It was with heavy hearts we returned to Emmet Park on Friday evening last for our first activity’s since the tragic death of Terry McCormack, when our junior B team welcomed Kenagh to Clonee for a league game at 8.30p.m. In a fitting tribute to Terry both teams observed a minutes silence before throw in as did our senior ladies and men’s panels who were training on the other two pitches. Not a sound was to be heard as all players, mentors and supporters within the ground stood silent in honour of Terry, poignantly at about the time he passed away the previous Friday. And then the game began. In a game very fitting of Terry’s memory, it was end to end stuff with plenty of tussles and arguments, rumbles and tumbles, heart, skill and scores a plenty. In a wide open game that swung each way and back, we finally emerged victorious at the bitter end by the narrowest of margins on a final score of Kenagh 4-9, Emmet Og 3-13. It was a game Terry would have thoroughly enjoyed playing in or watching as it had everything he enjoyed in Gaelic football, a fitting way to get the show back on the road.
Following Terry’s funeral we wish to sincerely thank all who helped out in any way before and during the ceremony. A special thank you to local farmers who gave their fields for car parking and all who gave of their time to provide their services as stewards, caterers, etc and all who so respectfully provided the guard of honour.
As we awaited Terrys funeral we heard of further bad news from New York City with the death of another member of our 1960 championship winning team Joe ‘Gurdy’ Quinn. Although many miles away ‘Gurdy’ was still a regular visitor to Killoe and was always on hand to celebrate recent achievements. After success with Emmet Òg in 1960, ‘Gurdy’ and many of his team mates headed for New York where in 1962 ‘Gurdy’, Fr. Liam Quinn and Mickey Bracken were all members of the Longford team that won the New York Junior championship, defeating cork in the final. Also on that panel from Killoe were Jimmy Quinn, Vincent Igoe, Joe Kelly, John Kiernan and Paddy Armstrong so ‘Gurdy’ was part of a big Killoe contingent playing football in New York at the time. To Joe’s family we offer our deepest sympathy.
Hard luck to the Longford team, especially Mickey and Cian on their defeat in Croke Park on Sunday.
We are glad to hear that despite the tragic earthquake in Nepal on Saturday last, our own Paul Devaney who was half way up Mount Everest at the time is safe and sound. We send Paul every good wish in what ever the remainder of the adventure holds for him and hope to see him home safe and sound before long.
This coming weekend our senior team return to league action when we travel to The Laurels to face St. Columba’s on Saturday evening. Throw in is at 5pm. On Sunday our junior team are at home to Granard in round 3 of the league at 2pm while on bank holiday Monday our junior reserve team travel to Ballinalee to face Sean Connolly’s at 2pm.
The school astro turf fundraiser ‘The Kube’ which was cancelled last week end as a mark of respect to Terry McCormack will take place this coming Saturday night in the Longford Arms at 8pm. We urge all our followers to support this event and wish the organising committee every success with it.
Please bear in mind that we are taking part in the Topaz ‘cash For clubs’ fundraiser which is currently on-going. The closing date for this great fundraiser is mid May and we need at least 300 completed cards to take part. We ask anyone with completed cards to return them to Thomas Quinn or any club member. Still lots of time to complete a card, simply by purchasing your fuel through your local topaz garage.
Our lotto draw was also cancelled last week and a double draw took place this weekend in Begleys on Sunday night. The numbers drawn were 8, 15, 21 and 27. There was no jackpot winner. €20 winners were Rory Cullen, Esker, Eugene Murphy, Seamus Nolan, Sinead Donohoe, Kelleter, Paddy Rowley, Dooroc, Paddy Corrigan, Killoe, mattie Clarke, Ohill, Pat Maguire, Granard, Ellen Brady, Boher and John O Leary. Sellers prizes went to Darina McGoldrick and Bernard Brady. Next weeks jackpot reaches €3,500 with the draw in the Olde Forge on Sunday night.
Finally we wish to extend our sympathies to the Brady family, Drumlish on the death of Gerry last week.
