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.”