We buried Diarmuid Mawe last Monday week, retiring him prematurely to his final resting place in the new St. Finbarr's burial ground. A large crowd turned out to pay their last respects as indeed they had done the previous evening at his removal. Many of these had undoubtedly got to know Diarmuid through his sporting activities, got to know him, like him and respect him. Diarmuid was multi-talented when it came to sport, excelling at some and being good at the rest. While badminton darts, golf and pitch and putt enjoyed centre stage at different times, his great love was football, hurling and the Dohenys. He was a great servant of the club with a playing career spanning almost thirty years. During that time he was 'last man standing' in both football and hurling. To make the grade as a goalkeeper was not an easy task in those days as one needed not just to be a good footballer but one also had to be able to take care of oneself as one of the roles of the full forward was to 'clock' the goalie! His career between the posts took off in 1965 when he was selected on the Cork minor foot- ball team and was also selected on the Dohenys junior football team which defeated Clann na nGael in the first round of the championship. The regular goalie was Pat Cronin who was reluctant to turn out until the sun was high in the sky and warm on the back! Diarmuid was a sub on the team that won the junior football county in 1966 and became regular keeper in 1967 when Pat hung up his boots. Thus began Diarmuid's career which was to experience both highs and lows over the next 25 years as Dohenys graduated to intermediate ranks in 1967, went up senior when they won that competition in 1972, and played in the county senior football final in 1975 when a starstudded Nemo side were victorious. From that high it was a gradual decline as the emigration of the depressed '80s hit the club badly. The team was back in intermediate ranks in 1985 and playing junior in 1988. Diarmuid's last football game was in the replay of the West Cork junior football final in 1990 when Newcestown came out on top. Reluctantly at the age of 43, Diarmuid decided to cail it a day. But his contribution to the cause of Dohenys football was not over as he was a selector on the junior football team, along with Charlie McCarthy and John Joe Murray, when the county was won in 1993, a win that set them on the road to regaining senior status when the intermediate title was won in 1995. Esteem The esteem with which Diarmuid was held in the club was reflected by the large number of Doheny players of every vintage from the 1950's to the present time who turned out to bid farewell to a comrade. As we looked around we could not help but imagine what kind of a team we could field if we had that panel to choose from. We would have little to fear from Mallow! Hardest position to fill would be the number 1 spot where Joe Higgins Gerard Galvin, George Chambers and Gene O'Sullivan would all be in contention, all promising goalies, who could not make the breakthrough when Diarmuid reigned supreme. As well as being number one on the football team Diarmuid occupied the same position with the hurlers and enjoyed that role even more. His sharp eye, quick reflexes and agility made him a natural and there is no doubt but that he could have made the grade at a much higher level. Diarmuid also made a big contribution to Carbery football as he was on the teams that defeated Clonakilty and UCC to win senior county titles in 1968 and 1971. In '68 he broke Clonakilty hearts when he brought off a marvellous save from Clon's John Barry which secured a draw for Carbery who made no mistake in the replay. In his other sporting pursuits Diarmuid was more than adept. At darts and pitch and putt he was able to compete with the best in West Cork. He played badminton for many years with St. Patrick's where he was partnered by Tom Daly and Moira O'Sullivan. It was a game that suited the qualities that made a first rate goalie. A Passion In recent years he took up golf with a passion. However, his unsocial hours of his work meant that he did not play as often as he would have wished. When he retired last year he became a 'born again golfer' determined to make up for lost time. He had a great attitude to the game. Some of us blamed bad arms or backs when we played a bad shot, others the wind or the long rough. But Diarmuid had the facility to laugh at himself when he hit a poor shot and then move on unperturbed to the next. Along with partner Brendan O'Rourke he had won a number of matches to reach the semi-final of the match play competition in Skibbereen. He also had a great run of results before Christmas and modestly put them down to the winter rules sidestepping the fact that we were all playing under winter rules but could not return similar results. 'Ye'll see', he'd say, 'things will be different when summer comes'. Yes, things will definitely be different when summer comes! A number of fine qualities ran through all his sporting activities. He got great enjoyment out of sport whether it was throwing a dart, hitting a shuttlecock, striking a sliotar, kicking a football or driving a golf ball. This enjoyment contributed in no small way to the success he enjoyed in them all. His sportsmanship was beyond reproach. Rarely did we hear him give out to a referee, or abuse a corner back for conceding a score or blame a partner for missing a shot. He was a gentleman in the sporting arena as he was off it. By nature a quiet and unassuming character, he made a big impact on those who got to know him and has left a big vacuum for those around him. To his wife Margaret, children Veronica, Sharon, Mairead, Irene, Caroline and David we extend sincerest sympathy. We mourn Diarmuid's passing but rejoice for having known him. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam. Courtesy of the Southern Star 3 May 2008 Tweet

Most Read Stories