Ballincollig and Crossmaglen: Two GAA Clubs, a bus crash and 40 years of friendship 

The date March 10, 1985, is a day that will live long in the memory of Ballincollig and Crossmaglen GAA clubs. 

A weekend that had been filled with terrific fun and games almost ended in tragedy as the returning Ballincollig team bus crashed through a bridge after the brakes failed on a steep hill outside the iconic Slane Castle in County Meath. 

Unfortunately, our bus driver Dermot O’Leary was seriously injured but all the remaining passengers emerged reasonably unscathed with the notable exception of club stalwart Con O’Sullivan and our much-loved schoolteacher Donal Conway. 

A few feet of a weir saved us from going straight into the unforgiving waters of the River Boyne. It was that close.

That trip to Crossmaglen was the second of many trips to the Orchard County. Those early adventures set the seeds of a 40-year friendship between the two clubs. 

Donie O’Regan, who was one of the architects of the maiden voyage recalls the day.

“I can certainly remember that afternoon like it was yesterday," O'Regan said. "As we headed downhill towards the ancient bridge, I honestly thought we were gone. 

"The weir saved us as you can see from the photo, we were very lucky. 

"We got the injured into ambulances before going to the nearest hospital at Drogheda. 

"Before we knew it and in typical Crossmaglen fashion their club officials arrived on the scene, and they organised a bus back to Ballincollig for most of the young lads and officials. 

"Our driver Dermot, Con O’Sullivan, Donal Conway and four of the young lads were taken to hospital. 

"Remarkably, the injuries were minor for the lads who were aged 10- or 11-years-old, and we travelled back within a couple of days. 

"Our club chairman Frank McCarthy organised a minibus which brought us home and it’s fair to say we were all in a state of disbelief.

“The bus crash certainly cemented the existing friendships. 

"We really got a special welcome every time we went to Crossmaglen. 

They were fantastic trips; the welcome was so homely, and all the kids loved playing up there. 

"But this was at the height of the Troubles and the Crossmaglen club really appreciated that we travelled up to visit them. 

"It was fantastic to see them go on and win All-Ireland finals and there was always a big crew from Ballincollig travelled up for those games. 

"It was a unique and special friendship which has continued to this day. Unfortunately, as the years have ticked away both clubs have lost some of those great Gaels."

To commemorate the links between the clubs, I recently headed back to Crossmaglen for the first time since that bus crash. I was greeted by club stalwart Tim Gregory who brought me to visit my hosts back in 1985, the lovely McShane family. 

We then travelled to the famed grounds of Crossmaglen Rangers where Eugene Hughes showed me around and outlined future projects ahead. Following a tour of the progressive town square it was back to the Gregory home, where we feasted on a beautiful roast prepared by Tim’s lovely wife Josephine. 

With over 50 years involvement, with the Armagh club, Tim Gregory was a driving force for the conveyor belt of talent that claimed a staggering 22 Armagh county titles since 1996 and six All-Ireland senior football titles. His enthusiasm for the club remains as strong as ever and he is currently the minor football coach. 

Tim Gregory recalls our trip to visit them.

“Initially, it was a school trip with the two national schools and the following year it was fully embraced by both clubs. 

"Malachy McGeeney organised the first one as he was the youth officer for the Armagh County Board. 

Cork people are great sportspeople and there was an instant connection with the Ballincollig lads. 

"Although everyone remembers the dreadful crash, I would say the friendships were forged the first year to be honest about it. 

"The trips always coincided with the Easter weekend and a national football league game between Cork and Armagh. 

"Unfortunately, some of the original crew are gone, Con and Lilly O’Sullivan, Tom Murphy, Leslie Baker, and Tom Donoghue who were all such wonderful friends to us in Crossmaglen.” 

During the troubled history of Northern Ireland in the 1980s Crossmaglen Rangers had a British Army base anchored on their club grounds and eventually won a monumental case against the British government in the European Courts. 

Gregory explains: “We had a real battle to keep our pitch at the time where there was great havoc across the region. 

"A great Cork man Con Murphy who was GAA President with the help of Cardinal Tomas Ó Fiath, club officials Gene Duffy, Gene Larkin, John O’Reilly, and others were instrumental in going all the way to Europe to save the pitch through the courts. 

That victory really galvanised the community and the club.

“On the pitch we were making strides and started winning minor and U21 County Championships. 

"It was obvious to all involved that we had some very good players coming through in the early 90’s and we needed to develop our facilities further, a second pitch and lights around the main pitch. 

"Within a short time, the senior county championships followed. 

"We won our first All-Ireland in 1996 and I believe that Ballincollig had plenty of Crossmaglen flags on the main street for the Kerry lads passing through from Laune Rangers, Killorglin. 

"Six All-Irelands and 22 Armagh titles was the result of the golden era which was a fantastic run. 

"We probably left a couple behind us too. We have some good young lads coming through at minor level so hopefully we will be back at the top table again shortly.” 

When Ballincollig finally made the breakthrough in 2014 and won a first ever Cork senior football county championship it was certainly celebrated as far away as south Armagh. When the victory dinner was organised, it was only fitting that Crossmaglen and Armagh legend Joe Kernan was guest speaker on the night.

LAUNCHPAD

Affectionately known as Big Joe, he traced the first All-Ireland club victory back to a trip to Ballincollig and a tournament that left the club manager with plenty of food for thought at the end of 1995.

Joe Kernan explained: “We went to Ballincollig for the Gold Watch Tournament which was organised by Tom Dorgan. 

"We won the tournament and at the presentation in the club house we were enjoying a bit of banter when one of the lads issued us with an invitation to come back down the following year to defend our title. 

"It was St Patrick's Day, and the All-Ireland club final was on the television in the background. 

One of my selectors Olly McEntee turned to the lads and said unfortunately we wouldn’t be able to come down as we were going all the way to the All-Ireland final next year. 

"There was plenty of laughter from us all but how right he was. 

"The following year Crossmaglen won our first All-Ireland and I think there was 11 of the team was U21.” 

Kernan followed up the club success by leading Armagh to a first All-Ireland title by defeating a star-studded Kerry team in 2002. 

Kernan’s half-time speech in that final still goes down as one of the greatest in GAA history. But it all goes back to the club, community, and friendships for the Armagh icon.

“First and foremost the GAA is about community. 

"When we enjoyed success with the club there was always a crew of the Ballincollig lads travelled up to support us and that meant a lot to all of us in Crossmaglen. 

"We always followed the fortunes of Cork and when they won the All-Ireland in 2010 it was such a thrill to see Paddy Kelly and John Miskella representing Ballincollig with such distinction. 

"It was a great honour to be asked to speak at the victory dinner in 2014 after the boys finally made the breakthrough. 

"It was a lovely weekend and myself, Paddy Kindlon, Francie McVerry, my wife Patricia were honoured to be invited.” 

From the mid-1980s to the present the links have remained strong. Following the underage trips between the clubs there was plenty of gatherings around All-Ireland finals in Dublin. 

SPECIAL

Ballincollig’s Peter O’Sullivan went to all those big days to support Crossmaglen.

“My early memories came from the original trips where my parents Con and Lily were very involved in hosting the crew from Cross," O'Sullivan said. "Over the years we made great friends.

“Obviously, there was a great crew travelled when Big Joe led Armagh to All-Ireland glory against Kerry in 2002. 

The Crossmaglen club like many up north endured many tough days during the troubles and I believe the strength of the GAA in bringing the young lads from both clubs together cemented the friendship in those times. 

"It is a special bond that has lasted and that goes back to the 1980s. 

"Obviously, many members of both clubs have passed since, but their memories and involvement back then is still remembered and spoken about. 

"The GAA is a special organisation that brings people together and this is borne out by the 40-year bonds of friendship that have been formed between two great clubs.” 

Ballincollig will celebrate 40 years of friendship with Crossmaglen on Saturday, November 29.