Padraig and Fionn Mervyn

Paddy

Early memories, St Teresa’s and family duals:

“Both my families are from the Hannahstown- the Mervyn’s and the McGarry’s. From no age I was involved in the club, my uncles on both sides all played for the club, my mum played camogie was she was younger, my granny Agnes played for the darts team and my Granda Sam played football back in the day we won the Championship. My da wouldn’t have had me or Fionn playing any other sport other than hurling or football. There was only one club either of us were going to play for- with the family connections and everyone coming from Hannahstown”.

“The first session I can remember was down in the old La Salle before it all moved up to the Parish centre. My Da took me down to the first session and he nearly had me training with St Teresa’s. We didn’t have a clue where he was going- it was like a maze in there. Buke eventually got me out of it and brought me into the club training session. Most of the boys that were training in La Salle and the Parish Hall; I’d be best mates with them all now. It shows the importance of fundamentals, a lot of the boys training back then are all playing senior. I saw a picture the other day and there was Ryan [Straney], Pearse [Fitzsimons] and Owen [McKeown] back in fundamentals and now we’re playing senior football for the club”.

“It made me GAA mad as well and I’ve been like that from no age- I remember my uncle Seamy [Ciara’s Da] built us nets at the back of my granny’s – outside his house out of metal pipes and metal financing and stuff. Me, Ciaran, Shane and Mitch would have went up and took lumps out of each-other at the side of the house. It would always have been me and Mitch stuck in a team against Ciaran and Shane- Ciaran was playing underage county at the time and they were both older than us. We would always have been getting a hiding, but it was great craic”.

“My Da [Patrick] only really played hurling for the school at St. Mary’s – I would have been out pucking the ball about with him, me and Fionn. My Uncle Thomas and Mick [Mervyn] both played hurling for the club. Tom would have played for Queens as well, so I think he was handy enough. Fionn and me found his kitbag recently- one of them old red leather ones- we raided through it and found a lot of old subs jerseys and university jerseys. Fionn found his old Cooper and done it all up- it’s a cracker now. Obviously the McGarry’s have been flat out playing for the club”.

Training at Hannahstown Hall and Cul Camp’s:

“Training at the Hall we would have been split up a lot more- when we were training at La Salle we’d have been training with the older ones – but at the Hall it was a lot more split up and you would have been training with your own age group. That’s where I met a lot of my mates that I would hang about with now- big Cormac [Hannon], Ryan and Pearse. To be honest I would have remembered more about the Cúl Camps on the pitch rather than the Parish Hall. The pitch is where you’re out flat out actually playing the sports, the fundamentals is all the basics but important to develop and its when you’re out on the pitch you’re actually playing matches and you’ve more freedom”.

“I remember during the Cul Camps you went and trained away and at the end of the week you done the all-Ireland at the end of the Camp. You were split up into your counties and would have had a bit of tournament and got your gear. I helped take the Cul Camp myself – Déaglan Bunting got me, Ryan and Cormac into it and he had us over in Ardoyne doing a stint- it was interesting. It wasn’t the same though- you don’t know the kids that you’re training, you see our kids around the club and they’re playing football and hurling”.

Underage memories ‘the Goodfella’s’:

“I enjoyed the underage memories, we’d good teams at underage and would have been unlucky not to win more when you look back at the amount of players we have playing senior now. Diesel [Damien McGarry]and Rab [Lappin] would started taking our underage teams and then it moved to Paddy Tumelty and then Déaglan Bunting and Peter Martin took the football. For the hurling – Daryl [Fegan] and Christy Tumelty took it. Myself, Pearse and Ryan would have trained with Russ [Frank Fitzsimons jnr] and Terry [McCrudden’s] teams coming through. We would have been very young in terms of playing for those teams, we were only really training to try and get a bit of experience. We would have got to Goodfella’s out of it- it was the best thing about that. Every time they got to a final Russ and Terry would have brought the team to Goodfellas and that was obviously a good side- they were getting into finals quite often”.

“We had a lot of good runs underage; we would have been switching between A and B a lot coming up in then hurling and football and would have had a lot of memorable matches- especially when Déaglan Bunting and Peter Martin started the footballers. There was at that infamous match down at St Paul’s against St Malachy’s. My girlfriend [Alannah] was down watching it and thank god she wouldn’t have had a clue who I was back then”.

“The first trip that we ever went on with that team was to Derrylaughlin- that’s when I realised how much of rockets that my mates were. We had a friendly and an overnight and that was the first time we all went away together. We had a friendly against the local team and an overnight stay away in a camping site. We’d have had food and none of it went to waste cause it all ended up over Déaglan Bunting and Peter Martin’s cabin windows. That year we ended up winning the all-county U-16 B football Championship, we beat Tir na NÓg in the final. Ryan Straney would have got the golden boot that year- I think he took every score for us”.

“The year after we would have been the oldest and we won the U-16 B all-county hurling with Christy and Paddy Tumelty. From those two teams- although we were playing a lot of B and were playing a mixture of A and B- the amount of players from those two teams that have come through and are playing senior now. It’s class to see, at underage the level that you’re playing at doesn’t matter as much because it all sort of levels out when you’re older”.

Step-up into senior:

“It was an easy transition for me to go from underage to senior because everywhere I went outside of the club- I was surrounded by it. Paddy Cunningham, Raymie [Herron] and Reg [Brendan McComb] all taught me in school. Reg would have been my form teacher and History teacher in AS. I would have stayed behind in class to talk to him about football and hurling. At that stage I would have been just breaking onto the football and hurling teams”.

“I remember my first senior hurling match up in Cloughmills – Micky [McGuigan], Dinny [Decky Napier] and Sootie [Patrick McCague] – Micky is obviously involved again this year. I remember walking on to the pitch and thinking look at all these hatchet-men and I was doing corner-forward with big Joe [Doone]. Joe had a word with me before the match about not worrying about any hassle because most of the hatchet-men were in our team. I think we won the match and I don’t think I’ve played corner-forward since”.

“I won the league with the senior footballers and I was still trying to break into the team at that stage and get a spot on it. I think when we won the league we sort of seen the potential that we had to win the senior football Championship. It was a special day winning the league- we went up to the club after and had a bit of a celebration. We knew ourselves that we were capable of winning Championship cause we’d been knocking at the door. I remember growing up and we never would have missed a Championship match- back when we played at Casement- me and all my mates and it was dream of mine to eventually win the Championship and follow in the footsteps of my Granda and Uncle Eamon”. 

Being part of back to back successes:

“The 2016 Junior Championship success was class and brilliant, it was my first senior Championship honours. We weren’t expected to beat St Teresa’s in the semi-final and we were a Division Four side. We ended up beating St Teresa’s convincingly and beat Cushendun in the final. They were a division higher than us and it was a great ending to the final to comeback from the dead and win it. We thought to ourselves, right we can have a go at anyone here”.

“We went on and a few tough games in Ulster and ended up winning it- the Ulster final was wild. I got sent-off and I think it was the longest five minutes of my life waiting for the whistle blowing, thinking Jesus what have I done- have I cost us the Championship? When the whistle blew it was class and unbelievable for the club to win an Ulster title”.

“It was hard to have to watch the boys in the all-Ireland semi-final against Mooncoin- in the first-half we really put it up to them and it just shows you- if you had have had the rest of the boys that were suspended, I think we could have had a serious run at the All-Ireland. After that hurling just dropped off a bit, but it’s good to see it make a comeback this year. there’s a lot of young players coming in with the likes of Dan [Murray]”.

“Winning the Senior football Championship, the following year was something that life with us forever. I was injured playing St Pauls in the first round and missed the St Galls game – I was only coming back for the Creggan semi-final. I think once we beat St Galls- we really got the hump up after that match and thought to ourselves that there’s nothing stopping us from winning the Championship now”.

“It was special to win it and what made winning the Championship a bit more special- you’re winning it not only with your mates- you’re winning it with people that you’ve grown up looking up to the likes of Micko, Reg and Paddy”. What made it even better as well was winning the football Championship and becoming the third generation of the McGarry family to win it. My Granda Sam and uncle Eamonn both have senior Championship medals and I was the third in three generations to win it. I remember it was a nerve-wracking game and just to hear the final whistle was absolutely amazing. Celebrating with your family and friends on the pitch and getting to lift the trophy will live with me. Ever since that I think we’ve got a lot better in Championship – we were desperately unlucky last year. There’s no stopping us from going and winning another in the future”.

Rollercoaster of 2019 season and current disruption:

“Last year was exhausting and tough- as tough for Portglenone as it was for us. To go and have a trilogy with them and then get taken to a replay with Cargin and go to extra-time in the replay after being four-points down and a man down. It was heart-breaking not to get over the line and win it”.

“Before everything had stopped due to the virus- training was fantastic and we’ve Brendan back this year. There was a good morale around the team and everyone is just looking after themselves. If or when it comes back – I dare say we’ll be ready to go for it again”.

Big influences and friendships:

I’d so many great mentors who I earlier referenced – Déaglan and Peter-Martin probably took us the longest. They took us from I moved up to U-16 up to minor. Déaglan then came into the senior set-up and it’s good to see him involved. It’s hard to pick my biggest influences because I enjoyed working under everybody that took us but Déaglan and Peter would probably be my favourite- just because they were about us the most”. Obviously Marty Lynch and Tel Senior have had a big impact on developing me as a senior. I mentioned Dinny [Declan Napier], Micky McGuigan and Sootie [Patrick McCague] from making my senior hurling debut, Paddy Tumelty, Simon Wilson and Joe [Doone] and Raymie [Herron] who’ve taken senior hurling over the years. Sean [Braniff] and Micky [McGuigan] are back in this year and we were going well up until everything was halted”.

Friendships and benefits of Lámh Dhearg:

“Most of my best mates all play for the club – we’ve a massive group of mates that do everything with each other outside of the club. You’d have Pearse and Conor [Fitzsimons], the two Straney’s [Ryan and Declan], Owen McKeown, Jordan Kennedy, Ben [Rice], Aidan [McGuigan], Cormac [Hannon],Nugget [Marc McGarry], Kev [Quinn] and Mitch [Michael McGarry]”.

“We all grew up together and would all do most things together outside of the club. That’s probably the main benefit- the mates you make. There’s always class characters around the club and I don’t think I’ve had any better craic than going up to the club on a Saturday and listening to our Sean, Brendy, Diesel and all the Saturday night ones with a few pints. I’d rather that than go down into town. There’s plenty of characters about”.

Fionn

Growing up:

“Growing up in Hannahstown- both sides of my family would have had ties with the club;. My Da’s brothers Mick and Tom [Mervyn] played hurling for the club and my Granny [Mary] would have encouraged me to play the sport. On the McGarry side- my Granny [Agnes] would have helped to establish the ladies dart’s team and anytime we go to matches now- she’d be asking who won and how we did. My Granda Sam played a played in the 1971 winning team and my Granny always talks about the time my auntie Maria was getting christened- they had to change the times about so he could play the match. My Granda Sam was a character – he always had something to say after watching me and Padraig play matches. My mummy [Anne-Marie] was on the youth committee and played camogie and I grew up watching Paddy and my older cousins play and always wanted to play and follow in their footsteps”.

FUNdamentals and Cul Camps:

“I don’t remember much from FUNdamentals- all I remember is going down to Hannahstown Hall on a Saturday morning and you were just running and jumping and playing fun games. It’s good that you make friends and you don’t realise it at the time but they’ll be your friends and team-mates for the rest of your life. I look back at some of the photos on Facebook over the last couple of weeks and in all the photos I’m always smiling in them so I must have enjoyed it. You really did”.

“The Cúl Camps were really enjoyable and they gave you something to do over the summer at that age and with your friends. When you went on the summer schemes you went on trips and even if you’re too old- obviously I’d be too old now- but you can go back and coach, so you’re still involved in it. I coached at one of the summer scheme’s – I don’t know whether it was last year or the year before”.

“You still do enjoy them and you’re trying to look after the kids but enjoying it at the same time. Everyone looks forward to the all-Ireland’s and the barbaque after. That’s the best bit of it and you’re doing it alongside your mates and staying connected with them”.

Players and mentors :

“I’ve played with Dan Murray, our Niall [McGarry], Butch [Michael Braniff], Ciaran Boyd and Daire Cunningham. Diarmuid Clenaghan did fundamentals and then stopped playing but he’s back with us again so there’s always that connection with the club”.

“I’d a lot of mentors probably too many to list them but every single one of them has helped me as a player. In football- coming out of fundamentals Stevie Bunting would have taken us, he was really good and took us for a couple of years. Coming in U-14 and Féile we had Dee McLaughlin and Brendy McCloskey. We’d Bukey and Paddy Tumelty and Kevin Herron in U-16 and Bukey, Kevin and Brendy McCloskey in minor this year. For hurling we would have had Sean Braniff and Fra McKenna- they’ve took us for the hurling the last couple of years and stuck with us”.

Feile experience and underage success:

“I was part of the Féile team in 2017, we were in Ballybay, Monaghan. We didn’t really expect to do that well but we got to the final. In the semi-final I scored a free with the scores level so it’s a great memory. The weekend itself was class craic and even though we did get beat in the final- everyone enjoyed it and on the journey home no-one was in the bad of a mood because the experience was so good and everyone had such a good time. You make lifelong friends and it’s great to have our families involved”.

“We played in the South Antrim final and won that and played Loch Mór Dál gCais in the all-county final at Crumlin. I was on the bench because I was injured but just watching the match from the bench was tense because it was a real close match. Niall McGuigan scored a free to win it right at the end. It was class and going back to the club to celebrate and all the older players would have been there”.

“Losing the all-county U-16 football final was disappointing but even playing in that was an experience. The league and Championship run was superb and we’d only lost one match all season – I actually got split open and had to get taken off the match we did get beat against St Johns. The win against St Pauls in the semi-final and the final against Ardoyne was amazing”.

Difficulties of being a dual player:

“I love playing both hurling and Gaelic but it’s difficult at times because it’s non-stop. But I could never give one of them up. I’d maybe be training two days at school and two or three days with the club and matches as well. it’s hard”.

Influence of big brother Padraig and in school:

“He’s had a massive influence on me, I’d say our style of play is very similar- as soon as we get the ball the first instinct is to run with it and I wouldn’t say it’s a coincidence. I wouldn’t necessarily ask him for advice but he’s there to give me it. He’d tell me what what I did well but even what I did wrong and it’s good”.

“I loved going to watch Padraig play senior football and hurling games, you learn a lot from watching them and just think- you’d love to play at that level someday. Even when you’re watching them with your mates- it’s good craic and class to see them win. The Ulster final and the Senior football final- even though I wasn’t playing- they are two of the best days of my life and it was great that Padraig was involved in both”.

“Reg [Brendan McComb] is my history teacher so help’s me out a bit and Raymie is good to work under. We won the Leonard under him and it works, it might be a bit intense but it does work’.

County Development Squad and Minor hurling:

“I played in the U-14 development squad with Ciaran Boyd – it was good but you were flat out. I was so busy I didn’t play in the U-16 one and I went back and tried for the minor team and got on that. It’s hard work but it feels good playing for your county. Ciaran being on it with me definitely helped. Especially in your first year of going in- if you’re going in now you half know everyone but if you were going in at U-14 you barely had a clue who anyone was. Apart from the people from Belfast that you knew”.

Strength and Conditioning with Aaron:

“I’ve been doing it with three or four years with Aaron and there’s a lot of benefit. I really do enjoy doing that with Aaron- I think it’s class and it does work. It makes you physically fitter and you’re going to be a better player. Aaron does all the stuff with you but he teaches you how to do it on your own. Even though we do get it every year- even when you’re not doing it with him, you can go and do it by yourself. He does help you a lot”.

Ambitions and aspirations for the future:

“Obviously I would love to eventually captain teams and win county titles in hurling and Gaelic and just lifting the trophy would be class. I captained our Leonard Cup team in 4^th year and we beat Maghera in the final. It was class- I don’t think everyone was truly confident because every time we played Maghera they would beat us. But it was our day and that day and to win it with Niall and Rhys and Raymie and Kev was brilliant. It was a great experience to captain the team. I’d love to follow in the footsteps of my Granda Sam, Uncle Eamon and Padraig in winning a senior football Championship. Playing alongside Padraig would be a dream. I’d love to push onto county- I don’t exactly know which one of them because I don’t know which one I’d like to push onto- I’d say maybe hurling”.