It is often said that talent will get you so far, but it is passion that will get you over the line. This is the mantra of many a team up and down the country as they strive to achieve the holy grail of success. For those of us that have followed the junior hurling championship this year, the gut-wrenching tragedy of the passing of a young gael from a heart condition who had his life in front of him and was destined to achieve so much for his family, club, community, county was the bond that saw Clonduff hurlers, beat a fancied Shamrocks in the county final and narrowly loose in an Ulster semi-final to Castleblaney.
This year when the Cumann Pheadaír Naofa senior Hurlers sat down to decide who should benefit from this year’s past players reunion fundraiser one name was first out of everyone’s lips… Peárce! At the tender age of 21yrs Peárce Branagan was abruptly called away from those who had the pleasure of knowing him with the diagnosed heart condition of Cardiomyopathy.
From the passion and hurt that still exists within the wider Hilltown community, it was no surprise that the list of players who all wanted to pay their own tribute to the memory of Peárce by helping to raise money for Cardiomyopathy UK and juvenile hurling, saw unprecedented popularity this year.
The annual past players reunion match, now in its third year, had in excess of over fifty currently active and past players from clubs in Armagh, Down, Donegal, Derry and Antrim all willing to support the fundraising efforts.
It comes as no surprise and with a pleasant feeling of satisfaction and happiness that the first time there was a cup to be played for the event, that it was Clonduff and their captain Paddy Branagan, Peárce Brangan’s first cousin, who lifted the Warrenpoint Senior Hurling challenge Trophy for the first time with victories over the Warrenpoint sides. Roll on next year!
