Today’s profile is those perennial winners, Lahinch Road, and their captain Anthony (Tony) O’Halloran. It seems only fitting that the first 2 years of the Eugene McNamara St. Stephen’s Day Tournament would be won by Lahinch Road, considering that Eugene and the McNamara family come from the Lahinch Road and where Eugene’s parents still reside today.

Both those victories were achieved with Stephen popping over the points from the inside line and David patrolling the side-lines and directing operations. Stephen McNamara was, of course, Eire Og’s first All-Ireland winner with 2 All-Ireland and 3 Munster medals in his locker while David has been to the fore in the growth and success to date of our Academy with the next generation of McNamara talent coming up through the underage ranks.

Stephen McNamara in the Clare colors.

A look at the depth of talent available to Anthony and the Lahinch Road team is scary with inter-county stars, David Reidy, Aaron Fitzgerald, and Darren O’Brien plus the high-scoring Danny Russell allied to the young rising stars in Michael Henneghan and Luke Pyne plus the experience of Brian Frawley and Barry Ryan to be called upon. The only downside for the Lahinch Road team is the lack of any representation from our Camogie or Ladies Football teams, Anthony & his team clearly have more work to do there.

David Reidy looking ahead to Stephen's Day

Finally, a note on the Lahinch Road captain, Anthony O’Halloran, a hurler who has graced our senior and junior hurling teams with style and poise but the highlight for Anthony must have been becoming a daddy with the birth of his daughter –

Anthony O'Halloran with his wife, Sheena, and beautiful baby.

So why not come along to Eire Og on St. Stephen’s Day and see whether Anthony and the Lahinch Road team reclaim the Eugene McNamara Cup. Here’s Anthony O’Halloran’s assessment of his Lahinch Road team and their chances –

Captain -

1) Name – Anthony O’Halloran

2) Eire Og Team you play on – Hanging on with the Junior A hurlers

3) Plans/hopes for the future - Eire Og to win a senior championship and have our second hurling team playing intermediate

Your Team –

a) Team Name – Lahinch Road (“the road”)

b) Your part of Town is famous (infamous) for – Home to Eire Og’s All Ireland winner from ’95 & ’97, Claureen River, Drennan’s Shop, the Bishops.

c) How many are committed to playing – 18 players.

d) Who are your Star Players – Barry Ryan, Danny Russell, Fitzgerald family, the Frawley, O’Brien & Reidy brothers. A family affair on the road!

e) Who is your Rising/Young Stars – Luke Pyne, Mike Heneghan & Alex Mc – speedsters!

f) Who are your “Veteran” players– Kieran Frawley, Barry Ryan, and Brian Frawley.

g) Who are the Ladies on your Team – Recruiting for more ladies, for a variety of reasons we are missing some of our ladies from prior years.

h) Any injury worries/absentees – Eadoin Fitz & Liam Kavanagh are ACL victims unfortunately. Aidan McGrath. Christmas day festivities at the Fitzgerald household have been an issue in the past, so well must wait and see how that fairs out!

i) What’s your Strategy/Plan for the tournament – Jack Charlton tactics.

j) How far has your team gone in the past tournaments – Back-to-back winners before handing over our title.

k) A good day on St Stephen’s Day is one where – Patsy Reidy and Stephen Mac to reignite their Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke relationship in the full forward line!

Lahinch Road team