Ballinamore Sean O'Heslins' celebrate legendary teams of 60s & 70s - GALLERY

The late 1960s and early 1970s was a golden era for the Ballinamore Seán O’Heslin’s club. Five senior championships came to Cannaboe in a seven-year period, a three in a row, then two years with narrow defeats and this was followed by another two-in a row.

On Saturday last, the club had a memorable get-together as the surviving members of those teams came to the Island Theatre to reminisce and to celebrate.

It was a nostalgic occasion too, as those present remembered some of the great players who wore the club’s green and gold in those years and are now ar shlí na fírinne. Eight of the 1967 team are now departed: James Gallogly, Bernie Crossan, Harry O’Dowd, Thomas Galligan, Frankie Beirne, Paddy Dolan, Noel Flynn and Michael Martin.

Each player, or family representative, from all of the five winning teams was presented with a memento by club Cathaoirleach Ruairí Sullivan. Tommy Moran, who was club Cathaoirleach in the years of the three-in-a-row, entertained the audience with tales and anecdotes from those years and Brendan Burns, who played on the 1972 and 1973 teams, and was also club Rúnaí at the time, he talked about the wins and near misses from that period.

Columba Cryan was the recipient of the Hall of Fame award for his contribution to club and county in the 1950s, and the award was accepted by his daughter, Pam.

Oíche ar leith ag club Sheáin Uí Eislin nach ndéanfar dearmad air go deo.