Issue 4- Michael Walsh wrote a 2 page article on his beloved Mayobridge.  Its not often we see a player put pen to paper and write about their passion for the club. Gaelic Star was very proud to have Michael on board- a great physio, a great footballer and as it happens, a good writer!   

This month Michael Walsh Captain of Mayobridge writes for Gaelic Star about the club he loves. I’ve lived in the small village of Mayobridge all my life; winning my very first medal playing U10 football in 1990 when we won the County Championship. After winning the County U12 and U14 Championships we hit the headlines in 1995 when we won the County Peile na nOg Competition and went to County Mayo to represent Down in the All Ireland Finals of the Youth Festival.  The same bunch of  lads have now progressed to senior level, collecting championship medals at every age group along the way.  

In 2008, we won our fifth consecutive Down Senior Football Championship, and I had the honour of Captaining Mayobridge to this title (We are chasing record holders Burren who have attained 6 consecutive titles 1983-1988). Each year it becomes more difficult, every other team in the county is out to knock you off the pedal stool. And I suppose there have been times when we were close to losing the elusive crown, thankfully Mother Attracta & the nuns in St Ann’s Shrine (Mayobridge) pray very hard for our football team and there are occasions when we have them to thank for bringing us out of tricky situations.

People often ask how we continue year in, year out, to give so much to football, to sustain our passion and determination for success and make so many sacrifices.  Championship final day makes it all worthwhile, when you see the shear delight on supporter’s faces – it is something very special. This type of elation can’t be replaced. But we do want to go further; our campaign in Ulster has been tough – beaten in 2 Ulster finals in the last 8 years!

Like many others around the country, I know how much effort and hard work is required behind the scenes to enable us to take to the field. There is so much to organise: gym programmes, training schedules, fixtures, transport, jerseys: the list is never ending.

Mayobridge is a great club, We have been coached so well in our early days. When we were growing up we all aspired to achieve the success  of our club man Tom O’Hare, the Down Legend of 1968 who continues to serve our club to this day. In later years Mickey Linden the Double All Ireland Winning forward (1991 &1994) again marked our club on the GAA map. These men have been tireless servants of the GAA and they have planted seeds of greatness in very small community.

Like those before us, we recognise that our youth play a crucial part in the success of our club. This season we take turns to assist with the coaching of our youth teams, a rota has been scheduled, so every Saturday we work rotationally with the different age groups. The young boys and girls are so enthusiastic and it makes it all worthwhile when they listen attentively to what you have to say. I also train and manage our Minor Footballers, and have been involved with these lads since U14. In 2008 they won the Down Minor Football Championship & League, and we endeavour this season to build on that success. In Mayobridge we know our future is with our youth.

Every club has several Trojan workers, who give themselves whole heartedly to the cause. In Mayobridge we too have Gaels who work tirelessly in the background for the good of our club. Those who promote our weekly lotto, can’t go unnoticed. As well as the tradesmen within the Club whom have been vital in the re-development of our playing fields.

2009 is a new season, with even greater challenges, and I am striving to put back into the club what it has done for me. It is our Club that makes each of us the Gaels who we are, and I am honoured and privileged to belong to Mayobridge, in my eyes ‘Down’s Greatest Club, Ever’.