Cremin’s Carmelite cubs relive Hogan Cup two-timer

Question: What have the still up-and-running famous football nurseries of St. Jarlath’s, Tuam (1960/61), St. Mel’s, Longford (1962/63), St. Patrick’s, Maghera (1989/90) and St. Patrick’s, Navan (2000/01) all got in common with the sadly-defunct Carmelite College in Moate?Answer: They are the only schools to have achieved a Hogan Cup two-in-a-row. Last Saturday night in Moate, a truly memorable gathering took place to honour the heroes in white and maroon who brought the blue riband of the college game to the Westmeath town in both 1980 and 1981, under the guidance of one of this county’s finest-ever sporting ambassadors, Fr Michael Cremin.The Cork-born Carmelite priest first came to prominence when he guided his adopted county to Leinster success in minor football in 1963 (and, believe me, younger readers, such silverware was as rare as hen’s teeth in the Lake County then). While Kerry proved a bridge too far for Frankie Connaughton and his merry young men that September, Fr Cremin had already shown that he was a trainer par excellence, years ahead of his time in terms of the physical and mental preparation of his teams, as well as possessing an unsurpassed tactical awareness.After several near-misses when in charge of the Carmelite College Moate (CCM) teams, the holy grail of Leinster football eventually arrived in 1975 and, a year later, the ultimate All-Ireland crown was secured by Vincent Henry and Co. Remarkably, six out of seven Leinster titles were garnered between 1975 and 1981, while three out of five All-Ireland finals reached were won (the other two were both lost by a point). A chance meeting in the west of Ireland between a CCM past pupil and an alumnus of St. Colman’s, Claremorris (winners and losers by a point against CCM in the 1977 and 1981 finals respectively) sparked talk of a reunion, which came to fruition in the Grand Hotel last Saturday night.The golfers from a specially-organised competition, and the non-golfers and latecomers, all got together after 6pm for a drinks reception in the nearby Auld Shebeen, sponsored by long-time CCM fan-cum-benefactor, Liam Claffey (who still gives his backing to this day to the amalgamation school in the town, Moate Community School). Around 8.30pm, the large gathering made its way down the street to the Grand Hotel, where a range of memorabilia from the glory days of 1980 and 1981 adorned the walls and a beautifully-designed commemorative colour booklet was handed out to all guests.With former CCM players travelling from near and far, including overseas, treasured memories were exchanged over the course of a very nostalgic night - and early to mid-morning! After a delicious meal, the man who displayed ice-cool nerves to convert the late, late winning penalty in Dr Hyde Park on 3rd May 1981, Michael Lynam acted as MC and he introduced the various speakers who spoke glowingly of the heady days of three decades ago.Moate’s very own Jimmy Bradley recalled Fr Cremin’s enormous contribution to the successes. The 1980 captain had switched earlier in the school year from centre half back to centre half forward in a direct swap with Val Daly, the truly brilliant colleges player from Galway, who arrived for the function slightly behind schedule due to a club commitment in Mountbellew. Bradley was naturally thrilled with his 1980 success - he had also played as goalkeeper in the 1977 final defeat - but alluded in frustrated terms to the heartbreak of a shock loss by “a fabulous Carmelite team” to Beneavin College in the 1979 championship, where a Leinster success would have meant a magnificent seven in the province. Indeed, he recalled talking of his heartbreak from 24 years earlier to Brian Jordan, the victorious Hogan Cup captain that year from Ard Scoil Rís, Dublin, at the launch of ‘Fifty Years of the Hogan Cup’ in the Greville Arms Hotel in Mullingar in October 2003.Another high-profile member of that team which defeated St. Patrick’s, Maghera (Dermot McNicholl et al) in Croke Park on 20th April, 1980, Mayo’s John Maughan, also attended the reunion. The 1981 skipper, Pat Fleming, an Offaly native now domiciled in Castledaly, also spoke glowingly of Fr Cremin in his brief, but very effective, address. Poignant reference was made to deceased panellists from both sides, St. Colman’s having lost two starting players from the 1981 runners-up.Fr Michael Cremin, looking remarkably fit and well despite confessing to be in the mid/late 70s age bracket, stole the show with his memories of that glorious era. Having started by asking the assembled group to “disregard stories about me which you hear tonight” he proceeded to confirm, and indeed embellish, even the most bizarre rumours floating on the night about his ingenious approach to winning games of football! He told tales of the gentle persuasion of umpires to raise white and green flags in CCM’s favour if in doubt; influencing referees to identify real and imaginary culprits when a CCM player was wronged (or, indeed, had been the wrongdoer!); extra late-night food being provided for CCM footballers above and beyond that supplied to ‘normal’ boarders.When he finished, Fr Cremin was accorded a standing ovation from all and sundry, the guest list including former Moate club greats like Sean Heavin, Fr Cremin’s former number two Mick Scally, and even semi-awkward fellows like yours truly! Later Pat and Jimmy presented Fr Cremin with a special trophy to mark his incalculable contribution to CCM’s remarkable success story on the football fields. St. Colman’s captain, John Finn (later to star for Mayo - don’t mention the jaw!) finished off the formalities with a few light-hearted words about the football of 1981 and the golf of 2010. However, bragging rights re the afternoon’s small ball encounter were promptly downgraded when Pat Fleming took hold of the microphone again to announce, “But we have the medals!”And so they have. And they also have the memories from a glorious era which captured the hearts and minds of Lake County Gaels far and wide, all success-starved at inter-county level back in the 1970s and 1980s (to go with the previous eight decades!). And they also have the friendships rekindled at a superbly-organised function, to which this humble scribe was flattered to be invited.