Forty-year reunion for the team who brought 'Unbridled joy for Donegal'

The headline in one of the articles in a special commemoration booklet produced by the Donegal Democrat to mark the 25th anniversary of Donegal's U-21 success in 1982 read: Unbridled joy for Donegal.

It was a good description of a time when history was made by Tom Conaghan and the Donegal U-21s, winning a first All-Ireland title for the county when they defeated Roscommon in Carrick-on-Shannon on October 17, 1982.

The achievement, 40 years on, is being marked by a special Gala Banquet in the Abbey Hotel tomorrow, October 7. This week manager Tom Conaghan recalls it being a big year for a number of reasons with Four Masters winning the county title as well. Conaghan was manager of both teams and he took advice from the Grand Master, Mick O'Dwyer of Kerry for both teams.

"I had him involved with me with Four Masters and I figured he changed things a lot. He gave them a bit of belief in themselves. He was very helpful," said Conaghan, who said the main reason he took on the job was that he was asked by the late Donal Monaghan, who he says he just couldn't turn down.

Tom paid tribute to the work of Donal Monaghan and also Michael Lafferty, who were his backroom team at county level. 
"It turned out to be a great year. Belief was the missing ingredient. The squad were up and coming at the time. Once they were told what it takes, they had no problem having a go at it. They did knuckle down when they seen that there would be success at the end of the line," said Conaghan, who recalls once again the big turning point in the campaign, Eunan MacIntyre winning a 60-40 ball in the first game against Down and then winning a free for Martin McHugh to get a replay.

"I couldn't believe that he would have got it. It was a big one to go to Newry then and get a result and they were growing in belief after that," said Conaghan. They went on to win Ulster and then had a real test against Laois on a rotten day in Longford in the semi-final.

"In all fairness it was more physical a game than they ever got. They were a great bunch of boys and really deserved it. They are all back helping out in their own clubs also. It will be great to meet up on the night. There is a good crowd going. I'm looking forward to meeting them all again," said Conaghan.

The night is being organised by the players, who have been meeting on a regular basis for the last few months. The proceeds from the night will be used in a number of ways including supporting Donegal GAA Academy, Solace Cancer Centre and Parkinson's Northwest Branch.

Captain of the 1982 team, Brian Tuohy, has been heavily involved in the preparations and he is happy that they have teamed up with the county board to mark the occasion.

"I got consent to form a WhatsApp group early in the year and we got together to look at a couple of scenarios. One of those was to include a fund-raising element because some of the panel were involved or had family members closely involved in Donegal football. So we selected two charities and also to include the Academy. This was to mark in some small way the volunteers who are involved in getting players to county level," said Tuohy, who mentioned that there numerous people involved in clubs and schools who had nurtured the players through to adult level.

"If it weren't for people like that, in my case Tom Cullen, John Travers, Michael McGowan, Jackie McDermott, the De La Salle brothers. They helped to keep us out of trouble, even though we caused them plenty of trouble," said Tuohy, who also mentioned the late Ray Sheerin and Teddy Kane for their involvement with the club minors.

"We had plenty of role models from our early years with Donegal winning a first Ulster title in 1972, and they are being honoured this year as well on their 50th anniversary. There were a lot of local squad members involved, Carney, McShea, McEniff, Seamie Granaghan, Peter Barry, Declan O’Carroll, Ray Sheerin and Alan Kane, God rest them, Thomas Quinn, Josie Boyle.

"Then you had people before that like Red Jack Gallagher, who we never saw playing but we heard about this legendary figure who was among us and always had the bit of banter with young fellows coming up the street from working in Cathaleen's Fall.

"You had the likes of Michael McLoone, who I vaguely remember as a very young lad, getting up to the park to watch St Joseph's. He was a household name, an Ulster great, but injuries ruled him out of '72 and '74," said Tuohy, who remembers the 1974 final, with Donegal coming from nine points down.

"I remember the late Paddy McLoone being disconsolate with the Down team nine up. Next thing Bonar slams in two penalties and Kieran Keeney got the winner. Paddy gave the Down supporters some stick!"

Tuohy remembers his late father, Tom, ferrying them to games and the great times of underage in Ballyshannon at the time.
Then came the All-Ireland college wins for St Eunan's in 1979 and De La Salle in 1980. The U-21s lost out in the Ulster final of 1981 after losing their midfield pairing of Anthony Molloy and Pat McCrea to injury before the game. But it all came good a year later.

Tom Conaghan came in as manager and Donegal started with a win in Cavan in April. They had to survive that replay against Down before beating Derry in the Ulster final on Sunday, September 5. Three weeks later they overcame Laois in the semi-final in Longford before the historic All-Ireland final on October 17 in Carrick-on-Shannon.

Tuohy's involvement was complicated as he had entered the Garda Training College in Templemore in the middle of the campaign but thanks to the good offices of Kieran McCready he was available for all of the campaign. He didn't even get to enjoy the Ulster final win against Derry as he went straight back to Dublin that Sunday evening before being taken back to Templemore by McCready early on the Monday morning.

He recalls the time with some sadness as well with the passing of Donal Monaghan, a mentor, and also of Pauric Gallagher of Ballintra and the tragic death of Tom Conaghan's son, Kevin, a few years after the win. "Also many family members who stood in photographs with us that day, some of them are no longer around.

"When we are celebrating, we will be remembering them as well," said Tuohy. Apart from the Gala Dinner on the Friday night it is planned to have an informal get together the following day.

DONEGAL ALL-IRELAND CAMPAIGN
Breffni Park - Sunday April 25 1982
Donegal 1-10, Cavan 1-7

MacCumhaill Park, Sunday May 16
Donegal 1-9, Down 1-9

Newry, Sunday July 4
Donegal 0-9, Down 1-4

Omagh - Sunday Sept 5
Donegal 0-10, Derry 1-5

Longford - Sunday, Sept 26
Donegal 0-5, Laois 0-4

Carrick-on-Shannon, Sunday, Oct 17
Donegal 0-8, Roscommon 0-5

Footnote: There will be a limited number of the 25th anniversary commemorative booklet to mark the 1982 All-Ireland win produced by the Donegal Democrat available on the night.