History makers of '95 to relive glory days

Damien Maher

On Saturday, the Westmeath minor football stars of 1995 will meet for a special anniversary celebration in Bloomfield House Hotel, where memories of that historic success over Derry over three decades ago will be relived.

Tom Stuart Trainor and Kevin in Hickey have been two of the main driving forces behind the event. Luke Dempsey, who managed that great team to victory, is also part of the small organising committee, along with Martin Murtagh of The Downs, team captain, Damien Gavin (St Mary's, Rochfortbridge) and Aidan Lennon (St Joseph’s).

They are crediting Joe Casey, the 1995 midfielder from Castledaly, with keeping the group in contact over the years.

“Joe has been great over the years at keeping in contact and it’s due largely to him that we have got this event off the ground,” said Kevin Hickey.

“Joe has just a fantastic memory of everything that happened that year: I can just about remember the games, but Joe is able to recall very specific details of who we played and how everything went,” remarked Tom Stuart Trainor.

Luke Dempsey said the players deserve to be finally honoured for their historic achievement. They are the first and only minor side from Westmeath to have captured All-Ireland glory.

“It was an incredible year for Westmeath football and the start of a golden era. It was after that success that Westmeath really started to believe in themselves. They arrived that year and it is great now, more than three decades later, to be meeting up to celebrate,” he said.

There was great belief in the team. When it came to the final on September 17, 1995, every young man in a maroon jersey knew what he had to do. Players like Kenny McKinley (St Loman's, Mullingar), Kevin Hickey (Shandonagh) and Shane Deering (The Downs) in defence were solid, keeping tabs on Joe Cassidy and future All Star Enda Muldoon. At the other end, the Lake County delivered and 1-5 from talented centre forward Tommy Cleary (The Downs) propelled them to an historic 1-10 to 0-11 victory.

The minor breakthrough led to U21 success four years’ later and in 2004, the Lake County finally won their first ever Leinster senior football title.

The organisers are grateful to the various sponsors and to the clubs who lent them support to put Saturday’s celebration together.

On the night, well-known sports correspondents Gerry Buckley and Randal Scally will be recalling some of the highlights from a truly incredible year for Westmeath football.

MC for the event is Darren Frehill of RTE. It promises to be a wonderful occasion. There are plans to have the Tom Markham Cup at the event, while different memorabilia will be on display.

The heroes of 1995 have never been formally recognised and this is an opportunity to acknowledge their enormous contribution to a county that, until then, could only dream of success.

The 1995 journey culminated in Croke Park, where an estimated 10,000 Westmeath supporters, many gathered on Hill 16, turned the day into a sea of maroon. For team captain Damien Gavin, leading the team up the steps of the Hogan Stand to collect the cup remains an enduring memory.

“It’s hard to believe it’s over 30 years,” said team captain Damien Gavin. “But I still look back on it very fondly. Those were special times.”

“I remember very little about games, but I remember the fun we had: Ballinagore where we trained, the buns and cakes afterwards, the time spent together before matches. And the great camaraderie we built up. That will always remain,” he added.

Westmeath minor team of 1995: Aidan Lennon (St Joseph's), Damien Phelan (Moate All Whites), Kevin Hickey (Shandonagh), Fergal Murray (Athlone), Martin Murtagh (The Downs), Kenny McKinley (St Loman's, Mullingar), Shane Deering (The Downs), Damien Gavin (St Mary's, Rochfortbridge; captain), Joe Casey (Castledaly), John Deehan (Moate All Whites), Thomas Cleary (The Downs), Tom Stuart Trainor (Athlone), Keith Glennon (St Loman's, Mullingar), Cathal Keane (Rosemount), David Martin (Maryland).

Rest of panel: Cathal Mullin (Garrycastle); Cathal Lyons (St Loman’s, Mullingar); Donie Buckley (Moate All Whites); Ollie Kirby (St Malachy’s/Ballinagore); Ger Heduvan (Ballynacargy); Niall Seery (Tyrrellspass); Michael Bannon (Tang); Kenneth Berry (St Mary’s, Rochfortbridge); Colm Coyne (Coralstown/Kinnegad; Alan Daly (Garrycastle); James Galvin (Castledaly); Colm Holohan (Garrycastle); Thomas Maleady (Rosemount); David Walls (Mullingar Shamrocks); Matthew McCormack (Kilbeggan Shamrocks).

Management team: Luke Dempsey (manager), Eunan McCormack (The Downs), Paddy McCormack (Bunbrosna), Johnny Moran (Maryland), JJ O’Connor (St Mary’s, Rochfortbridge). Team doctor: Dr Jerry O’Flynn. Physio: Eddie ‘Killer’ Byrne.

Tickets for Saturday’s event are available from Kevin Hickey or Tom Stuart Trainor, but you will need to move smartly as plans will be finalised soon. Feel free to contact Tom on 086 8360150 or Kevin on 087 9931703 to lend your support to the 1995 All-Ireland minor winning heroes.