Yesterday we posted an article about Antrim having nine colleges hurling Danske Bank All Star awards but what we did not mention was that Tiernan McComrack of Moneyglass won a Football All Star award, something that has happened less often over the years. Tiernan has been a top performer during his years at St Pat’s Maghera where he has won many medals, including Corn na nÓg and Ranafast Cup and is a bright star in Antrim football.
One other Danske Bank Football All Star who is worthy of a mention in the Saffron Gael is Eamon Young of St Mary’s Magherafelt and Newbridge GAC. Eamon’s grandfather is Paddy Magee who is originally from Glenravel, a man who was part of the management team when the Con Magees won the 1964 Antrim Minor Football Championship for the first time. I’m stretching the connection a bit here but Paddy Magee’s mother was Annie McIlwaine, a first cousin of my father, but I think it is fair to assume that Eamon’s footballing talent came from the Young side, rather than the McIlwaines. As well as his school success Eamon was a member of the Derry team who won last season’s Ulster and All Ireland Minor Football titles, and this season’s Ulster Minor League.
Which brings me to another connection with Annie ‘McIlwaine’ Magee. Another of Annie’s great grandsons, Eoin Waide, formerly of Loughgiel, was the captain of the Donegal Minor Football team who beat Antrim in the Ulster final in Croke Park, back in 2006. Eoin Waide played his club football with Naomh Conaill and won a few Donegal senior championship medals, and was a member of the team who were beaten by Antrim champions Cargin on penalties in the opening round of the 2022 Ulster Senior Club Championship at Corrigan Park.
I had better complete the story about Annie ‘Magee’ McIlwaine GAA connetions, as Callum McIlwaine, who played at midfield on the St Killian’s team who won the Mageean and Paddy Buggy Cups this season is also a member of the clan, as indeed is his father Padraig McIlwaine, who was a member of the st Killian’s management team. Callum’s great grandfather Patrick McIlwaine was my dad’s brother and a first cousin of Annie.
All that success with McIlwaine connections and Paddy and I won sweet nothing