Summer league end of season awards night

Saturday night saw me headed for the Lilywhite Lounge in Oriel Park where the Dundalk Summer League Presentation Night was taking place and a good crowd had turned out specially for the awarding of the Fyffe's League trophy, Clancy Cup, CX Sports Cup, Fastfix McConville Cup, the Cullen Auto Parts Player of the Year and the Ollie Allen Hall of Fame internees.

I was only in the door when I met up with League secretary Gussy Hearty who was with chairperson Robbie Rafferty and committee members Joe Mellon and Brendan Scollon who told me they'd be honouring Brian Murphy, Patsy Cole and Stephen Maguire in the Hall of Fame later on.

I then headed over to a table where I met up with Stephen Woods from Muirhevnamor, Chris Caulfield from Clontigora Court, Gary Clarke and Mickey O'Kane both from Muirhevnamor who were with managers Peter McGinn and Conor Mulvenna both from Muirhevnamor who told me they were there to collect the awards for the League, McConville Cup and the CX Sports Cup telling me they have now won the McConville Cup a staggering 11 times!

They were sitting with Gerard and Kim Donegan, Andy McDermott all from Muirhevnamor and Sarah McStravick from Bay Estate who were looking forward to an excellent night together.

I then headed over for a chat with one of the Hall of Famers Patsy Cole from St. Malachys Villas who told me he played with Arsenal, Hearts and Border Legion in his time as well as playing professionally with Dundalk FC for a while too. He was delighted to be inducted and had some excellent photos of teams he had played on with him. He was accompanied by a very proud daughter the delightful Barbara Kane also from St. Malachys Villas.

Heading towards the bar I then met up with Maureen McGahon who told me she was representing Fyffes and she was having a laugh with Patsy Maguire from Hyde Park who joked me he was 'only here for the beer'.

I then caught up with Colin Maguire from Dowdallshill with kids Conor and Eoin who were there to support their grandad Stephen Maguire who was with his wife Jean. Stephen was another inductee who told me he had played with Bank Rover, Bellurgan and Rangers in his time during the Summer League and was very pleased to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Not too long later I met up with Barry and Aine Cullen from Priorland Gardens who told me they were representing Cullen Auto Parts who were sponsoring the Player of the Year award.

Making my way to another table I then caught up with Sean Lawless from Oaklawns who was there with his friend and Hall of Fame inductee Brian Murphy from Avondale Park who had played with the Pats in the '50s, Bank Rovers and Rangers in the '60s who was there with his wife Brenda, son Sean Murphy from Bellurgan and grandkids Neil, Shane, Debbie and Joanne and Ciaran Duffy who all wanted to wish Bran all the best on the night.

Next I met up with Gary and Linda Valentine from Ballybarrack and Niall Allen from Darver who were there for the Hall of Fame awards because they are in honour of Linda and Niall's dad the late Ollie Allen and were really looking forward to the night.

Finally, before I departed I caught sight of the Rangers Boys Gerry Gover from De LaSalle Terrace, Brian Carroll from St. Nicholas Avenue (with easily the best looking green tie on the night, everyone was talking about it), Larry O'Hagan and Pat O'Callaghan who were enjoying the chicken curry and couldn't wait for the presentations to get under way.