Family celebrations, summer shocks, club glories – 2016 heartwarming GAA moments
1. Finian Hanley with his daughter after the Connacht final
The Galway defender gets to savour a first provincial title win in eight years with his five-month-old daughter Freya.
Source: James Crombie/INPHO
2. Waterford’s Pauric Mahony is comforted after the defeat to Kilkenny
The Deise sharpshooter struck 0-23 over the course of the All-Ireland semi-final saga with Kilkenny. But he was denied a late chance to level it as his free was caught over the bar by goalkeeper Eoin Murphy. Waterford lost by two points in Semple Stadium with a devastated Mahony comforted afterwards by Jennifer Malone. Mahony didn’t forget that, later sending Malone a jersey and a framed photo.
Source: RTÉ The Saturday Game Live
3. The McGrath brothers celebrate glory with Tipperary
A year to remember for Noel, John and Brian McGrath from Loughmore-Castleiney. Noel and John won All-Ireland senior medals with Tipperary, Brian captained the minors to win the All-Ireland, John won an All-Star and all three won a county senior football title with their club.
The McGrath brothers celebrate the Munster final victories
Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO
The joyous September homecoming at Semple Stadium
Source: James Crombie/INPHO
4. Briege Corkery celebrates victory with her dog Hernandez
In August, Cork clinched a place in another All-Ireland camogie final with an extra-time win over Wexford. One of the core elements of their team is Briege Corkery and she celebrated afterwards at Semple Stadium with her dog.
Source: Cathal Noonan/INPHO
5. Leinster Championship and First Communion
Mark Timmons won a Leinster opener with Laois and his daughter Kathlyn celebrated her First Holy Communion. A good Saturday for the family all round back in May.
Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO
6. Keegan and Connolly in Croke Park
Two of the most high-profile footballers in the country have produced a series of memorable individual duels. When the season finally ended in October, the two embraced after Connolly was crowned an All-Ireland champion again with Dublin as Keegan and Mayo fell just short.
Source: Cathal Noonan/INPHO
7. The Tipperary footballers celebrate their win over Galway
Tipperary provided the novel storyline that lit up the summer’s football championship. The afternoon when they reached their first All-Ireland semi-final in 81 years against Galway was the highlight as they showcased their attacking flair to win by nine points.
The memorable post-match scenes saw Tipperary’s small, loyal band of followers soak in the moment of victory with the players in the Hogan Stand.
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Source: Donall Farmer/INPHO
- Peter Acheson, Conor Sweeney and his father Michael Sweeney celebrate after the game
Source: Tommy Grealy/INPHO
- Brian Fox celebrates
Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO
- Philip Austin and Kevin O’Halloran celebrate at the final whistle
Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO
- Martin Dunne celebrates
Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO
- Tipperary fans celebrate after the game
Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO
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8. Family celebrations for Tyrone’s Ulster final win
Mickey Harte and his grandson Michael celebrate the victory over Donegal that delivered provincial silverware for the Red Hands in July.
Source: Lorraine O’Sullivan/INPHO
9. GAA Club Heroics 1 – Slaughtneil (Derry)
Clubs the length and breadth of their country had an autumn and winter to savour after local triumphs. But no one could top the achievements of Slaughtneil – the tiny Derry community that won county and Ulster senior titles in Gaelic football, hurling and camogie.
Job done! 2016 has been decent. Time for a weekend off. #Slaughtneil pic.twitter.com/tC9e40vSim
— Chrissy McKaigue (@CKaigue) December 11, 2016
Source: Chrissy Mc Kaigue/Twitter
10. GAA Club Heroics 1 – Ballyea (Clare)
Another club achievement that drew praise from several quarters was that of Ballyea, first-time Clare and Munster senior hurling winners in 2016. Their household name Tony Kelly shared the provincial celebrations in Thurles with his father Donal.
Source: James Crombie/INPHO
11. Ann Downey helps end Kilkenny’s All-Ireland camogie drought
One of the most recognisable names in camogie, Ann Downey won 12 All-Ireland senior medals as a player with Kilkenny. More recently Kilkenny suffered hard times but in September, Downey was the manager as they ended a 22-year wait for an All-Ireland senior camogie crown.
Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO
12. Andy Moran with his daughter Charlotte in Croke Park
After the pain of an All-Ireland defeat, the Mayo forward has a young fan for company.
Source: Cathal Noonan/INPHO
13. Denis Bastick with his son Aidan in Croke Park
It was a great family moment for Denis Bastick as he savoured another All-Ireland final win with a young Dub.
Source: James Crombie/INPHO
14. Shock of the summer 1: Westmeath against Kilkenny
The home side were 14/1 outsiders back in May for the Bord Gáis Energy Leinster U21 hurling tie in Mullingar. But Westmeath belied that position and the rich tradition they faced in Kilkenny to claim a famous 1-11 to 0-12 victory.
Westmeath’s Alan Cox and Darragh Clinton celebrate after their victory over Kilkenny.
Source: Delvin GAA
To all those out there. My nerves are gone!! What a hell of a result!!!
— Westmeath GAA (@westmeath_gaa) May 25, 2016
Source: westmeathgaaofficial/Twitter
15. Shock of the summer 2: Longford against Monaghan
The expectations surrounding the Longford footballers were low as they headed to the home of the reigning Ulster champions for this qualifier tie. They fell behind to Monaghan yet came back to claim an improbable three-point victory.
Source: Presseye/Andrew Paton/INPHO
16. Sean Cavanagh shares Ulster final glory with his daughters
The long-serving Tyrone player won his fifth Ulster senior medal in July. But this one was particularly sweet as he was captain, the provider of some classy and thunderous long-range points, and was helping his county end a six-year wait for that title. His daughters Clara and Eva got to join him in the stand in Clones afterwards.
Source: Presseye/Andrew Paton/INPHO
17. Pauric Maher remembers a late Thurles Sarsfields hurling selector
Thurles Sarsfields completed a Tipperary senior three-in-a-row in October. Captain Paraic Maher dedicated the win to Lieutenant Colonel Jack Griffin – a Thurles Sarsfields trainer and selector who died tragically last year – and brought Griffin’s three young daughters Laragh, Isabelle and Emma up the Semple Stadium steps to lift the Dan Breen Cup on the team’s behalf.
Source: Morgan Treacy/INPHO
18. Aisling Holton is joined as she lifts the All-Ireland trophy
Kildare captain Aisling Holton brought a fan up the steps of Croke Park in September, Jennifer Malone from Clane sharing in the All-Ireland intermediate ladies football celebrations.
Source: TG4 GAA BEO
19. The first Limerick team to win the All-Ireland senior club hurling title
Croke Park has not been a happy hunting ground in recent years for Limerick hurling at county and club level. Na Piarsaigh were the fifth Limerick side to reach the All-Ireland showpiece last St Patrick’s Day and became the first to bring the trophy home with them. Club man Willie Mulcahy toasted the victory with the Na Piarsaigh players after their comprehensive and historic success.
Source: Lorraine O’Sullivan/INPHO
20. Conal Keaney wins an All-Ireland medal in Croke Park
It was with the Dublin footballers that Conal Keaney first established himself at senior level. In the early stages of the 2011 season, he switched to the Dublin hurlers and just missed out on the run of Dublin All-Ireland football victories. With the hurlers, the closest Keaney came to an All-Ireland triumph in Croke Park was when they lost out in the 2013 semi-final to Cork. But last March he got his day in the sun at GAA headquarters, as his Ballyboden St-Enda’s club became All-Ireland kingpins.
Source: Lorraine O’Sullivan/INPHO
21. Time to embrace after an All-Ireland semi-final
Dublin’s Sorcha Furlong consoles Mayo’s Aileen Gilroy after their August clash at Kingspan Breffni Park.
Source: Lorraine O’Sullivan/INPHO
22. Kilkenny’s Ger Aylward lifts an All-Ireland trophy on crutches
In 2015 Ger Alyward was the breakthrough player in the Kilkenny forward line. He wound up the season as an All-Ireland champion and an All-Star winner. 2016 was a more sobering experience as Aylward was struck down in late January, tearing his cruciate in the All-Ireland junior club hurling semi-final. When Glenmore won the All-Ireland final in February in Croke Park, his team-mates did not forget Aylward as he was brought up the steps of the Hogan Stand to help lift the trophy.
Source: Donall Farmer/INPHO
23. Cork’s Annie Walsh celebrates another All-Ireland win
All-Ireland final days of glory are nothing new to Annie Walsh and the Cork senior ladies footballers. They remain afternoons to savour though with the latest one arriving in September with a 1-7 to 1-6 win over Dublin. Walsh’s nephews Colm Walsh and Ryan Mackey were there to cheer her on.
Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO
24. The final stand of a Kerry football great
In October Marc Ó Sé brought the curtain down on his own storied career after 16 seasons as a Kerry senior footballer. It also ended a remarkable run with Kerry for the family, starting with the exploits of his late uncle Páidí before brothers Darragh and Tomás also shone in Kingdom colours. Ó Sé’s last appearance in Croke Park as a Kerry footballer was in that epic August collision with Dublin. He was embraced by fellow veteran Aidan O’Mahony after a game that marked his 88th championship appearance for Kerry.
Source: James Crombie/INPHO
25. Brian Hogan becomes a Kilkenny champion
A third county senior hurling title for the long-serving Brian Hogan with O’Loughlin Gaels. This one had a deep meaning with his son Jack there to share in the success.
Source: James Crombie/INPHO
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What GAA moment stood out for you in 2016? Let us know.
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