Antrim’s most successful team, the All Ireland Under 21 football winning side of 1969, got together again on Saturday evening 50 years on from their great win over Roscommon in the All Ireland final on September 14th 1969. Team members from that great day half a century ago met up once again at the Balmoral Hotel in Belfast where they rekindled old friendships and shared their memories of a famous season when they were crowned Ulster and All Ireland champions.
The event which was organised by team member Andy McCallin and sponsored by Casement Park Social Club, brought majority of the ’69 squad who are still alive, and family representatives of those sadly no longer with us, to the Balmoral Hotel for a meal before travelling down to Casement Park where special presentations were made to the squad.
Guest of honour was former Down legend and All Star Colm McAlarney, the man who captained the Down side beaten by Antrim in the 1969 Ulster final. It was a master stroke by Andy McCallin to invite McAlarney for he spoke with such eloquence of that classic final, which was played in Davitt Park, Lurgan on August 10th 1969, a game the Saffrons won by 2-8 to 1-9. McAlarney recalled his bitter disappointment at losing that game. He was captain of the Down team and was one of eight members of the Down senior team who had won the senior All Ireland the year before. He had high hopes of going on and adding an Under 21 title but Antrim dashed those hopes with a brilliant victory.
McAlarney then made the individual presentations to the players and their representatives to wrap up a memorable evening.
Team captain Liam Boyle makes a special presentation to Bob Murray, chairman of Casement Park Social Club 
Andy McCallin and Colm McAlarney with members of the Casement Park Social Club committe who sponored the event
Dinner at the Balmoral Hotel
Pauline McElhill and Susannah McArdle, daughters of the late Tommy Hall who managed the 1969 team. 
