Another Fantastic Punchestown

Guest of honour at the eight annual Kilmacud Crokes Hurling Corporate Race Day at the Punchestown National Hunt Festival on 3rd May 2011 was the aptly named Dr Croke Cup, presented to the Dubs as they won the Allianz National Hurling League on 1st May for the first time since 1939.

 

Jealously guarding the trophy were star Kilmacud Crokes hurlers Niall Corcoran, Ryan O’Dwyer (who also gained the Sunday man of the match award) and Barry O’Rorke.

 

The function was attended by over 500 hundred people in the hugely impressive Punchestown Pavilion located just next to the last fence.  The scene was set from early on.  A fleet of buses ferried many of the guests from the City Centre and Glenalbyn.  The day was expertly and excellently “MCed” by former Kilmacud Crokes hurler and Newstalk presenter Oisin Langan.

 

Fellow Waterford man, multiple Munster champion and All-Star, Ken McGrath and his wife Dawn were present.  So too, fresh from his exploits at the cricket World Cup was Irish international Kevin O’Brien accompanied by his wife Ruth Anne, mother Camilla and father Brendan also a cricketer of note.  Fittingly for the weekend just past, former Ireland hooker Bernard Jackman kept the Leinster end up.

 

Among the tipsters dispensing their insights and wisdom were Tom Malone of Paddy Power, jockey David Casey and trainers Philip Rothwell and Mouse Morris.  Former Galway hurling manager, Cyril Farrell and his Sunday Game colleague Michael Lyster together with Tipperary legend Michael “Babs” Keating also helped point the way to profitable investment.

  

There were draws for valuable prizes including a JWT holiday.  One of the high points was the auction, run in spellbinding style by Galway Auctioneer, Michael Regan.  Headline item was a Punchestown race naming and entertainment package which was knocked down for €2,000.  Also getting a good price was a Heineken Cup Final package while the Take That Concert with a night in The Morgan Boutique Hotel package attracted considerable interest.  Kevin O’Brien kindly donated a bat and an international cricket jersey. The Dublin National Hurling League champions made a similar gesture.  Ken McGrath was kind enough to present a signed hurley.  Later in the evening a snack was served.  Afterwards festivities continued into the night back in Glenalbyn House with music courtesy of Manila Strings. 

 

 
For Kilmacud Crokes Hurling the day was a resounding success.  We are particularly grateful for the generous contributions of those who took tables or seats or who in any form supported the Race Day.  The proceeds will go towards the development of hurling within the club which has already seen us build and pay for a €500,000 Hurling Arena at Glenalbyn and expand our hurling coaching and development programme.  These are all necessary measures as we aim for best practice and strive to develop hurling among young people and within the community.  Especial thanks must go to the energetic Brendan Sweeney and his organising work group, to all the helpers on the day and everybody who assisted in any way.  We are also particularly appreciative of the help from the staff at Punchestown – headed by Dick O’Sullivan and Liam Houlton, Louise Keane of Diffusion and our own clubman Mike O’Donovan and the Dobbins team.