By Shaun Casey

TWENTY five years ago this week, John Robinson’s vision came to fruition. A proud Maghery man, Robinson took it upon himself to organise a gala dinner to celebrate Ulster’s achievements at the start of the Millennium in an attempt to raise funds for the opening of their new field.

Felix Hamill Park officially opened in 2003, but the hard work to get to that stage took place years in advance. A footballing fanatic, Robinson isn’t one to shy away from rolling the sleeves up and putting in the hard graft.

The night, set for the Carrickdale Hotel, brought together some of the biggest names that Ulster GAA had to offer. Current GAA President Jarlath Burns was one of those special guests, and he was also a speaker at the event.

Eamonn Coleman, an All-Ireland winning manager, was there. Brian Canavan and Brian McAlinden, who guided Armagh to their first Ulster success in 17 years, were there. Donegal legend Brian McEniff, who guided Ulster to a Railway Cup title that year, was in attendance.

Tohill, Marsden, Harte, McGeeney, McAnallen – names that simply roll off the tongue. Dessie Ryan, the Sigerson Cup winning manager from Queen’s University. Kevin Beagan, who captained St Patrick’s, Armagh to their most recent MacRory Cup triumph in 2000.

“The only one we were missing was Henry Downey,” explained Robinson. “He genuinely thought it was the following week. He was joint-captain of Ulster that year along with Kieran McGeeney.”

Robinson, a popular barman at Red Neds pub in Armagh, located just a couple of minutes away from the BOX-IT Athletic Grounds, fondly recalls the preparations that led to the event.

Ireland Rugby International Conal Patterson was a guest speaker. So too was legendary jockey Charlie Swann. Kerry icon Pat Spillane made the long journey too and true to form, he got the crowd on their toes straight away.

“Ulster was the theme of the night, and it was my own brainchild. The nice, pleasing thing about it was that all the special guests were contacted by phone – there were no text messages back then.

“It was great ringing up the likes of Eamonn Coleman – he was living with two old aunts at the time. I rang everybody. Stephen McConville was responsible for Charlie Swann, Sean Harvey of Moy gave me Pat Spillane’s number.

“Pat was controversial on the night, as you’d expect. I think his first sentence was directed to all the other special guests, saying that he had more All-Ireland medals than the rest of the lads all put together, so he didn’t start off on a good foot!

“There was a lot of organising that went on behind the scenes, but it was great. Chris Brown and Kieran McGeeney were both there, both created history with their All-Ireland wins in 2002.

“It was the first time ever that the Tom Markham Cup and the Sam Maguire crossed the border at the same time – I don’t know if a lot of people know that.”

The 2002 season was a momentous year for the Orchard County, but 2003 was a historic one around the Loughshore. An intermediate title might not sound like much, given the success Maghery have enjoyed since, but it meant an awful lot back then.

Maghery had tasted junior championship success three times before and had reached the senior decider four times previously as well but came up short on every occasion.

“We held this night in 2000 and then I became chairman of the club in 2002,” Robinson recalled. “We had nobody involved in the All-Ireland winning team that year, and a major decision was taken at our AGM to drop down to intermediate.

“Luckily enough, we won it in our first year in 2003, beating Madden, this year’s senior champions, in the final. That match was in Crossmaglen and then we went on to reach the Ulster final.

“It was the final year that Clontibret hosted those games, the Ulster Council took it over then. We were beaten in the final by St Michael’s of Donegal. Colm McFadden, Brian McLaughlin and Christy Toye were their main players, and they went to the All-Ireland final.”

Remembering 2003, Robinson continued, “We opened our new field that year. Armagh were the All-Ireland champions and hosted Westmeath, managed by Luke Dempsey, and the following year Páidí Ó Sé took over and won their first Leinster title in a lifetime.

“The club also hosted juvenile finals and the junior championship final that year. The 1953 Armagh team that reached the All-Ireland final stayed in Maghery for collective training for a week or so back then.

“We organised a reunion for all of those fellas. Anyone that was deceased was represented by a family member, and it was a great day. Sean Quinn’s widow was there to present the Sean Quinn Cup to the junior champions (Annaghmore).

“We had nobody on that ’53 team but they made Maghery their training base. The Lough Neagh hotel was there back then so they would have used that.

“GAA Congress was in the Europa Hotel in Belfast that Saturday and Sean Kelly, a Kerry native and now an MEP, carried out the duties of opening our fiel. I think it was one of his first duties as GAA President.

“My cousin Brian Fox lifted him, Sean had something to do at the St Gall’s club and then Brian took him to Maghery. Peter Quinn was also there, the late John O’Reilly, who was the Ulster President at the time, and our own county chairman Joe Jordan.

“At the opening of the field, current GAA President Jarlath Burns was more than helpful, he was always just a phone call away and Silverbridge gave us a brilliant help as well.”

In the last 25 years, Maghery have achieved a lot. Three Division One league titles (2012, 2013 and 2019) to join their Division Two triumph in 2004. They’ve also competed in 13 championship semi-finals in the last 16 years at senior level.

The club were crowned senior county champions for the first time ever in 2016 and earned a second title in 2020. They also reached the final in 2017 but surrendered their crown to Armagh Harps that season.

Aidan Forker, Ben Crealey and Ciaran Higgins brought All-Ireland medals back to the club in 2024, but they weren’t the first All-Ireland titles taken home to Maghery.

Kevin Nugent won an All-Ireland minor crown with Armagh in 2009. Conor Mackle was a member of the 2004 All-Ireland winning u-21 team.

Twelve Maghery players have won MacRory Cup medals with St Patrick’s Academy in 2004, 2008, 2009 and three left with Hogan Cup glory in 2008.

Stefan Forker has a collection of Ulster medals from all three grades. Minor (2005), u-21 (2007) and senior (2008). Clubmate James Lavery, Maghery’s first ever SFC winning captain, joined him for that 2007 success.

Penalties don’t necessarily hold a special place in Armagh hearts, but it was a Maghery man who scored the first ever deciding goal in a penalty shootout. Paul Forker netted in the 2006 Sigerson Cup quarter-final for UU, knocking out defending champions Sligo IT.

“It’s not a bad achievement from a small, rural club when you consider there’s only little over 50 children in our local primary school. Our league titles are maybe up to eight or nine now. The All-County League was formed in 1970 and Maghery were the first winners of it.”

The proudest moment of all came last year of course. Aidan Forker became the second ever Armagh captain to lift the Sam Maguire Cup on the steps of the Hogan Stand.

He had Maghery clubmates Crealey and Higgins alongside him when they brought the trophy back to Felix Hamill Park on the Tuesday after the final.

“It’s a fantastic feeling whenever you see your neighbour captain Armagh to the All-Ireland,” Robinson added. “We have two All-Stars and three All-Ireland medals in the club, which is just fantastic. I think Maghery is punching above their weight as a small, rural club.

“It was very well organised; Joe Fox and his committee were absolutely fantastic. I went down to savour the whole thing and to see the lads, led by Aidan, Ciaran and Ben, and the rest, I’ll take it to my grave.”

Madden ended their participation in the senior championsip this year, on their way to lifting the Gerry Fagan Cup for the first time, but Maghery are never far away. They’ve become one of the big hitters in the competition, and Robinson is confident they’ll stay there.

“Up the Loughshore men!”