Ballinamore club notes
Ballinamore club notes
October 11, 2022
Ballinamore Club Notes
Aindrias Ó Dubhthaigh (Andy Duffy) RIP)
Brón ar an mbás, sé dubh mo croíse
A great sadness has fallen on the Ballinamore Seán O’Heslin’s GAA club this morning with the news of the death of Andy Duffy. An iconic figure in the club for the past forty years, whether it was serving as Cathaoirleach or Rúnaí, or checking tickets on Lotto night.
Andy’s life revolved around two things, his beloved Mayo and his equally beloved Seán O’Heslin’s. He was one of Mayo’s most loyal supporters and it didn’t matter whether they lost nine or ten All Ireland Finals, he would be in Tralee or Ballybofey for their next League match. His car would be gone in the early morning, but he would always be back for Prior’s or Lawrences that same night.
Andy was Secretary of Ballinamore Seán O’Heslins for a thirteen-year period 1986 – 1998, during which time the club won three Senior Football titles. Those were the days when the Secretary would also act as a selector. He was one of only four clubmen to fill the role of both Chairman and Secretary at different times, the others being Brendan Kieran, Brendan Burns and Alan Banks. Andy was club Chairman from 2002-2004. He knew every detail about the club’s successes, even for the years long before his involvement.
One of Andy’s most memorable successes in GAA terms, it wasn’t on the football of play at all, but in the Gleneagle Hotel in Killarney in 2002, when he was part of the club’s team which won the All Ireland Scór Tráth na gCeist. After more than 20 years of competing in Scór, the team of Andy Duffy, Seán Ó Súilleabháin and Walter Sharpley took the title. Andy was well-read on a variety of subjects, and he had a great interest in taking part in table quizzes of any sort.
A native of Kilmovee, Co Mayo, Andy attended St Nathy’s College, Ballaghadereen as a boarder. His family moved to near Mullingar, but Andy remained a Mayo man all his life. He attended forestry college in Kinnity, Co Offaly for one year and then spent three years in the college at Shelton Abbey, near Arklow. It was here he first took on an officer position in the GAA as secretary of the Forestry College team.
Fear go raibh an spéis aige sa Ghaeilge, agus b’fhearr leis i gcónaí a ainm mar Aindrias Ó Dubhthaigh.
Andy’s most significant intervention on behalf of the club came in the early 2000s when it was proposed to move away from the current pitch, due to persistent flooding. Andy offered to personally fund the investigation of a pumping system to stem the flooding. This was the catalyst which led to the development of the current facilities.
In latter years, Andy assisted the club in many ways, selling lotto tickets in his favourite pubs, sorting the envelopes on lotto night and filling in numerous tickets for his nephews and nieces in Gaybrook, Mullingar or Ballycumber, Co Offaly. Andy was generous with his time and money for any GAA cause.
Despite failing health, one of Andy’s last jobs was hoisting the tricolour and club flags on the day of a big match in Páirc Sheáin Uí Eislin. Andy had a box in the porch with flags of every conceivable combination of colours, ready for any occasion.
Today, the tricolour flies at half mast at his beloved Páirc Sheáin Uí Eislin in memory of one of the club’s greatest and most memorable administrators – Aindrias Ó Dubhthaigh, go mbeidh leaba i measc na naomh agat, a fhir uasail.
The club extends sympathy to Andy’s sister, Mary Kavanagh, Ballycumber, Co Offaly and his brother Martin, Gaybrook, Mullingar and their extended families.
On Sunday evening we said goodbye to Andy Duffy as he started his final journey to his eternal rest. Andy was one of the great Ballinamore men, past present and future and it was a fitting tribute that so many were in attendance to pay their respects and to form a guard of honour. As Andy left Smiths funeral home club members from our underage right up to senior including our senior ladies who had just returned to town from their final lined the streets alongside Andy’s friends, former and
current club officers and players from years gone by gathered together to pay their respects. The cortège made its way down the town where more people came out to say goodbye. At the bottom of the town as Andy left Ballinamore for one last journey those in attendance spontaneously erupted into applause. A fitting tribute for a great Ballinamore man.
Senior Ladies
On Sunday our ladies took to the field in their second final appearance in a week, this time in the A Championship final. It was a difficult day for football with heavy rain and wind making conditions difficult. The ladies put in a supreme effort after conceding an early goal to go in leading at half time 2:06 to 1:04. In the second half we conceded early and had to start chasing the game with the girls working very hard in such heavy conditions. Unfortunately, despite the effort we were to lose by 5 points. As a club we would like to thank the team and management, they have worked so hard this year and have given their all, we thank them for their dedication and spirit and hope they can comeback stronger next season, the players have been a great inspiration to all the young players in the club none more so than with our u10 and u12 girls teams who formed a guard of honour for their team mates as they entered the field. The dedication from these players in supporting our underage is second to none and we thank them and wish them well for next season
MacDiarmada Gaels
Our U17 lads will be in final action this Sunday at 1300 in the curtain raiser to the Senior final. This match promises to be a fantastic occasion against a formidable St Mary team. Hopefully as many of you as possible can make your way to Pairc Sean to cheer the lads on, they certainly deserve their place in the final and it would be brilliant to have a good attendance to spur them on.
Well done to our u13 lads who were in action in the Leitrim skills challenge in the Connacht Airdome. We sent three teams of four players to take part and there was 17 teams in action with 4 places up for grabs to represent Leitrim in the Connacht finals in two weeks. All our players did brilliantly with two of our teams winning through along with a team from Rinn Gaels and one from Annaduf. One of our teams won the tournament out right and consisted of Sean Curran, Diarmuid Prior, Eoin Phillips and Colton Quinn. The second team to go through had Jacob McTague, Senan Lee, Luke Maguire and Charlie Van Der Laan in action. Our final team of Robbie Prior, Stephen Kellett, Liam Harte and Glenn McKeague narrowly missed out on a clean sweep. Well done to all the players and mentors it was a brilliant experience and best of luck to the lads that will be pulling on the green and gold to represent Leitrim in two weeks