FOR more years than they care to remember Paul McFlynn and Brian Lavery would have been in the vicinity of Loup's half back line. McFlynn had the license to roam with Lavery sitting back maning the centre.
Both men look back on their careers with some terrific memories, none more so than watching their leader Johnny McBride hold aloft the Seamus McFerran Cup after a two point win over St Gall's. Loup's underage conveyor belt had delivered an Ulster title.
Recently TG4 ran a documentary about the Meehans from Caltra who stopped Loup's All-Ireland aspirations in their tracks at Markievicz Park in February 2004.
Loup were back five years later to lift the John McLaughlin Cup but St Gall’s was a step too far on Ulster final day.
Since then Loup's community put together an unprecedented fundraising drive to fund a new floodlit playing field. Driven by men like Sean Corey, they certainly haven't rested on their laurels.
McBride is now the club’s senior manager hoping to lead Loup back to the top in Derry football, but next weekend McFlynn and Lavery have a different project in the pipeline.
On Saturday May 14, Loup's splendid new facilities will host an Over 35s Gaelic Football Sevens tournament between 5pm and 8pm.
Speaking to the County Derry Post former Derry player McFlynn believes there is ‘an appetite for over 35 football in Derry’ and hopes it will continue to develop.
As a PE lecturer at the University of Ulster McFlynn is well placed to comment on physical health. “It's one of the things that the GAA are poor at, they don't provide an avenue for retired senior players to keep playing.
In other sports such as Rugby, men just drop down a level with some teams having 4th and 5th teams, so I feel the organisation of various over 35 tournaments has been very much welcomed by many retired players.”
With many of Loup’s Ulster winning team now enjoying the ‘fun and banter’ in recent years at various tournaments it has presented the opportunity to ‘reignite their passion for the sport’ in parallel with the social side of the game.
The GAA family once again is never far away from the game as McFlynn outlines. “This year we have opted for DeterMND, a charity set up by former Antrim footballer, Anto Finnegan, who is currently battling Motor Neurone Disease.
We have been told that Anto will be attending the tournament so we are hoping to hand over as much money as possible for this very important and worthwhile local charity.”
Any clubs wishing to enter contact Paul McFlynn 07834 628 475 or Brian Lavery 07985 534 857.
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