgins

Club Person of the Year 2024 – Paul Mollaghan

A special presentation was made to Sean Hughes to recognise his immense contribution to the club over the years, a true pillar of the Erne Eagles Rounders Club. Sean was there from the very beginning, a man whose dedication, passion, and hard work have made a lasting impact on the club and community and has been instrumental in shaping the club into what it is today.

He began as a young player in 1984, had an amazing ability to read the game and it was a taste of things to come for Sean who has multiple All-Ireland medals and All-Star awards to his name.

But aside from the medals and awards, the greatest achievement for Sean is what Erne Eagles Rounders Club has become. He was a player and a coach and he became the main driving force behind the success of the club today. Through Sean’s vision, dedication, and hard work, he inspired the growth of the club from humble beginnings in Community games to a club that boast numerous All-Ireland Championship titles and a staggering 72 All-Star awards.

His influence has been a cornerstone of the Erne Eagles’ success. The countless hours he dedicated have left an indelible mark on each and every member of the club both past and present. He saw the club expand, players grow in confidence and skill, and the sense of community deepen.

Thanks to Sean Hughes, Erne Eagles Rounders Club has grown in ways that could only have been dreamed of in those first few years in the mid-80s.

It was a great night and a great way to wrap up the year for the club. The Club sponsors for 2024 were also thanked on the night, Dolan Environmental, Interparts Drumalee Ltd and Oxigen Environmental. Without the sponsors continued support, the club would not be able to flourish and thrive.