Ardrahan Hurling Club
Remembering Our Lost Friends.

First and foremost, I would like on behalf of Ardrahan Hurling Club to offer our heartfelt and sincere sympathies to the parents, brothers, sisters and families of our two dear club members Cathal and Marcus. At club level, their absence was pronounced in the dressing rooms throughout the year and the inevitable question: could we have done better if we had Marcus and Cathal? Nobody will ever know – but they are remembered and recalled all the time. And while the pain lingers amongst friends and team-mates, the pain and suffering being carried by parents: Jarlath and Stephanie, Maxie and Pauline must be excruciating and how I wish we could help with the burden. It is difficult to write about two fine young athletes, who’s potential had not been fully realised; Marcus, a Leaving Certificate student at Garbally College and Cathal, who had completed his Leaving Certificate at Gort Community School in 2004. Suffice to say that the tragic moments on the evening of March 4th 2005 robbed us of two of the finest young men that Ardrahan has ever produced and surely deprived us of watching them wear the blue and white of Ardrahan with distinction. Both were formidable hurlers and both shared a love of rugby. Both games dovetailed into their lives so easily, as the hurling season ended the rugby commenced. In one of their last games together – a minor quarter-final victory over Castlegar, I recall them at their most joyous. It is with the greatest respect to Castlegar- worthy and sporting opponents, as ever, on that particular day that I refer to this game. Being part of a winning unit that occasion meant so much to both young men. In the steamed up densely packed dressing room, I can still see them – two different individuals – as the backslaps and handshakes were exchanged, Cathal quite and modest, bare torso full of perspiration, beads of sweat on his red curly hair sat quietly, his back to the cold condensation on the wall, absorbing the glory and smiling broadly. There was no prouder man on the universe that day as “supporters” offered their congratulations. Across the packed dressing room Marcus was manoeuvring around, checking on friends, full of banter and conversation, delaying his shower to savour the glory and absorb the compliments from “supporters” as they filed through. The happy optimism of that day in Ballindereen with Cathal and Marcus is an abiding memory and just one of a multitude shared as they graduated up through the under-age levels in our hurling club. Marcus and Cathal played their part that day and on many, many occasions previously. Their demeanour on and off the field was exemplary and why wouldn’t it be – they both came from a line whose connections with the Association go back to the earliest times, both grandfathers, Peadar and George had a lifelong involvement with Ardrahan. That fateful Friday evening in March, two good friends and neighbours set out to a training session with Gort Rugby Club hey never came home. Their noble intentions of preparing to be part of Gort RFC’s ambition to retain the Connacht Junior Cup were never fulfilled. Their beautiful lives cut short and a happy circle of friends left bereft. They were only with us for a short time, but Cathal and Marcus made a huge contribution to the quality of life in Ardrahan G.A.A. Their absence creates a huge void everyday in their family homes in Ardrahan, but I would hope that the love and respect that so many people had for Marcus and Cathal would bring a little comfort. We will always cherish, with affection the memory of Cathal Geoghegan and Marcus Scully. Leatha imeasc na Naomh go raibh said.

Tom Greene

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