St Malachy's GAA celebrates 1975 intermediate football success

There was a wonderful sense of nostalgia and pride in Woodside Furniture Páirc Mhic Eoghagáin on Friday evening as St Malachy's GAA Club marked the 50th anniversary of their landmark Westmeath Intermediate Football Championship victory over Tyrrellspass in 1975.

The reunion brought together players, family members, and supporters to celebrate a golden chapter in the club’s proud history. It was a season in which St Malachy's achieved a memorable double, capturing both the league and championship titles in a year that remains etched in local folklore.

Central to the evening was the launch of a special commemorative booklet, detailing the full journey of that unforgettable campaign, including their hard-fought semi-final victory over Tang, which paved the way to the county final. The final itself saw St Malachy’s overcome Tyrrellspass, with Dermot Garvin leading from the front as team captain.

Speakers on the night included club chairperson Frank Kiernan and secretary Sinead Kiernan, both of whom paid tribute to the players and mentors of 1975 for their commitment, camaraderie and lasting legacy. Each member of the victorious panel was formally introduced to the gathering, receiving special presentations to mark their role in the club’s historic triumph.

The 1975 side holds particular significance in the club’s lineage, as it was a time when the St Malachy's banner also included the footballing communities of Ballinagore and Loughnavalley, prior to the formation of their own clubs in the years that followed.

The event was as much a reunion of old friends as it was a formal celebration, with stories shared, laughter echoing around Páirc Mhic Eoghagáin, and a deep appreciation for the men who brought such honour to their parish half a century ago. There were words of thanks from Sean Casey on behalf of the ‘75 side, while Frank Kiernan made a special presentation to Pat Garvin for his great service to the club.

Fifty years on, the heroes of 1975 remain an inspiration for the generations that have followed. Also on Friday, there was a presentation of jerseys to this year's team by sponsor Michael Garvin of Atlantic Care.

Report on the 1975 Westmeath intermediate football final

Into the senior ranks next year go St Malachy’s

They earned this distinction at Cusack Park last Sunday when they scored the narrowest of victories over Tyrrellspass in what was a really exciting and keenly contested final. Tyrrellspass were in arrears before they got out of the dressing room. Their original midfield pairing of Kevin Oxley and Frank Duffy had to “cry off” because of injury and Fergus Hannon came from the subs to partner Liam Maher, who moved from cornerback, in this vital sector.

John Clarke took Maher’s place at corner back and Jim McElwee was promoted to man the centre back spot. St. Malachy’s opened the game in lively fashion and enjoyed early dominance thanks to the spirited efforts of the Lowry brothers, Willie and Tommy, at midfield. Even though the “Saints” were playing into a fresh breeze that stretched the tricolour full length, they made the early running but it was Tyrrellspass who were first to score in the 5th minute with a typical Mick Carley point from way out.

St. Malachy’s still enjoyed the lion's share of the play but their “messing” with the ball stood in sharp contrast to the direct effective methods of Tyrrellspass. The game was eight minutes on when Joe Boyce floated a line ball from in front of the flag towards the Tyrrellspass goal. The three Lowrys invoiced it. Martin went high for it, fisted it down to Tommy and he placed Willie for a nice point.

Joe Glennon counteracted with a point from a free but St. Malachy’s were still the dominant team. The Lowrys owned the midfield exchanges but their front runners were at war with the posts and could make little headway against a strong Tyrrellspass defence. On the other hand the Tyrrellspass forwards were ready to avail of any chance that presented itself and one did in the 13th when Mick “Boiler” Ryan cashed in on a defensive mix-up to get over a point that might just have easily ended up in the net. It was at this stage that Tyrrellspass played a trump card.

To give the “kiss of life” to a flagging centrefield, they moved Mick Carley into that area as a third man and the change was immediately evident. Carley coaxed and cajoled his team-mates into exploiting the Malachy’s defence and his shrewd passes always spelled danger. The Tidy Town attack clicked into top gear and in the 14th minute Mick Ryan, finding the Malachy’s defence at full stretch, had a point and added another two minutes later.

Tyrrellspass had the bit in their teeth and they flung everything they had at a tortured Malachy’s defence but the latter refused to wilt and this coupled with some miraculous escapes kept The Saints in the game. Willie Lowry kept their faith alive with a point from a free in the 18th minute but Joe Glennon replied with a like score a minute later. Nearing the end of the half St. Malachy’s did show signs of a comeback.

Pat L’Estrange had a point and after a good run Gerry Whelan punched a very valuable point. With time almost up Tyrrellspass stretched their lead when Mick Carley, Sean Deegan and Noel Maher worked for a point, credited to Maher. Half-time saw Tyrrellspass lead 0-7 to 0-4 after a very exciting first half.

St. Malachy’s turned over with the wind favouring them and two points from Tommy Lowry in the first four minutes laid the foundation for victory. Play was even, scores were scarce until the 13th minute when Tommy Lowry equalised for the first time with a good point.

Two minutes later the winners got the only goal of the game, a goal that put them in front for the first and kept them there. Joe Boyce made one of his many clearances and found Gerry Whelan. Gerry, with his knee heavily bandaged, made rapid strides goalwards and when confronted with the immovable object, flicked the ball to the unmarked Mick Garvin and he buried it in the net.

Having got this goal one expected St. Malachy’s to streak ahead, but they practically sat down and allowed Tyrrellspass to regain the initiative. Joe Glennon cut the lead with a point from a free and then followed seven most exciting minutes of football. Tyrrellspass fought gallantly to get on terms but one man stood between them and victory – Tommy Lowry. Officially placed at midfield Tommy was, time and time again, seen in the back three of defence inspiring his colleagues with high clean catching and long raking clearances. He did everything right throughout this vital stage & he broke the heart in the Tyrrellspass attack that fought so hard to salvage the game.

Time was up when Sean Deegan was brought down going through and Joe Glennon brought his tally from frees to four points. Tyrrellspass could have won this game - they got enough chances but in fairness St. Malachy’s were deserving winners. They had more “fire in their bellies” and should have had an easier task if they had forwards working on a par with their outfield colleagues.

Tommy Lowry was the man of the match. His workrate had to be seen to be believed and one wondered how he found the stamina to keep going as he did. His brother Willie was not far behind and it would be unfair to leave the third member of the family – Martin – out, as he led the attack forcibly and effectively. But the Lowrys did not win this game on their own. They certainly contributed handsomely to the victory but overall it was a victory for team work and fitness.

Liam Fox in goal came through with a clean sheet and fronting him Joe Boyce, Ger Linnane and Peter Kelly were soundness personified. The half-back line of Sean Mangan, Walter Carroll and Dermot Garvin may not have been as prominent as their inside trio but they were faced with the most dangerous three of the Tyrrellspass attack, Mick Ryan, Noel Maher and Joe Glennon, and holding this three to four points from play speaks for itself.

In attack Pat L’Estrange and Eamonn Clarke were overshadowed by Martin Lowry in the half-line but nonetheless they did all that was asked of them. Michael Garvin’s goal, Gerry Whelan’s making of and his punch point added to Seamus Whelan’s opportunism makes the full forward line worthy of mention but it must be said that this was St. Malachy’s weakest line. Tyrrellspass can lament their many wides – they had eight in the first half against two for St. Malachy’s – but it was no fault of full back Tony Martin, goalkeeper and captain Joe Doonan or Gerry O’Neill, that St. Malachy’s got the scores they did. Mick Ryan, Mick Carley, Joe Glennon and Sean Deegan were best of an attack that got enough of the ball to win.

Scores for St. Malachy’s: Michael Garvin 1-0, Tommy Lowry 0-3, Willie Lowry 0-2, Pat L’Estrange and Gerry Whelan 0-1 each.

St Malachy's team: Liam Fox, Sean Mangan, Walter Carroll, Joe Boyce, Ger Linnane, Peter Kelly, Dermot Garvin, Tommy Lowry, Willie Lowry, Pat L’Estrange, Martin Lowry, Eamonn Clarke, Michael Garvin, Seamus Whelan, Gerry Whelan.