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Armagh footballers Jemar Hall and Blaine Hughes believe that taking on the big guns Tyrone and Donegal in the national league will be formidable preparation for the Ulster championship clash against Antrim.
Both have targeted an Ulster championship final this year and it can be argued the draw looks more favourable than the task Down face, but having returned to collective training, for the first time this year, earlier in the week, the immediate focus is on the national league.
The Sports Team met up with Blaine and Jemar at their impressive new H & H gym on the Quarter Road in Camlough. The Orchard duo have been running an online fitness platform H & H but with the restrictions being lifted next week the gym will be officially opened for classes, personal training and team training as well as personal workouts.
Jemar Hall is entering his sixth season with Armagh, while Blaine is starting his fifth and they were both delighted to make the return to training.
“It was good to get back and it was just good to have the craic with the lads first of all,” said Hall.
“It is good see everyone and train with a ball in my hands rather than training on my own. It is good to get back as a team and get the collective sessions done because we have a limited time with the first game coming so soon and I am really looking forward to getting back this weekend.
“There’s camaraderie and you need to have that culture in your team, and you have to have that because it is just good to see the lads and have a bit of slagging.
“Four weeks, it doesn’t give you much time to get ready, but I suppose everyone is in the same boat. “We just have to work with the time we have and spend it wisely. It will get us set up for the Ulster championship as well, it will get us playing all the top teams. We have played them all before and they are all going to be tough games, so we are going to have to get stuck in from the word go.“There’s no holding back.”
Goalkeeper Hughes agrees that the limited time frame will help sharpen minds.
“Especially after getting back to training on Monday night, I would say collectively our aim would be to stay up in division one as an overall goal and then try and get to an Ulster final as it is something that we haven’t been able to do in recent years.”
Armagh will play Monaghan, Tyrone and Donegal in Division One North, with Kerry, Galway, Dublin and Roscommon in Division One South of the National League. It is not the Division One they had aimed to be playing as the new format means that the Orchard team will miss out on playing Dublin and Kerry.
While not ideal Hall says his team-mates want to focus on the games ahead and believes that the time has come for Armagh to be beating the so-called big guns.
“Playing all those top teams was one of our goals but that is just the situation we are in this year and we can’t dwell on it too much because we have to focus on winning the few games we have in order to stay in division one,” Hall said.
“Hopefully if we do that this year then we will be able to play those teams next year.
“The aim would be to stay up because we only have a limited number of games and I suppose if you win a couple of games, you don’t know where you are going to go. I know it’s a cliché saying it, but we really have to take one game at a time. If we don’t win our first few games, then we could be in a relegation battle. It is the top two teams, or the bottom two teams play each other so we could be in a semi-final contest or a relegation battle and they are fine margins.
“Having come from Division Three through Division Two there comes a time when you have to beat one of the big teams in a big game. It is only a matter of time, but we have to stay focused, and we can’t get too excited if we win one game in the league. Even if we beat Monaghan, we can’t be thinking that we are on a roll, we just have to stay focused on the next game. We need that big breakthrough game so hopefully it comes soon.”
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Fixture dates have been announced for the 2021 Allianz Football and Hurling Leagues as well as rough fixture dates for the Championship. The Covid-19 pandemic has changed sporting fixtures beyond recognition in the past year. It's still not announced if spectators will be allowed at games.
Division One North - Football
Round 1
Sunday 16 May 3pm Monaghan v Armagh (Brewster Park)
Round 2
Saturday 22 May 7pm Armagh v Tyrone (Athletic Grounds)
Round 3
Saturday 29 May 7.30pm Armagh v Donegal (Athletic Grounds)
Division Two North - Football
Round 1
Saturday 15 May Mayo v Down
Round 2
Sunday 23 May Down v Meath
Round 3
Sunday May 30
Westmeath v Down
Division 2A Hurling
Round 1
Sunday 9 May Kerry v Down
Round 2
Sunday 16 May Down v Carlow
Round 3
Sunday 23 May Wicklow v Down
Round 4
Sunday 6 June Offaly v Down
Round 5
Saturday 13 or 19 June Down v Meath
Division 3A Hurling
Round 1
Sunday 16 May 1pm Armagh v Longford (Athletic Grounds)
Round 2
Saturday 22 May 2pm Sligo v Armagh (Markievicz Park)
Round 3
Sunday 30 May 2pm Monaghan v Armagh (Inniskeen)
Round 4 bye
Round 5
Saturday 19 June 2pm Armagh v Tyrone (Athletic Grounds)
Championship
Preliminary Round: Down v Donegal
Quarter Final: Armagh v Antrim, Derry v Preliminary Round Winner
Championship begins June 26/27 with Final scheduled for July 31/Aug 1
Note - Please double check dates due to current circumstances!
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Here’s a wee tongue-in-cheek match report I did 24 years ago. It was about a match featuring Warrenpoint oldies versus Newry has-beens.
It went something like this.
Warrenpoint 4 Newry 2
They came, they saw ... and they returned to Newry with their tails between their legs.
In 1996 the slick city soccer stars of yesteryear travelled to Warrenpoint on a wave of hope - and a prayer from their loved ones (or in a few cases - their wives).
But the team, coaxed from retirement by joint selectors Tony Cunningham and Joey Larkin, saw their dreams shattered at Clonallan Park by John Boyle’s Warrenpoint warriors.
Though if the truth be told their 4-2 victory somewhat flatters the Point men. I have to say - in a totally unbiased manner - all their goals were offside.
The referee, the home-grown Warrenpoint whistler Mickey Cummins, was somewhat intimidated by the fierce partisan crowd.
The Seasiders also played a team of ringers, composed of outsiders or underage teenagers.
And the bumpy pitch didn’t suit the delicate skills of the Newry squad.
John Boyle’s side was gathered from all parts of the country and he even went across the shuck to entice Brian Fearon to play. On the Point team was Dubliner Johnny Bird and many Newry turncoats who showed themselves in poor light by doing what no self respecting Newryman (or John Fearon) would do … wear a Warrenpoint jersey.
By contrast the visitors were all Newry born and bred, apart from the old Shamrock’s warhorse Paddy Crossan, a man who jetted in especially for the occasion.
But to the game. In the first half the slick-moving Newry men created a bundle of chances and if former Youth International Dick Taylor had availed of a fraction of the opportunities that came his way the Newry team might have been home in a boat at the break.
As it happened Taylor did hit the net in the first half, rolling back the years to knock home a super right wing cross from old chrome-dome himself Aidan Carroll.
Shortly after the goal Taylor and Paddy McCamley had words, both men complaining the other hadn’t passed the ball. But it’s doubtful if either man ever passed the ball intentionally in their whole careers. Golden boy Taylor was notorious for failing to pass the ball in the 18-yard area. Whereas McCamley invariably failed to pass the ball no matter where he was on the park!
Anyway boss Larkin settled their argument by hauling off the feuding pair.
In the second half Tony Cunningham entered the fray and right away the substitution appeared to have worked. The player/manager flashed through an advancing (and advanced) Warrenpoint rearguard before burying a daisy-cutter into the corner, with keeper Johnny Bird a spectator. It was truly surprising that Cunningham could even see the target as the net-minder’s goal was shrouded in a cloud of Johnny’s famous Cheroot smoke.
That was Cunningham’s first kick and, apart from a clout from the boot of John Mallon, his last. Where he went to after scoring no one knows. People said he went down to the shore to paddle his feet. Who knows?
But with the grey-haired teenager Kieran Moore urging his team on, the Point hit back. A Stanley Weir corner kick on the right was punched into his own net, by the Newry net-minding legend Marty McCabe, via the head of Nicky McCaul. McCabe later said he felt sorry for the Seasiders and he only wanted to make a game of it.
That error of judgement though was the beginning of the end. Minutes later Collie Moore, from a blatantly offside position, slipped home the leveller. And when Weir put the Point in front the normally shy and retiring Paddy McCamley forcibly voiced his displeasure by questioning the official, roaring out:
“Mickey did you ever referee before?
“Do you know whether the ball is blew up or stuffed?
“It’s not glasses you need … it’s binoculars!”
And near the end turncoat John Fearon put the tin hat on a bad night for the Newry side, again scoring from an offside position.
And the less said about the Newry missed opportunities the better.
Isaac Burns kicked over from right under the bar. An impossibility. But somehow the wee man managed it.
Mick Sands then fell down exhausted after a lung-bursting four-yard run.
While Tony Bagnall shot over when scoring would have been easier. (In truth to this very day I can remember missing that sitter from 10 yards. I also actually remember not sleeping too well after that miss. Good job I was never talented enough to play in front of a big crowd or television cameras!)
Anyway best for the Point team were the elegant Paddy Dinsmore, the hobbling Johnny Bird, the deep-thinking Brian Fearon and the mooching Stanley Weir.
For Newry the pair of ex-Newry Town full backs Maurice McAnulty and Nicky McCaul reformed their sixties partnership as if they had been never separated. While Eddie Curtis, the babe of the team, matched the Point flying machine Mickey Courtney for pace. And Tommy Rafferty showed defender Jonsie Mallon some of his ancient skills.
And afterwards as the wine - and Grecian 2,000 in the showers - flowed, many memories from pre-war football days were relived.
Newry were intent on getting revenge at home but the second leg never took place. Indeed, it took all of six months before tortured legs and lungs got back to something resembling normality.
On a serious note; Newry Hospice benefited enormously from the fund-raising of the players but especially from the efforts of Tony Cunningham, Joey Larkin and John Boyle.
In closing I’d like to apologise for anyone I didn’t offend. I can assure you it wasn’t intentional.
Warrenpoint: Johnny Bird, Derek Smith, Paddy Dinsmore, Kieran Moore, John Mallon, Gerry Boyle, Frankie Heatley, John Fearon, Stanley Weir, Collie Moore, Mickey Courtney and Brian Fearon.
Newry: Marty McCabe, Nicky McCaul, Paddy Crossan, Hugh Carroll, Maurice McAnulty, Paddy McCamley, Dommie Trainor, Eddie Curtis, Aidan Carroll, Ronnie Taylor, Joey McAleavey, Isaac Burns, Mick Sands, Tony Bagnall, Tony Cunningham, Peter Cunningham and Tommy Rafferty.
If you like this wee story, you can find a lot more like it in Tony Bagnall’s book on the Carnbane League, entitled ‘Junior Football in the Newry Area.’
It’s the only book ever written about the Newry league. It tells the story, sometimes amusingly, about the heyday of the Carnbane League, from 1968 to 1996.
All the top teams are featured and indeed some of the less glamorous sides, sides that graced Jennings Park, Clonallan Park, The Pond Field, Carnbane Park, etc.
There are some unusually stories, such as the team that scored eight goals ... and still lost.
The team that won the AOH Cup on a corner kick, the day the referee got sent off, and the player who played legitimately in both semi-finals of the same cup competition.
‘Junior Football in the Newry Area’ is an enjoyable trip down memory lane. It’s about the great teams, the great players and the great matches from a bygone era.
The book too is full of pictures. And it’s sure to become a collectors’ item as there aren’t too many left.
The book was originally priced at £4.50 but is now on sale at just £3.
A nice wee stocking filler for that football-mad Newry soccerite.
If you would like a copy of the the book just contact Tony Bagnall on 07815787874 or send him an email on tonybagnall@mac.com
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It has taken almost ten years to get there but on Sunday Down hurlers will finally fulfil their ambition to play in Division 2A. The challenge is to stay there according to proud Down manager and Newry Shamrocks man Ronan Sheehan.
Down make the trip to Tralee on Saturday for Sunday’s game against a much-fancied Kerry, before welcoming Carlow to Ballycran on Sunday, May 16, they then face away trips to Wicklow and Offaly, before the crunch home game against Meath on Sunday, June 13.
Last season’s promotion and finalist place in the McDonagh Cup confirmed that Down had outgrown 2B, but it’s yet to be seen if they are ready for Division 2A.
“I think we took immense satisfaction to win the league last year and get promoted and, in many ways, this is the big test ahead to see if we can consolidate,” said manager Sheehan.
“Probably for the past four or five years we have talked about Down hurling being in a division below where we thought we should be. But we are up here now, so I suppose the pressure is on us to prove that this is the level that we deserve to be at, and this is the level of hurlers that is within the county.
“The players and I are mindful of that and the management team are mindful that we are representing a proud hurling county and on Sunday when we pull on that red and black jersey, we will certainly be giving it everything we can to get a positive performance.”
The games are coming thick and fast and the challenge for Down hasn’t been greater in recent years. It would be fair to suggest that positive results against Wicklow and Meath should be enough to secure divisional status but first the Mourne men must take on the big guns and the Down boss doesn’t underestimate how tough it will be.
“There is a massive step up in quality,” said Sheehan.
“Carlow were playing Division One last year, where they played in Salthill and Nolan Park, but in a couple of weeks they’ll be coming to Ballycran, so that’s a huge step up.
“Kerry ran Antrim very close in the McDonagh Cup final last year and indeed in the league final as well and we know all about Offaly, we had a great day against them last year, but it is only a couple of years ago that they were playing for the McCarthy Cup and in Division One of the National Hurling League. So, it is a real step-up in quality and then we have Meath and Wicklow there as well, who are good teams.
“The quality of the opposition is at a different level to Division 2B where we would say Derry, Kildare and ourselves would have been above the other teams in that division. This year every single game is going to pose a challenge.”
Players such as Conor Woods, John McManus, brothers Eoghan and Daithi Sand, Pearse Og McCrickard and Newry’s Paul Sheehan are players that need to play on the bigger stage and while Danny Toner’s absence through injury is a massive blow, manager Sheehan has injected more youth into his squad, including Newry man Ruairi Campbell.
“We brought a couple of players in; Ruairi Campbell from Newry Shamrocks is another local lad,” said the Down manager.
“Ruairi was on the panel three or four years ago but dropped off when he was on the fringes of the football squad, but he is back with us and we are delighted about that. A couple of the under 20 are in the squad now too such as Paudie Doran, Ciaran Watson, Matt McAreavey and I am really pleased to see those young fellas come up through the ranks.
“It will be a number of months before Danny Toner is back, and he is a big loss. And it is unfortunate that after all the service he has given that he will miss out on playing Division 2A.”
Down’s first game is against Kerry in Austin Stack Park on Sunday, May 9, at 1pm. They travel on Saturday to stay overnight in Tralee, while following the covid guidelines, which includes wearing facemasks while on the buses and players not sharing rooms.
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North Belfast Club, Wolfe Tones GAC are proud to announce that their new jerseys, featuring the logo of the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust (KBRT) are now available to order through the club's website.
Profits from the sale of this jersey will be split between KBRT and youth development at Greencastle Wolfe Tones GAC.
KBRT was founded in 2013 after Newry native, Kevin Bell, was killed in tragic circumstances in New York. Kevin was a keen Gael, having played football for Newry Mitchells and Abbey CBS as well as being an accomplished Irish dancer and fluent Irish speaker.
KBRT aims to relieve the financial burden of families in Ireland, north or south, in repatriating the remains of relatives and loved ones who have died overseas in tragic or sudden circumstances. To date, KBRT has assisted in more than 1,000 repatriations.
The new jerseys are manufactured by McKeever Teamwear in Portadown, County Armagh.
Club Chair Stephen McCourt said “We were fortunate to have received funding from Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council which meant we didn’t need to seek a sponsor for new jerseys. This meant that we were able to highlight the vital work carried out by KBRT.”
Club PRO Tiarnán Millar said “KBRT does fantastic work, helping families across Ireland, north and south, regardless of background in their darkest hours; and it’s one that’s especially close to my heart given that Kevin and I were friends growing up”
The jerseys will be available to purchase through WolfeTonesGAA.ie until 23rd May.
Wolfe Tones GAC is based in the Greencastle district of North Belfast and was re-established in 2019. They play in the South Antrim League and Antrim Junior Championship.
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Was Paddy Doherty the most naturally gifted gaelic footballer ever to wear the red and black of Down?
Or was Paddy Mo even the greatest player in that famed first All-Ireland-winning half-forward line of Sean O’Neill, James McCartan and himself?
Was he a more important footballer to the Mourne county than Mickey Linden, Colm McAlarney, Tom O’Hare or Greg Blaney?
Who can say.
Football is all about opinions.
And everyone will have their own.
The Making of Paddy Mo, a book I recently wrote for former Meath All-Ireland-winning captain Liam Hayes and his series of publications Hero Books, makes no claims on settling arguments on who was the best.
But it does tell the story of Paddy Doherty’s rise from playing football as a child at Ballykinlar to becoming a triple All-Ireland winner with Down.
The book is laced with comments and stories from other famous Down footballers, such as Sean and Kevin O’Neill, Colm McAlarney, Tom O’Hare, Mickey Cole, Tony Hadden, Larry Powell, Peter Rooney, Val Kane and Kevin Mussen etc.
And indeed Doherty’s views on them.
While I was writing the book I travelled many times to Paddy’s home in Castlewellan, where I was made so welcome by Paddy and his charming wife Angela, to hear the great man’s stories.
They were insightful, memorable and at times amusing.
What did come through to me, and hopefully it comes through in the Paddy Mo story, was that he was a superb character, a strong-willed individual and one who was proud to wear that red and black shirt.
Paddy was always confident of his great natural ability and although not boastful, he knew how important he was to Down and especially his personal contribution to winning that first All-Ireland title - in 1960. And two more after that in the sixties.
In 1961 Paddy was the Down captain when they defeated Offaly in the All-Ireland Final. His acceptance speech was typical of the man … just two words. Thanks Offaly.
Anyway here are just a few excerpts, a few tasters from ‘The Making of Paddy Mo.’
Paddy Doherty said his greatest day in sport was playing in and winning his first All-Ireland Final with Down as they defeated Kerry at Croke Park in 1960.
The great man recalled: “Nobody gave us a chance. Before then Sam Maguire had never crossed the border. Antrim, Armagh and Derry had tried to bring it to the six counties but we were the first to do it.”
“Kerry thought we had no chance against them. But we outplayed the Kingdom. I think in that first All-Ireland Final I had one of my best ever games. I scored a goal and five points points.”
Was he nervous: “Not a bit,” said Paddy. “We got a penalty that day. Sean O’Neill crossed the ball from the right and I was pulled down. I got up, took it and scored. There was silence as I ran up to take it and when the ball hit the back of the net all hell broke loose.”
Paddy was always a joker and funny man and tells the story: “When time was nearly up Kerry’s Mick O’Dwyer asked me how long there was to go. I quipped: ‘365 days!’
“I took a week off work after the All-Ireland victory. I went back the following week but I didn’t queue up to get paid for the previous week, as I hadn’t been there. But the foreman Seamus Fitzpatrick said: ‘Get into that queue. You did enough last week. So I got a week’s wages for playing football and celebrating.
“In one of the Railway Cup finals (with Ulster) I brought a radio with me. Arkle was racing in the Gold Cup and Tom O’Hare and myself were in the dressing room listening to the race.
Referee Mick Higgins came in shouting. ‘For f**** sake boys, come out. The match has started.’ “We were still listening to the race.”
“I was at a concert that Joe Brolly attended and I went up to ask him for his autograph. He gave it to me but followed me down to my seat and quipped: ‘My father said I wouldn’t be fit to lace Paddy Doherty’s boots. He started to lace my shoe, as he did so he quipped: ‘He was wrong; I did it.’
In the book many famous people told their Paddy Doherty stories.
International soccer player and Republic of Ireland manager Martin O’Neill was a big fan, saying ‘Paddy Mo Doherty was a man who made scoring look ridiculously easy. He was a magical player, a genius on the ball who was capable of hitting the target from all angles and distances. Paddy was a player who rarely missed the target.’
Mayobridge legend Tom O’Hare humorously said of him: ‘Paddy Doherty was an absolute madman. But he was also an absolute genius on and off the field. A great character.
When I started with the Down senior team after playing for the Minors, Paddy was always at some auld carry-on. Devilment of every kind. But a great man.
Sean O’Neill and Paddy were both fantastic players and I couldn’t divide the two. It was like Messi and Ronaldo. Two different types of footballers.
Paddy Doherty was the best scoring forward I have ever seen – including the present day footballers who play on billiard tables. When he was taking a free he didn’t set the ball up in a clump of grass, but he just threw it onto the ground where an hour earlier there might have been sheep or cows grazing.’
And he was still able to send that ball rocketing over the bar.’
The 1968 All-Ireland Final Man of the Match Colm McAlarney recalled: ‘Paddy was a deceptive player with that scampering, loping run. But so was deceptive. He covered the ground quickly.
He was instinctively brilliant. A natural genius. His left foot should have had a health warning. It was a lethal weapon. He hit the ball so hard and stingingly’
The legendary Kerry high-flying midfielder Mick O’Connell, a superstar of the skies, shook his head in wonder after crossing over late at night on the ferry to his Valentia Island home after the 1960 All Ireland semi-final. He ruefully remarked to a friend: ‘That Paddy Doherty must be the greatest footballer of all time.’
Warrenpoint’s Larry Powell, a team mate in the 1968 Down All-Ireland-winning side said: ‘Paddy Doherty was one of my all-time heroes. We had an affiliation because we were both left-footed. But Paddy’s was a real left foot.
‘He was a joker-in-the-pack. A great personality. On the way to the 1968 All-Ireland Final in the bus he told jokes the whole way to Dublin, jokes that relaxed the whole team. He then started a sing-song going into Croke Park. What about that for preparation?
‘For me Paddy was one of the greatest gaelic players of all time and will never be forgotten in Down circles. I was privileged to play with him many, many times. He was an inspiration to a younger player like me. A true inspiration.
Down superstar Sean O’Neill said: ‘I was sitting quietly watching what was going on and feeling nervous about my first game in a Down jersey when Paddy came across the dressing room, shook my hand and wished me all the best in my first game. He told me not to worry, and that he and the other senior players would give me all the help and support I needed.
‘He assured me that I was in the team on merit and to go out and show what I could do in a Down jersey. I will always remember Paddy for the welcome he gave me as a young Down footballer starting his career.
Peter Rooney, an All-Ireland winner in 1968, opined: ‘When they made Paddy Doherty, they threw away the mould.’
‘He was my boyhood hero, as were Sean O’Neill and James McCartan. We will never see the likes of them again.
‘They were iconic figures. Paddy and Sean were like soccer’s Messi and Renaldo.’
‘It was quite an honour to share the same dressing room as those two great men and in truth they didn’t treat us as inexperienced teenagers - but as equals.
‘The Making of Paddy Mo’ book is selling extremely well on Amazon.
It’s an ideal present for Down fans and in fact anyone with an interest in gaelic football.
Unfortunately, I don’t have copies of the book for sale.
And in fact I’m not sure if it can be bought in shops around the Newry area.
But it is available on Amazon. WWW.AMAZON.CO.UK
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Football News
Senior Footballers Back In Action
A short pre-season may have led into Friday nights 1st league game vs Ballymartin but the senior men’s footballers were in flying form come throw in.
The first outing under Shane Muholland, Mark Poland and Gary Boyle’s leadership saw a refreshed and rejuvenated performance from the senior men. There was a nice blend of established and breakthrough players on show at pats road for the blues with some great scores from Donagh McAleenan, Ruairi McCormack, Ross McGarry and Sean McGivern.
While there may be no relegation in this league the performance was one looking to the future and the upcoming county league and championship, a fantastic performance and a positive start to the seniors campaign for 2021! Next up Ballyholland on Friday 21st May.
Hurling News
U13 loose out to Kilclief
The Newly formed U13 Patrick Rankins had their first match away to Kilclief on Friday evening, guided by Paddy Locke & Ronan Sheehan the boys put in a determined & honest display of skill & team work in the first 30 minutes to find themselves within a point of the home side at the break. The second half saw Kilclief put distance between their challengers as the home side shifted the tempo up a gear and the intensity & robustness of the tackles increased. Although finishing on the wrong of victory this young Rankins side learned a valuable lesson and impressed their management, leaving them encouraged for the next set of games in the league.
The young blues who contributed to the Patrick Rankins cause were Jason Duffy, Eoin Campbell, Ciaran McMahon, Oliver Murdock, Jamie Lock, Malachi Sherrington and Nikos Perdikomatis with goalkeeper Lorcan Rowntree doing great to keep the hosts at bay.
U11.5 win away to Newry
Newry Shamrocks 1-1 Cumann Pheadaír Naofa 3-6
The Cumann Pheadaír Naofa U11.5 hurlers had a great win over Newry Shamrocks in the opening game of their 2021 season on Saturday May 15th.
Just a few weeks after commencing training, the lads had their first competitive outing in Newry where they hurled to a very high level.
The lads showed some great attacking touches, registering three goals through the game.
Blues Captain for the day Conor Rice along with Charlie Downey and Tristan kept a tidy square! Whilst midfielders Niko and Ruadhan got through a trojan amount of work in midfield. The lively forwards of Eddie, Darragh, Lorcan and Theo gave their hosts plenty of headaches in attack, contributing to the win.
The U11.5 age group like others has been split into three groups, to allow for games to be played in a smaller geographical area, and to prevent some longer travel, within that section are Ballela and Craobh Rua Camlocha (Armagh), competing at this age group in Down for the first time.
We send our best wishes to Lorcán Rowntree who suffered a hand injury, we hope to see him back on the field in a few weeks.
Team: Tristan Dooley, Theo Gambold, Conor Rice, Eddie Ng, Darragh Murney, Charlie Downey, Lorcán Rowntree, Niko Perdikomatis, Ruadhan Williams
Our next game is on Sat. 5th June vs Craobh Rua Camlocha at 11.30am in Milltown Playing Fields.
Ladies Football
Senior Ladies
Cumann Pheadair Naofa senior ladies travelled to St.Michael's of Magheralin on Saturday evening for their second match of the league campaign. Having been victorious in their opening encounter against East Belfast, at home, the Blues were aiming to add to this with a win on the road. St.Michael's got their noses in front first & that's how it stayed, in what proved to be a closely contested encounter. Ultimately Warrenpoint just couldn't quite catch up with their opponents on the scoring front & eventually lost out by 0-11 to 0-7.
U15 Ladies
The U15 ladies in blue began their league campaign with a long trip away to Teconnaught. The Blues started strongly, getting three points within the opening ten minutes, the home team not getting on the score sheet until just before the first water break, with a goal. A number of changes were made at the first water break, with those just introduced having to get up to the speed of the game quickly. The teams traded scores for the rest of the first half, the home team going into the break with a one-point advantage.
For the second half, more changes were made, mixing up the personnel again. The home team started to take an element of control in the match & restricted the Blues to just a couple of scores, whilst converting a number of their own chances. This led to Teconnaught taking a 13-point lead into the second water break. More team changes ensued heading into the final quarter of the game. For the final 15 minutes, Warrenpoint really upped the pressure, with most of the game being played in the home team’s half of the pitch. The girls worked hard & kept the shots raining in towards the Teconnaught posts, but just couldn’t convert enough to scores to pull the game back, falling just short by four points.
Great effort by all the girls & fantastic to see a panel of 27, turning out & representing their club.
Final score: Teconnaught 7-4 Cumann Pheadair Naofa 4-9
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Gavin and Karl Murphy, sons of the late Down player John Murphy who sadly passed away in 2020 will be doing a charity cycle across Co. Down that will see the brothers travel to all 49 GAA clubs over three days.
A Newry Shamrocks native, John won an All-Ireland medal for Down in 1968 and was a selector on the winning teams of ’91 & ’94.
John Murphy made a habit of being the right man, at the right time.
But a boy at the straggle end of the swinging sixties, by the end of summer 1968, the likeable Newry man had not only graduated to manhood, but had etched himself into the annals alongside the very greats to ever grace Gaelic Games.
For that particular summer, the boys in red and black were back.
Seven years on from their historic back to back coronations, the legends of O’Neill, Paddy Doc and Joe Lennon returned to their Croke Park playground with a band of fresher faced merrymen, destined to make the Jones’ Road a field of dreams for another generation of daring Mournemen.
At left-half forward, a 20 year-old Murphy starred not only on All-Ireland final day, but throughout an unbeaten season that saw Gerry Brown’s side capture the National Football League title as well as the county’s third Sam Maguire. But it would be that steadfast reliability that would underscore the remainder of his life that the Shamrocks fledgling will be forever synonymous with when it comes to speaking of September 23rd.
The opening exchanges in most All Ireland finals can be tight and tepid affairs. But on that day, the swashbuckling pretenders from north of the border ambushed a much fancied Kerry side.
Murphy’s telling blow - rattling home from close range in the ninth minute after a strike from Sean O’Neill had been parried by Johnny Culloty in the Kingdom goal – proved the difference in the two sides by the final whistle. The right man. The right time. Down three for three.
Quintessential Down Man
John passed away May 21 2020, a huge blow not only to a family that adored what was a hero father, but a county who will forever be indebted to one of their greatest.
As John’s first anniversary approaches, sons Gavin and Karl were determined to mark the occasion with an act befitting of the man himself.
“He’d have a quare laugh at this craic”, laughs Karl.
“We wanted to do something between the pair of us that would shine a light upon the things that Dad stood for – the quintessential Down man, and the man that could be always relied upon to push those around him on. I dare say me and Gavin will be having a few quiet words with him throughout this challenge.”
The challenge – cycling north of 280 miles on a route that encompasses all 49 of the Mourne counties club grounds – seems the perfect salute to give to Mr Down. The boys late father cherry topped that historic ’68 performance by being an integral part of Pete McGrath’s backroom team throughout the golden 90’s period.
“We’ll be clipping in the first weekend in July – starting Thursday the 1st at Gerry Brown Park (Newry Mitchels) and all being well free wheeling down the Point Road to our own clubrooms (Newry Shamrocks) on Saturday the 3rd”, continues Gavin.
Running parallel to the final stage of the cycle that Saturday, John’s daughters Niamh and Fiona – not to be outdone- will be coordinating a Spinathon at the Shamrocks Club
“We’re hoping to involve as many people as possible on the way, because we know Dad touched the lives of so many Gaels across the county, and supporters may even get to glimpse a few special guests in some lycra over the weekend”.
Appearances from members of Down’s All-Ireland winning sides of ’91 and ’94 are to be expected at intervals throughout the weekend, as well as familiar local GAA faces Ciaran McLogan (Newry Mitchels), Conor Grant (Newry Bosco), Shane Kehoe (Newry Shamrocks) and Dr David McCaul (Drumgath) joining the men for the full endurance experience.
Fundraising
The brothers have launched a Go Fund Me page with all proceeds from their endeavours going to aid a number of local cancer charities, namely the NI Hospice, NI Children’s Hospice, the Cancer Fund for Children and the Southern Area Hospice.
“Whilst raising much needed provisions for these great charities is of paramount importance, it’ll be nice to once and for all put to bed some of the questions over our fitness levels that dogged the both of us over the course of our own playing careers”, finishes Karl.
“Speak for yourself...”, Gavin’s final pipe.
The John Murphy An Dún Charity Cycle will take place over the weekend of Thursday 1st July to Saturday 3rd of July, with proceeds split between some of the north’s amazing local cancer charities.
To donate, visit /WWW.GOFUNDME.COM
By Aaron Strain
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While Armagh Ladies begin their national league campaign away to Tyrone and Down Ladies welcome Sligo on Sunday, the domestic games are still going ahead with Saturday’s Armagh LGFA game between Armagh Harps and Shane O’Neill’s taking top billing.
Manager of Shane O’Neill’s Ladies is Whitecross man Seamus McParland, who also works as a financial advisor for Reavey Financial Services based in Newry.
The Newry.ie Sports Team caught up with the young manager as he hopes to guide Shanes to championship glory, but he also wants older players to be aware that GAA’s Sports Injury scheme doesn’t cover for loss of earnings anymore.
McParland took charge of Shanes at the start of last season, they had just been promoted, but in his first year the south Armagh team won the Division One title for their first ever time, which is remarkable, and he is targeting the bigger prize this season.
“To be promoted and then not knowing what was ahead of us and the girls just took it in their stride, and it was a great help to have all the county players all year, even in training. To have players like, Aimee and Blaithin Mackin, Moya Feehan, Louise Kenny, Aoibheann Jones drive the younger players on, is invaluable. We have players at 16 and 17 who are wonderful talents, and the future is bright in Shane O’Neill’s,” McParland said.
“So, our expectations this year is to go one step further and push for the senior championship.
“We just fell short last year to the eventual winners Armagh Harps in the semi-final, but we will learn from it and push for the big one this year. We will have to work that 20 percent harder than we did last year. There is no reason why we can’t aim for it and our sights are retaining our league title.”
Of course, you don’t mention Shane O’Neill’s girls without talking about the Mackin sisters. This year’s Ladies Player of the Year Aimee and All-Star Blaithin, and McParland can say enough good things about them, but insists he is proud of his entire squad.
“The Mackin sisters are Shane O’Neill’s through and through,” said Seamus.
“In training anything you ask of Aimee and Blaithin, they will do it; they are incredible and stay after training to do their own runs, hitting frees and penalties. And people were rightly lauding Aimee’s goal against Dublin last year, but she is doing that in training week in, week out.
“When you see at first hand there is not any other man or woman in the county can do the things she can with a football. It is an absolute pleasure to manage them.
“We have players who are not in the county who are well capable such as Louise Kenny, who is back from her cruciate injury and I would class Louise as one of best defenders in Armagh and an absolute warrior. And since taking over at Shanes for me there are 34 All-Stars.”
McParland started his managerial career with his home club St Killian’s Whitecross when he coached the 2016 Intermediate championship winning team, who were then managed by Noel Marron and John Shields. He said he was surprised by how much he enjoyed coaching and then he spent two years managing Lissummon, who he says is a great club, before taking over the role at Shane O’Neill’s.
“I took the call and met up with Peter Lynch, who is now the Down manager and I just picked it up from there,” McParland recalled.
“All in all, the committee has welcomed me, and the girls have welcomed me, and we have got on with it. We have one trophy in the bag in our first year and we want to start filling up a trophy cabinet.”
Armagh Harps were the only team to beat Shane O’Neill’s last season, so Saturday’s game should be interesting, Reavey Financial Services are sponsoring the match ball, but Anthony Reavey who runs the company wanted to highlight some of the pitfalls players across the county might not be aware of.
“This year the GAA’s Sports Injury scheme doesn’t cover you anymore for loss of earnings,” said Reavey.
“They will still pay out to pay towards an operation relating to your injury, but the loss of earnings is no longer covered.
So, you look at any of the teams playing, there are the younger players and then the older ones with families, children, mortgages and more outgoings and responsibilities, so if they get injured on the pitch and they are off work for six weeks the GAA will give them nothing.
“This is where we can step in. Men and women can continue to play football, or any sport for that matter, but not have to worry that they might end up in financial difficulty.”
Most players are not aware that they are no longer covered, and of course other sports may not provide any loss of earnings cover. You can call Anthony or Seamus on 02830262626 to find out more.
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