The Boden will bring its own share of Offaly tradition to Sunday week’s Leinster Final with Faithful champions Birr. Manager and Selector Liam Hogan and Vincent Teehan hail from Coolderry and played for the county; club founder member Johnny O’Donoghue was from Edenderry (he used to own the Orchard Inn); Anne Finn, wife of Hurling Chairman Eddie is from Cloghan; Hurling Secretary Richard Condron is from Ballycumber; Simon, Paul and Dermot Daly’s dad Malachy, the Club Vice Chairman, is from Ballinamere; Brian Kennedy’s dad Mick and uncle Tom are Coolderry natives; former senior player and team selector, current juvenile mentor Paddy Corrigan won an All-Ireland with Offaly in 1985, Paddy’s wife Yvonne is from Rhode; Paddy’s fellow Kinnitty man Matt Dempsey is a former Senior Manager and Hurling Committee Chairman; Matt’s wife Carmel from Kinnitty was the first Secretary of the Ladies Football Section; other Roddy Molloy, Kevin Cleary and Paul Mullins another Coolderry man; Football Board Delegate Donie Kerin is from Cloghan – the football wing of St. Rynagh’s!; in the past players like Tom Daly from Kilcormac, Mick and Dave O’Connor also Kilcormac; Carthage Minnock from Rahan rendered great service; Ladies football star Karen Hopkins is from Tullamore; Camogie Secretary Mona O’Sullivan is from Edenderry.
Fergal Scolard writes
Another connection perhaps is that John Spollen, owner of Spollen’s pub in Tullamore (situated on High Street) is well known to all of the Offaly contingent mentioned. John has been a good friend of club members such as Nicky Keary, Kevin Cardiff RIP, Daithi Scolard and many more going back a long while. Johnny has had many a pint in Ballyboden St. Enda’s with the afore mentioned.
Club members might stop off for a pint before or after the match at his pub. Many club members did indeed stop off there after our win against Edenderry in the Leinster Club Football Championship match way back in 1995 which was also played in Tullamore.
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