Back Row : Frank Small, Tommy Lohan, Paddy Small, Tom Small, Tommy Melia, Willie Kavanagh, Robbie Canavan, Paddy O’Neill, Paddy Joe Burke, Padraig Fahy, Tom Small, Tom Walsh, Tom Naughton and Mike Small.
Front Row : Michael Joe Greaney, Christy Burke, Tom Canavan, Finian Duggan, Gerry Scully, Tom Forde (Capt), Michael John Burke, Michael Cahill, Brendan Corbett and Tony Melia.

EXTRACT FROM THE ANNAGHDOWN GAA BOOK 1887 – 1989

In the Annaghdown club, 1979 belonged to the Junior Hurlers when they captured the County title in the Junior B grade. The team had been making steady progress over the previous two years and with the senior football team out of the championship early in the year, the players concentrated on hurling and a couple of victories early in the campaign gave the team confidence. Mike Small and Frank Small took over the training of the team and the players responded. Despite the odds, they made it all the way to the final where they met St. Thomas’.

The Tuam Herald carried the following report of the match.

ANNAGHDOWN CAPTURE FIRST JUNIOR CROWN.
Annaghdown 4-7, St Thomas 3-5.

History was made at Athenry on Sunday when Annaghdown captured their first County Junior Hurling title from a St. Joseph’ side who provided an effective opposition.
This win for Annaghdown should provide a great boost for the promotion of the game in the more traditional football areas. Indeed many of Annaghdown’s better known footballers provided the backbone of the winning team. St. Thomas’ were always in contention but failed to convert a number of opportunities into scores.
Annaghdown were first to raise the flag with a point from a free by Michael Cahill. Shortly afterwards they were back again with an opportunistic goal by Christy Burke from a well placed pass.
Both sides provided the best hurling of the hour during this opening period. Christy Murray of St Thomas’ was always a fleet footed threat and scored a goal and a point in quick succession. Annaghdown’s captain Tom Forde, Michael Cahill, Tom Walsh and Tom Canavan registered points to which St. Thomas replied with like scores from Michael McHugh and Michael KellyJust before half time, Michael Cahill sent the ball crashing to the net for Annaghdown leaving the half time score Annaghdown 2-5, St Thomas’ 1-4.

The second half provided plenty of trills for a large number of spectators when Annaghdown’s Michael Cahill sent a 60 metre shot to the net. The standard of play varied during this period but the excitement mounted when St Thomas’ replied with a goal from a 65 metre free.
It was now a ding-dong struggle between the Annaghdown defense and the St. Thomas’ forwards. When the more accurate Annaghdown forwards got the ball, they added a goal from Tom Canavan and a brace of points from sharp-shooter Michael Cahill.
St Thomas’ added another goal and a point to their total but it was not sufficient to prevent the cup from being brought towards the Corrib for the first time.

Scorers : Michael Cahill (2-3), Tom Canavan (1-1), Christy Burke (1-0), Tom Forde and Tom Walsh (0-1) each.