Moneymore Gaels Respond on their Memories Declan Mc Donald What is your earliest memory of Gaelic football in Moneymore? For me it was Patsy Breen teaching us how to block a ball at primary school. What is the favourite moment you can recall either on or off the field? Winning the Derry Intermediate Football Championship (didn't play but what a moment ) Do you have any special stories or people to remember both on or off the playing field? Playing a match one day, in which unusually for us we where not getting to many of the decisions ,Oliver Mc Kee ( a very quiet and unassuming guy ) was being booked for something which only the ref knew and asked Oliver his name perhaps three times each time Oliver was about to walk away had to turn around and repeat his name, about to walk away for the forth time the ref called him back and said something to which was one to many for Oliver he began (totally out of character) angrily and at the top of his voice began to spell his name, O L I V E R M C K E E everyone in fits laughing Who would be your favourite player to ever play for the club and why? Not having seen all the players play I would have to pick from someone I played with,I will pick Paul Young. Looking back for me it wasn't easy playing backs, playing for Moneymore wasn't easy because I wanted to do so well for the club and the team I perhaps put more pressure on myself instead of enjoying it more. Playing in the backs was pressure because if your man scored there was no way really to cancel that score, where as a forward would get the ball and just try again and again and if he scored two and missed four the four do not register on the scoreboard but a backs miss it does. For me playing with Paul was less nervy he was always calm and assured never panicked and always seemed to have time to find space and pic out a man for a pass and was always available to support the man with the ball and he could catch well to, so for this reason I pick Paul Young. Ryan Barker What is your earliest memory of Gaelic football in Moneymore? Primary school blitz’s in Maghera and Brockagh. Also playing up at the hill, not being able to see from one side of the field to the other when you were smaller because of the slope on the pitch (I use the word pitch loosely). What is the favourite moment you can recall either on or off the field? Winning the senior league titles in the early 2000’s, cant mind which years or which divisions, but they were enjoyable. Do you have any special stories or people to remember both on or off the playing field? Don’t remember much about the underage matches but I always remember going to them. The entire team packed into 2 or 3 “puddle jumpers” - usually piloted by Malachy Scullion, Hugh McCloy or Gerry Donnelly. You would arrive at the game with the imprint of a stil saw or spirit level on your leg!!…. good times Who would be your favourite player to ever play for the club and why? Watching wee Francis O’Neill playing always stands out, always a buzz around the field when he got the ball, so fast and skill-full. More recently Paudie rarely fails to deliver the goods. Brendan O Neill What is your earliest memory of Gaelic football in Moneymore? I was a player in the Moneymore team in 1956. I was a goal-keeper What is the favourite moment you can recall either on or off the field ? I was a manager of the Graham Cup winning team in '78 I was the manager of the Intermediate winning team in '84 My proudest moment was being Chairman of the Club when we opened our new pitch. Do you have any special stories or people to remember both on or off the playing field? As a player I remember playing Kilrea and Paddy O'Neill got injured, and when this happened he said, “ Aww lads, let me die in Kilrea”. Who would be your favourite player to ever play for the club and why? I had a lot of great players when I was manager of Moneymore and its very hard to single one out, but I would have to say my favourite player was Oliver McKee. In my opinion he was the best Centre Half Back in Derry and was never recognised by the county management, even though he was a very talented individual. But the most special thing, me and my family will cherish, was the lovely gesture shown by the club on the day of my son's funeral. That was something we will never forget. Carla O'Neill What is your earliest memory of Gaelic football in Moneymore? I think the earliest memory must have been up at the old pitch were the term “field” really was the case because it was exactly that, an old field with a set of goal posts stuck at either end. And what I remember most was Brian Mc Gilligan swallowing his tongue (a strange first memory, which I hope is the case and not a made up story of mine. I should really have asked father dearest if this actually did happen but I’m almost certain it did.) What is the favourite moment you can recall either on or off the field ? I am gonna say when Moneymore won the league quite a few years back, I think they may have beaten Banager to win the title but once again my memory may serve me wrong. I just remember going into a “smoke filled” kitchen after the win and the celebrations were immense. The cup was filled to the brim, everyone was singing and roaring, even Paudie managed to take a sip from the cup (UTTER SHOCK for it wasn’t diluted orange in that cup that’s for sure). I have always wanted Moneymore to win a title again for that simple reason, because I knew they would appreciate it and celebrate in style as it doesn’t happen too often. Fingers crossed it will happen in the next few years! I have faith! Do you have any special stories or people to remember both on or off the playing field? I don’t remember “the Bri” aka daddy playing football as I was the last “baby” in the house, which is maybe a good thing for I see what the O’Neill’s are like off the pitch so it had to be suicide material on it. Unfortunately, I wasn’t lucky enough to see Bosco play either but the stories I’ve heard say enough and the pictures make it all very real. As for Paudie, I am probably his toughest critic but that’s only because I know his potential and the effort that he puts in. And ofcourse I would hate to be seen as being biased. But I can safely say he is one of my biggest inspirations both on and off the field. Who would be your favourite player to ever play for the club and why? Ok now I am gonna be biased and say Paudie... haha how contradictory?! I just feel he’s an all round player, a natural leader although not the most vocal of people but he never gives up and would do anything for that Henry Joys jersey! He’s a very unselfish player and knows how to a read a game (or atleast I think so). I’m not old enough to remember the greats playing, aka Eugene Young or Uncle Kevin or indeed the fierce Peter but I am sure they have to be up there with the best. God I am really going all out for the family here aren’t I? I hear Maurice Mc Ivor was a quare footballer in his time too, I can imagine he would just have been like a wee whippet. Some greats over the years, some club!!! Ciaran Brown What is your earliest memory of Gaelic football in Moneymore? It was going over the glenshane on all those dodgy mini-buses on a sunday evening not knowing if you were going to get home, the amount of times we broke down at the top of the mountain, not getting home till the wee small hours, that would have been the early 80s or late 70s What is the favourite moment you can recall either on or off the field ? Without doubt it would have been when big Kevin O'Neill fisted the ball to the back of the net in a very wet and wild day in Slaughtneilto win the intermediate championshipagainst Drum our finest ever day, the big man was on fire that day. Do you have any special stories or people to remember both on or off the playing field? I can remember going to school around the reformation of the club and the then secretary Patrick O Brien calling me into the staffroom, I thought I had done something wrong but it was just to give me a note to give to me Da to tell him there was a meeting at Patricks house, also the post mortems at out house on a sunday night with big Brendan O Neill and Francie Ward and Frank O Connor, the craic was mighty, great memories.