You can read St Paul’s Holywood Gaelic News
Issue 1 March 1993 here

You can read St Paul’s Holywood Gaelic News
Issue 2 April 1993 here

The St Paul’s Story – Joe McCormack

Scrabo Harps Minor Football – Frank McGuigan

 

Photo from the Newtownards Chronicle

MATCH REPORT by Cuchulainn

The acme of hurling in Co. Down has been reached.

On Sunday last, as we all know by now County Junior Hurler who all hail from the Ards bar one, went to London and defeated London in the All-Ireland final proper by 3-2 (11 points) to 1-3 (6 points). Since the foundation of the first hurling club in the area (Portaferry, 1903) this has been the aim. Suddenly, it has been realised.

This would not have been possible if everybody had taken the view that hurling was dead in the Ards. Continual matches between the three clubs, Ballycran, Ballygalget and Portaferry, with no fresh competitions did account for ” the lean years.”

But then , the club officials, seeing this decline, decided it was time something was done. So they joined ;he Antrim League, the top hurling league in Antrim. This is the result.

The team, officials and a few supporters, totalling forty-four in all, flew from Aldergrove at 2.35 p.m. on Saturday last. George Tinnely, Down County Board (Football) Chairman was present to see them off.

Down were first to break awav Dd on their third rousing raird on the London goal in the second minute, Danny Crawford connected and made no mistake about Down’s first goal.

The forwards continued attacking and forced three seventies. In the fifth minute Charlie McMullan went through to put Down further ahead by another point. Five minutes later, in the tenth minute, Harry Murphy (London), marked up London’s first score with a well taken point.

In the twenty-fourth minute, Tom Barron sent over a point for London to make the score, Down 1-1, London 0-2. Four minutes later, Charlie McMullan had another point for Down  from   a Danny Crawford pass.

On the resumption, George Gilmore replaced Sean Savage at left half forward. Just as Down had scored their first goal almost immediately after the whistle, so too did London in the second half. It was scored by D Henry after three minutes. Shortly after this, Paddy Braniff was injured. Pat McGrattan took over.

Twelve minutes later, in the eighteenth minute,of the second half, Paddy Donoghue sent over a point for London which p0ut them in the lead.

Indeed this was beginning to look as if the ship had sprung a leak.   But no. Down were  awarded a seventy which was taken by Hugo O”Prey. Seamus Fitzgerald just happened to meet the ball in passing and had the net shaking before anyone had gathered their wits.

This was the push Down needed, and five minutes later, Charlie McMullan crashed home a goal direct from a 21 yard free. With one minute left, they had no worries, it was all nicely sealed up.

Over the past few matches leading up to this wonderful victory, I have . given the players as individuals a great deal of credit. Of course, they deserve it, but this time, I’m not going to pick out any particular member or members of the team. I feel that a few of the hard-working officials behind the team should steal the lime-light this time.

First and foremost, those two hurling-on-the-brain curates, Fr. O’Hanlon of Portaferry and Fr. Connolly from Nuns Quarter, must be given due credit.

Without the help,  drive, determination and enthusiasm of Belfast born Fr O’Hanlon, the Portaferry Club could not possibly be in the strong position that it is in today. Portaferry has always been the centre of hurling in the Ards but it still takes a lot to get things moving.

I know I speak for all hurling followers when I hand a “king size” thank you to Fr O’Hanlon.

Fr Connolly from Ballycran cannot be forgotten either  – both himself and Fr O’Hanlon have always been on the move following the game here and there.

County Hurling Board chain George McKeown, who has followed up the team “through thick thin” also deserves special mention.

Joe Mullan (secretary) Walter Moreland (treasurer) must be rewarded for their exceptional well-organised arrangements for the trip.

At the same time, something would be missing if we left out the players. Aidan Faloona, from Portaferry, nineteen years old, kept goals on Sunday last, with one goal being scored.

Paddy Braniff, 24-year-old Ballygalget man, showed plenty of pace and coolness in the first half, was replaced early in the second half by Newtownards man Pat McGrattan, who in turn weathered the storm very well.

Full back Hugo O’Prey from Ballycran was  never in trouble. On Hugo’s right was safe and sound Davy Gilmore. Although given tough time by Tony Gordon (Galway), he always kept the head.

Brother Frank, at left half-back never put a foot wrong the whole hour. He stuck close to his man and literally blotted out his London opposite number. Hugh Dorrian was undoubtedly the mainstay of the defence at centre-half back. It was from this position that many of the attacks were set up.

Club-mate Willie Smith gave good support to roving mid-fielder Eugene Faloona who literally ran himself out. He played with splendid determination and always followed up every ball.

Perhaps the smallness of the pitch at New Eltham prevented him from scoring as there were a large number of sideline balls.

Padraig Braniff, the 17-year-old flyer was getting it tough at mid field but he stuck to his man, Larry Murphy from Wexford The half-forward line was the line that got the scores.

At half time George Gilmore was brought on instead of Sean Savage who had slowed down a bit.

Charlie McMullan, 23-year-ol< captain and leading scorer on the day showed him worth his usual centre-three-quarter berth. Or Charlie’s right was Danny Crawford and in Portaferry on Sunday night, everyone was hailing him as the man o: the match.

Only one main in the full-forward line got a score and that was a goal by top of the left full forward Seamus Fitzgerald, back with a bang out of retirement.

Hughie Sloan, surprisingly enough, did not figure on the score sheet

Last but not least, we have John McGivern from the Clann Ulaidh 31ub in Newry. McGivern was lifted shoulder high on Sunday night in Portaferry. The small pitch hindered him, because, he, as a wing forward, needs plenty of room tc position himself.

To sum up, only for some quick thinking on behalf of the selectors we would be without that trophy to-day. A quick switch was mad about mid-field and this immediately resulted in Fitzgerald’s goal.

THE WELCOME HOME

Wild scenes as the Hurling Heroes return

The Down junior Hurling team was mobbed on Sunday when they returned home after winning the All-Ireland “away ” final in London.   This is the fist time in history that Down have won the award (Writes Cuchulainn).

Nevtownards greeting
From approximately 10.30, cars began to gather on the Belfast Rd. outside Newtownards. By the time the hurlers arrived at about 11.30, there were about 50 cars waiting for them.

Wlen the team did arrive a tremendous cheer went up, and the peope who had gathered to see the victorious side surged towards the Portaferry club bus in which the team was travelling.

Team Captain Charlie McMullan from Portaferry was hustled out of the car in which he was travelling and was presented by a beautifully decorated hurling stick by the members of Scrabo Haprs GAC, Newtownards.

After the presentation, the bus and the long motorcade set off towards Conway Square, where anotfier contingent was awaiting their arrival. When this had been cleared up, the long line set off down the Portaferry Road.

Countless cars
When the team reached Nuns Quaiter, they were met by two decorated lorries and countless more cars. The team transferred to one of the lorries and as many supporters as possible piled into the other one and so off they went again.

Just to show the length of the cavalcade, when the leading lorry was leaving Kircubbinon, the tail-enders were just leaving Nuns Quarter.

When the team reached Portaferry they were greeted by wild scenes of enthusiasm. There was not in inch of The Square left available. The massive throng had prized every possible vantage point. As the team entered The Square on the lorry, fireworks were set off and rockets lit up the night sky. The crowd, estimated at about eight or nine hundred, ran forward to meet the heroes.

Mr. Joe Muilan, county secretary, told the crowds : “To-night, you are watching history. This is something to tell your descendants about thirty or forty years from thought hurling was dead. This proves it isn’t. Joe held up the cup, more fireworks . went off and everyone cheered.

Achievement
Mr. Alf Murray, prsident of the Gaelic Athletic Association, commenting on the Down Hurlers victory, said : “First of all, I would like to say how pleased I was when I received the good newrs from London. I regard this as an achievement parallel to Down’s first senior football title in 1960, and I hope that this will be the means of spreading hurling throughout Down.

“I’m particularly pleased,” he continued, “that it should happen this year, because we have a hurling scheme prepared which will be presented to the central council at the next meeting at the end of the month.

“This is the most expensive attempt at the ‘revival’ of hurling yet in the weaker counties and cer¬tainly, this great achievement should give it a good send-off. Of course, it will also let the other counties see what enthusiasm and determination can do.”