Derry Gaels came out in their numbers for an evening of celebration on Saturday past at Derry’s City Hotel. The History Making All-Ireland winning squad and management were guests of honour at the latest in a series of events celebrating 125 years of Derry GAA.
Led once more by captain Henry Downey, the players made their way into the room to rapturous applause and a standing ovation. Professor Craig Mahoney, sports psychologist to the champions 20 years ago was re-united with the players on an evening which also included special guests, Peter Quinn (Iar-Uachtaráin CLG), 1993 All-Ireland final referee Tommy Howard and Martin McAviney, President Ulster GAA.
It was perhaps only fitting that a secondary standing ovation was given following the recitation of ‘Eamon Coleman – a Derry Idol’ by Seamus McRory.
Eamon Coleman – A Derry Idol
For one last nostalgic time Henry Downey
Carried the Sam Maguire Cup in glorious triumph.
To the altar of your heavenly destiny
He was chosen to lead you;
Just as you selected him as your talisman
In the halcyon days of the 1990s.
To see you following your most precious prize
Up the aisle, in the land of Saint Trea,
Was both poignant and heart-rending;
Yet a lovely and beautifully happy reprise
Of an enthralling, historic, footballing odyssey
That began some forty-five years ago.
As a young boy you watched intently
When your boyhood hero majestically fetched
The ball beneath a Lough Shore skyline;
Eagerly hoping for the call
To enter the fray on those far-off summer days.
Seeing your exciting exuberance and
Consummate skill which belied your
Tender fourteen years – the icon duly responded.
Scoring a goal and a point, to claim
Your first county medal, was the catalyst
For a life-time of footballing fame
And a yearning desire for national success
As a player we all observed you
Exhibiting radar anticipation of the breaking ball.
We waited with bated breath and joyful expectation
As you nonchalantly and uniquely
Side-stepped opponent after opponent on
Your way to All-Ireland Minor and U-21 honours.
Croke Park was becoming your spiritual home;
The only place you really wanted to be.
But the ultimate Senior attainment
Always eluded you before you retired
From the playing fields of Ireland;
To become an ever-present- "Voice from the Sideline"
Then came your greatest hour; passionately motivating
And constantly cajoling others in the Red and White
To the summit of the long-awaited Holy Grail.
Eternally fixed in the mind
Is that wiping of a tear as you celebrated
The man from Lavey raising aloft
The greatest trophy in Irish sport.
On that famous September day in '93
Your icon had now become the wondrous boy
And you the incomparable, new hero as he
And we saluted Gary and all that brilliant Derry team
On that momentous occasion.
Ecstatic crowds and adoring fans
Lined the homecoming route.
Through The Moy, Cookstown, Moneymore, Magherafelt
And onto journey's end – Maghera –
You led us on that early morn.
We will never forget that special moment
When we first spotted you, Mickey, Harry and Denis
"On top of the world looking down on your creation"
This was the place and this the experience
That you longed for and worked towards.
You kept telling us we had the best team in the Ireland.
Now we believed you.
Fr. Brian D'Arcy's moving homily
Aptly and eloquently portrayed the player, the manager
And most of all the totality of your inner self.
The calculated twitching of the lips,
The charming, almost impish, perpetual smile
Captivated friends and opponents alike.
Sometimes curt, always straight, ever passionate
About what you believed.
No matter where your football journeys sometimes took you;
You always finished as you began.
Ballymaguigan and Derry forever reigned supreme
Amongst those you cherished most.
Now you have joined Denis McKeever and Sean O'Connell
In the greatest stadium of all.
We can see you plotting, planning, laughing;
Recalling the great days in Clones, Casement and Croke Park.
Your repartee with the assembled press
Will, inevitably, take centre stage.
"Didn't I tell you Anthony Tohill and Brian McGilligan
Were the best midfield pairing in the whole of Ireland?"
May God rest you and keep you, Eamon Coleman.
We will now have Divine Inspiration
For another September Sunday, another September Monday.
Your voice from above will surely see to that.
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