Tinryland GFC

Tinryland club President Joe O' Gorman R I P   By Eamonn Byrne

 There was deep sadness in our club when word filtered through of the passing of our esteemed club president Joe O'Gorman late on Wednesday evening 8th January.

Joe as a player was part of the clubs 2nd golden era during the 1960’s and  1970’s  and was one of the most loyal players to wear the red green and gold of Carlow and the blue and white of Tinryland.  Joe played minor for 4 years and was on the county minor team for 2 seasons. In 1953 Tinryland defeated Borris in the Co. junior final and sixteen years old Joe played a major part in winning the title.  In the Co.Senior final in 1954 Tinryland were defeated by O’Hanrahans but again the young Gorman made his mark against very good opposition.

In 1955 he was the outstanding minor player on the Carlow team that lost to Dublin by one point.

In 1961 Tinryland had a great season winning the S.F.L and the Fr. Maher Tournament which was a very prestigious tournament  that was promoted by Graiguecullen Gaa club. That same year Joe had one of his finest games in the Carlow jersey against Offaly in Newbridge making the left half- back position his own. In 1962 he turned in another fine display in the National league semi-final against the great Down team in Croke Park.

Joe continued to loyally serve his club and county throughout the sixties with his only reward being a Co. senior league medal in 1968. In 1967 he had turned in a man of the match performance in a classic championship match against Eire Og in Tullow that will be remembered by Tinryland supporters who saw Eire Og snatch a draw in the dying seconds.

1971 proved to be his proudest year as he trained and played on the Tinryland team that won the senior championship for the first time in 21 years. Dedication and loyalty had finally paid off for Joe and he added two more senior championship medals to his collection when Tinryland were successful in 1972 and 1975. The 1972 win over Eire Og was probably the best game he ever played for Tinryland. He bowed out of senior football in 1976 but made a comeback with the junior team that reached the 1978 semi-final. Joe has acted as chairman, secretary, trainer and selector for his club for many years and was elected club president following the passing of his former playing colleague Brendan Hayden.

Tinryland G.F.C. extends sincere condolences to the extended O’Gorman family. Funeral details are as follows: Reposing in Carpenter Bros Funeral Home Shamrock Square Carlow from 4 p.m. on Friday January 10th concluding with prayers at 7.30 p.m. that evening. Removal at 10.30 a.m. on Saturday 11th Jnuary to the Holy family Church Askea arriving for Funeral Mass at 11.a.m. Burial afterwards in St. Marys Cemetery Carlow