Profile: Cyril Duggan
Cyril Duggan is without doubt one of the finest dual players the club has ever produced. Speak to anyone who was lucky to see him play or play with him and they will tell you the same.
A Tribute to Portlaoise Senior Football Team
(Laois champions of 1958*)
I’d like to pay a tribute to a team of stalwart men,
Who put this team upon the roll of champions once again.
‘T’is of Portlaoise’s football team that I do now relate,
Who won the county championship of Nineteen Fifthy Eight.
My first respects to Alfie Lewis, the captain of them all,
As fine and game a sportsman as ever kicked a ball.
And here’s to Noel Delaney an expert at the game,
Descendant of that family of glorious football fame.
A toast to Paddy Bracken, a goalie of renown,
He was brilliant for his county, outstanding for his town.
To John Keenan of full back line and Chris Fitzpatrick too,
They showed…. what stout-hearted men can do.
Of the fair haired Billy Bunyan and Ned Wynne, I’ve this to say,
Superb was their performance on the half back line that day.
And of that other great full back before the match was won,
How many time did I exclaim; Oh! ‘Lovely Johnny Dunne’.
And here’s a toast to midfield man, McCabe and Phil O’Keeffe,
Their trojan work on final day is most beyond belief.
I toast you Vincent Moran, you excelled yourself that day,
And always have you played the game come fair or foul your way.
“Well played there Tommy Preston! – style there! Sonny Brown”,
You played your part on final day you did not let us down.
High up goes big Tom Phelan a dropping ball to get,
Now “Hector’s” in possession and the ball is in the net!
I raise my hat to “Hackie” Dunne, to see him play is grand,
How fast he gathers up that ball and speeds on “toe-to hand’.
A clever player, Mick Donovan, and also very fast,
Right well be helped Portlaoise nail there flag up in the mast.
My tribute to this football team would scarcely be complete,
If I were not to mention Pat Dalton of Bridge Street.
He was far away on final day he’d gone across the sea
But many’s the day his stalwart play helped on the victory.
Let no man think that we forget the subs e’er at our back,
Mick Larkin, Carey, Campion and good old ‘Mossy’ Stack.
They gave allegiance to their club and the town that victory won,
Their praise I’ll sing and let it ring, they’re heroes everyone.
Now that I’ve paid my tribute to this team of gallant men,
Portiaoise’s youth I would advise ‘*’ere I leave down my pen.
Stand by the town that gave you birth your allegiance never yield,
And some of you will one day too, lead champions on the field.
Tommy Flynn
*The Heath were awarded the title in Portlaoise Courthouse following an appeal from The Heath
More Club History To Explore
Profile: Mathew Keegan
Mathew came through the ranks as a duel player winning underage football and hurling titles for the “Town”.
The Move
In the Summer of 1998 Portlaoise Senior Hurlers were in the midst of their preparations for a senior Hurling Championship game. Seamus “Cheddar” Plunkett was our manager then and, as the Players togged out in the dressing room, he was pacing the side of the main pitch waiting for a juvenile football match to finish so he could set out his cones and drills.
