The inaugural Stevie McDermott memorial tournament, which raised approx. €6,000 for Dóchas (The Offaly Cancer Support group), proved a huge success.  The tournament, took place in O’Connor Pk, the pitch which Stevie maintained for so many years, on Friday night last with legends of Offaly football managing and playing on the teams. 

The tournament was won by the west Offaly team known as The West Coast Coolers, managed by Brendan Clarke with the assistance of Billy Healy, Dinny Wynne and Paudge Mulhare, Captained by Michael Duignan, and featuring such notable legends as Sean and James Grennan, Mel Keenaghan, Declan Nugent, Kevin Flynn, Vinny Claffey, Brendan Flynn, Nicholas Claffey and Jim Killeen.  They defeated the Brosna Battlers by 2-6 to 0-9 in the final, who were managed by An Taoiseach Brian Cowen with the assistance of Brendan Lowry, Ollie Daly and Ricey Scully and comprising of Padraig Moran, Mark Scanlon, Willie Reynolds, David Reynolds, James Stewart, Gene Henry, Vinny Henry, Colm Scanlon, Mark Scanlon and Darragh Scully.

In the earlier rounds Brosna Battlers defeated North Offaly Hustlers by 2-4 to 0-7 and West Coast Coolers defeated Rouses Rambos 1-8 to 0-8.  The Nth Offaly Hustlers were managed by Jody Gunning with the assistance of Stephen Darby and their legends included Ken Kellaghan, Laz Molloy, Tom Coffey, Michael Kennedy, Declan Gorman, Darren Quinn and Brian O’Neill.  While Rouses Rambos were managed by Paddy Fenning assisted by Phil O’Reilly snr and their legends included Paul Rouse, John Rouse, Phil O’Reilly jnr, Garreth O’Brien, Barney O’Brien and John Keane.

After the final Offaly County Chairman Pat Teehan paid tribute to Stevie McDermott, thanked the players and managers who took part and raised so much for the worth charity Dóchas, who he said did so much work on a voluntary basis for so many families of cancer sufferers in the county.  He also thanked the sponsors and Tullamore GAA club who donated the cup and Carina Carroll (Offaly GAA) and Mary Guinan of Dóchas for their work in organising the Tournament and An Taoiseach Brian Cowen for his presence at the event.  Michael Duignan in accepting the Cup from Sheila McDermott also paid tribute to the work of Dóchas of which he had first hand experience. Afterwards a very enjoyable Barbeque took place in Digan’s, at which many deeds both on and off the field were recalled.