Four Cork Camogie Legends Honoured
Bord Gßis Networks and Cork Camogie County Board announce the recipients of the inaugural Cork Camogie Hall of Fame Award at a celebratory lunch recently in The Rochestown Park Hotel.
It was a special day for the players honoured Pat Moloney, Marie Costine, Betty Sugrue and Marion McCarthy were household in Cork camogie circles and beyond in the 1970s and 1980s. The huge success of Cork teams in the 70s and 80s gave the judging panel of Nora Newman Mary Moran and Sile Golden a huge task but they came up with four players who were without doubt worthy recipients. Mary and Nora were selectors on many of the teams in the 70s And 80s and it was a lovely to see them present at the ceremony to see almost thirty year later the players they worked so closely with being honoured. The achievements of the four speak for them selves;
Marion McCarthy is the holder of eight senior All Ireland medals and has the unique distinction of having won four medals as a goalkeeper and four as an out field player. Marion comes from a family with huge GAA connections her brother Sean won senior All Ireland hurling honours with Cork.
Marie Costine was one of four Cork player’s names on the Team of the Century a native of Cloyne with whom she won Junior and intermediate championship honours. The holder of Cork County Championships and All Ireland Club Championship she played a huge role in Corks four -in -a row of All Ireland successes from 1970 to 1973 she added another All Ireland to her tally in 1978. She captained the winning team in 1973 and was chosen as Camogie Player of the Year also that year. Marie sister Kathleen won All Ireland honours in goal with Cork while her nephew Donal OG Cusack continues the family tradition with the Cork hurlers.
Betty Sugrue led Cork to All Ireland glory in 1971 to be crowned champions, the holder of four All Ireland senior medals won in 70, 71, 72, and 73. Betty made a huge contribution to Corks four in a row success and on the field of play was a hard worker continually moving and keeping the ball on the move she got on the field she got through an enormous amount of work with her attractive style of play.
Pat Moloney was also named on the Team of the Century she won Cork county senior championships and All Ireland Club championship honours and was part of the Cork team that won the four-in -a- row 1970 to 1973. She went on to add three more All Ireland senior medals in 1978, 80 and 82. Pat Captained Cork to All Ireland victory in 1982. She was honored with the B&1 “”Player of the Year”” award in 1978 and was the recipient of the Jury’s Hotel Award in 1982.
There are many great players who have made the history of Cork camogie what it is today the four former players that were honoured are just four of the many greats. Pat Moloney spoke on behalf of the four and also on behalf of the many that played in the eras honoured
“”We are delighted to be chosen as the recipients of this inaugural award, there are many players who could have been named and we are so honoured to be the ones chosen. I want to pay tribute to all those players who have made cork camogie what it is today, I thank Bord Gßis and the Camogie board who are both working so hard to keep Cork camogie to the fore””
John Barry, Managing Director of Bord Gßis Networks was on hand to honour the four receiptants;
“”We are delighted to honour four of Cork’s Camogie legends here today in what I think is a long overdue recognition of their dedication and contribution to the sport throughout the years. This yea, Bord Gßis Networks have introduced a programme for æFuelling Cork’s Camogie Passion’ which aims to promote the sport across the county and gave current and former players the opportunity to celebrate this great sport. The introduction of the Cork Camogie Hall of Fame Award is part of this programme and does very well in establishing a process where we look back and remember great camogie moments and players for Cork. It also gives our County the opportunity to show its appreciation for the tremendous contribution to the sport of former players. I would like to congratulate the four worthy recepiants on their awards which are truly well deserved.””
County Board vice chairperson Mary Bulger spoke on behalf of the County Board:
“”We are delighted and thank Bord Gßis Networks for this new initiave we are very grateful to them for their superb sponsorship of Cork Camogie and we are privileged that they put tgheir faith in us. These awards honour four former players today and we congratulate them.””
Four worthy recipients have now been honoured and no doubt another batch of players will be duly recognised in the years ahead. Well done to Bord Gais Networks and Cork Camogie as they continue to æFuel Cork’s Camogie Passion’
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