Southern Gaels stalwart receives 'Club Champion' award

Southern Gaels stalwart Kevin Jordan has been chosen as the 2025 Beko Club Champion for Westmeath, and he was invited as a guest of the Leinster Council to receive the award at the Leinster senior club finals in Croke Park last Saturday.

Kevin and the 'Club Champions' from the other Leinster counties were warmly received as they were presented to the crowd, in between the football and hurling finals.

The Beko Club Champion award, sponsored by the home appliances company, is in its ninth year and offers the opportunity for clubs to nominate their 'Club Champion'.

Galway native Kevin was certainly a worthy winner for Westmeath.  Kevin is the longest serving member of Southern Gaels in Athlone, having joined the club back in 1982.

As a player, Kevin was part of the famous Southern Gaels team who won the Westmeath Intermediate Hurling Championship back in 1986. Since then, Kevin has been at the centre of the club, from coaching to fundraising to administration, and has been the backbone of the club for over 40 years. He was nominated for the award by Southern Gaels assistant secretary Martin Geary.

The Southern Gaels clubman was nominated for the award which celebrates local GAA club heroes who go above and beyond to help their local community.

Southern Gaels GAA will also receive €1,000 worth of GAA equipment courtesy of Beko. The Beko Club Champion awards celebrate the incredible, often unheralded volunteer work carried out by club members.

Speaking about Kevin's award, Southern Gaels PRO Mickey Moran said: “I cannot think of a more worthy winner of this award. Kevin introduced me to hurling back in the early '90s, and has coached generations of hurlers in Athlone.

"Kevin was instrumental in helping get camogie back up and running in 2023, and Southern Gaels now fields teams at every age group. Everyone at the club, and indeed the wider GAA community in Athlone is delighted to see Kevin get this recognition.”

Kevin was joined at last Saturday's finals by his wife Aideen, and their son Eoin is also a well-respected figure in local sporting circles both as a player and coach. Eoin was manager of the Athlone GAA senior football team for the past few years.

Kevin has also served as Westmeath GAA Coiste na nÓg secretary - a role which entailed organising underage activities throughout the county.