Fond Memories of Buncrana Cup

As part of our retrospective to celebrate the golden jubilee of Maginn Park, Inish Times employee Gerard Callaghan recounts his personal memories of the famous Buncrana Cup The opening of Maginn Park and its magnificent playing surface in September 1957 created the perfect launching pad for what was to be a golden era for junior football and summer cups. The prize money at that time was £350, attractive in the sense that it was equivalent to a year’s wages for most people. Interestingly, Donegal teams fared well and Letterkenny Crusaders were the victorious team in 1957 while the famous Kildrum Tigers reached the semi finals also. Local side Buncrana Hearts had to wait until 1961 before they reached the semi final stages, while Letterkenny also made the last four that year also. It was around this time that the Buncrana Cup faced stiff competition from various other summer cups, such as Omagh, Castledawson, Ramelton and closer to home in Moville, the Kennedy Cup was very popular, with prize money reaching a staggering £2,000 and had attracted teams from Manchester, Scotland, Dublin, Belfast and Galway as well as Derry. Prize money in Buncrana increased to £1,250 by 1962, when Inishowen Utd lost out to the famous Harps from Derry in the final, who incidentally went on to complete an historic five in a row in 1963. The stakes were high at this stage and all summer competitions were attracting a host of senior players from England and Scotland as well as from many Irish League and League of Ireland clubs. Football fever had hit Derry with their Irish Cup win in 1964 and subsequent participation in Europe and even though we do not like to admit it, England’s World Cup win in 1966 saw association football really takes off in the North West. More and more junior sides were formed, but it became increasingly difficult for local clubs to gain entry to some of the bigger competitions. Maginn Park also hosted some major charity games during the 60’s, when players such as Sean Fallon, Bert Trautman, Noel Cantwell, Eddie Crossan and Charlie Tully lined out for an All Stars team, against players such as Tommy Docherty and Malcolm Allison, Tommy Eglinton and Peter Farrell. T.V presenter Eamonn Andrews, was the special guest at the opening of new dressing rooms in 1965 and one the first competitive football game at Maginn Park was an FAI Cup game between Swilly Rovers and Cork City, which could only take place after the pitch had been cleared of snow. The arrival of the Northern troubles slowed things up a bit in the seventies, with many sides finding it difficult to travel south. Fanad Utd were a dominant force in Donegal football around that time and reached the semi finals in for the first time in 1971, and hopes were high of local success in 1975 when Buncrana Hearts reached the final but lost out to Derry Harps. Fanad lost two successive finals in ‘78 and ‘79 to Limavady and Derry Harps respectively. In 1980 Buncrana Hearts defeated Brandywell Harps to reach the final, but played out a boring scoreless draw against the mighty Celtic Swifts, who won the replay quite easily by three clear goals. There was further heartbreak for Fanad Utd again in ‘82 when they lost another semi final to Brandywell Harps and the final of ‘83 saw them lose to Cromac Celtic from Belfast, who won the trophy for the first time. Maginn Park celebrated its Ruby Anniversary in 1984 when the prize money increased to £750 and a bumper crowd witnessed an all Donegal clash in the semi final between Quigley’s Point Swifts and Fanad Utd, who by this stage were desperate for success on the famous turf. And, generally, Fanad were the ‘chosen’ team of Inishowen soccer fans, as, since Buncrana St Mary-s won the contest in 1951, no Inishowen side had ever really come close to winning. In fairness, The “Point” had emerged as a dominant force in Inishowen football, but many locals were rooting for the experienced Fanad side emerged victorious in a five goal thriller and their opponents would be Bridgend Celtic from Strabane, who also had a large following. The final was a huge occasion and attracted the biggest crowd for many years, Bishop Edward Daly was the special guest and also in attendance on the day were a number of brass and accordion bands, Boy Scouts and Girl Guides and a battalion of local F.C.A members, who all provided a guard of honour. Farad’s lineout included players such as Liam Sweeny, Eamonn McConigley, Charlie McGeever, Johnny Kelly, Danny Kelly, Willie Harkin who was an exceptionally talented goalkeeper from Muff, Pat Doohan a talented midfielder from Gweedore, who sadly died in a car accident not long afterwards. Many of the Fanad side went on to play for Finn Harps, while McGeever served a time as manager. The Strabane side were also loaded with star players, such as Martin Houston, Paul McMullan, Gary Mc Gettigan, Paul Kelly, Kieran Tourish and Marty Gormely who many fans will remember for his high pitched appeals towards referees. In the end the teams played out a scoreless draw, but two weeks later Fanad Utd and Donegal’s favourite summer cup team realised their dream by winning the replay by two goals to one and one can still see the smile on Fr Michael Sweeny’s face as they hoisted the cup that day. Their efforts to retain it in 1985 fell flat when they were dismissed in the first round by Coleraine side Killowen, who went on to win it for the first time also. The late eighties saw the emergence of another great side, Coolagh Celtic managed by the late Patsy O Neill and the final of 1988 drew another bumper crowd when they were paired against local rivals Limavady Utd. Both sides were packed with senior players but Limavady were easy winners by 4 goals to 0. Following Derry City’s entrance to the League of Ireland the Buncrana Cup witnessed a decline in the late eighties and although major sponsorship from Fruit of the Loom over a five year period, when the prize money reached €5,000 it came to an end in 1995. Many people were lucky to have witnessed Maginn Park, great games and great players and the memories will live on forever. The tractor was out last week to sow the seeds for the new pitch, and while the old standard may never be repeated, here’s hoping Maginn will witness some dramatic finals once more.