By Denis O’Hara

ALEX ‘Stoots’ McKAY, one of the genuine icons of hurling in north Antrim sadly passed away yesterday (Wed 7th June) in the Causeway Hospital, Coleraine, after taking ill in the Glendun Nursing Home in his beloved local village of Knocknacarry. He was 94.

He was arguably one of the most gifted hurlers in the Glens during a lengthy playing career, mostly with the Robert Emmet team of Cushendun. He honed his hurling skills on the old Riggs pitch, alongside Cushendun Beach – and in his early teens was a boarder student at St Malacby’s College, Belfast where he helped the College hurlers win the Antrim minor championship.

That team also had other Glensmen on board, including Dan ‘D C’ Kinney. Mannix McAlister, Cathal Dallat and Jim McSparran.

His older brother Charlie was county minor player.

Also in the Emmet’s team then was another brother, Patrick – better known as Gus.

Alex, a bachelor-farmer, became a key operator for the Emmet’s senior team, but having to endure mixed fortunes during the 1950’s.

For a spell in the Emmet’s could not field a team, and the intrepid Stoots, along with another hard-nosed player – Paddy O’Mullan, joined Carey Faughs for a couple of seasons.

In the mid-1950’s the ever reliable stylist McKay was lured to County Tyrone by his brother Charlie, to help a Cappagh, Omagh, team contest the county club hurling championship final.

Cappagh, with four other ‘illegal’ Emmet’s in ‘Wee’ John McKay, Paddy O’Mullan, Denis O’Hara and Raymond McHugh helped Cappagh, managed by Mickey Cunningham, owner of Strathroy Dairies, Omagh, easily defeat Clonoe in a belated final at Pomeroy.

The upshot of this clandestine operation was that the unregistered imports were selected into the Tyrone county hurling squad. Before a game away to Donegal the game was up, the illegal players discovered – and the county title win made null and void.

When the Emmet’s returned to full action in 1962 the class act Stoots, able to handle top opponents either in the midfield or the halfback line, was a cornerstone player when the Antrim Coast side beat Belfast St John’s in the Antrim Junior championship final of 1963.

Eventually the bold McKay’s time as a constant in the team was soon running out. So, he became manager of the side. Wining the Intermediate crown and the Feis Cup elevated the inimitable Stoots to legendary status.

It is fitting that a wonderfully crafted poem by the late Knocknacarry Primary Head teacher, Mrs Mamie Delargy of Cushendun should be re-told to mark the passing of a true gentleman, a giant of hurling and an exceptional sportsman. The poem was penned after Stoots guided the Emmet’s to Feis Cup success.

The poem can also be sung to the melody of ‘The Green Glens Of Antrim’ in which Mrs Delargy recalls a highlight for the club and for Stoots.

‘Soon I hope to return to my own Cushendall

Tis the one place for me that can outshine them all

But, when it comes to hurling it’s got to be done

The credit all goes to that team – Cushendun

You would go to the Feis in our own Waterfoot

Where you’d see Cushendun give poor Armoy the boot.

They came home with the Cup, and the medals all, too

It’s the day Cushendun beat the poor boys in blue!

Now the credit all goes to that team of the match

It was a great game that you just had to watch

The superbness of ‘Akkie’ and ‘Wee Brass’ in goals

Now that I’ve gone this far I cannot leave out

The boys from Glenaan, the McKeegans no doubt

The McListers and Terry – and Pat Kinney too

And the top form of Liam helped the Emmet’s pull through

Now there’s one or two people that I have left out

Sure to give them mention of space I’d run out

But, there’s one you’ll remember till your dying day

He is Cushendun Manager – the great ‘Stoots’ Mc Kay.