By Denis O’Hara
EDDIE SPENCE, the last survivor of the famous Antrim 1946 football squad passed away yesterday morning (TUES JAN 30, 2023) in Antrim Area Hospital. He was 97.
Elegant Eddie, born on Belfast’s Antrim Road area and a student at St Malachy’s College, lived in recent years at Shingle Cove, Carnlough, on the north Antrim Coast.
Following impressive displays as a flying winger with St Malachy’s teams he joined the then famous Belfast O’Connell’s Club, one that also featured the renowned players as Dr Sean Gibson – an uncle of film star Ciaran Hinds – George Watterson. dual icon Kevin Armstrong and Paddy O’Hara. he progressed from to the Antrim senior football squad.
Born on August 9, 1925, he was an active winger or midfield stylist when the Saffrons defeated Derry, Armagh and Cavan to win the 1946 Ulster senior championship.
That very special squad also included other outstanding players such as Joe McCalliin, Brian McAteer, Malachy McMahon, Paddy ‘Cocker’ Murrray, the midfield powerhouse Harry O’Neill, Sean Gallagher, Frankie Hamill, Fr Frank ‘Beef’ McCorry, goalkeeper Harry Vernon. Paddy McKeown, Jim O’Hare, Jimmy Morgan, Billy Feeney and Danny McRandal.
During a blistering run the then masters of the hand pass ‘ran Kerry ragged’ in a challenge game during the mid-summer 1946 Corrigan Park Week.
The Antrim players, now household names throughout the country, were strongly fancied to beat Kerry when it came to the real stuff, in the All-Ireland semi-final at Croke Park. In front of a gate of 30,051 Antrim hopes were shattered when ‘outmuscled’ by Kerry.
The Ulster kingpins lost by three points (2-7 to 0-10).
During the rugged action Antrim’s Harry O’Neill and Kerry strongman Bill Casey let fly with the fisticuffs. Both were red carded.
Eddie Spence, who lived with wife Peggy – an accomplished landscape painter, for a time in Cushendun, once conceded he broke the GAA’s notorious Rule 27 by joining the Laganside soccer team in a south Belfast league.
He said: “I was not alone in playing soccer. Also with me from St Malachy’s College were Paddy O’Hara, Kevin McGarry and Jackie McAvoy. The players met in Kevin McGarry’s home on the Dublin Road to pick the team. It was ‘Blackout’ time during the Second World War.
“Kevin Murphy, the Antrim and Ulster hurling fullback from the O’Connell’s Club, recommended me to Belfast Celtic manager Elisha Scott. I went to Celtic Park and became firm friends with Charlie Tully. We were great pals at that time. I played in some trial matches. That was it.
“When I first went to St Malachy’s College I soon became involved in playing Gaelic football, with school teams competing in what was called ‘The Black Baby League’. All proceeds from those matches was donated to the ‘Black Baby’ Charity.
Later, I was given a trial for the Antrim Minor football team, the match at MacRory Park, but never was picked on the team – not even as a reserve. I was playing midfield for the O’Connell’s GAC Junior team at that time. I was 17 and a half years of age, and soon made it into the O’Connell’s Senior football team, at 18.
“The people at O’Connell’s felt sure I would be selected onto the Antrim Minor team, but the county officials continued to query my age. It was strange, yet soon I was in the Antrim Junior, first at 19, and Senior teams. I think there was a problem around the time of the Minor team trial, word got out that I was also playing soccer.
“Later I played for Ardglass, illegally, and was then picked for both the Down and Antrim Junior football teams to meet in an Ulster Championship first round at Corrigan Park. Myself and Sean (John Joe) Cassidy of the Cavan county team were asked by Bobby Milligan of Ardglass would we come down and play for the club team. It was just a seasonal thing, to help out.
“Cassidy was staying in our house. I helped to get him a job in the Somerton Inn. He went down to Ardglass, and stayed there. When we first played for the Ardglass team we wore berries as a disguise. We were trying not to be recognised, but I recall Fr Gerry McAteer, who was from Glenarm, playing in an opposing team.
“He gave me a tough time on the pitch, and knew who I was. At that time I received a card through the post from the Down Board, that I was picked to play against Antrim. I was also selected for Antrim, and played for Antrim when we thrashed Down at Corrigan Park.
“However, out of that there was an objection by Down. Their officials complained about me, and particularly about Sean Carey, who was from County Down, had a Glenravel connection (his brother Jarlath was a Down 1960 and ’61 All-Ireland medal winner) and went to St Malachy’s College. Down won their objection, were awarded the match decision – and went on to win the All-Ireland Junior football championship.
From there, I was promoted to the Antrim senior football squad. As they say, the rest is history – and still I’m bitterly disappointed we were beaten by Kerry in the ’46 semi-final.”