Poignant cup dream for Castletown

ENDING a barren 29-year spell in the Wexford SFC and dislodging local rivals Kilanerin in the final generated plenty of joy for the footballers of Castletown last month. But it is the prospect of competing on the provincial and national stages that provided the greatest incentive for the club.

The Andy Merrigan Cup is grasped by the All-Ireland club football winning captain on the Hogan Stand podium every St Patrick’s Day and the trophy has a special poignancy in Castletown. The cup is named after one of the club’s most famous sons, who died tragically in a farming accident in 1973. The Merrigan link remains with the current team through Andy’s nephew, Andrew, who lines out at corner-forward and is relishing Sunday’s Leinster Club quarter-final against Skyrne in Navan.

“We’re really looking forward it as the club hasn’t had this chance since 1981. My uncle would have played football with Castletown and Wexford before being killed when he was only 28. He would have won a few county titles at midfield for the club. My father would have been a bit older but he’d have been on one or two of those teams and my other uncle, Michael, played at that time as well. It’s a really great honour now to be competing for that trophy.”

Castletown centre-back and experienced Wexford defender Colm Morris shares Merrigan’s views.

“It’s unreal to think that we could actually win the Andy Merrigan Cup. Winning it is still a long, long shot, but it’s great to still be involved. This time last year we were already gone. We are very proud to have such an important trophy named after one of our own. Now that we are in the Leinster Championship we would like to do ourselves justice.”

Morris has suffered his share of devastation during Castletown’s attempts to lift the Wexford title, as they came up short in the 1999 and 2006 finals.

“When the final whistle went this year there was just a huge sense of relief. So many players had played over the past 29 years who didn’t win medals and they deserved to. It was just a relief to everyone.”

Morris is looking forward to pitting his wits against Skyrne, where he will come up against former Meath star Trevor Giles.

“I made my debut for Wexford in 2000 and Trevor was still playing at that stage, but we never crossed paths with Meath before he retired from inter-county. He is a great footballer, one of the best of recent years. He is very intelligent and they always look for him because he is one of their leaders. They are a very strong team and they are very big in the half forwards and in the corners. They’re very direct and they have men who can win the ball in areas where they can get scores.”

Picture: Castletown’s Andrew Merrigan and brothers, from left, Noel, Kevin and Colm Morris at Liam Mellows GAA clubhouse in Wexford with the cup as preparations continue for their AIB Leinster Club SFC quarter-final against Meath side Skryne on Sunday (SPORTSFILE).