The Road to our Destiny
The destiny of John Lockes GAA club, the town and the parish of Callan awaits us all on Sunday next 13th February 2011 as cars, buses and trains make the journey to Croke Park for the biggest hurling game in the history of our club and certainly one of the greatest event ever to be bestowed on the parish of Callan. We have had visits by presidents, Bishops and Cardinals to the town. Famous people like James Hoban who designed the White House, the Chandlers who invented Coca-Cola, the world renowned author Thomas Kilroy and the poet John Lockes take their name from all came from Callan, but nothing compares to the John Lockes Hurling team of 2011. The 26 players along with the manager, selectors, kit man and first aid lady have brought us to the hallowed ground of Croke Park. It has been an amazing journey from the Southern Quarter final against Slieverue all the way to taking the field against North Cork team Meelin. Many of you may not know but in 1911 the John Lockes club won the first of their five junior county titles, imagine one hundred years ago when those men took to the field to play in that final, they were setting out to become hero’s of their parish and that’s what they became. There were no opportunities for that team of 1911 to play in a Leinster championship or even have the chance of playing in an All-Ireland. Those men were lucky if they could make their way to Nowlan Park (not sure if it was there in 1911) and many of them were from poor back grounds and would have joined the British army three years later to fight in the Great War. How times have changed in those hundred years, jerseys were not existent as such and the saffron and blue wasn’t even introduced to the club at that stage. The team of 1911 wore what looked like matching jumpers which were probably knitted, today the Lockes sport the famous saffron and blue hoops and on Sunday next will wear special commemorative jerseys to mark the occasion in Croke Park. The team will also wear brand new tracksuits and win or lose they will be treated like hero’s because they are the first group to bring a John Lockes team to the summit of Croke Park and an Al-Ireland final. I would imagine the only mode of transport for supporters in 1911 were to either walk or go on horse and carts, Cars and bicycles were still a luxury back then.The supporters next Sunday will travel either by bus or hit the M9 at Danesfort for the now short drive to Dublin. Yes we will enjoy that journey next Sunday with no doubt several butterflies in our stomachs, but let’s be mindful on Sunday of those brave John Lockes men of 1911 who were great hero’s by bringing huge pride to a Callan parish that was a much different and poorer place then. In honouring that team I am listing the full squad and mentors as well as today’s hero’s no matter what the result. 1911 team; Paddy Walsh, Dick Finn, Jimmy Corcoran, Bill Fitzgerald, Jim Lavelle, Mick Fitzgerald, Jack Fitzgerald, Ned Roche(captain), Matty Fitzgerald, Mick Buggy, Jack Fitzpatrick, Johnny Walsh, Bob Mahoney, Dinny Fitzpatrick, Jimmy Stapleton, Paddy McKenna, Gerry Fogarthy, Jimmy Russell, Jim Tobin (trainer), Paddy Kerwick (treasurer), Paddy Cuddihy (Secretary), Michael J.Lynch (chairman), Mick Martin, John Fogarthy.
2011 team; Paul Morrissey, Michael Gordon, Michael Roche, James Power, Adrian O’ Sullivan, John O’Neill, Michael Hartley, Owen McGrath, Matthew Holohan, Robert Jackman (Captain), John Paul Corcoran, Paddy Kennedy, Ger Shelly, Simon Burke, Shane Bergin, Jason Corcoran, Liam Kennedy, Declan Roche, P.J.Coady, Eoghan Fahy ,P.J. O’Keeffe, Brian McCann, Jack McDowell, Cathal Byrne, David Phelan, J.J. Corrigan. Bobby Jackman (manager), Tommy Sullivan(selector), Pat Purcell (selector), Mary Shelly(Medic), Derek Holden(kit man), Richie Kennedy(Fitness manager), Richie Kearns(Physiotherapist).