�Over the years, we have won our share of games and awards. But the greatest award of all is to play the game in a true and sporting manner, and to encourage our youngsters to do likewise.� Mr McNally added.

Gerry has set an example in community work. Apart from his various roles with the football and youth clubs, he has been deeply involved along with his son in Scor, including Irish and set dancing, solo singing, recitation and ballad groups, - even participating in Novelty Acts.

And two sisters of Gerry McNally are in religious life. Sister Moira is a member of the Poor Clares, while Sister Miriam belongs to the Sisters of the Holy Cross, and is based in South Africa.

Great celebrations, especially in the Glenn area, marked Down�s All-Ireland Junior Championship victory in 1946, with two members of the John Martin GFC in the squad, - Kevin O�Hare and Dan Kennedy. And for Kevin it is �just like yesterday.�

He described how the Mourne side had been beaten by Antrim in the First Round of the Championship, but their opponents were disqualified for fielding an illegal player. En route to the final victory, they accounted for Louth, Leitrim and Warwickshire. �Speed was our keynote, interlaced with swift ball-movements, clean tackling and lightening hand-passes.

�The breath-taking sight of 15 players, wearing the honoured red and black jerseys of Down, battling for All-Ireland honours on the green sward of Croke Park, the mecca of Gaelic footballers and fans the length and breadth of Ireland, are all memories that the thousands of Down men and women will cherish to the end of their days.�

Kevin O�Hare recalled the jubilant scenes on Croke Park, and later at the Royal Hibernian Hotel, �when we were feted by our supporters and various prominent people.� Next day, All-Ireland medals were presented at the Mansion House, and they were guests of the Taoiseach, Eamon De Valera.

�Thousands of people were assembled on the outskirts of Newry, and when our bus arrived there was a tremendous cheer. They carried us shoulder-high through the town to the team�s headquarters at the old St Colman�s Hall on Hyde Market (now Cronin Park.) Only during the speeches did Dan Kennedy and I realise that we were the first Down side to win an All-Ireland title.�

Kevin O�Hare first became involved in athletics when approached at a Sports Day in Glenn by Jim Byrne, an All-Ireland champion and member of Newry Shamrocks A.C. He offered to coach Kevin and Frank Monaghan in weight-throwing and other sports.

About the same time, Mickey Jennings came under the tutelage of Sportsmaster, the legendary Gerry Brown, while attending the Abbey Secondary School in Newry. Later, they were joined by Frank Monaghan, a native of Poyntzpass, as well as Colman O�Hare, Hugh Magee and Felix McParland.

The honours came swiftly as Frank Monaghan became Ulster shot-putt champion in 1944, while Colman O�Hare was selected for the All-Ireland cross-country squad. Then, in 1946, Kevin O�Hare and Frank Monaghan represented Ulster in the All-Ireland championships.

Over the next ten years, this trio collected a host of provincial and national awards, in shot-putting, javelin, discus, - with Mickey Jennings also high-jumping. Often they competed with success in International events at the White City Stadium in London.

When Kevin O�Hare called it a day, this committed sportsman, - who had five brothers, Artie, Colman, Peter, Seamus and George, - concentrated on guiding promising athletes, especially through the Community Games. Many provincial and national honours came to Iveagh. He also had more time to spend with his wife, formerly Sadie Russell from Rostrevor, and daughters, - Collette, a nurse; Dr Nuala Lundy, and Grainne, an airhostess.

As chairman of Down Community Games, county delegate to the Ulster Community Games Council and, finally, Track and Field Officer of the National Community Games, Kevin O�Hare established a superb reputation, both personally, for his locality and county, - another proud son of Glenn!

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