Priests playing football/hurling

ONeill · October 15, 2007, 07:12:45 AM

I was reading an article last week about a collared Galway hurler who won an All-Ireland at the start of the 80s. Are there many priests still togging out either at club or, doubtfully, county level? Who were the great playing clergy of the past?

(This is my 2nd attempt at this subject. The first was hijacked by a few posters who thought it was about the sexuality of priests - they can discuss that on the non-gaa if it tickles their fancy)

Declan · October 15, 2007, 07:19:34 AM

Quoteabout a collared Galway hurler who won an All-Ireland at the start of the 80s

Fr Iggy Clarke I presume?

With the fall off in vocations I'd say they are rarer than hens teeth nowadays

ONeill · October 15, 2007, 07:32:08 AM

Twas him, though I'm told he missed out on the '80 final through injury.

lemon125 · October 15, 2007, 10:03:24 AM

I know there was a Fr Andrew Friday who used to play in goals for Clonoulty/Rosmore in Tipperary, I think he even won a senior county championship with them.
If the priests did play with their local team I think it'd make more of the younger players go to mass as around our way, its all older and no younger... myself included

Greenabovethered · October 15, 2007, 10:10:57 AM

There's a priest who plays junior with Charlestown Sarsfields in Mayo. Corner forward is his preferred position. He's partial to taking a tumble now and again. He's got a vocabulary that a docker would be proud of.

Croí na hÉireann · October 15, 2007, 10:15:36 AM

Quote from: Declan on October 15, 2007, 07:19:34 AM
Quoteabout a collared Galway hurler who won an All-Ireland at the start of the 80s
Fr Iggy Clarke I presume?

Have his autograph at home somewhere, was the priest at my cousins wedding when I was a nipper, must see if I can root out me aul scrapbook...

Hoof Hearted · October 15, 2007, 10:21:17 AM

Frank Diamond played for lavey,bellaghy, glenn (co.down) and presently coleraine. was a sub in laveys AI club final in 1991 and played in coleraines AI intermediate club final defeat this march.

theskull1 · October 15, 2007, 10:27:53 AM

Quote from: ONeill on October 15, 2007, 07:12:45 AM
Are there many priests still togging out either at club or, doubtfully, county level?

(This is my 2nd attempt at this subject. The first was hijacked by a few posters who thought it was about the sexuality of priests - they can discuss that on the non-gaa if it tickles their fancy)

Thats unfair ONeill. Some people put suggestions forward in trying to answer your question above. I admit it turned into a slagging match but to say the thread was hijacked implied that the initial posts did not reference anything from the title thread. These discussions don't always go the way you want them too.

thebandit · October 15, 2007, 10:33:14 AM

Fr John Flanagan of Cremartin would have been the most recent in Monaghan - played up until 5 years ago

theskull1 · October 15, 2007, 10:54:46 AM

Don't know of any priests playing in Antrim these days.

Fr PJ MCCamphill played for Dunloy and Antrim in the 60's before going off to Africa. Have been told by many that he was a real classy act in his day
Still a die hard supporter after all this time away, who gets videos and newspaper reports posted out to him on a regular basis. When he's home saying mass, he gets a hurling reference into every one of his liturgies. A great man.

Denn Forever · October 15, 2007, 11:09:52 AM

Fr. Iggy Clkarke. Haven't heard that name for a while. Was he a man to be feared ala Silvie Linnane?

mouview · October 15, 2007, 11:35:44 AM

No,( Fr.) Iggy was an immensely stylish wing-back fondly held in high regard by all in Galway hurling circles who saw him play. He has since left the priesthood BTW. I think he also had a brother, Joe, who played and was a priest, though open to correction on this. In the 1963 AI final v Dublin (another one we shudda won by all accounts) the Galway keeper was Michael(?) Moore from Menlough, uncle of Cathal. He didn't play in the subsequent 3-in-a-row as he was studying for the priesthood, again I think.

prewtna · October 15, 2007, 01:51:50 PM

Quote from: Greenabovethered on October 15, 2007, 10:10:57 AM
There's a priest who plays junior with Charlestown Sarsfields in Mayo. Corner forward is his preferred position. He's partial to taking a tumble now and again. He's got a vocabulary that a docker would be proud of.

your right there! for his size he can create a right oul racket!!! prone to the odd dirty foul aswell (but sure we're all prone to that!). a sound man though.

bingobus · October 15, 2007, 02:04:54 PM

Quote from: thebandit on October 15, 2007, 10:33:14 AM
Fr John Flanagan of Cremartin would have been the most recent in Monaghan - played up until 5 years ago

Was talking to Fr John at a wedding on Saturday, he's in fine form. Was a handy CB and didn't take any prisoners. Was also a handy soccer player and very "competitive" in even a 5 a side.

Feckitt · October 15, 2007, 02:20:26 PM

Wasn't there a Christian Brother played for Meath in the early Nineties? Can't remember his name, was not a regular on the great team.