GAA WORLD IN MOURNING
Scott, Aidan and Tommy were proud sons of Wexford
WEXFORD G.A.A. followers were stunned and deeply saddened by the loss of two of the county’s favourite sons, Scott Doran and Aidan Kerrigan, over the festive period.
Aidan, a former St. Patrick’s clubman who had lived in Knockbridge, Co. Louth, for some 40 years, died suddenly on Sunday, December 23. He had worked as a teacher in Dundalk C.B.S., before retiring last year.
And there was shock and disbelief throughout the county on Saturday morning when news started to spread of the passing of Scott – one of Wexford’s best-ever footballers – in his London home.
Approaching his 45th birthday later this month (January 23), the sudden death of Scott led to disbelief and sadness throughout the G.A.A. community in the county and beyond.
One of the most gifted forwards ever seen in a purple and gold jersey, his Senior career spanned some 15 seasons.
He made his debut in a National League game in Wexford Park in October, 1992, against Sligo while still a Minor, and the last of his 105 Senior appearances came in the same competition versus Wicklow in Aughrim on February 25, 2007. He scored the grand total of 25 goals and 174 points in that period.
In the early stages of his G.A.A. career, Kilmore clubman Scott was also a gifted hurler, but Gaelic football was always his first love, although he did have trials with Q.P.R. in London for a three-month period at the age of 14.
A player with a deadly left foot, Scott began his sporting career with his beloved club, with whom he enjoyed multiple successes at under-age level and also a cherished Junior football county title in 2003.
Scott went on to light up the provincial scene by guiding Kilmore on a successful provincial campaign, which only ended in a final defeat to Wolfe Tones (Meath), but his goal in that particular game at his home venue is still talked about.
Scott showed his early promise in the purple and gold in 1992 in those famous Minor football clashes with eventual All-Ireland champions Meath in Croke Park.
He brought their initial semi-final meeting to a replay with a late pointed ’45, and he continued to enthral the crowd in the second encounter before the Jim McGovern-managed side bowed out after two stirring contests.
As a result of those displays, he was brought into the Senior squad immediately by then manager Liam Fardy, going on to play more than a century of games for
Last title of 2018 goes to men in maroon the county, before emigrating to London whom he assisted in the 2005 Connacht Senior football championship.
He returned briefly to the Wexford fold in 2007 under Paul Bealin, making a further two appearances off the bench in league games against Tipperary and Wicklow.
Scott became synonymous with the scoring of crucial goals off that famous left foot which led to his selection for the Leinster football team for the now defunct Railway Cup. It was a huge honour for a player coming from a Junior club, and he won two medals with his province in 1996 and 1997 as well as playing in the 1995 final defeat to Ulster.
The Kilmore club have paid a glowing tribute to Scott. ‘In 2003 Scott got the medal he so craved when we captured the county junior football title and his reaction after the game showed how much it meant to him, as on his knees, he beat the ground with joy.
‘What most people didn’t know was Scott carried a broken jaw from the semi-final and then would go on to lead the team to a Leinster Final while still suffering from the same injury. For anyone lucky enough to see Scott play memories will be plentiful, cherish them as you saw a magician in action. Scott possessed a wand of a left foot, a brain too fast for many and the strength of a lion.’
Sympathy goes out to his wife Geri, children, parents Nick and Pauline, from Duncormick, and brother Martin. He was pre-deceased by his brother, Aidan.
When news of the sudden passing of Aidan Kerrigan, wellknown former school teacher and All-Ireland under-age winner, spread through the county, Wexford G.A.A. followers – particularly those in the Gorey District – were shocked.
Aidan, who died suddenly at his home in Grange, Knockbridge, won an All-Ireland Minor hurling title with Wexford in 1968, having earlier that year helped St. Peter’s College to All-Ireland Senior championship glory.
Having played his early hurling with his native St. Patrick’s (Ballyoughter), Aidan went on to become best known as a teacher in Coláiste Rís in County Louth where he worked for 40 years prior to his retirement in June, 2017.
He was also heavily involved in the Louth hurling scene both with his club, Knockbridge, and the county side. Indeed, he was very proud to welcome both Faythe Harriers and Oulart-The Ballagh to his home venue for Leinster championship games in 2001 and 2005 respectively.
His former colleague Gerry Malone described him as ‘one of the most kind hearted people I saw to his students and also to new teachers starting off in the school. He was a top class teacher who has been badly missed in school since his retirement. He was a powerhouse of both sport and education’.
During his hurling career in Wexford he was a talented wingback on the road to colleges and All-Ireland Minor hurling glory, and I will always remember him as a no-nonsense defender who was able to mix the physical aspect of the game with an abundance of skill. His proudest moment was his tremendous defensive display in that All-Ireland final win over Cork.
Aidan is survived by his wife Mairéad, daughter Michelle, sons Conor, Shane and Gavin, grandchildren, and other relatives.
In a very sad time for Wexford G.A.A., the thoughts of followers are also with the family of the late Tommy Harrell, a native of Ballykelly and former Horeswood clubman, who passed away on December 14 after a long battle with illness.
Tommy (76) was a driving force behind the Fr. Murphy’s club in London for nearly six decades, having arrived in the city in the summer of 1960. He also served with distinction as Chairman of London County Board from 2007 to 2012, following on from a 15year tenure as its most efficient Secretary.
His funeral Mass will be held on Friday, January 4, at 10 a.m. in St. Joseph’s Church, Harrow Weald, with burial afterwards at Mill Hill Cemetery, Milespit Hill, London.
CASTLETOWN REPELLED a late rally from old foes Kilanerin to snap up the last title of 2018, the Greenstar Under-20 Division 2 football championship, in St. Patrick’s Park, Enniscorthy, on the Friday evening before Christmas.
Seven points in arrears at the interval, the boys in red and white twice powered themselves within a point, including when Seán Forde popped over a 58th-minute free-kick to set up a frantic ending.
However, it would have been more than a little harsh on Castletown had they let the crown slip away. It was fitting that, after such a long season, the last game came to a crescendo with a string of quality scores.
Jamie Doyle kicked a lovely effort on the right side in the 60th minute to make it a two-point lead, Cian Bealin added another from a similar position moments later, and when Darragh Brooks drilled the point of the night Castletown had scored three in less than 90 seconds.
And that was the end of Kilanerin, with simply no way back from a Castletown onslaught that secured a big ball, small ball double, after the boys in maroon had picked up the Division 4 hurling title 108 days earlier.
Kilanerin deserve great credit for their performance and the heart they showed to get as close as they did. Their opponents bossed the opening half and their 2-4 to 0-3 interval lead was probably as short an advantage as they could have had after butchering several goal chances.
It wasn’t necessarily the way they rebounded immediately after the interval - Castletown came out flat and Kilanerin were able to take advantage and get within one (2-4 to 1-6) - it was the way they responded a second time.
Castletown actually led by 3-9 to 1-9 after 53 minutes, almost back to the respectable lead they held at the change of ends. The champions looked like they had seen off everything Kilanerin had to offer, but incredible guts and determination meant it went right down to the wire.
A goal looked likely in almost every attack as Castletown shredded their neighbours in the opening stages. The first one came in the second minute, when Craanford import Jamie Doyle fed Shane Halpin, and the corner-forward took aim and smashed high to Kyle Ryan’s net.
Interestingly, while Jamie Doyle was probably the most influential ‘Ford man on show, he wasn’t the only one. The half-forward was joined by Martin Doyle for Castletown, while Jim Kenny and Eoin Doyle wore Kilanerin colours.
Paudie Hughes and Seán Forde narrowed the gap to one but they were bending without breaking at the other end. The whole threeman full-forward line seemed to be constantly out in front, continuously causing Kilanerin headaches.
All three - Darragh Brooks, Frank Kavanagh and Halpin - could have added another major before Brooks popped over a free at the start of the second quarter.
Halpin knocked over his side’s second point and Darragh Brooks converted after brother Robbie was impeded (1-3 to 0-2).
Castletown were bossing things but Kilanerin did show enough to keep them honest on their rare forays forward. Conor Hughes fisted over their third point but Brooks matched it three minutes later at the other end.
Kilanerin would have been delighted to get in at the break just four down, but those hopes were sliced apart when Oisín Condren dropped a ball into a dangerous area and Halpin glanced it over Kyle Ryan’s head with a nonchalant fingertip finish.
Maybe Castletown thought they had the hard work done at the break, leading by seven, as they certainly didn’t find their intense best right after the resumption. Instead Kilanerin eased back into the game with points from Seán Forde and Conor Hughes.
When Stephen Neville’s longrange effort dipped over Seán Harte and into the Castletown net in the 37th minute, it was well and truly game on. Tails up, Hughes kicked his third of the evening to cut the deficit to one (2-4 to 1-6).
Importantly, Castletown responded immediately. Halpin pointed before he made the most of good work by Ross Cody and fired home his hat-trick major.
Neville knocked over a pair for his side but Kilanerin were 3-8 to 1-8 down after consecutive scores from Jamie Doyle, Cody and Rory Heffernan.
When Conor Hughes and Darragh Brooks exchanged white flags there was still six between the sides and time was starting to run out for Kilanerin. However, they were given further hope when Hughes was shoved in the back and they were awarded a penalty.
Rob Murphy stepped up and saw his spot kick superbly saved by Harte, but he followed it in and buried the rebound to put just a kick of the ball between the sides. Tails up again, Forde kicked points in the 55th and 58th minutes to narrow the deficit to one.
However, Castletown battened down the hatches again and drove to victory. Those three fantastic points in a row from Doyle, Bealin and Darragh Brooks ensured 2018 ended in style for the boys from Tomnahely whose win was made all the more impressive by the absence of powerful midfielder Liam Coleman through injury.
Castletown: Seán Harte; Mikey Fenlon; Martin Doyle, Chris Callanan; Killian Pierce, Ross Cody (0-1), Cian Bealin (0-1); Rory Heffernan (0-1), Oisín Condren; Frank Roche (capt.), Robbie Brooks, Jamie Doyle (0-2); Darragh Brooks (0-5, 3 frees), Frank Kavanagh, Shane Halpin (3-2). Subs. - Seán O’Loughlin for Pierce (57), Alex Murphy for J. Doyle (60), also Liam Coleman, Eoin Cullen.
Kilanerin: Kyle Ryan; Robert Murphy (1-0), Eoin Doyle, Cathal Owley; Andrew Murphy, Jim Kenny, Colm Noctor (capt.); Paudie Hughes (0-1), Seán Bardon; Ben O’Connor, Seán Forde (0-5, 3 frees), Pat O’Connor; Stephen Mordaunt, Stephen Neville (1-2), Conor Hughes (0-3). Subs. - Tom Mordaunt for O’Connor (28), Ben Morris for Owley (31), also Donnacha McDonald.
Referee: ane). David Jenkins (Gusser-