Sunday 19th August – the rain stayed away and the crowd turned out in force. It was a great day! Proceedings got underway at 4pm with the ‘Join In’ Sports for all – the obstacle race (organised by Shereen) was very popular as was the improvised One-wall Handball (Sean McNally), Long Puck (Paul McCusker) and Football skills (Aidan and Collie). Then everybody moved up to the new pitch for the mini games – U8 Football (Clonduff v Kilcoo) refereed by Young Ref Mark Devlin; U14 Camogie (Clonduff v Kilcoo – though which was which was hard to tell); U10 Hurling (Clonduff v Warrenpoint) refereed by Young Ref Martin Rooney; U12 Ladies Football (Clonduff v Rostrevor) refereed by Young Ref Sarah Bloomfield. These four games were representative of the 30+ teams fielded in Clonduff were a great spectacle and a fitting way to open the formal proceedings!
The formalities began shortly after 7pm – Jerry Quinn (Clonduff GAA Club PRO) introduced the Platform Party – Oliver Galligan (Ulster Council) Seamus Walsh (Down Co Chair), Sean Óg McAteer (Co Secretary), Michael McArdle (South Down Chair), Deirdre McGrath (Co Camogie Chair), Paul Kelly (Ladies Football Co Chair), Mayor John McArdle (Newry & Mourne District Council), Damien McConville (Sport NI), Fr Jarlath Cushenan (Clonduff PP), Dean Anthony Davies (Clonduff GAA President) and Brendan Murray (Clonduff GAA Club Chair). Jerry also welcomed the visitors from the other clubs in Down who turned out in numbers as well as representatives of McAvoy Construction who had ‘created’ the new pitch and Mr and Mrs Brendan O’Hagan, Claregalway (Brendan is son of the late Great Patsy O’Hagan) who had travelled up especially for the occasion.
There were short speeches by Oliver, Seamus, Michael and Brendan before the Blessing carried out by Dean Davies and Fr Cushenan. The Party then moved to the entrance to the field for the cutting of the tape (Oliver and Seamus) before returning to the platform where Damien performed the ‘Switching On’ ceremony.
The ‘main event’ then got under way with the Ross Carr Select taking on the Clonduff Senior Football team under the scrutiny of Clonduff’s inter-county referee Ciarán Branagan. Whilst the official result was a draw (a bit suspect perhaps) the result, like in the mini games was unimportant – the players had a lot of fun and the spectators were treated to a ‘now and then’ spectacle. Mickey Linden, DJ Kane, Tony McEntee, Ross, Cathal, Peter Withnell among others still can show the ‘youngsters’ how it’s done! Johnny McAleavey in goals, Plunkett and John Morgan in Midfield wouldn’t go amiss in any Clonduff team but the highlight of the day had to be Martin Farnon (current Senior Football Selector and a member of the 1980 Clonduff Championship winning team) taking to the field! No doubt a sight to behold!
Refreshments for all were served in the clubrooms and the ‘Early Bird’ draw in the ‘Friends of Clonduff’ draw took place and this was won by Ciarán Cranny of Newry who bought his ticket from Roisin McConville who to date has sold over 200 tickets. (The next draw will take place at the 125 Banquet on 4th November before the major draw on 12/12/12).
Clonduff GAA Club sincerely thanks all those, past and present, who played a part in the day’s proceedings, all those who helped in the organisation, all those who attended and all those who sold tickets for the draw! Roll on the 125 Banquet which takes place on 4th November! See you all there!
The Platform Party at the cutting of the tape are: (l to r) Fr J Cushenan PP, Michael McArdle, Dean A Davies, Seamus Walsh, Brendan Murray, Mayor John McArdle, Oliver Galligan, Sean Óg McAteer, Damien McConville and Jerry Quinn.
