Ireland’s Over-65 Masters Hockey team brought home silverware at the weekend, winning the Celtic Cup in Stormont outside Belfast. Following the withdrawal of the French team, due to the Covid situation, the tournament was fought out between Ireland Scotland and Wales.
Representing Galway Hockey Club in defence was Seán O’Fiacháin, whose international sporting career started recently at age 67.
On Saturday, Ireland defeated Wales 2-0, with goals coming from the in-form Stuart Egner and the irrepressible Andy Matthews. On Sunday, they were in action again - a quick turn-around for athletes of this vintage. In a very tight match, Ireland closed out a 2-1 victory over Scotland. Andy Mathews and the bustling Billy Pollock were the scorers for the veterans in green.
President of Galway Hockey Club, Dermot Nolan said, “We are immensely proud of Seán’s achievement, and delighted to see the Celtic Cup back in Irish hands. Seán’s dedication to his sport, which includes helping out with training our Thirds team, is exemplary. Seán joins a long list of players from our club who have represented Ireland internationally, from under 16 upwards. We also have Emma Glanville, Tara Brown and Martin White playing at international Masters level. Hockey is definitely a game for all ages.”
Speaking after the match, Seán O’Fiacháin said, “It's a privilege to play on the Ireland Over-65's Masters hockey team and to have helped in a small way to win the Celtic Cup this week-end. My fellow team mates come from all four provinces of Ireland and a number are UK-based. They display excellent hockey skills and have been most positive and encouraging to me since I started playing with them.”
“Hockey is a wonderful sport at which Team Ireland excels at many levels. I started playing social hockey with a wonderful enthusiastic group of such people and still do. Men and women of varying ages and abilities play. The stronger players can be competitive while at the same time giving lots of support and much encouragement to the newer and weaker players. It's what sport should be all about - inclusive, lacking any age barriers, healthy and most of all fun with an added social side. Many people would find it hard to believe that this works but it does and lots of lasting friendships are formed.”
“I hope that we can have more Connacht players on Irish Masters teams in future and, to achieve this, in my view the appalling lack of playing facilities in Galway and Connacht needs to be addressed. Additionally, hockey is a game where a very high percentage of players are women. If we are serious about equality in sport, proper provision of hockey facilities in Galway and in the West of Ireland should be a priority. These facilities are the norm in our neighbouring countries and all over Europe. Hockey should be on a more equal footing with other sports in Connacht. It's now time for local politicians and civil authorities to wake up to the urgent need to provide adequate funding for this. The sums involved are relatively small compared to the long lasting benefit that these facilities bring.”
“Masters hockey is a most wonderful experience. It has allowed me to meet many friendly and most enthusiastic fellow players and it provides great lifetime experiences."
Photo 1: Answering Ireland’s Call against Wales, Seán O’Fiacháin is third from the left
Photo 2: (Left to right) Brendan Rice, Mick Ryan, Seán O’Fiacháin all of Ireland O-65
Photo 3: (Left to right) Mick Ryan, Seán O’Fiacháin with the Celtic Cup, Brendan Rice
