DANSKE BANK ULSTER COLLEGES GAA

James O’Kane RIP

May 17, 2013

A dark cloud hung over the Ulster Colleges’ AGM today with delegates arriving to news of the death of St Patrick’s Maghera hurling coach James O’Kane at the age of 40.

James was a popular and respected figure in whatever company but particulary among his peer-group of coaches at Ulster Colleges’ level.

He was appointed as a teacher of French in St Patrick’s in 1999, a year after his brother Peter had captained the senior team to the Mageean Cup title.  James was soon involved in coaching hurling teams and took the school to seven successive Mageean Cup finals 2001-7, winning the first two and then completing a three in a row 2004-6.

Although my teaching career in St Patrick’s did not overlap with James, the shared vision of the school from the first Mageean win in 1983 was to make the breakthrough at All-Ireland level, something that had only been achieved twice by the Mageean Cup champions – St Mary’s Belfast 1971 and 1974.

James came close in 2004 with a team captained by current Derry football captain Mark Lynch.  Then the glass ceiling was broken and the O’Keefe Cup taken in April 2006.

That achievement had a huge impact on Ulster Colleges’ hurling as Cross & Passion Ballycastle (twice), St Mary’s Belfast and Maghera again have all collected the All-Ireland title in the past 7 years.

James also found time to coach Swatragh camogie team to Derry senior titles in 2003 and 2005, was invovled at various times with Banagher senior hurlers, Derry minor hurlers and in 2010 as Derry senior hurling manager.

Mark Lynch, also from the Banagher club, regarded him a close friend.

“He had a huge influence on me as a youngster coming through St Patrick’s.  He was an inspirational person, not just an inspirational coach, that saw the best in you and then brought the best out of you.  We all loved his training, I have nothing but great memories of James.”

“And that continued after school.  We all will miss the texts we would get before big games, helping us to focus on the task.  I’m just so sad.”

It was a sentiment echoed by Anne Scott, Principal of St Patrick’s.

“If you knew James as a person, you wouldn’t be surprised by how successful a coach he was.  James was a very child-centred, very positive, very upbeat person.  He had a great sense of humour and was loved by the staff and the students.”

“Even during the middle of his illness, that sense of fun and even positivity was coming through in his e-mails and other communications with staff.”

“We are all better people for having shared his short life.”

James’ funeral will take place tomorrow Sunday in Dungiven.  He is survived by his wife Lorraine, his daughter Jemma, sons Sean and Padraig, his parents, brothers and sisters and a wide family circle to whom the condolences of everyone involved in Ulster Colleges’ GAA are extended.

Leaba i measc na naomh go raibh aige.

Séamas Mac Giolla Fhinnéin

Picture above shows James with the Mageean Cup after victory over St Mary’s Belfast in Casement Park in 2006, alongside his brother and former Mageean Cup winning captain Peter, who was representing Ulster in the Hurling Interprovincial immediately after the Mageean final.

Pictured below St Patrick’s Maghera after they won the O’Keefe Cup final in 2006