Con Magees team of 66 get back together again

Prior to Sunday’s Division 1 Football League game between Con Magees, Glenravel and Sarsfields, the teams who met in the 1966 senior football final, got together once again.

66 was a very special year for the Glenravel club because that day they took the only senior football title in their history, beating a very good Sarsfields team in the final in Casement Park. The majority of the remaining Glenravel team attended, plus half a dozen of the Sarsfields side who were invited along as guests.

Speaking on behalf of the Sarsfields Club, their former great Brian Whinnery thanked Glenravel for their very generous gesture in inviting them along and praised the facilities that the club had at Fr Magin Park. Whinnery had been part of the Antrim team who won the Ulster minor title in 1964 alongside three of that Glenravel side, Alastair Scullion, who was team captain, Sean McNeilly and Gerard Higgins.

The Glenravel team of 1966 at last weekend’s 60 year reunion in the Con Magees clubrooms. Back row, L-R, Patsy McCann, Raymond Scullion, Liam McNeill, Terry McNeill, Dominic O’Loan (manager), Dave Kerr, Alastair Scullion, Brian Whinnery of Sarsfields, Gerard Higgins, Sean McNeilly, Kevin Scullion. Front row, L-R, Arthur Mulholland, Eddie Forde, Colm O’Loan (captain), Anthony O’Loan, Noel Kerr, Kieran McMullan.

Alec McQuillan who was MC for the day, praised the work done by Kevin and Brendan McNeill in organising the event, and Ciaran Ward of Sarsfields. Ciaran is a son of Jimmy Ward who captained Sarsfields that famous day at Casement Park. Ironically Ciaran’s three sons now play their football with Glenravel. Alec had great words for the former team who were involved in that historic game and a special word of praise for the manager of the side, Dominic O’Loan, who has done so much for the club over the years.

After lunch they watched from the team balcony as Sarsfields got revenge for that 66 result by beating Glenravel in a thrilling Division 1 league game.