Hurling stars honour the Hunger Strikers

BY PEADAR WHELAN

Ryan O'Dwyer off-loads the ball

ALTHOUGH it didn’t have the intensity of a Munster Hurling Final, the game in Belfast between a St Teresa’s Select and Kevin Lynch’s Select on Saturday 8th October in honour of St Teresa’s clubmen and Hunger Strikers Joe McDonnell and Kieran Doherty was a game of great passion and hurling skill.

The game, orgainsed by St Teresa’s to honour their members who died on hunger strike in 1981, also honoured Kevin Lynch as the Derry club donated their colours for the game which was played at Pairc MhicDhomhnaill/ÚiDhoctairtigh on the Glen Road.

In a great coup for the club, Munster hurling heroes Donal Óg Cusack and Padraig Maher travelled from the southern province to be part of what was a great occasion.

Cusack and Maher, who play for Cork and Tipperary respectively, are hurling legends and their contribution to the challenge match was immense.

Dublin maestro Ryan O’Dwyer showed well and his contribution demonstrated just why Dublin are making the progress they are.

Stars from across the North also turned out, bringing a great sense of occasion and camaraderie to the game.

Goalmouth scramble

Current stars from Antrim such as Shane McNaughton of the Ruairi Óg club in Cushendall and Neal McAuley and Cormac Donnelly from Ballycastle joined veteran county stickmen Terence McNaughton, Gregory O’Kane, Gary O’Kane, Ger Rogan, Jackie Carson and Jim Connolly.

Derry was represented by former Lavey great Ollie Collins. Unfortunately, Kevin Lynch’s were scheduled to play in the Ulster semi-final on Sunday 9th in Belfast’s Casement Park, meaning the club named after the Derry Hunger Striker couldn’t be represented, while Down was represented by Danny Hughes and Noel Sands.

The game itself was a real treat of hurling. Despite the horrendous weather, with constant rain all week putting the fixture in doubt, the pitch held up and the players managed the conditions brilliantly.

The young St Teresa’s players taking the field in the company of some of Ulster’s hurling greats, as well as the Munster men (there were five in all!) was an experience they will never forget.

Philly Maguire, a Glen Road stalwart, beat Donal Óg all ends up with a thunderous shot only to see his strike come off the bar. (His team mates would never have heard the end of it had he scored).

As with all these games, some of the tactics can be a bit dubious.

Ger Rogan, sat for the whole of the second half on the subs bench except when he walked across the line to receive some of Donal Óg’s famous short puck-outs which Rogie promptly dispatched to the opposition 21 before retiring to the bench.

After the game, Donal Óg made a presentation of specially commissioned St Teresa’s jerseys to representatives of the Hunger Strikers’ families.

Joe McDonnell’s wife Goretti and daughter Bernadette were present, as were Joe’s brother Paul and sister Maura.

Michael Doherty represented the Doherty family.

That Saturday was a significant day for St Teresa’s and many thanks go to those who made it happen, especially Seán McGuinness, a pillar of Ulster, Antrim and Down hurling; also Mickey ‘The Wing’ McCullough, who worked tirelessly.

And the day was everything it was because so many top hurlers gave of their time and effort.

Thank you.