THE OUTSTANDING event of the weekend was the presentation of All Ireland and Leinster medals to our great ladies football team. That event took place in Tulfarris House on Saturday night. It was an unforgettable night for all lucky enough to be present. (See full report elsewhere).

Another cracking good match in the MHC replay on Sunday. In the end the Bray side were thwarted of victory and a four-in-a-row by the narrowest of narrow margins. However everyone in the seaside town have good reason to be proud of this fine team. Our congratulations to new champions Glenealy who certainly had to win this the hard way. Above all it does appear that hurling is safe, at least in two clubs in Wicklow, for a long time to come.

Leinster Final

The big event on the coming weekend is the Leinster IFC Final in Aughrim on Sunday. It's not often that Wicklow gets the chance to host a Leinster final at this level so we can look forward to a big crowd at our county grounds - and good luck to the brave footballers from Eire Og Greystones as they bid to become the first Wicklow team to lift this cup.

First St. Mary's team

This is a subject we are finding it hard to get away from. In fact we are predicting here and now that this Karl O'dwyer trained group team, and even the one that brought the first silverware to that part of South Wicklow 66 years earlier, will be debated when most of us will be growing the daisies. We will start this week with some of the things the last seven days have thrown up.

Jim Kearns, a great Shillelagh Gael of yesteryear, filled us in on the first St Mary's team back in 1945 and gave us some of the connections with the new County Champions. First of all he corrected two mistakes I made last week. First Christy Murphy, father of present day mentor Tommy, was not full back on that team but corner back and Ned Lannigan's last gasp winner was a goal, not a point. When you hear the whole story the team of '45 was much closer to being a group team than the team of today - read on. First of all the line out was, according to Jim - Jimmy Grey: Christy Murphy, Jim Gartland (all Shillelagh), John Johnson (Coolboy); Kevin Mcdonald (Knockanatomcoyle), Myles Keogh, Tommy Timmons both (Killanure), Edward Lannigan (Shillelagh); Paddy Keogh (Killanure); Jimmy Price (Tinahely), Harry Mckeown, (Shillelagh), Martin Tobin (Coolboy); Edward Murphy, Tom Southern (Shillelagh) and Vincent Blake (Mullinacuff). The list of subs may not be complete but they include Paddy Southern, Fay Keogh, Jim Keogh, Brian Gartland and Peter Carroll. There are many connections between the two St Mary's teams.

Edward Murphy's son Patsy is one of the selectors and joint secretary with the present team. Paddy Keogh's son John is another of the selectors while his grandson Paddy Dalton was the captain of the team. Anthony Grey, not on the present team but the captain of the only Shillelagh team to bring an Intermediate championship to Shillelagh, is a nephew of the '45 goalie Jimmy Grey.

Transport, or more to the point, the lack of it was a major problem in wartime conditions. Vincent Blake once told me about cycling to Aughrim for that final in 1945 - lucky blokes to have bicycles was my gut feeling - remember we told you some time ago about a Rathdangan team who were in a junior final a year before that, in 1944 and after a canvass of the area could only come up with enough bikes to give out one between every three players.

Now how about this for dedication - Edward Murphy, father of the present secretary and selector Patsy was in the army at the time and was stationed in the Glen of Imaal. He had no bike but walked to Aughrim for that final and walked home again afterwards.

Another story I heard about wartime conditions is also about the Murphy family. Edward and Christy, it appears had only one pair of football boots between them - but that caused no problems. Christy kicked with the right and Ed with the left. And while we're at it, I met a man this week who claimed that when Ned Lannigan kicked that winning goal in the final of '45 he actually took the kick in his stocking feet.

The O'dwyer connection

Of all the connections with the team of today the most amazing one has to be a connection with the O'dwyer family of Waterville in the County Kerry. The right half back on the team was Kevin Mcdonald from Knochatomcoyle. He was married to Vincint Blake's sister Maureen but he died young. Maureen then met and married a man from Waterville, Co Kerry, Mick Clifford who now turns out to be a cousin of Mick O'dwyer and of course also of the man who master minded the ambush of Rathnew, Karl O'dwyer. Mick Clifford passed away some years ago and is buried in Kilquiggan cemetery, right in the heart of St Mary's country. And of course Vincent's wife, still hale and hearty, is a Keogh of Kilinure and a grand aunt of Paddy Dalton. So it now transpires that Karl O'dwyer has quite a few relations through marriage in that general area.

As they say 'this is a small world'.

Hurling in the west

We are still unable to find the space to complete the story of hurling in the west which we started some weeks ago but it is something that is near and dear to my heart so you can bet that I will find the space sooner or later. I have been to a number of presentation nights in the West recently and in places like Blessington, Dunlavin and Rathdangan I was pleased to see hurling medals being presented so the game is not dead in the area just yet.

Where are they now?

This is an email I received too late for last week's corner. "Hello Peter. My name is Philip Ryall from Valleymount. I am 12 years old. The hurling team from the 1970's is Valleymount hurling team. The names are back row: Mick Nolan, Larry Miley, Peter Bean, Liam Reid, Amby Miley, John Geoghan, John Reid, Amby Miley [Carricurra] don't know the next person and next is Pat Reid. Front row is Aiden O'sullivan, Anthony Geoghan, Pat Geoghan, Jack Halpin, Sean O'sullivan, Sean Pender, Mick Geoghan, Patsy O'brien, Peter Geoghan, Peter Byrne. Hope I am correct, thank you Philip".

Thanks for that Philip, you are not the only one that doesn't know the man second from the right in the back row. Mick Nolan named him as Ciaran Kelly, the caption I got called him Ciaran Hayes. A slip of the pen perhaps, or a lapse of memory but on 'mature reflection'' could he have been one of the many blokes passing through West Wicklow on a Saturday night around that time, his luggage on his back and a hurley stick strapped to the crossbar of his bike. He stops to ask directions from a bunch of lads outside O'connor's Pub. A man over the team spots the hurley and gets chatting with the stranger, he is invited in for a pint and before he knows where he is a night's lodgings has been arranged and he ends up playing a hurling match the next day. Of course that story could apply to anywhere in the west from Kiltegan to Kilbride. They were trying to get hurling going in what was a purely football area and if a club produced a team there were no questions asked.

Shillelagh 1998

Chris O'connor, Pat Mitchell and a number of others were able to tell us that last week's team were wearing the two tone blue of Shillelagh, the same jerseys that were made famous when worn by St Mary's, the first group team to win the Wicklow senior football championship. However Declan Nolan was the first to give us all the names and the background story. This was the team that brought the first Intermediate football championship to the Coolattin country in 1998. Seven of that team survived to help St Mary's win the SFC 13 years later - and most of them not looking a day older.

They beat neighbours Tinahely in a great final in Arklow - 0-11 to 0-10.

The captain was Anthony Grey, a man who had come back from serious injury to lead his team to the top. Ironically his brother Mick had helped Tinahely win the JFC in 1969.

Grey played a captain's part throughout. The Byrne brothers were as prominent then as they are now - Stephen, although playing at centre back, was still one of the top scorers and with his brother Keith also popping over the points Shillelagh led by 0-5 to 0-3 at halftime. Even Paddy (Smokes), a teenager at the time, played an important role in that victory. Micky Murray was having a great game for Tinahely and was their top scorer. He brought the Reds back into the game but it was Ciaran Kenny (yes, the man who refereed this year's final) that scored the levelling point. With only minutes to go and a draw on the cards Vincent Blake made a solo run that opened up the defence for Keith Byrne to send over the winner. The Shillelagh scorers were - Keith Byrne 0-5; Stephen Byrne 0-3; Anthony Cullen, Frank Deegan and Ciaran Blake 0-1 each. The Tinahely scorers were - Micky Murray 0-4; Enda Kenny 0-3; Jimmy Mulhall, David O'neill and Ciaran Kenny 0-1 each.

One man staying very quite on the sideline that day was an old St Mary's player Vincent Blake, who had grandsons on both teams.

The sponsor then, as now, was Anthony D'arcy of D'arcy Sand and Gravel. And it was another of the long servers Mick Hagan that presented the Cup.

The men in the picture

Last week's team picture: Back row (l to r): Noel Murphy, Stephen Byrne, Frank Deegan, Alan Hennessy, Francis Simpson, Ray Murphy, Declan Nolan and Keith Byrne.

Front: Vincent Blake, Anthony Grey (capt), Paddy Byrne, Stephen Dagg, Ciaran Byrne, Anthony Cullen and Ciaran Blake. (Boy - Craig Kavanagh). Not in picture David Cullen.

Football in the West

John Stones is ploughing ahead in a bid to get winter football leagues going in the West again. He called a meeting for the new Clubhouse in Hollywood on Thursday and was very encouraged with the turn out. Eight of the ten clubs in the area were represented while one other sent apologies. So it does appear that there is support out there for the move.

John has now applied to the County Board for permission to run a League of some sort and he tells us that he has got a favourable response.

Another meeting has been called for Wednesday (tonight) in Hollywood, starting at 8 p.m.

Michael Dwyer's celebrate

What a night they had in the Seamus O'toole Memorial Hall in Rathdangan on Sunday when the young hurlers and footballers from the Michael Dwyers Club were receiving their medals. Guests of honour were members of the St Mary's team that won the county final. They brought along the Miley Cup and helped out with the presentation of the medals. Keith Byrne and Don Jackman, two of the big stars, presented the medals to the U14 football team that won the B Championship; Cathal Rossiter and Jim Cush made the presentations to the boys and girls from beginners up to U-10's

County hurling stars Liam Kennedy and Eoin O'neill were other honoured guests and they presented the U-12 and U-14 B championship medals while local stars Rory Finn and Liam Kavanagh were also involved in the presentations. Chairman Nigel Byrne and Secretary Christy O'toole were in charge of the arrangements; Nigel, who was MC for the night, thanked the players from Blessington, Stratford/grangecon, Hollywood and Dunlavin who helped out with the hurling. The Rathdangan ladies laid on refreshments for the over flow attendance.

The presentation of medals to the 8's and 10's Go Games took place place in St Tegan's Hall on Sunday evening.

St. Nicholas celebrate

The St Nicholas club, together with supporters, friends and invited guests assembled in the Imaal Hall, Dunlavin on Sunday to celebrate a great year which saw them bring home the Old IRA Cup - the prize for winning the Minor A Football Championship.

Chairman Ger Reid welcome invited guests, Tom Sherlock, Niamh Carroll, Emer Miley, Anne Marie Doran, John Mcgrath, Peter Keogh, Damien Byrne, Lucy Mooney, Pat Dunne and special guest Ger Brennan from the Dublin All Ireland winning team. MC for the night Jimmy Whittle introduced players from Wicklow Ladies Junior Team - Niamh Carroll, Emer Miley and Anne Marie Doran.

The action started with the presentation of the U-8/10 Hurling GO GAMES Medals by John Mcgrath followed by the presentation of U-12 Girls medals for U-12 C Championship by Emer Miley aided by mentors Vanessa Harney, Josephine Sinnott and Mary Whelan.

Next up was the presentation of scrolls by Anne Marie Doran to mentors of U14/16 teams - Josephine Sinnott and Mary Whelan. Presentation of girls U-14 Person of Year was made by Niamh Carroll.

Other presentation included girls U-14 Most improved Player of the Year, girls U16 Person of Year; girls U-16 Most improved Player of the Year

Damien Byrne, Chairman of Bord na nog, was one of the main speakers. He congratulated the mentors on a great year, the highlight of which was winning the Minor A Championship after a lapse of 18 years. The highlight of the night was the address by Ger Brennan, the centre half back on the Dublin All Ireland winning team. Ger made the presentations to the Minor, U-16 and U-14 teams and their mentors. Players from the Allen Cup and Daniels Cup teams and mentors also received presentations.

Stratford-grangcon presentation

Wexford's All Star hurler George O'connor was the guest of honour at the Stratford/grangecon presentation night in the Clubhouse on Saturday. Bord na nog Chairman Damien Byrne was among the other main speakers. (See full report in Club Notes).

- WITH PETER KEOGH