A Little Gaelic Football Team
That Just Keeps Winning
DERRY - The Eoghan Rua Gaelic Football Team will make history on March 10, when they play in the All Ireland Intermediate Final in Croke Park, Dublin. They have also won the Derry Intermediate Championship and Ulster Intermediate Championship. In a very short time, this team has become the shining lights of Ulster.
 |
|
THE EOGHAN RUA Gaelic Football Team (L-R) Back: Sean McGoldrick (Manager), Davy O'Kane, Niall Holly, Dennis Frizelle, Frank Diamond, Mark Mearns, Leo Sweeney, Paddy Burns, Richard Carey, Andrew Davidson, Mark McTaggart, Keith Farren, Fergal Mullan, Bernard Mullan, Pat Cassidy, Ryan McGeough, Sean McLaughlin (Manager), Aidan Mullan. Front: Jane Carey (Physio), Cormac Trolan, Ciaran Mullan, Sean Leo McGoldrick, Ciaran Lenehan, Anton Rafferty, Barry McGoldrick, Sean Paul Henry, Kieran Lagan, Ciaran McGoldrick, Marty McGonigle, Declan Mullan, Seamie Toman, Kevin McCarry, Emlyn Corbett.
|
What's amazing about this team is that they have been playing for 50 years without club rooms or a pitch to call their own. They have survived through pure grit and dedication on the part of the management, players and families, who run a weekly lottery to keep the club afloat.
Eoghan Rua are based in the "Triangle" of Coleraine, Portstewart and Portrush, straddling the Derry/Antrim border. The club's name is taken from Owen Roe - Eoghan Rua O Neill.
I recently spoke with Adrian Lagan, who is the president of the Calgary, Alberta Chieftains Gaelic Football Club. Prior to moving to Calgary, Adrian was captain of the Eoghan Rua Team when they won their first Senior Men's Championship in 1997.
"'When you think that this club has no facilities of their own, and the success they have achieved, it's mind boggling," said Adrian said. "Another amazing thing is that Coleraine is a soccer and rugby stronghold with the majority of the town being non-Catholic.
"The Gaelic would be more synonymous with south Derry and the smaller parishes such as Lavey, Slaughneill, Dungiven and Bellaghy. These clubs have tasted success on the bigger stage before.
"But this year Eoghan Rua have moved up a step and won the Intermediate Derry Club Championship at senior level. They defeated the best in Ulster, beat the Connaught champions in the All Ireland semi final, and now play against Ardfert from Kerry in the All Ireland final this March. And, if they are successful, then on March 10, they will be All Ireland champions in the Intermediate division of all Ireland. I am also very proud to say that my brother, Kieran is the captain of the team."
For more information about Eoghan Rua, visit their website at: www.eoghanrua.com.
|
