On Saturday 20th September, Lámh Dhearg and Loughgeil’s minor teams of 1992 will come together to take part in a Social Hurling tribute game in memory of Daryl Fegan.
A much respected Gael at Lámh Dhearg, Daryl passed away in January of this year. He was a member of the 1992 Minor Hurling Championship winning team that beat Loughgeil at Casement Park and both sides will gather in his memory later in the month.
Current all-county referee and fellow 92 team-mate Paddy Tumelty has played a key role with others in the club to organise the game and a special jersey in Daryl’s memory and explained how it was fitting that 92 jerseys were purchased.
“It’s something we just want to do to remember Daryl and say thanks for the friendship and many happy memories” Paddy explained.
“We were friends from primary school. We played against each other in primary school St Oliver Plunkett against Holy Child and then we ended up at the same club together and were in the same class in La Salle and played together-it was just a band of brothers”.
“We were all just working-class kids and when one sadly passed away it is just terrible, Gary [Agnew] passed away first and now Daryl has sadly passed. We had a game for Gary and we will have a game for Daryl- it’s to honour their memory”.
“We sold 92 jerseys for Daryl’s day. How much of a coincidence is that, the Spirit of 92 and we sold 92 jerseys? it is nearly as if he’s done that on purpose. He will be looking down at us laughing trying to play hurling on the pitch at 50-years of age”.
Paddy spoke highly of Daryl’s selflessness and how on one of his last team-talks with the senior hurlers- whom he helped guide out of Division 4 in his time as manager- he had told them of his belief that they would fulfil their potential.
“Of all the things to happen in 92- the hurling win was off the scale”.
“A club of our stature in hurling to win that. It was a mix of Hannahstown and Lenadoon kids, with Daryl, Gary [Agnew], Michael Philips, Sean McGarry, Marty Matthews and Gary Murray mixed with all us down the hill.
Daryl was so selfless and always thinking of others.
“On his death bed the night before he died before we said goodbye to him, he said to his wife Sarah- have the workers been paid their wages. In his last team-talk when he finished taking the senior hurling team, he wished the team all the best and confidently told them they had the potential, and he probably wouldn’t be around to see them fulfil it. He was on his last days and he still wanted to take the senior hurling team.
“We needed to do something to celebrate Daryl, it is only right and fitting that something should be done to honour his memory. If one person bought a jersey with my name on it after I passed- I would be over the moon- but there are 92 retro jerseys bought with Daryl’s name on and the cliché “spirit of 92” and it is very fitting
Daryl was some man for one man.
Paddy also revealed how Loughgeil Shamrocks were more than happy to gather a squad to play in the tribute match and is glad it has come to fruition.
“Loughgiel were more than happy to come down and give us a game. They’ve gathered together a team and we will play some sort of hurling on the day. We’ll gather and remember his name and raise a glass in his memory on the 20th of September.
“That band of hurlers from 92, we went on to experience and enjoy some success with the Herron’s, the younger Tumelty’s, the McConville’s and others who came in over the years. We won an Intermediate Championship and before that we earned promotion to Division 1 with Daryl and the additions, we had to it. Daryl loved hurling- even though he was also an accomplished and talented footballer as well but hurling was his first love he was definitely a hurler through and through. There is a group chat of us and we all got together and said we would organise that match and we’re glad that it will honour his memory and we are looking forward to the day.
