Age is just a number for Mullagh’s ‘junior’ hurling champs

The junior hurlers of Mullagh proved that age was simply a number when their adult C1 team – with an approximate average age of 40 – won their county junior championship at Kenny Park, Athenry, on Saturday.

Indeed, when it came to raising the cup following their 2-12 to 1-9 victory over Athenry at the final whistle, vice-captain Eamon Larkin, who had taken on the mantel of leading out the side after Mullagh’s original captain Mark Finnerty got injured earlier in the season, insisted on two other team members lifting the silverware first.

So, instead, the oldest members of the side, Christy Curley (aged 54) and Ray Duane (aged 51) accepted the cup, much to the delight of the Mullagh supporters.

Both men had played their part in the win, with Ray scoring 1-1 and Christy coming on as a sub.

“To say it was emotional was an understatement as the tears flowed easily,” Mullagh secretary Margaret Callanan told the Connacht Tribune this week.

“Along with being a winning captain, it was the first championship medal that Christy had ever won. These two lads are stalwarts of the club both on and off the field.”

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