Drogheda Independent

Young and old to honour hurling legend Patsy

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THE Clans pitch will hosts a hurling match not to be missed d this Saturday (6.00) as legendss young and old take to the field in memory of Patsy Mulholland.

Gone will be the usual club rivalry, replaced by the common cause of honouring the memory of a true Louth hurling legend.

Patsy’s insolvent in hurling began in the 1950s when he played for his home club, Naomh Moninne, in Fatima and d soon after he got to represent his county with pride.

However Patsy’s involvemen­t nt didn’t end with his playing days and he went on to coach and manage his club and the Louth county team.

Many of the players who played on these teams will take to the field to compete in Saturday’s over-40s Masters Hurling Shield in his honour.

The idea for the competitio­n was formulated in the days after Patsy’s funeral last year. When discussing the sad events of the previous few days it was noted by family members that a huge number of the mourners who came to pay their respects at the family home, knew Patsy through his involvemen­t with hurling and his close associatio­n to An Póc Fada.

Those in attendance ranged across all age groups, all generation­s and all clubs. Nothing brought this home to Patsy’s family more than witnessing his beloved Naomh Moninne forming a guard of honour outside the church, whilst among the Black and Amber was a Pearse Óg jersey stood to attention. It was with this image fresh in their thoughts that a seed had been sewn.

Some months later at a Póc Fada meeting in Ravendale Patsy’s son Pádraig brought a proposal to the table. He informed the committee of his family’s intention to hold an event in memorymem of his father and that the ffamily would be delighted if the ccommittee would be willing to ccome on board.

They were delighted to a assist in any way they could and have secured the use of jerseyse on the day.

They made contact with Mr MartinM Donnelly, the long term sponsors of An Póc Fada, and he very generously supplied the sliotars for the day.

T The efforts of organising and stru structurin­g such a game are man many fold but it is hoped that by con concentrat­ing on making this gam game a success it may be the start of an annual competitio­n that could expand over the years and become establishe­d as the start of a build-up to the Póc Fada event which traditiona­lly is held in early August.

So if you were privileged enough to know Patsy, or you’ve got an interest in the ‘small ball’ game (regardless of your club colours), the Mulholland family and the Póc Fada committee would like to invite you to come on out to the Clans on Saturday at 6pm to enjoy an evening of hurling in honour of a great hurling man - or at the very least to witness some guys trying to relive their past glories, albeit at a much slower pace!

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 ??  ?? Dundalk Gaels goalkepper, John Burlingham punches the ball away from JP Rooney, Naomh Mairtin during the Group C SFC match in The Grove, Castlebell­ingham on Saturday night. Aidan Dullaghan
Dundalk Gaels goalkepper, John Burlingham punches the ball away from JP Rooney, Naomh Mairtin during the Group C SFC match in The Grove, Castlebell­ingham on Saturday night. Aidan Dullaghan

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