As part of the ongoing celebrations to mark the 125th Anniversary of the Clonduff GAA Club a party of players and supporters departed Hilltown at 9am on Saturday morning 31st March to Sunday 1st April – some by bus and some in cars to Claregalway – the home club of the late Patsy O’Hagan (RIP) – Patsy, a Clonduff and Down Great was a founding member of the Claregalway Football Club.
All four field sports were represented and games for each were organised by the host club. The Hurlers and the Camogs played their games on Saturday afternoon but the visitors lost narrowly in hard fought games in both codes. Then it was on to the Galway League game when Claregalway hosted Moycullen in the first League game of the year – Claregalway won by six points.
On Saturday night the whole contingent was treated to a great reception – food and entertainment in The Arches Hotel. the Clonduff Chairman, Brendan Murray handed over a magnificent locally sourced Mourne granite sculpture to mark the occasion and issued an invite to Claregalway – for a return visit to Clonduff in 2013. It was instantly accepted. Brendan is pictured above exchanging mementos with Claregalway Officers – Tom Clarke (Chairperson), Tom Lenihan (President) and John Feeney (Secretary). (Photo courtesy of Francis Quinn)
On Sunday morning the Clonduff contingent attended Patsy’s Anniversary Mass and visited his grave, where Clonduff Captain, John Fegan laid a spray of flowers as a mark of respect to Patsy before heading off to the pitch for the the Ladies and Men’s Football matches with their local counterparts – the Ladies lost but the men won and received the new Patsy O’Hagan Memorial Cup. To mark the occasion, the Claregalway team lined out in the Down strip, kindly lent by County Board for the weekend. Patsy’s two grandson’s wore the numbers that Patsy won his two All Irelands in – Danny Cummins, a current member of the Galway team wore 14 and Colm O’Hagan wore 5.
Brendan Murray was a very proud bearer of the cup from Claregalway to Clonduff and his first stop was with ‘The Darner’ – Patsy’s brother John.
The results over the two days were unimportant on such a weekend! The occasion was very special and one that will live long in the memory of all those who were privileged to be part of the inaugural Patsy O’Hagan Weekend – a very fitting tribute indeed to a great son of Clonduff!
A special word of thanks to all those who travelled but especially to the players and mentors who were a credit to themselves, their families and Clonduff GAA Club! Lots of photos to come! Below, Brendan O’Hagan (Patsy’s son) presenting the Patsy O’Hagan Memorial cup to Clonduff Captain John Fegan (photo courtesy of Sheenagh McConville).
