On Sept 12th 1982 it took Aidan Prendergast just 4 minutes to change the history of the Gers.

The occasion was, of course the Senior Championship Final against our neighbours & great rivals Kilkerley Emmets & only 4 minutes had elapsed by the time “Aidy” had registered a goal & a point. That start set us on the path to our most memorable victory in a tremendously successful era for the club.

If you were to ask anyone who knew or worked with Aidan from his early career as a mechanic right through to his role as a newsagent in later years the unanimous opinion would be that he was a gentleman, quiet & self-effacing with a pleasant cheerful disposition.

That was Aidan Prendergast the friend & colleague.

“Aidy Pender” or to pay him the ultimate compliment “Pender” (no Christian name required) could be viewed in a couple of different ways.

If he was on your team, either GAA or Soccer he was an artist, on his day a match winner & a man who took obvious joy in being in possession & eluding tackles, teasing the opposition, and finishing the score with a nonchalant ease.

If you were the opposition, you would grudgingly admit to his artistry while secretly wondering how it was seemingly impossible to get a hold of him, hold him back, or even if the worst came to the worst, kick him.

Thinking back now the modern day player who most resembles him is not a GAA player at all but rather, and perhaps appropriately, given Aidy’s love of both codes, the legendary Messi and the adjective which most aptly describes both of them is “slippery”, and in Aidy’s case this is certainly true. You just couldn’t get a grip of him.

I spoke to the late Hughie Casey during the week prior to the ’82 final and he confided in me “I think Pender could be our trump card”. How right he was.

Some people are born to their sport and whether it was with Gers, Rock Celtic, Bank Rovers or Dundalk FC, “Pender” demonstrated this every time he pulled the boots on.

Thanks for the memories Aidy.

Go ndéana Dia trócaire ar a anam.

By Terry Sloane