Sydney club unveils new commemorative GAA jersey

By Niall Gartland

THE Cormac McAnallen club in Sydney have unveiled a new jersey to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the late Tyrone captain’s death.

The club was founded in January 2005 as a living tribute to McAnallen and the passing of time hasn’t eroded their original mission statement of honouring a true great of the GAA.

They were determined to mark the milestone year and decided to switch their club colours from red and green to black and white as a nod to Cormac’s home-club of Eglish.

The players have been kitted out in a freshly designed Eglish-style jersey and club chairman Thomas Wylie, a native of Ardboe, explains the thinking behind the overarching concept.

“We held a committee meeting and decided to change the club colours for the year with the 20th anniversary coming up,” he explained.

“It’s something a bit different and it’s mostly about keeping Cormac’s legacy going as two decades is a long time.”

He continued, “Some of the younger ones coming into our club never saw him play, and mightn’t even know much about him or what the club stands for.

“We’re trying to draw a bit of attention to Cormac to get people to realise what he achieved as a footballer and as a leader.”

The club has also unveiled a new singlet in honour of Cormac which their players sported last weekend at the annual Melbourne Sevens. tournament.

Wylie said, “We usually get a new singlet designed every year for the Melbourne Sevens and we’ve brought out a singlet that honours Cormac. It’s still the Eglish colours except it’s not predominantly black. It’s been very successful, we’ve sold 350 singlets and it was great to see everyone wearing it around Melbourne.”

The McAnallen family back home have been supportive of the club’s endeavours to keep Cormac’s name alive, something that Wylie also greatly appreciates.

“We keep in contact with the family and Dónal, Bridget and Fergus have loved the idea of the change in club colours, they’re delighted with it.

“It’s good that it brings Cormac’s name back up to the surface, where we can promote him a bit more and talk about him. It’s been very successful so far and we’re delighted with how popular it’s been.”