MIGHTY MAULERS Murphy’s men emerge from the battlefield as Seamus
at Parnell Park
IT was a fantastic day in Parnell Park on St Stephen’s morning as hundreds gathered to watch the first Seamus Barnes Cup being lifted by the gallant captain Liam Murphy.
Eight teams went to battle in a straight knock-out tournament. In the first round, it was an early shower for Cheeko’s Babies, Fortunes Flyers, Byrne’s Bruisers and Mono’s Menaces as they were dispatched by Doyle’s Deliquents, O’Reilly’s Rebels, Redmond’s Rioters and Murphy’s Maulers.
The semi-final draws seen both present day teams drawn against each other, Doyle v. Redmond, and after a tight battle Redmond’s Rioters proved too strong and progressed to the final.
The other pairing pitched Murphy’s Maulers against O’Reilly’s Rebels in a battle to the death. It looked good for O’Reilly boys as the mercurial captain, Liam Murphy, was carted off injured. it was nip and tuck, slap for slap, but a Barbie plaster later and a miraculous recovery seen the mighty Murphy return to the field and push his teams over the line.
The crowd was building in anticipation of the final!
Redmond’s Rioters, the young, handsome guns were facing Murphy’s Maulers, the auld dogs for the hard road!
There wasn’t a Farrell left in Arklow, Gorey or Tinahely, the Corner House was empty, Parnell Park was alive.
In the end it was a single goal that decided the game. Murphy’s Maulers just had too much for Redmond’s Rioters. Peadar Keogh was on the stand side, a long, high ball from a puck out was hit towards him.
Peadar leapt 10 foot, no, wait, Pictured before the final of the Seamus Barnes Memorial Cup were Liamo Murphy, Pat Hickey, Jason Redmond with Martin Barnes and Seamus Heffernan.
it was definitely 20 foot into the air and grabbed the ball, he turned on a sixpence and from 60 yards (some might say 80), rattled the back of the net. The now 10,000-strong crowd went mad and a new hero was made: The immortal Peadar Keogh.
Inside a packed clubhouse the cup was presented by Seamus’ son Martin, a proud Rocks man himself, to the winning captain Liam Murphy.
‘A great day was had by all and we are delighted to hand over a cheque for €2,000 to Arklow Cancer Support. Many thanks to all the local business that helped with prizes and donations,’ said a club spokesperson. Some warriors managed to find time for humour during the competitive battles on the field.