�I never dreamed that I would bring the Sam Maguire Cup to Poyntzpass. And it was only right that the famous trophy should be on display in Mickey Waddell�s chemist shop.�

So stated Joe Lennon, born and reared in the �Pass, a star of Down�s All-Ireland Championship winning teams in the 60�s. He was also captain of the side in red and black, which brought �Sam� back to the Mourne county for the third time in 1968.

By coincidence, one of that squad was 38-year-old shop-owner, Brian Canavan, who not only played for the Orchard county, but also helped to lay the foundations for the Orangemen�s historic triumph last year.

Describing how he had played in `the Meadow` at Poyntzpass, Joe Lennon said that this was his �first encounter with the passion of club football. Some of my teammates were the Canavans. Converys, Jim, Pat and Tommy John McSherry, the McDonnells, Jim Magennis and Mickey Waddell.

�Even after we moved out of the parish, I and my brothers, Eddie and John regularly went to `the Meadow,` and played on school-boy sides. Then it was on to St Colman�s College, Aghaderg and Down. You know the rest!

�My father-figure, Mickey Waddell, gave me my first real job, and brought me to my first game of golf at Tandrageee. He slipped a two-shilling piece into a little envelope and posted it in a box in the tiny clubhouse. More importantly, he brought me to my first Ulster Senior Final, between Cavan and Antrim in 1952.

�When I received a phone-call with the unmistakeable voice of Mickey Waddell, it rent the mists of time, and brought me back to street scenes at Poyntzpass, 50 years ago. O�Hanlon�s lineout reminds me of the roll-call at the `Pass school of the 40�s, - Magennis, Monaghan, Canavan, McSherry and Hudson. The bloodline lives on, uniquely with six sets of brothers. No Lennons alas, - but no matter.�

What a sporting record that past pupil of St Joseph�s primary school holds. There were 12 Ulster Final appearances; seven Ulster Final victories, three National League and All-Ireland Championship medals, as well as Railway Cup games.

Referring to the 1960 conquest of the Sam Maguire Cup, Joe declared: �I will never forget the way my father�s face lit up with pride at the reception we received at Poyntzpass. He had played in Armagh, and been a referee. My grandfather had also played Gaelic football, but he was more reserved about my playing for Down.

�That was a victory which transcended the political and religious divide. The villagers of Poyntzpass were so overjoyed at the achievement of one of their own. The support of those people was tremendous, - and it was great to represent them.�

And Joe Lennon declared: �There is a certain magic about the first All-Ireland Championship-winning side. It was so liberally sprinkled with stars and match-winners like Paddy Doherty, Sean O�Neill and James McCartan, who turned in phenomenal performances in every game. There were also confident defenders like Leo Murphy, Pat Rice, Kevin O�Neill and George Lavery. And the management staff lifted the players to a higher plane.�

Long-time secretary of the Redmond O�Hanlon G.F.C in Poyntzpass, Raymond McSherry said that Joe Lennon was �one of the most consistent and innovative players on a very successful Down team in the early 60�s. Had his family not crossed the border into Down, he might well have featured in the Orchard county side.�

Meanwhile, the All-Star would have been impressed by the recent achievement of St Joseph�s in winning the Division Two under-10 title, defeating Culloville in the Final. And it was appropriate that the trophy should have been presented to the St Joseph�s captain, Paul Og Grant, by Raymond McSherry as Secretary of the South Armagh Board.

Referring to O�Hanlon�s G.F.C. as �a small rural club, which consists mostly of players drawn from a small number of families,� Mr McSherry said that they had �kept the Gaelic tradition alive in the village and townlands for over 50 years. The record shows that a team named St Peter�s played about 1925, went out of existence, but was re-formed during the 1930�s.

�When the `Pass won the Collins Cup at Camlough in 1940, Terry Murray was captain, and Mickey Waddell was vice-captain. In the early 20�s, Paddy McSherry often featured on the county side, while Paddy Convery had an outstanding career in the Armagh jersey. Jim Pat McSherry was a stalwart with the Orchard county and Ulster in the 20�s and 30�s, while his brother Tommy John was picked for both Armagh and Down. More recently, Brian Canavan and John Rafferty, as well as the Canavans, have worn in the orange jersey with pride.

�Football ceased in the 40�s, due to emigration, but in 1952 a Clan Eireann side, including Gerry Fegan, later County Secretary, came to Magennis� Meadow and played a Poyntzpass team on which were Gerry Conlon, Pat Monaghan, T. Canavan, P. Loughlin, T. Murray, J. Burns Tommy and Frank McSherry, along with other familiar names.�

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