Tag Archives: Newmarket Celtic

IF experience is a key ingredient to success in the Oscar Traynor Cup, then Clare have a strong hand, as team captain Pat Purcell is one of the most experienced players taking part in this year’s competition. He leads the side in their quarter final tie away to Sligo/Leitrim this Saturday. Having played League of Ireland football with Limerick for a number of seasons, he returned to junior football this season when he joined Newmarket Celtic. Purcell previously played in this competition with Limerick, as he was playing his junior football with Fairview Rangers at the time. Acknowledging that “there is a commitment involved”, he said it isn’t as great as that required for League of Ireland football. He has a similar view to that of team manager Mick Shiel in relation to the running of the competition. “There are too many gaps. Lads in the Oscar Traynor squad might not see each other for weeks because of the gaps …

THE Ryan family in Newmarket endured a very difficult emotional rollercoaster in the spring of 2009. The birth of Abbey Ryan, the first granddaughter in their extended family, on March 3, 2009 brought great joy to everyone. However, the death of her father, Pakie, (34) in early April, left a cloud hanging over the entire family. The sports fanatic and Newmarket character would have been 40 on Monday, January 26. During his illness, Pakie received great support from his wife, Frances, relatives, friends and the local community. His father, Christy recalls Pakie repeatedly said there were people much worse off than him, even in the middle of his cancer battle. Two or three years after his death, it struck Christy that Pakie had 34 years of happiness, he was never sick and never in hospital. Frances describes the spring of ’09 as a “battle of emotions”, which was a bit too much for everyone to take in, as there was …