More about Patsy

Patsy Dorney, Thurles person of the year 2008, has a most impressive and varied sports CV.  While best known in recent years as the highly successful coach with Thurles Crokes Athletics Club he is fondly remembered by GAA followers for his hurling prowess.  He won County Championships at minor level with Rahealty in 1953, Thurles Sarsfields in 1955 and at junior level in 1956.   He was on the renowned Sarsfield’s senior team which took no less than nine County finals and eleven mid finals between 1955 and 1967.   Patsy also played on the county team at minor, junior and senior level.  He had the honour of captaining the  senior team  during a National League campaign.  Towards the end of his playing days he joined Fennelly’s and was on the team that won the Mid final in 1968

Patsy’s record on the athletic front is equally inspiring.  In the space of one year he won the county novice 4 mile, the county junior 6 mile and was third in the county senior 9 mile championship.  He was also on the Holycross team that won five in a row county senior 9 mile championships.

Patsy’s vital role in the training of juvenile athletes and his unstinting dedication to the club has helped in no small way  to make Crokes the success that it is.  It is now recognised as one of the leading juvenile athletic clubs in the country. Many of its members have won All-Ireland at all age levels. Crokes outstanding athlete was Tommy Moloney who built up an unenviable reputation at international level in the 800 and 1500 meters events.  The club has been carrying out a concerted fundraising campaign over recent years  They have purchased a seven acre site on the Nenagh road and hope to provide an eight lane track at this location as soon as possible.  They also have plans to incorporate a gymnasium there.   Patsy has been at the centre of all of these developments.

With a CV like that it is easy to understand why Patsy Dorney is the Thurles Person of the Year for 2008 or any year.