The thriving Augher St Macartan's club certainly celebrated their 50th anniversary in fine style this week.

It was at a gala banquet in the Armagh City Hotel that the club highlighted this landmark in their history.

And with a host of VIP's and a treasure trove of memories to illuminate the proceedings, the banquet proved a monster hit.

One of the main items up for auction was a superb Tyrone Crystal replica of the O'Neill Cup, the trophy awarded to the Tyrone county champions annually.

Augher claimed this coveted award on three occasions - 1976, '82, and '85 - and the captains of those sides, Dessie McKenna, Paul Donnelly and Gerry Daly were all at the banquet.

Indeed, the members of the 1982 side were feted at the recent Tyrone championship final between Dromore and Coalisland when they were given a superb reception at Healy Park, Omagh.

Former GAA President Sean Kelly was among the guests at the Armagh City Hotel.

Augher officials have already supervised major improvements at their impressive complex in the village and their under-age structures are now the envy of other clubs.

"But we certainly do not intend to rest on our laurels. There is still a lot of work to be done," said a club spokesman.

Among the most famous players produced by the club is former Tyrone captain Eugene McKenna who formed the Tyrone management team along with Art McRory prior to Mickey Harte taking over.

Eugene played for Ulster and is still regarded as one of the best players every to have emerged from the O'Neill county.





SOURCE: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sp...

Ask not what your club can do for you,
but what you can do for your club*

____________________________

"What Tony Donnelly doesn't know about football isn't worth knowing"
Brian Dooher All Ireland speech 21/09/08

Augher 2-11
Pomeroy 2-3




AUGHER minors took a leaf out of their seniors' book when they captured championship gold at the weekend beating Pomeroy in the Grade Two Final at Loughmacrory.

In the opening half it was the Plunketts who had the better of the exchanges but Augher were a different side in the second period as they went out and scored a goal and nine points while at the same time holding their opponents scoreless at the other end of the field. Cathal Corr put the Plunketts in front from a second minute free but moments later Augher corner forward Colm Sherry shot to the net past keeper Aarnie McMahon.

Pomeroy though recovered and a 12th minute penalty from Corr put them into a deserved lead. Martin McElhatton and Sean Murphy then traded points before Kevin Armstrong bagged a 21st minute goal and even though Declan Connolly had the final say of the first half it was Pomeroy who led 2-3 to 1-2 at the break.

Pomeroy could do little right in the second half and a lot of credit for that must go to an Augher side that rolled up their sleeves and began to play the football that they are capable of. Frees from Connolly (2) and Raymond McElroy narrowed the deficit to the minimum before full forward Darragh Donnelly levelled matters with a point from play in the eleventh minute.

Augher now had the bit between their teeth and as they grew in confidence the Pomeroy challenge faded alarmingly.

A 16th minute free from McElroy gave them a lead that they were never to lose and when Connolly knocked over another two efforts from placed balls they led 1-9 to 2-3 with a dozen minutes left on the clock.

Pomeroy badly needed a score from somewhere in order to reignite their chances but a couple of wides didn't help their cause and when Augher substitute Sean Hackett fired to the net past Plunketts keeper McMahon it was all over bar the shouting.

The accurate Connolly split the posts with an effort from play before the same player made no mistake from another free for his seventh point of the contest as the St.Macartans club collected their second championship title in as many weeks.