We had a new couple from the neighbourhood in for a game of cards tonight and chat turns to GAA matters as it always does in our house.
Well to cut a long story short this neighour of mine claims that the great Tom O'Hare who won a Senior Football All Ireland for Down in 1968 played for Burren. I alway thought he was a Mayobridge man.
I wasn't a 100% sure but my neighour is adamant that he played his football with Burren. He wanted to place a bet on who was right - I was having none of that I can tell you! (He doesn't know me very well obviously :D)
They seem like a nice couple. Tonight was the first time we've had them round for the evening. If it turns out he has been winding me up it could be the last. >:(
Quote from: Aristotle Flynn on February 09, 2008, 10:43:40 PM
We had a new couple from the neighbourhood in for a game of cards tonight
Strip poker by any chance? I'd say it was a fun evening.
I alway thought Tom O'Hare was from Burren but maybe he only lived in a caravan in that parish.
tom is from and played his football for mayobridge, take the bet! although he played for clonduff for a year cause the bridge never fielded for the year, his sons must have got the clonduff part of his football ;D
Francie Gallager was from mayobridge and played for burren at the same time tom played for clonduff. Francie won a championship with burren
Why don't you have a word with the poster on the board T O Hare asking where Tom O Hare is from!!!
Quote from: Aristotle Flynn on February 09, 2008, 10:43:40 PM
We had a new couple from the neighbourhood in for a game of cards tonight
Tonight was the first time we've had them round for the evening. If it turns out he has been winding me up it could be the last. >:(
Rumour has it that after the cards night they've now put their house up for sale
I've heard before that Tom O'Hare started and finished his career at Mayobridge, but for a few years in his prime was loaned out to Burren.
Definite he played for the yellows though i think he may have played for Drumgath as well at a time.
He never played for Burren at anytime.
Think he married a Hilltown woman and this was the factor - although listening to him now he hates them with a passion - mustnt have paid him or something!!
I always heard he was a Clonduff man who only joined Mayovbridge afer a row in the Clonduff club.
But it was my Da who told me that and he isn't great at getting history right.
Thank you gentlemen. It seems it isn't that clear. I'm glad I'm not a betting man.
He could have been from Mayobridge, but we now know that they didn't have a team in the 1960s so he played for Burren or Clonduff. Which was it; Burren or Clonduff?
What did it say in the match programme? In those days did it name the parish or the club?
Quote from: Aristotle Flynn on February 10, 2008, 09:47:47 PM
Thank you gentlemen. It seems it isn't that clear. I'm glad I'm not a betting man.
He could have been from Mayobridge, but we now know that they didn't have a team in the 1960s so he played for Burren or Clonduff. Which was it; Burren or Clonduff?
What did it say in the match programme? In those days did it name the parish or the club?
Go with this one and forget Burren.....
Quote from: spiritof91and94 on February 10, 2008, 08:44:44 PM
Definite he played for the yellows though i think he may have played for Drumgath as well at a time.
He never played for Burren at anytime.
Think he married a Hilltown woman and this was the factor - although listening to him now he hates them with a passion - mustnt have paid him or something!!
There's two sides to every story. Here's what Clonduff say.
Back in 1960s I'd say the registration system wasn't that great. Maybe all 3 clubs can claim him?
From the Clonduff boys.
Clonduff's All Ireland Achievements
Football
Junior Football
1946 Paddy Brown, Tom Brown, Eamon Grant, Henry Brown, Paddy O'Hagan Andy Murnin
Senior Football
1960 Kevin Mussen, PatsyO'Hagan
1961 Kevin Mussen, Patsy O'Hagan
1968 Tom O'Hare
1991 Ross Carr, Cathal Murray
1994 Ross Carr Cathal Murray, Paddy Hannaway Mark Matthews, Dominic Brannigan
Mayobridge went out of business for a few years in the 60's. When Tom won his All Ireland he was on the books at Clonduff. When the Bridge reformed he came home. I can say with some authority Tom was and is a Bridge man even though he had to play for Clonduff for a few years through no fault of his own.
Quote from: amallon on February 11, 2008, 09:55:46 AM
Mayobridge went out of business for a few years in the 60's. When Tom won his All Ireland he was on the books at Clonduff. When the Bridge reformed he came home. I can say with some authority Tom was and is a Bridge man even though he had to play for Clonduff for a few years through no fault of his own.
He must have a soft spot for the yellas in him somewhere though!!! The history books will say he was a clonduff man though in 1968...
All that matters is that the Celtic cross is hanging on the wall in St. Annes park, Mayobridge. Quit your stirring spirit! ;)
Quote from: amallon on February 11, 2008, 11:58:03 AM
All that matters is that the Celtic cross is hanging on the wall in St. Annes park, Mayobridge. Quit your stirring spirit! ;)
Does this mean Kevin Mussen & Neil Collins are Bryansford men as their Celtic Crosses are hanging on walls in Newcastle.... ???
Good come back spirit. I'll try another approach.
The man is Bridge born and bred. His family have been in the Bridge for generations. I challenge any person to go to him and ask him if he is a proud Clonduff man.
In 1964, Mayobridge fold with lack of manpower. Tom O'Hare who play his first game for Down in 1962 at Centre Half Forward against Rest of Ulster has join Clonduff in 1965 with Francis Coulter (Benny's father). Francis Gallagher RIP also joined Burren in same year. In 1967, All three came back to Bridge to play in Intermediate league. At that time Bridge, Burren and Warrenpoint were all in same parish named Clonallen.
In 1965 Down Senior Club final, Castlewelllan beat Clonduff with Tom O'Hare and Francis Coulter. also in that team, Pasty O'Hagan, brilliant young Dalsey Mooney, Stepehn Morgan, Dessie Monaghan and Mickey John McConville. Francis Coulter was known so scored more goals than points. Benny is not as deadly finisher as his father was!!
In 1966, Burren with Francis Gallagher at midfield won replay wth a low 2.02 against Kilwarlin 0.06.
No way that BIG TOM O'HARE played for Burren.
By the way, Tom display in 1968 All Ireland semi-final against Galway (who have won 3 in a row 64, 65 and 66) was best performance I ever seen
Spirit.. beings Toms nephew, i would have thought you would have clarified the question!!!!!!!!!!
Tom is a bridge man and a trustee and groundsman of club.. played for clonduff for a while but i think if you ask any yellow person , they would nt be rushing to stake a claim for him :)
and spirit, he dos nt hate any club, every club does hates ours!!!!
I just called Mr. Wonderful (born and bred a Clonduff man) and asked him about this. Tom O'Hare never played for Burren, he definitely played for Clonduff. Mr. Wonderful remembers him playing although he did say when Tom won the All-Ireland in 1968 he had returned to his native Mayobridge.
As far as Tom O'Hare hating the Yellas, forget about it. It's not true at all. In fact, one of his daughters is married to a Clonduff man and she's a very good friend of mine.
Mrs. redandblack4ever
Quote from: Aristotle Flynn on February 09, 2008, 10:43:40 PM
We had a new couple from the neighbourhood in for a game of cards tonight
Tonight was the first time we've had them round for the evening. If it turns out he has been winding me up it could be the last. >:(
Glad to see the Tom O'Hare issue has been sorted out for you. We're thinking of inviting our neighbours round for a game or two of Draughts on Saturday night. Are there any other GAA issues of this ilk that I might be abe to pre-brief myself on before they come round so that I don't get caught out like yourself?
Everyone happy now, cheers Umpire for the definitive story. I still want that 68 Galway game even more now. I've contacted both the RTE and BBC NI archives and haven't go any response yet.
aidan that was a great dvd.. did you do that yourself???
Yep, its handy enough done with the right software.
What do you have on DVD Amallon? If you were able to supply copies of the Down AI finals you could be a hero on this board! I know many posters would like copies.
Lecale managed to get me the 60's games on a set of DVD's. They included highlights of 60, 61 and the 68 Ulster final. Then the full 68 AI final. I've managed to get them all onto 1 DVD. It takes about half an hour to do a copy and my laptop has been burning flat out for over a week dishing out copies to feed the waiting list so if you are prepared to wait a week or so I can get you one done.