Bantry Blues man honoured to receive fitting accolade at awards night

JOHN McCarthy is a worthy addition to the West Cork LGFA Hall of Fame following the popular awards night at the Celtic Ross Hotel in Rosscarbery.

Having served as a committee member since first getting involved over 20 years ago, McCarthy has earned his place in the West Cork LGFA Hall of Fame. Instrumental in first setting up the awards, helping secure the current Drinagh Co-Op sponsorship, and heavily involved in the West Cork LGFA Player Development Programme, McCarthy is one of ladies football’s most important figures in the region.

‘I’m absolutely honoured to receive the Hall of Fame award,’ McCarthy told The Southern Star.

‘Ladies football has been in my heart since 2004. I’m absolutely thrilled with it, to be honest.

‘It was a savage shock to the system when I arrived at the Celtic Ross Hotel and saw the Hall of Fame sign on our table!

‘I had been talking to three of my children earlier today, including my daughter up in Carlow. So, when I saw them all sitting there at the table when my wife and I walked in, it was a big shock but a lovely surprise.’

Hall of Fame winner John McCarthy received a standing ovation. (Photo: Anne Minihane)

McCarthy was part of numerous West Cork LGFA committees during his tenure, so the former chairman understands better than most the work being undertaken by the current committee.

On the playing side, Saturday night’s awards ceremony recipients covered a huge number of clubs dotted throughout the West Cork region.

‘It was absolutely brilliant to see so many young players from a wide range of clubs receiving their player-of-the-match trophies at the awards night,’ McCarthy noted.

‘It just goes to show how many clubs are doing the right thing in terms of coaching. The award winners are spread throughout the region. It shows there are great players in all those clubs, great people supporting the clubs and great coaching being carried out.

‘I think ladies football in West Cork is buzzing right now, to be honest. It is unbelievable how far we have come.

‘I do think the (West Cork LGFA) Development Programme has been a massive success. The beauty about West Cork is that we have had great boards working together down through the years. People that you could trust and people that worked well together.

‘Look, I was basically a conductor of a great orchestra. It is something I am delighted to have been a part of.’

Another winner on the night was Volunteer of the Year, Trish Crowley, from the Dohenys LGFA club. McCarthy paid tribute to Crowley’s contributions.

‘Trish puts in unbelievable work on behalf of her club and I was delighted to see her honoured at the awards,’ he said.

‘I know a lot of people, just like Trish, all over the county, who volunteer on behalf of their ladies football clubs. They are the ones out there fundraising and doing whatever needs to be done. It is difficult to get money into clubs and keeping things going is not easy.

‘Trish and all volunteers are the unsung heroes of the West Cork LGFA clubs.’

• Don’t miss this week’s Southern Star for a special on the West Cork LGFA Awards.