Accolades and praise are not high on John O’Neill’s list of necessities. While the Lifford FC chairman scooped a prestigious award at last Friday’s FAI ceremony, the John Sherlock Service Award for long-standing status in soccer, he remains modest about his achievement, insisting it was not a one-man but a team effort.
“I was honoured to take the trophy, although I was embarrassed and giving out about it. It was definitely a great honour to be nominated, and to win, but I was giving out because, although I might be seen as the face of the club, there’s much more to it than that,” John insisted vehemently,
“One person will never achieve anything on his own. The number of people around me was and is very important; their enthusiasm and their effort is vital to what we have achieved. It wouldn’t ever have happened with one person – never,” said the Galway native.
Lifford FC this year celebrates their 50th anniversary, remaining the longest-running club in the Clare league.
John, who lives in Ashfield Park on the outskirts of Ennis, started out at the club in 1990, assuming the secretary role for almost 15 years before taking over as chairman.
During that time they purchased their own grounds from Clare County Council, consisting of two pitches and four dressing rooms at Cassidy Park in Drumcliffe, and opened them in 2007.
John was also a part of the ‘Emerging Talent’ programme and three different county cup teams.
“We have three senior teams this year: senior men’s team, a second team and a youths team. We also have schoolboy teams as well as a ladies section. We have the most successful ladies football club in Ireland and over the years they’ve accumulated something like 32 All-Ireland titles.
“Also, we have a new senior manager coming in, Donal Magee. I really hope we can have a good season. It’d be great to win the league. We haven’t done that in 35 years,” he acknowledged.
The John Sherlock Service Award is given out each year and was, up until this year, named the ‘Service to Soccer Award’. It was renamed following the death of its namesake, vice-chairman of the FAI Junior Council, vice-president of the Connacht FA and secretary of the Roscommon District League, John Sherlock.
According to John, “The award ceremony, done during the pre-AGM dinner, was very nice. There were awards for lots of stuff, such as Club of the Year. This one [service award] was the last award, the focal point of the night. About eight or nine of us from all over Ireland got it”.
“However, I just think there were people in the club more deserving of it than me. Ferdie O’Donoghue has given a huge amount of service to the club, Deirdre Allen is hugely important to the club also Damien Walsh has given long service to the Ladies team. Damien was ‘Mr Ladies’ soccer in the club for over 20 years. People like that, hopefully they will get recognition they deserve some day. Obviously, I accepted the award with good grace, there were other people equally deserving as me, but I’m very proud,” he admitted.
O’Neill, who is a retired juvenile liaison garda officer, is always keeping an eye on the future. As with every club, the future often lives or dies depending on support from the local community.
“For many, many years my hope has been that eventually the club will embellish its facilities. I would hope that we could add an AstroTurf pitch, as well as a clubhouse. That would be fantastic”.
“It would have been nice if they’d given me a cheque!” he concluded.

Mayor honours FAI’s contribution to soccer in Clare

Clare County Council hosted a civic reception for the FAI delegation to recognise the contribution of the Football Association of Ireland to the development of soccer in Clare.
Extending a special welcome to FAI chief executive John Delaney, Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni and assistant coach Marco Tardelli, Mayor of Clare, Councillor Pat Hayes said, “A civic reception is the highest accolade at the disposal of Clare County Council for any individual, group or organisation and one that is, for the FAI, thoroughly deserved”.
He added, “Clare has a long association with soccer and in recent years has enjoyed considerable success at intercounty level by winning the Oscar Traynor Cup and competing in the final just last year. Under the watchful eye of the FAI Development Officer in Clare, Denis Hynes, accompanied by the many volunteers and FAI accredited coaches throughout Clare, the underage soccer system in the county is also going from strength to strength”.
Mr Hayes congratulated John Delaney for his commitment to developing the game throughout the entire country.
“Along with the many other initiatives being rolled out across the county by the FAI, I believe that great strides are being taken to increase participation in sport among young people though various soccer programmes.
“This is something that Clare County Council is very supportive of as it is cogently aware that by participating in sport, children develop lifelong skills and disciplines that will help them lead active, healthy, well-balanced lives. This is reflected in the Clare Recreation Strategy, which was launched recently. The collaborative approach to developing local soccer facilities and the game itself in Clare is commendable and lays down the marker for how all organised sporting activities should be promoted and nurtured”.
The mayor continued “The FAI’s decision to hold the AGM in Clare this year is a vote of approval for the work being carried out at grass roots level throughout the county to develop the sport and associated facilities. On that note, I welcome the commitment made by the FAI to make up to €100,000 available to clubs in Clare to mark the county’s hosting of the 2011 AGM. This injection of funds will provide a huge boost to the continued development of the game in County Clare,” he said, before wishing the Republic of Ireland manager Giovani Trapattoni and his assistant, Marco Tardelli good luck in their upcoming European fixtures against Slovakia and Russia.
On behalf of Ennis Town Council Frankie Neylon paid tribute to the FAI delegation and congratulated them on bringing their annual meeting to Clare.
Athlone’s Paddy MaCaul, president of the FAI and John Delaney its chief executive replied on behalf of the association.