Bellurgan Utd’s National Cup celebration night captured in pictures

After such a successful year, there really was only one place I could have gone to on Friday night, the Bellurgan United celebration night which took place in the ballroom of the Ballymascanlon Hotel and a huge crowd turned out specially for the occasion.

The evening was a celebration of their hugely successful u15 team which won the National Cup and an appreciation for their senior mens and ladies teams and the various award winners through the year from the club.

I was only in the door when I met up with committee member and his delightful wife Breen and Majella Doris from Jenkinstown who said it was going to be a fantastic night for the club.

Not too long later I got talking to club treasurer Seamus Gregory from Deerpark who told me they felt that the club is definitely heading in the right direction with plenty of kids and plenty of coaches to encourage them and the night was also a thanks for everyone who put in the effort to make the club what it is today.

He then introduced me to one of the u15s managers Darren Murphy from Railway Village who was with his wife Niamh and son Caolán who played on the victorious team. He went on to say he was hugely proud of the fact that their team were the very first to be successful at national level.

Next I met up with club legend Martin Finnegan from Jenkinstown who has been working for the club for over 50 years and has held numerous positions during this time. He has been involved in a football committee focusing on the men’s senior team for more years than anyone can remember. He was with his lovely wife Lorraine who assured me it was going to be a really great night for the club.

I then headed back over for a word with Caolán who was joined by his fellow team mates Oran McAnerney from Omeath, Dualta O’Neill from Glenmore and Sean O’Hare from Meigh who were all looking well and said it should be a good night, but to be honest, the lads were more looking forward their game on Sunday against Rock Celtic!

Not too far away I then met up with the club’s Children Officer Bronagh Mackin from Carlingford who was with a self confessed ‘Roche Woman’ Siobhan Rice from Mountpleasant who assured me they were going to make it an epic night with everyone there.

Heading for another table I caught up with Tamala Stornelli and Francesca Condolusi both from Whitestown who told me Tamala now plays with the senior team and Francesca was there to support him. They were looking forward to a lovely night with their club friends.

I did manage a quick word with club chairperson Colm Woods from Jenkinstown who was with his lovely wife Dympna and he said it definitely had been a good year for the club with the U15s winning the National Cup and the instillation of the floodlights being two of the major events and felt the club is definitely in a good place.

Heading for another table I then met up with Karl, Emma and Sean O’Hare from Meigh who were with Sorcha Reel also from Meigh who were looking forward to a marvellous night for Sean and his team mates.

Not too far away I got a word with Annmarie O’Neill originally from Armagh but now in Glenmore who was with sons Diarmuid and u15 hero Dualta who were enjoying the company of Molly Bryant from California who were definitely making the best of Dualta’s big night and wanted a big shout out for all in San Diego.

Making my way over to another group of ladies I then got talking to Susie Lambe from Jenkinstown who was joined by Dympna Woods and Majella Doris who assured me it was going to be a fantastic night for the club.

After this, I headed over for a chat with footballing legend Ciaran Wiseman from Kingswood who was with daughter Dara, grandkids Jenna and Kyron and Molly Crosby from Greenacres. Ciaran said they were delighted that Kyron was part of the u15 team and had progressed to being the team’s captain this year.

I then headed towards the bar where I met brothers Stephen and Sean Casey from Haggardstown who told me their brother Ciaran had played with Bellurgan United and they were there to support the night, had asked their better halves if they wanted to be there and had received a negative response.

Just arrived in the door was Eoin and Lorraine Lambe from Jonesboro, Eoin is son of the club legend Gene Lambe and told me it was going to be a good night for the club.

After this I headed over for a quick word with Mark and Trina-Marie Mooney from Dromin whose son Calvin plays with the club and they were sure it was going to be a great night.

Next I caught up with Elaine Murphy from New Road Bellurgan who was with husband Sean part of the management team for the u15s with Richie Watters and Darren Murphy. Elaine and Sean were accompanied by sons Neil, Gary and Shane who were looking forward to an epic night with everyone from the club.

I then headed over for a quick word with Matthew and Moninne Birch from Bellurgan. Matthew was part of the original committee back in the ‘80s with Mickey O’Connor who helped to revitalise the club. They were delighted to be there on the night and said it was just great to be back out together as a club after such a long break and were going to make the best of it.

Finally, before I departed, I met up with Fra and Michelle Donnelly from Lordship who have had a life long association with the club and were out to celebrate the great strides the club has made during adverse times.