ANTHONY They Came In Their Droves To Say Goodbye A Man Who’d Fight For Those In Strife, Just Think Of All The Things He’s Done, A Farmer, Leader, At Times The Boss Republican From Head To Toe Clounmacon Were His Heart And Soul In Listowel
Town He Was Their Mayor He’d Give Advice, He’d Help You Out Unselfish, Unwavering To His End John Walsh 6/04/2013 John O'Halloran
1970-2011 It is indeed with a very sad and heavy heart that I pen this tribute to John O’Halloran who passed away in the early hours of December 8th after a short illness. John, originally from Church St, Listowel played his underage football with Listowel Emmets and later joined local club Gale Rangers and at midfield helped them to win two junior ‘b’ championships in 1994 and 1995. John transferred to Clounmacon in 1998 and played is first game for his new club on the 20th April that year against Beale in the North Kerry League. Clounmacon entered the Knocknagoshel tournament that summer though there were very strong teams in opposition, they emerged as the eventual winners. John scooped the player of the tournament that summer of 1998. Also in 1998 he went on to steer Clounmacon to back to back junior championship titles and he cleaned out all midfield opposition on their way to victory. At this stage of his football career, it was plain and simple to the Clounmacon players and management – it was vital to have John in the dressing room for all games. When he was ‘on song’ you knew you had a chance of winning. In 1999, Clounmacon reached the league final having beaten a fancied Beale team in the semi final in Moyvane. Anyone there on that sunny afternoon could tell you the master class display that O’Halloran gave, fetching the size 5 from the blue sky’s above. Duagh were in opposition in the final but disaster struck for Moloney’s boys when O’Halloran sustained a nasty shoulder injury after only ten minutes. It was game over for John and Duagh were victors on this occasion. But, as they say, the wheel is always turning and the same two teams met in the Championship Final that year in Ballybunion and Clounmacon wrote themselves into the history books after a titanic battle and claimed their own 3-in-a-row. John came on as a sub that day and so got his reward for his years exploits In 2002 John playing at midfield with Brian Carty helped the black and amber with their first North Kerry League Title since the 60s against St. Senans; 0-8 to 1-3. Later that year John again “ar lar na pairc” with Aidan Carey scored a goal that proved to be the winner against Ballyheigue in the Urban League Semi Final getting there in the end 2-9 to 2-6. Because of the terrible winter, the urban league final against a strong Tarbert team was played by the banks of the Shannon in Glin, Co. Limerick. It was the 9th of November and just a few weeks after the untimely death of one of our former players Brendan O’Carroll. Emotions were high but Clounmacon persevered and a goal fitting to win any final was scored yet again by John O’Halloran that drove them on to win a tight game; 1-7 to 1-5. It was Clounmacons first ever County title and Johnny Hogan’s boys celebrated in style. From 2003 onwards John didn’t play a lot of football but always kept himself in shape. He was a member of the 2005 panel that won the North Kerry Intermediate Final against Asdee, and he won a North Kerry Novice Championship medal in 2009. He was often seen doing laps at Pairc Na Gaeil on his own on many evenings after work up to 2010. He climbed Mount Brandon on several occasions and had a great love of the Dingle area. He did the Ring of Kerry cycle in 2010 and 2011. When asked to describe John as a footballer, both John Moloney and Johnny Horgan his coaches during his peak years would say; he had a fierce swing for a ball; he was undoubtedly senior standard; he was a superb athlete; a very clean player and a fitness fanatic. Socially John was quiet but great fun also. He enjoyed many trips away with Clounmacon and travelled frequently to Anfield with the Liverpool Supporters in Listowel. Work was important to him and his family even more-so. It was in July of this year just a few short months ago that John was diagnosed with leukaemia. It was only a few days after doing the 112 mile Ring of Kerry Cycle with is close friend John O’Carroll. It was a total shock but John saw it as a challenge and met it the same as he would any challenge, head on. He was a very positive and extremely brave all through his illness and treatment and right to the end. I was proud to have known him and to be able to call him a great friend and to have been on the same field as him was an honour. John generated massive respect and that was acknowledged by the huge amount of people that turned out to pay their respects at his removal and burial. Sincere sympathy to his wife Nora, daughters, Riona and Aisling, Mother Mary, Father Paddy, his sisters Leann, Josephine, Maura, and Louise and his extended family. Be sure in the knowledge that Heaven is in safe hands now; may you rest in peace John Robert Twomey 1984 - 2010 On the 29th May of this year the community of Clounmacon was rocked to its core as the news of Robert Twomey,s tragic death following a car accident in Melbourne, Australia leaked through. Robert had been in Australia for 2 years plying his trade as a Carpenter. He worked for another former Clounmacon player, Michael Shanahan. Robert was a very well like fellow as was seen by the massive amount of friends he had amassed between Ireland and Australia. He always wore a roguish smile and was up for the craic. He was a stylish footballer, altough dedication to hard training was not his forte. He played in many positions but was most successful at corner forward where he often raised the green flag, most noticeably was his two goal salvo against Templenoe in the Novice Championship somes years back. He was a member of the Clounmacon team that won our first County Title in 2002 and our first North Kerry Intermediate Championship in 40 years in 2007. He may be gone but in our club he will never be forgotten. REST IN PEACE GOOD FRIEND Robert Twomey 12th October 1984 - 29th May 2010 Brendan O Carroll 1961 - 2002 The
untimely death of Brendan O Carroll on the Saturday of the races both
saddened & shocked the entire North Kerry community. Brendan had a
very long football career and in fact came out of retirement in the
summer of 2002 to help out his beloved Clounmacon in a County league
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