New Club President Packie McPhlillips

VIew images from Presentation Night here

Before his presentation Club Chairman Dermot Loughran made the following speech:

"Packies playing senior career began in the late fifties and like so many other players the club has produced, his first experiences of championship football only delivered disappointment, not least of which was the bitter defeat that was the 1958 Championship.

Packie lined out at midfield in that final, a position he was to make his own for the next decade. 59 and 60 only delivered more of the disappointment that goes with a championship exit but the dark clouds of defeat were swept aside in 1961 when Packie, along with the other men of ’61, undeterred by a string of championship disappointments lasting from 1949 to 1960, finally captured the O’Neill Cup and paved the way for the glorious foot balling decade that was to be  the 60’s, with further championship wins in ’66 and ’69.

Perhaps it is fitting that since celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the ’61 defeat that our next president is one of those men.

A knee injury played its part in ending Packie’s career but it had no effect on his life-long commitment to our club. With the boots hung up he threw his weight behind development at underage.

He was involved with the highly successful minor team of 1980 and the minor team of 1988 who reached the final but tasted defeat in a replay. Interestingly despite the agony of that day the future was to repair the damage with the players on that team bringing 47 Senior Championship medals back to this club within a mere 17 year period. 
In 1981 Packie was part of the management team which brought our senior team to county final only to fall to Derrylaughan.

Packie also carried out the role of reserve manager for many years and was again to the fore when the Seniors and reserves won an unprecedented 4 ACL titles in a row in the early nineties. 

As we know the type of commitment required for a foot balling life like Packie’s stretches well beyond the confines of the individual and it is here were Mary Ellen’s unwavering support was invaluable to all of his achievements.

Packie can be content in the knowledge that he has handed the love of our club on to his sons and daughters and with the passing of time he has seen his legacy come to fruition in his grandchildren.

Our new Club President for 2012 is one of our most enduring servants the player, mentor, committee member and loyal supporter – Packie McPhillips is a deserved recipient of the presidents medal for 2012".