Echo Sports Awards 2019: Andrew honoured for years of service
THE ECHO and its Sports Awards partners paid tribute to a great stalwart of Thomas Davis GAA Club, the late Andrew O’Donnell, with the posthumous presentation of the ‘2019 Sports Volunteer’ Award to his family on the night.
Andrew had been a pivotal part of the club, since he took his place on the club’s executive committee as an 18-year-old, replacing his father Hugh, who had passed away.
The Echo paid tribute to Andrew O’Donnell, the late Thomas Davis man who gave 53 years of service to the club and (right) Andrew’s son Hugh receives ‘The Echo 2019 Sports Volunteer’ Award from David Kennedy, The Echo, on behalf of his late father.
Since 1968 he was ever present on the executive committee and was also chairperson of many sub committees within the Davis club.
As a player Andrew made it to two Junior Football Championship Finals, but his best success came in mentoring.
Along with his brother Christopher, he led Davis to Junior Football Championship success in 1982.
And, alongside Declan Douglas, he enjoyed great success in winning three county and two Leinster Senior Club Football titles.
He excelled as a club administrator and was an instrumental member of the club development committee when Thomas Davis moved from the village to Kiltipper Road.
Speaking about Andrew and the huge influence he had on the club, outgoing Thomas Davis chairperson, Dominic Finnegan said “Andrew gave 53 years of service to the club. He was co-opted on to the committee as an 18-year-old along with his brother Christopher after their father had just passed away.
“Any role you asked of Andrew, he’d take on. He was a mentor, board delegate, secretary, chairman, you name it. He was a mentor on the three-in-a-row [senior football team between 1989 and ’91].
“And he was always a very positive person. Even in difficult times for the club he could see better days ahead and that was great” said Finnegan.
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