ST MICHAEL’S REUNION
EASILY one of the strangest celebrations I had the pleasure of covering last week was the reunion of the 25th anniversary of the St. Michael’s GFC triumphant win of the Peadar Mac Brethneach Cup in Donnelly’s bar in Seatown, when they defeated the Newtown Blues in the u14s championship in the Gaelic Grounds in Drogheda in 1991.
Yes, the lads had got together to celebrate the triumphant win which, under the astute management of Terry Doherty, started a winning run for the team that lasted all the way to u21s. The game was played before the Leinster Championship match between Louth and Kildare, (one of Mick O’Dwyer first managerial matches with the lilywhites) and finished with the club, based between Stabannon and Castlebellingham, coming out 5-05 to 4-04 winners in a game that goes down in the annals of history as one of the best matches seen anywhere in Louth, well Drogheda anyway!
The first man I met up with was Ciaran Shevlin from Stabannon who told me he was lucky enough to have come on as a sub during that epic battle and was proud to have been part of the St. Michael’s panel. He was having a laugh with corner back Ian Quinn from Stabannon who told me it was the springboard result for a very special team and they went on to bigger and better successes after that.
Not too far away I then caught up with Ciaran Halpenny and Ronan Dullaghan both from Stabannon who told me they too were proud to say they had played on that monumental day and were delighted to be out celebrating with all their old mates.
Next I got a chat with Michael McGrath originally from Stabannon but now hanging his hat in Armagh who told me he had been responsible for a goal and a point on the day and was having a laugh with Mark Stanfield originally from Castlebellingham but in Killeavy who had attained a similar score (who told me he remembers the semi-final better).
The lads remembered the day only too well saying it was when Stefan White got the winning score for the seniors after he had encouraged the defender to give him the ball!
They were enjoying the night with the team’s manager Terry Doherty from Point Road (a Gaels man, I was repeatedly informed) who told me he was a teacher in Castlebellingham at the time and it was just one of things where a group of players got together, everything just clicked, and they stayed together as a team all the way to the u21s.
Next I met up with the inimitable Wiggy Conlon from Castlebellingham who had also played with the triumphant team and he wanted a major shout out to some of the lads who had played on the team but were unable to make it to the reunion nigh and they included Thomas Tuite (USA), Stephen Gorman (Sweden), Philip Crosby, Ronan Wogan, Stewart Reynolds, Bernard Kelledy, Gavin Cumiskey (Amsterdam) and to mentor Jimmy Kieran a special get well soon, and this came from all the lads.
I then headed over for a chat with Liam Butterly who played centre half forward and scored 2-02 and said that his brother Pat was playing for Louth on the same day after they had put Newtown Blues to the sword!
After this I caught sight of Brendan Tuite from Castlebellingham who had had an integral part to play in the win and was up for making the best of the night with the lads.
I then headed towards the bar where I got talking to Paudie Donnelly from Stabannon who was the vice-captain on the day, played in the midfield and scored 1-0, their first scores of the day.
Beside Paudie I got talking to defender Derek Walsh from Castlebellingham who had the auspicious task of marking none other than Ian Harte (Leeds United and Republic of Ireland defender) and kept him to only scoring one point. He was having a laugh with corner forward Stephen Hoey from Castlebellingham who got a point but was responsible for one of the misses of the season, rounding the defenders and the goalkeeper, hit the ball over the bar instead into the open net.
Next I met up with Daniel Donnelly proprietor of the pub who played centre half and said they would have won by a larger margin only for a mix up between him and goalkeeper Gavin Kearney who called for the ball and then in the confusion let it in. Daniel said that he and Gavin fell out that day over it, but thankfully they’re back friends again. Beside Daniel I then met selector and physio Thomas Tuite from Castlebellingham whose son Thomas played on the team and couldn’t make it because he lives in the States now and said they all wanted to thank the O’Raghallaighs GFC for the loan of the trophy for the night.
Finally, before I departed I met up with Colm Doyle from Castlebellingham who was the left half back who was just after arriving in and couldn’t wait to have a laugh with his u14 compadres of 25 years ago!