Team: J Fee(Gers), P Rogers(Gers), T McArdle(Gers), J Logan(Gers), Fintan Wynn (Brides) P O Hare(Gers) P Neary(Gers) Christy Mullan (Brides) Front Row. E Murray(Gers) P Murray(Gers) P Reilly(Gers) Peadar Cassidy (Brides) John Martin(Brides),Tom Monaghan (Brides) Paddy Farrell(Brides) Paddy Byrne(Brides)

This was the St Furseys minor team of 1951. It was an amalgamation of Geraldines and St Brides. In those days our parish was Blackrock Haggardstown and Kilkerley so there may well be Kilkerley connections included .

Along with Tallanstown and Cooley they were the feared teams in the minor grade. What we do know about some of the individuals involved, all of whom if still with us would be most likely between 87 and 89 years of age. Christy Mullen was the Goalkeeper, Tom Monaghan was a brother of Shopping Centre developer Phil. Paddy Byrne was a well known employee in Dundalk train station, John Martin we believe was from Kilkerley direction and actually married Paddy Byrnes sister. Peadar Cassidy hailed from little Mills and Fintan Wynne was a renowned full back who played on the Louth minor team of 1951. John Logan lived on the Main Street in Blackrock. Paddy Farrell is still the brides county board rep and Paddy Neary went on to be a famous cyclist in the Dundalk area.

These are men who are an integral part of the History of Geraldines GFC and St Brides GFC and who played their parts in developing the clubs we have today. It should also be noted that this was an era when Louth were a formidable force in minor football.

They won the Leinster Championship in both 1951 & 1953. Indeed their haul could have been greater in both years were in not for controversy. In’51 Louth were to play the Connacht champions in the All Ireland semifinal.

However Galway , Roscommon & Mayo all appealed the outcome of the Connacht minor championship pushing back the semifinal until November. Roscommon were finally awarded the Connacht title so the semifinal was to be played in Hyde Park .

However Louth received word on the day of the match that Hyde Park was waterlogged so the match was moved to a local school pitch which didn’t have time to cut the grass before the game. It was claimed that the poor surface favoured the local team and they emerged victorious.

The Louth minor team of 51 included such great footballers as Kevin Beahan, All Ireland winner in 1957. Clare defeated Louth in the semifinal with strong suspicions that overage players were involved. Many thanks to StBrides GFC and Paddy Farrell for the photo. #NGA #WeAreGeraldines #flashbackfriday Louth GAA