Memorial match fitting tribute to Patsy
FOLLOWING the passing of Patsy Mulholland last year, his family wanted to honour his memory in a fitting tribute that would highlight his life-long love of the game of hurling.
They set about organising an over-40s competition where players who played on teams with and for Patsy could take to the field once again.
And so, on a recent Saturday evening players began to assemble at the Clans clubrooms and at once it became obvious that the comradeship from previous years hadn’t gone away.
Not only were there two squads of players available, but also members of the wider hurling family who were willing to officiate as linesmen and umpires and indeed act as managers and selectors on the day.
When the whistle blew and the ball was thrown in, everyone who had come to show their support was treated to a great spectacle. Although the game was played in a fun-filled manner it became obvious that none of the guys had lost their competitive edge. With a Civil Defence ambulance on standby, both sets of players gave it everything and half-time couldn’t come quick enough for some!
After a short break in proceedings the second half continued in the same fashion.
The final whistle was greeted by a range of emotions - relief by some, pride by others, humility by the family at the response from everyone. But probably the greatest emotion on display was confusion, with nobody quite sure which side had won.
Referee Sean Guinan was consulted for the result and for his nomination of Man of the Match, and it was announced that the team wearing the County jerseys had been victorious over the team wearing the DkIT jerseys.
The Mulholland family members presented memorial medals to all who had taken to the field after some emotional words from team managers Aidan Kerrigan and Tim Murphy, and then the winning captain Paul Martin was presented with the Masters Shield by Patsy’s wife Margaret Mulholland.
The local Póc Fada chairman Pat Hartnett then spoke on the committee’s behalf before presenting the man of the match award to Eddie Mc Ardle.
There was one final award to be presented on the evening - a special award voted for by the Mulholland family themselves. They decided to name this award the Phoenix award (for a player who had risen from the ashes to play on the day) and it was greeted with the biggest cheer of the evening when Patsy’s brother-in-law Jim McGuinness was announced as the recipient.
Everyone then retired to the clubrooms for refreshments, promising to be back again next year and to help promote hurling in the North East while keeping the memory of a hurling man alive.