Tailteann Cup preliminary quarter-final
Antrim v London-
Corrigan Park 2.00pm Sunday
As Antrim and London take the field at Corrigan Park on Sunday one man watching from the stand is likely to have a greater interest in the game than most.
Former Antrim player, Sean McVeigh played for the Exiles for three years and was captain of the team who came mighty close to recording the biggest upset in their history when they took the mighty Mayo to extra time back in 2011.
Sean is still plying his trade in the Antrim ACFL Division 1 with his beloved All Saints and scored a late goal to give his side a rare victory over St. Gall’s in Ballymena on Wednesday night.
He spoke to the Saffron Gael this week and recalled a very enjoyable period of his playing career and that ever so near upset against Mayo at a packed Ruislip back in 2011
“I was living in Colchester in Essex and played three years in London, and captained the team for those three years.
While I was there I played club football for Parnell’s. As I was a teacher, I decided every summer to go home and play for Ballymena.
Ruislip, during championship, was a carnival atmosphere. The year we played Mayo, there were thousands in attendance.
Mayo were one of the favourites for Sam that year. We decided that we would give it a real good go. We had excellent players all over the field, with whom many had county experience. I myself at the time had 4 years playing for Antrim and one playing for London.
I remember Paul Coggins, the manager, telling us to lay down a marker early and that is what we did. For large parts of the game we were the better team. It probably took us 40 minutes to realise that we could win this game. Then the pressure of holding onto a lead got to us.
We ended up drawing and the game went into extra time. Again we were in control. Mayo brought on Andy Moran in extra time and he kick a few unbelievable scores to win it for Mayo.
Before the game we would have been happy enough with a good performance, but after we all felt like we let that one get away. Mayo went on to play in the All Ireland Final that year.
The good results didn’t end for us. We were drawn to play Fermanagh, managed by Peter Canavan, in the back door. A game that we won, the first championship game London had won in 37 years.
My last game I played for London was against Antrim, where we narrowly lost. A game where I was awarded Man of the Match and received a Daily Star All Star. Football in London is excellent, but it is secondary to working life”
2011 was an eventful year for Sean McVeigh. As he said earlier, he returned regularly from London to play for All Saints that year and led them to an Intermediate football title.
Featured image: Sean McVeiugh in action against Mayo in the Connaught Championship in Ruislip in 2011 and above against St. Gall’s in the ACFL Division 1 last Wednesday night
All Saints went on to contest the Ulster semi-final that year where they came within a whisker of defeating Culloville, losing by two points after extra time to the Armagh champions.
After a distinguished county career for Antrim that lasted more than a decade, Sean McVeigh is still playing a vital role for his club All Saints as they have fought to establish themselves in division 1 of the ACFL.
Today the legs that saw him cover every inch of grass on the Gaelic field may have slowed down a bit but the brain is as sharp as ever and his experience has been a vital factor as Liam Bradley’s young side have confounded predictions with some excellent results.
Sean will have a foot in both camps on Sunday as Antrim face the exiles and he wouldn’t tell me who he will be shouting for but there is no doubt in my mind he will be rooting for the men in Saffron.