The Charlestown Sarsfields G.A.A. Club  held their annual dinner dance in the Park Hotel, Kiltimagh on Saturday night February 8th and there was a terrific crowd in attendance with 170 plus people sitting down to a top class meal with the staff of the Park Hotel pulling out all the stops to make sure all our needs were catered for and  looked after. This they did with aplomb and hats off to the management as they made sure all bases were covered as they put on fine show all round. Special guest on the night was former Kerry star Eoin Brosnan, a four time All-Ireland winner with the Kingdom  during a starstudded career which saw him win  every medal in the book at both county and club level. Eoin is a member of the famed Dr. Crokes Club in Killarney and he had some haul of medals to display which also included an All -Ireland Club medal which he won in 2017 to complete the set  so to speak and make him one of the most decorated players ever to grace the game. Eoin took part in a questions answers discussion with club P.R.O Stephen Healy   and  gave very good and fortright answers to all questions he was asked which covered all aspects of his career at both club and intercounty level. He was an absolute gentleman and had a very humble and dignified demeanour and  made a big impression on all of us who were very impressed with  his honesty and integrity. His wife Mary accompanied him on the night and both were presented with mementoes of their visit to Mayo and we  were delighted to have them as our special guests. Sarsfields Chairman Liam Breheny addressed the crowd and expressed his thanks to the many people who invest so much time and energy to make our club one of the most progressive and respected in the county as we continue to make our presence felt in all matters football in Mayo. We have facilities to be proud of which are the envy of many clubs in the county and province   he stated and  he looks forward to strengthening the Sarsfields brand  in 2020 and beyond as we embrace a new decade safe in the knowledge that our club is on the best possible footing to tackle and face down  the many challenges that running and maintaining a club  of our size inevitably involves in terms of finance, personnel and the maintenance and enhancement of our facilities. He looked forward to another positive and good year and was ready with the help of a very supportive committee to do whatever it takes to keep the Sarsfields moving forward in the right direction so to speak. 

                        As with every year on this gala night for the club and its members and supporters there  were a number of awards handed out to commemorate the occasion as the club reflected on  another good year on and off the field so to speak. The ladies club were also well represented on the night with Richella O`Connor delivering a very rousing and heart felt speech as she took care of all the awards on the ladies wing of the club which continues to grow and flourish year on year. On the men`s side the Young Player of the Year Award was won by Paul Towey who is one of the finest young and emerging talents the club has produced in many a long year. He was superb for the Sarsfields at senior level last year turning in consistently high levels of performance in almost every match and was the club`s leading scorer from  play as he tormented opposition defences with some magnificent scoring feats. In his absence on the night his dad Malachy stepped forward to claim the award which was presented  to  him by guest of honour Eoin Brosnan. The Junior Player of the Year Award was won by Ollie Bolton who was one of the mainstays of the club`s junior team and he was a worthy winner as he was a very committed member of the team and led by example at all times on the field of play. He too, was unavoidably absent on the night with the award presented to him earlier in the day. The Senior Player of the Year Award was awarded to  Gareth O`Donnell . Gareth is fast achieving Messi like status in scooping up this award as this was his third time to receive it which constitutes a record to the best of my knowledge as he continues to  set high standards in terms of his performances, commitment and attitude . Gareth is a leader in the true sense of the word as he drives the team forward from his midfield station and  plays with a passion and zest that makes him the real heartbeat of the team with his dedication levels and enthusiasm for all things green and white unrivalled within the club. He received a terrific ovation from the large crowd and was presented with his award by special guest Eoin Brosnan to cap a great year for Gareth personally. The Minor Player of the Year was presented to Ben Conway on the back of some stellar displays for the minor team in both league  and championship. Ben was a model of consistency all season turning in some fine displays for the club and he was also a vital cog in the under-21 team defeated narrowly by Balla in the county under-21 B final in late November. Ben is a teak tough, tenacious defender who is a model trainer with his application and attitude first class and he was a very worthy recipient of the award indeed. Ben also made a presentation to the minor management team of Gareth O`Donnell, David Tiernan, Shane Moran and Liam Breheny on behalf of the minor team and panel in recognition of the commitment and time they invested in the team throughout a long and successful season in the main which  them win their second East Mayo Minor title in a row which was a pretty significant achievement in the grand scheme of things.     The Club Person of the Year was awarded to Valerie Murphy with Chairman Liam Breheny presenting the Jim Breheny Memorial Plaque, in memory of his late father Jim  to Valerie in light of her  service  as Treasurer over a seven year period. The hall rose as one to acclaim Valerie in recognition of her contribution to the club as she ran the finances in a scrupulously honest and professional manner. She had a good handle and command of her brief and always presented very detailed and comprehensive sets of figures in her end of year balance sheets which detailed to the last penny all the club`s income and expenditure. The club were  proud to nominate her for the position of County Treasurer and were even prouder when she was elected to the role unopposed. Valerie has a job of work in front of her in her new role but  she has that quiet air of  authority about her that will stand her in good stead as she sets about re-organising the county board`s finances  and bring some sort of control to the purse strings.                     The Ladies also handed out a slew of awards and there will be full details of all these in next week`s column.