Dalsey Mooney was one of Clonduff’s finest young players and actually captained Down Minors to their first ever All Ireland Final appearance in 1966. He was a great exponent of the ‘Sevens’ which were extremely popular in the County at the time – he was the scorer-in-chief when Clonduff collected the Senior Sevens title in 1967. A career changing injury cut short Dalsey’s Senior playing days but he became one of the most valuable volunteers in Clonduff Club – juvenile coach, Lotto, Social Club including ‘Head Chef’, carnival, field, Executive – to mention just a few but in truth there was no job beyond Dalsey’s capabilities or his call until his untimely death in August 2015. He was inducted into Clonduff’s ‘Hall of Fame’ in 2014.Dalsey’s family and Club wished to preserve his name in Clonduff Club life and an annual Sevens Tournament was the outcome, initially at Senior level but this didn’t work out as there were too many other commitments, and the U20 trial period had the same result. Covid intervened and the Tournament wasn’t played since 2019. Family and Club got together earlier this year and decided that perhaps an U13 end-of-season event was the way to go, with all abilities catered for by inaugurating a Shield and Plaque competition. This took place on Sunday 25th September 2022 and what a success it turned out to be! 17 teams from across Down and couple from Armagh converged on Clonduff Park on the Sunday morning to showcase their skills in the small-sided game!
Many thanks to our Youth Officer Mark Devlin who organised and coordinated the event; the club referees and past and present players who took charge of the seven pitches across the club’s three fields; the young Clonduff players who acted as umpires and ‘runners’; the parents who supplied the food and looked after the refreshments; the Cairns Family in the club shop; and of course to the Mooney Family themselves – Dalsey’s wife Eileen, his daughter Elaine and grandchildren Thomas and Aimee attended and presided over the prizegiving with Eileen speaking on behalf of the family and providing the most amazing home-made apple tarts. Club chair, Padraig Matthews spoke of Dalsey’s contribution in Clonduff and outlined his various achievements. He especially thanked those clubs who attended and everyone who helped in any way.
A special word of thanks to the volunteers who remained after the event to clean up and get the pitch ready for the U14 LGFA Championship game which followed the tournament.
In the end, the three finals were played simultaneously on the three pitches on the main field and the results were as follows:
Plaque – Mayobridge Ógs defeated Bredagh Ógs
Shield – Rostrevor defeated Crossmaglen Ógs
Cup – Clonduff Gaels defeated Bredagh Gaels
It was undoubtedly a resounding success with all agreeing that this age group and the timing in the Club Calendar was where the ‘permanent home’ of The Dalsey Mooney Cup belonged! Well done to all involved!
The Cup winning Clonduff team were: Back row (l-r): Stephen Branagan (Coach), Dara Ward, Aodhan Maginn, Eoin Crosbie, Jimmie Haughey, Niall Murtagh, Christopher Brannigan, James Matthews. Ciarán Crosbie (Coach); Front row (l-r): Paudie Matthews (Coach), Luca McLogan, Ruairi McCaffrey, Callum Branagan, Stephen McConville (Coach)
Clonduff Gaels and mentors – the inaugural winners of the U13 Dalsey Mooney Cup
