At the outset I should say that I feel a bit of a cheat coming on to this stage as it was entirely down to the fantastic group of players and management who represented the Shamrocks in 1982, and whose achievements created the memories that we all now hold so dearly some forty years on. But then on reflection I think it’s only right that those same players and management are reminded of how much us supporters still appreciate the absolute joy they brought to our wee parish back in that memorable year.
I suppose I was in my early teens when I really started following Roslea teams and wouldn’t really have any recollection of the 1962 championship triumph, so it was only after we overcame the dreaded Teemore in the Quarter Final that I can recall thinking this is now possible with two games to go. On to the semi final and with my mate Big Sean getting the better of the Erne Gaels keeper (he got a few pints on that story for a good while afterwards!), we had finally arrived in a championship final!
Residing in Belfast then as now, I missed out a bit on the atmosphere that was building in the village and surrounding countryside but arriving home on the weekend of the final (I managed to persuade my then wife to be, Patricia to come up for the game) I can distinctly recall the excitement and anticipation among everyone I met. I don’t remember much about that final to be honest other than the absolute euphoria that greeted the final whistle. It was then a race up to Roslea to welcome the triumphant team home. As us older supporters will recall, pubs were still not allowed to open on Sundays so the Village Inn and The Roslea Arms were out of bounds (well, almost!) so we had to head through the checkpoint at Innashammon on our way to Smithboro for the obligatory celebration pints!
I’ve had the privilege of seeing some fantastic Roslea teams and players, lift Senior Championships in subsequent years but without a doubt what makes the ’82 team stand out was their exploits in the Ulster Club Championship that year. Working in the Housing Executive, I had several work colleagues who were either past or current players or managers in various counties and suddenly they were all interested in a team they knew little about, Roslea Shamrocks!
I never felt as chuffed as when, on the morning after the first game against Carrickcruppen, an office colleague begrudgingly conceded that the late John Mohan had kept him out of the game and, to rub salt in his wounds, had prevented what he was convinced was a goal that would have denied us a win!
What I remember most about the Castleblayney game was the tension in the crowd and the way our lads stood up on the big stage away from home to come away with a victory, heady stuff indeed, but just enough time to get back to Monaghan for the bus back to Belfast!
Again in the semi final a work colleague lined out alongside the legendary Colm McAlarney for Castlewellan but once again he could only sing our praises the following morning!
Unlike the County Final, the build up to the final against St Galls will forever stick in my memory as, by now, I was getting phone calls on a daily basis from work colleagues in our offices all over the North, impressed with our performances so far and enquiring about our chances in the final!
I travelled home to Fermanagh on the Friday night to soak up the atmosphere and it was something else (at least we supporters could have a couple of pints to calm the nerves!). I got a lift to the game with my ever dependable neighbour Tony Fitzpatrick. Tony had the privilege of seeing the great Roslea team of the late 50’s and in my travels with him to countless games they were always the benchmark against which he judged teams thereafter. I remember thinking I’ll chance my arm here when I said “surely Tony, these boys must be better than them fellas” but he was having none of it!
I really don’t think we did ourselves justice on the 14thNovember but to be fair to St Galls they were the better team. They had a mountain of a man at midfield in the late John Kennedy, previously an Ireland basketball player, numerous other big men around the team and the lethal PJ O’Hare at full forward and it all proved too much for us on the day.
I can still feel the disappointment each year when the Ulster Club Championship comes along at missing out on the chance to create history back then but I will be eternally grateful for the journey that fantastic team and management brought us supporters on. I think of the now departed players John and Seamus, and management, Tommy and Benny and the legacy they left for the teams that followed them since and that will do in the years to come. Seamróga Ros Liath Abú!
Maurice Rooney
