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Sat 14th Nov 2009
This is the St Patrick’s Downpatrick team before they played Colaiste Chríost Rí Cork in Croke Park in the 1985 Hogan Cup semi-final. Chríost Rí beat them and went on to lift the Hogan Cup.
For 3 years during the mid 1980s, the Rannafast Cup champions represented Ulster in the Hogan because of an age-anomaly with the other provinces.
Downpatrick beat St Patrick’s Maghera in the Rannafast Cup final in Granemore in November 1984 to make it through to the All-Ireland series for the only time.
Included in this picture are future Croke Park All-Ireland stars with Down – Barry Breen (back row 5th from right) and John Kelly (front 6th from left with ball at feet).
Mark McCartan (front second from right) was also in the All-Ireland winning panel, while coach Pat O’Hare RIP (back left) helped Peter McGrath with the All-Ireland success of 1994.
Back Row : Mr Pat O’Hare (Coach), Michael Kerr, Francis Conaghan, Paul Rice, Paul Hanna, Paul Close, Declan Teague, Martin Kelly, Kevin Fitzsimons, Barry Breen, Stephen Hanna, Sean Curran, John O’Neill, Mr Gerry Sweeney (coach)
Front row: Dermot Magorrian, Danny Murray, Paul Crothers, John McVeigh, Damian Brannigan, John Kelly, Gareth Healy, Richard Starkey, Terry O’Toole, Aidan Rodgers, Mark McCartan, Shaun Coulter.
(This team represented Ulster in the All Ireland Hogan Cup Senior Final. They were defeated by Colaisto Chriost Ri (Cork) who went on to win the Hogan Cup.)
Submitted by: Mark Grogan
