Joe McNeill

American journey and joining the club:

“I went to America in 1987 and was in Philadelphia- I was playing football for a team called Philadelphia Shamrocks. They got you a job and got you a place to stay, I was playing there and then I met Russ [Frank Fitzsimons jnr] in 1988 – he came out then and Eddie Fitzsimons and Bugsy [Hugh Prior] came out after that. They played for another team- they played for Kevin Barry’s in Upper Darby. You would meet up every Sunday through playing matches and if you weren’t playing a match you would go and watch a match”.

“I got friendly with Eddie – Eddie would come over to North-East Phily- he was in Upper Darby and we would head up the Boulevard to check out the local churches!!!!!. We made a few friends up there. I came back in 1989 and went to Queens and started playing for the club- that summer I went back to Phily and again kept in contact with Eddie. Bugsy, Russ and Eddie were out there still- I think they came back in 1992- they stayed on. Eddie got married out there and I was his best man- Rus was his first choice, but the wheels fell off or he lost his voice and didn’t want to do the best man speech, so Eddie asked me to do it and I did it”.

“The reason why I joined the club was the influence of Russ, Eddie and Bugsy. One night I was in the club and the late Jimmy Finnegan approached me- I didn’t know him but he asking me about my Granda- also called Joe McNeill. He told me that Granda played for Lámh Dhearg back in the day – I went and asked my Dad and he found a few photographs of my Granda and his team-mates. He phoned my uncle in Canada and my uncle was able to confirm that my Granda played for Lámh Dhearg. The funny thing was he was a goalkeeper as well. The family connection was something I was never aware of – it was something he never mentioned but it was good to know and good to have that history behind it.

That’s basically how I started playing for the club- it was basically through America and knowing Eddie, Russ and Hugh”.

“I came back from Phily in September 1990 and fell back into the club scene- I was going to Queens and Benny Lynch had a good influence on me. We’d train a lot to together and do a bit of running, he was trying to get into physiotherapy at the time and I was doing my degree. I spent the summer with Mick McGurn in Philadelphia, so he kept the training going”.

“I remember training in Musgrave with the senior panel and Fitzy [Frank Fitzsimons snr] kept looking at me- I thought I’m going to get a bollocking for something here. He summoned me over and said, ‘you’re fairly fit can you bring your boots on Tuesday’? I said where to Fizty ? he said ‘Casement’ I said what for Fitzy ? he said ‘Antrim’ here’s me Antrim? He said ‘Yeah, Antrim U-21s’ I said, Fitzy I’m 25-  he thought I was U-21 and I wish I was U-21”.

“1991 was a good year because I was able to play South Antrim Football, Reserve Football and able to come on sub a few senior games. I also played South Antrim and Senior Hurling- I was mainly playing and not training- which was good. After South Antrim football on a Thursday night the club was open afterwards. You’d have went in afterwards and had a few pints- it was me; big Gerard Fitzsimons and Gavin Brown were the last ones to leave all the time. I remember one night we were in the club afterwards and Bukey called Gavin Brown over and started finger pointing. Gerard and myself were laughing and thought that Gavin was getting a bollocking from Buke for some reason. Gavin was not long out of minor- he came back over and said Buke told me to stay away from you and Gerard because ‘you’s will ruin him’”.

“I went back to America in 1992 and missed the Championship as I was injured. Damian Brown left for Chicago in 1993 and Fitzy snr asked me to do nets- so I shared the square with Gary Agnew on and off until I retired in 2000. The good points was winning the league, championship and Beringer Cup- the bad was getting beat in four semi-finals of the Championship. However, I enjoyed every minute of it, no matter what code you were playing in. the friendships we built there are still there today. We would have the head shed on a Sunday at the club and go in for a few pints and just talk about everything under the sun”.

Pride in 2017 success:

“Having been beaten in four semi-final’s it was amazing for the 2017 team win it. To go on that pitch in Glenavy that day when the final whistle went it was just unbelievable. I get shivers thinking of it now. The way the players handled it was brilliant- to witness it with your family, wife and kids – it alluded me in my time as a senior player but the atmosphere when the final whistle went will just stay with me. The look on Fitzy, Shanty [Pat McCague] and wee Joe [Finnegan] and other stalwarts faces. The pitch was full of families going to photographs with the cup. It was pure brilliant and the two days party which followed”.

“It was funny- I remember being in the club on the Monday- I arrived late and the players were already well on. A lot of our players are teachers and a few of them were saying ‘I’m going, I’m teaching in the morning’. The next thing- everybody got the text to say that schools were closed the next day- it was funny to see the cheering and jumping about because they didn’t have to go home. It was great and hopefully we can do it again in the next year or two”.

Involvement in coaching:

“I got married in 2000 and was working shifts so fell away from the club but the kids were born, and I came back into the club again. My son Conal was U-12, Dodger [Pat McCambridge] and Tony Stanley asked me to help them out. I helped them out with writing down team-sheets and anything they needed me to do. I stayed with that team up to minor and helped them out. The amount of work that Tony and Dodger did was unreal. They helped out them kids- we never won anything substantial- I think we won an U-16 B Championship”.

“The likes of Jack Summersgill, Eoin Matassa, Ross Murray, Daniel Hartley and Declan Dunne also played for that team. They’re all approaching the senior football team. They’re all great players and if they want to put the effort in they’ll go far”.

Red card

During a Senior Hurling match in Armoy back in 2015 Joe Doone was cited by the referee and when asked for his name – replied Joe McNeill – receiving a red card for his offence.

“That’s three times I’ve got sent off in my career then – I got sent off once in America, I got sent off when I was part of the minor management- the referee sent me off the line. But fair play to Joe ”.

Children:

I’m proud that all of my kids and the fact they’ve been part of the club- Conal has moved away from it. He was still playing U-16 hurling but had severe asthma when he was growing up. Sometimes he went and sometimes he didn’t. All my kids have played and one of their cousins and there’s other kids over in North Belfast that have joined the club. The kids have got more from the club than they’ve given back”.

“Méabh is starting to give back a bit- with regard to Méabh, only for Orla Fitzsimons and Orla McGarry pushing her and encouraging her during Sceim samhraidh- she may not have sang in the Scor. she’s won five county Scor’s and sang the national anthem at country games and our club as well. I remember the first time at one of the club juvenile presentations’ – it was absolutely brilliant- the feeling you have when your daughter is singing the national anthem. She was asked to sing at Croke Park, and it was phenomenal – she was only 14 at the time. The day was freezing and raining, and she had to go to and from where we were to take photographs, meet people and stuff like that. She did it with a smile on her face – we were foundered but she must have been really cold because all she was wearing was a wee dress. When she sang in front of 56,114 Gael’s at the ladies final- Joanne and me were really proud of how she handled herself. We’d friends at the game, watching in America, Spain, Portugal and Italy and they were on the phone to us. It was a special day”.

“Now we have Daire [12] and Fearghal [9] coming through- their journey is just starting. We’re trying to keep them occupied during these tough times. I’m still working, and Joanne is still working- we’re working from home and trying to home school them as well and keep them occupied. In fairness- they’ve been very, very good. We’ve just kept staying to them what all the other GAA Stars are saying- stay home, stay well, keep safe and keep practicing. Thankfully we’ve a bit of a back garden and a trampoline. We’re just hoping that no-one gets sick”.

Club initiatives:

I got involved in Strictly- Maura Larkin and myself were partners. It was some craic and we actually did most of our practicing in Maura’s back garden- god knows what her neighbours were thinking? But we’d brilliant craic. I swore that was me- that’s me done, I’ve done my bit for the club and I’m not going to do anything else and next thing the Lip Sync challenge came up. Tony Stanley and myself done the Blues Brothers – that was good craic as well. That’s me now- I’m not doing anymore. Peter Kane and his minions can go and jump. If there’s anything planned in the future to make a fool of myself- I’m not doing it”.

“Darkness into Light is just unreal- everybody has been touched by somebody in the club that has passed due to suicide. It’s a great event and a pity that it’s been postponed because of coronavirus. Hopefully it will be back again in September. It’s a great deal of organisation to get up and running and it’s great that the club works hand-in-hand with Hannahstown Community Association and the parish. I think over the last three years we have raised over £120,000 because of it – it’s good that so many lives have been saved because of the money raised. It’s been brilliant that it’s been supported by the Lámh Dhearg family and it can only go from strength to strength. As a supporter of the event – we can only thank the Lámh Dhearg family for their continued support. People are asking people for money left, right and centre and yet they just come out and buy their t-shirts, throw money into boxes and help out through stewarding and marshalling. If anybody has ever been approached and asked to help- I don’t think anybody has ever turned us down once. Keep the date in September and come closer to the time- come out and support it again”.

“When Anto Finnegan was diagnosed with Motor neurone disease there was two main events organised to highlight the awareness of MND. The first was an over 35s 7-a side tournament and our team was beat in the final by the Antrim Masters. From the success of the tournament- a fundraising gala ball was organised for the Europa. With Anthony being a past player our club played a key role. A few of us were also involved in organising the night – Tonto [Marty McCague], Gavin Brown, Kipper, Stevie McFadden. We were delighted to see such a big turn out from club members at the dinner”.