By John Curly McIlwaine

On Sunday last, Phonsie Kearns of Dunloy passed away in the Causeway Hospital, Coleraine. Phonsie was a member of the iconic Dunloy Hurling and Camogie Kearns family. His sister Teresa was a record holder who was the youngest ever winner of a senior All Ireland medal when she was the goalkeeper on the Antrim team that won the 1956 All Ireland final when just 14.

 Growing up in such a family Phonsie was destined to play the game and he went on to line out for the Cuchullains. In 1963 when they reached their first county final he was left half forward on the team who lost to Loughgiel in Glenariffe.

When he married Brid McNaughton he moved to Glenariffe and actually ended playing with the Oisins where he was a member of the teams which won back to back Feis Cups in 1975 and ’76 with final wins over Armoy in ’75 and Ballycastle in ’76, both of them played at Feis na nGleann in Waterfoot.

However the love of his native soil remained strong and in 1994 he took over as manager of the Cuchullains senior team, which he guided to championship titles in ’94 and ’95. He also added Ulster titles in those years and steered them to the 1995 All Ireland Club final against Birr and the 96 decider against Sixmilebridge. In 95 they were beaten in a replay while in 96 the Clare champions proved too strong.

Phonsie was also a useful golfer when a member for many years of Cushendall Golf Club. He played on Ulster Cup and in the Jimmy Bruen Shield competitions.

During the once hugely popular Glens of Antrim Mixed Foursomes golf tournament, staged annually on the Cushendall links, he partnered, and won the trophy, with past Lady Captain Betty Allen of Cushendun.

Phonsie was one of life’s characters, kind and generous and always up for a bit of fun. We at the Saffron Gael would like extend our sincere condlonces to his children Frances, Dominic, Brendan, Maureen and Mark and the wider Kearns family circle.