Gawney the fourth member of 1969 Minors to depart

SUNDAY BROUGHT some very sad news from Cavan, with the passing of Tom ‘Gawney’ Walsh, a proud son of Bishopswater and a former Wexford footballer of considerable distinction. Indeed, his most recent official GAA trip to his home place occurred in October when the county’s last Leinster title-winning Minor team of 1969 was honoured on county final day.

‘Gawney’ was the star full-back on that fine side, and sadly he is the third member of the defence to leave us, following in the footsteps of Aidan Kerrigan and Larry Doyle.

All three were pre-deceased many years ago in a tragic workplace accident by Michael Deane from Bunclody, who was one of the substitutes when Wexford defeated Dublin in the Leinster final in Dr. Cullen Park, Carlow, on an 0-11 to 0-7 scoreline.

They came within a whisker of qualifying for the All-Ireland final, with a five-point contribution from future soccer star and manager Martin O’Neill edging Derry home by 0-14 to 3-4.

‘Gawney’ was one of six St. Joseph’s teenagers on that successful squad, emphasising the strength of the Bishopswater club who also had representation on the selection committee. Their man on the backroom crew, the late Fr. Harry Sinnott, inspired the youth of the area upon his arrival in Wexford town, and ‘Gawney’ was one of the best players to emerge during that memorable era.

Playing alongside him at right corner-back was team captain Brendan Murphy, while the full-forward line featured Denny Grannell and Ger Howlin - with the latter playing his under-age football with the Joseph’s because his beloved Dan O’Connell’s only fielded in the Junior grade. The sextet was completed by substitutes Pat McGuinness and David ‘Croccy’ Clancy.

I last saw ‘Gawney’ on that enjoyable day for all concerned back in October when they were honoured for their outstanding exploits by the County Board to mark the 50th anniversary.

Tom, or Thomas, may have been his Christian name, but I never heard him referred to as anything other than ‘Gawney’. In that regard, he was similar to so many other well-known GAA figures to emerge from Wexford town, the likes of ‘Hopper’ McGrath, ‘Heffo’ Walsh, ‘Stella’ Walker and ‘Sack’ Walsh to mention but a few.

I first got to know him in the late eighties when he was PRO of the now-defunct Wexford Football Board, shortly before his permanent move to Cavan. And on the rare occasions when his native county visited the Breffni men for matches in the years that followed, ‘Gawney’ always went out of his way to ensure all Wexford folk were warmly welcomed.

I vividly recall the All-Ireland Féile Peil na nOg of 2017, when Sarsfields were the county’s representatives. A lot of us made the long journey up to the Ramor United club in Virginia for their first game on the Friday night, and ‘Gawney’ was in his element after travelling out from his home in Cavan town to extend greetings.

How about this for an unusual claim to fame, one that may be unique in the annals of Wexford GAA? At one stage in his playing career, ‘Gawney’ represented the county in Senior football over three successive years, but he was with a different club for each campaign!

In 1973 he was still with St. Joseph’s, his boyhood club, and in 1974 he transferred to Volunteers. By 1975, work had brought him to Carlow, where he lined out with Tinryland in his final year as a county Senior footballer.

‘Gawney’ was the Wexford Under-21 full-back in 1971 and 1972 and, in the latter year, he was also in the left corner in a defensive unit for a Leinster Junior final loss to Offaly that also featured Johnny Doyle of St. James’, Dan Quigley, two of the Doran brothers, Tony and Colm, and John Wright from St. Fintan’s.

His debut with the Seniors came as a substitute in a league clash versus Longford in February of 1972, the first of 26 appearances in total. He was joined on Wexford teams on a few occasions by Nicky, one of his two brothers.

He also played at full-forward on the county Minor hurling team in 1969, and a son of ‘Gawney’s, Nicholas, excelled as a county footballer with Cavan before forging a distinguised playing and coaching career in Australian Rules.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

FIXTURES

July 17, Chadwicks Wexford Park: v. St. Martin’s, 7.30 p.m.

July 31, Bellefield: v. Cloughbawn, 7.30 p.m.

MOST RECENT MEETINGS 22/10/17: St. Martin’s 2-16, Oulart-The Ballagh 1-9 (Final). 16/10/16: Oulart-The Ballagh 0-17, Cloughbawn 1-11 (Final).

FIVE-YEAR RECORD

2015: Champions – beat St. Martin’s 2-15 to 0-13. 2016: Champions – beat Cloughbawn 0-17 to 1-11. 2017: Finalists – lost to St. Martin’s 2-16 to 1-9.

2018: Did not qualify – fifth in Group B.

2019: Did not qualify – fifth in Group B. Management: Liam Dunne (manager), Alan O’Connor, Jimmy Prendergast.

Players in: Murtha Doyle (back from injury); Darragh Hayes, Billy Dunne (The Ballagh), Darryl Gray, Adam McRedmond, Jack Roche, Jim Finn.

FIXTURES

July 17, Chadwicks Wexford Park: 7.30 p.m.

July 24, Bellefield: v. Cloughbawn, 7.30 p.m.

MOST RECENT MEETINGS 22/10/17: St. Martin’s 2-16, Oulart-The Ballagh 1-9 (Final). 30/8/15: Cloughbawn 2-14, St. Martin’s 1-14 (Group A).

FIVE-YEAR RECORD

2015: Finalists – lost to Oulart-The Ballagh 2-15 to 0-13. 2016: Quarter-finalists – lost to Ferns St. Aidan’s 1-13 to 0-15.

2017: Champions – beat Oulart-The Ballagh 2-16 to 1-9. 2018: Finalists – lost to Naomh Eanna 2-11 to 0-13. 2019: Champions – beat St. Anne’s 1-15 to 1-13. Management: John Meyler (manager), Pat Frayne, Mick Kearney, Brendan Roche.

Players in: David Codd, David Cantwell, Luke Kavanagh, Joe Barrett (up from Minor).

Player out: Harry O’Connor (working out of country). v. Oulart-The Ballagh,

FIXTURES

July 18, Bellefield: v. Ferns St. Aidan’s, 3 p.m.

July 31, Chadwicks Wexford Park: v. Fethard, 7.30 p.m. MOST RECENT MEETINGS 8/9/19: Ferns St. Aidan’s 2-18, Faythe Harriers 1-16 (Group A).

13/4/19: Faythe Harriers 0-12, Fethard 0-12 (Group A). FIVE-YEAR RECORD

Semi-finalists – lost to Oulart-The Ballagh 3-19

2015: to 2-13.

2016: Relegation finalists – beat St. Anne’s 1-13 to 1-12. 2017: Did not qualify – fifth in Group B.

2018: Did not qualify – fifth in Group A.

2019: Relegation finalists – beat Oylegate-Glenbrien 1-15 to 0-7.

Management: Derek McGrath, Tony Walsh, David Mooney, William Murphy, Shane Howard.

Players in: Colm Heffernan and Richie Kehoe (recovered from long-term injuries); Richie Lawlor, Kyle Scallan, Josh Shiel, Ben Hynes, Seán Byrne, Mark Henebery, Eoin Kavanagh, Josh Walsh, Cillian Boggan, Liam Cassin (all up from Minor).

Player out: Seán Banville (long-term injury).

FIXTURES

July 18, Bellefield: v. Faythe Harriers, 3 p.m.

July 25, Chadwicks Wexford Park: v. Fethard, 7 p.m.

MOST RECENT MEETINGS 8/9/19: Ferns St. Aidan’s 2-18, Faythe Harriers 1-16 (Group A).

10/8/19: Ferns St. Aidan’s 0-18, Fethard 2-9 (Group A).

FIVE-YEAR RECORD

2015: Did not qualify – fifth in Group B.

2016: Semi-finalists – lost to Oulart-The Ballagh 4-16 to 0-17.

2017: Relegation finalists – beat Cloughbawn 3-20 to 3-18. 2018: Quarter-finalists – lost to St. Martin’s 2-18 to 2-11. 2019: Semi-finalists – lost to St. Martin’s 2-16 to 1-15. Management: Joe Morris (manager), Pat Bennett (trainer), Pádraig Bailey, Niall Maguire, Paddy Rossiter, Eddie Jackman.

Player in: Diarmuid Doyle (transferred from Marshalstown-Castledockrell).

FIXTURES

July 25, Chadwicks Wexford Park: v. Ferns St. Aidan’s, 7 p.m.

July 31, Chadwicks Wexford Park: v. Faythe Harriers, 7.30 p.m.

MOST RECENT MEETINGS 10/8/19: Ferns St. Aidan’s 0-18, Fethard 2-9 (Group A). 13/4/19: Fethard 0-12, Faythe Harriers 0-12 (Group A).

FIVE-YEAR RECORD

2015: Intermediate ‘ A’ semi-finalists – lost to Monageer1-15 to 1-14.

2016: Intermediate ‘A’ finalists – lost replay to St. James’ 2-13 to 0-11 after 0-12 each draw.

2017: Intermediate ‘A’ champions – beat Duffry Rovers 1-13 to 0-13.

2018: Intermediate champions – beat Cloughbawn 0-14 to 1-9 in replay after 2-19 to 3-16 draw.

2019: Did not qualify – fifth in Group A. Management: Johnny Power and George Foley (joint managers), Willie Dunphy, Robert Swan.

Players in: Dylan Whelan (up from Minor); Aaron Murphy, Brian Dillon (from Under-20s); Kevin Rowe (recovery from long-term injury).

FIXT July 25, Chadwicks Wexfo August 1, Chadwicks Wex

MOST RECE 27/8/16: Glynn-Barntown 210/8/19: Glynn-Barntown 0

FIVE-YEA 2015: Semi-finalists – lost t 2016: Semi-finalists – lost t 2017: Did not qualify – fifth 2018: Relegation finalists – 2019: Quarter-finalists – los Management: Shane Carl Denis Doyle, Jason Ryan (co

Players in: Thomas Doyle Dáire Barron (recovery from l

FIXT July 17, Bellefield: v. St. A August 1, Chadwicks W town, 2 p.m.

MOST RECE 2/5/15: Rathnure 1-7, St. A 10/8/19: Rathnure 1-14, Gly

FIVE-YEA 2015: Relegation finalists – 2016: Did not qualify – fifth 2017: Quarter-finalists – lo 2018: Quarter-finalists – lo 2019: Quarter-finalists – lo Management: Anthony M Codd, Adam Quigley, John M tioning).

Players in: A.J. Redmond Lennon (up from Minor); Br long-term injury).

Players out: James Tob (stepped away).

FIXT July 17, Bellefield: v. Rath July 25, Chadwicks Wexford