The late Noel McGuinness The frailty of life can often be gleaned from a team photo, a moment in time. When one looks at a young college team and some years down the road sees that two players have crossed the great river, something inside tugs at the heart. There's a photo of the St Colman's senior team of 1981 which included goalie Noel McGuinness and full back Mick Mongan standing beside each other. In April 2006, Mick Mongan died suddenly at the age of 42. Following an illness, Noel McGuinness departed these shores. He was just 2 and had been coping with an illness for 2 years. We can often take for granted the power of sport and the great bonds that are built up, especially through teams games. Long after the shadows lengthen and the evening falls, these bonds endure. It's all about a sense of place, a meeting of the hearts. Noel McGuinness could not escape the power of sport and its role in everyday life. His uncle Bill McGuinness was a sub on the Mayo team of 1936, the first from the county to win the Sam Maguire Cup. His brother Pat and Peter were standard bearers with Colman's and Claremorris, Peter being a member of the famous Hogan Cup winning side of 1977. In 1978, when Mayo were winning the All-Ireland minor title, Noel got his first real taste of local glory when Claremorris Boys National School team, trained by Tom Morley, defeated Gortjordan NS in South Mayo final. The team on that occasion was: Mark Cosgrove; Enda Veldon, Noel McGuinness, John Brady; John Hunt, Charles Hanley, Pat Noone; Eamon Fitzmaurice, Karl Finnerty; Fergus O'Sullivan, Liam McLoughlin, Michael O'Brien; Finbarr McDonagh, Greg Maher, Johnny Cummins. Later that year, Noel made the transfer to goalkeeping duties and was a member of the Claremorris team, captained by Pat Higgins, that defeated St Joseph's on the South Mayo U-14 final. By now, Noel was well and truly on a sporting path that would see him grace many a green field and various codes. In the county semi-final, Claremorris accounted for Ballina on a scoreline of 3-5 to 0-9. Among the young Ballina players that evening were Liam McHale, Liam Brennan and Gerry Langan. Claremorris were now on a roll and overcame Castlebar Mitchels in the county final in Kiltimagh on a day when Noel won his first county medal. The team was: Noel McGuinness; Joe Gilmore (his future brother-in-law), Cathal Conaty, PJ Goggins; Pual Griffith, Tom Maher, Ger Kelly; Pat Higgins, Seamus O'Brien; Joe Cosgrove, Tom Foster, Kevin Donnelly; Anthony Gleeson, Padraig Reilly, Pat Merrick. Sub: Sean Finnegan. The following year, 1979, Noel moved to centre back on the U-14 team and they retained the South title after defeating Mayo Gaels in a replay. Westport proved little opposition in the semi-final (7-7 to 1-2) and the Claremorris lads recorded a remarkable three in a row at U-14 in a thrilling county decider. The Knockmore team included star player Padraig Brogan as well as others like Nigel and Pat Reape and Patrick Corcoran. The team members on that occasion were Tomas O'Dea; Pat Marren, Finian McGaha, Peter Kileen; Pat O'Brien, Noel McGuinness, Anthony Gleeson; Semaus O'Brien, Eamon Fitzmaurice; Tommy Halligan, Sean Sweeney, Conor O'Donoghue; Liam McLoughlin, Kieran Fitzpatrick, Greg Maher. The year 1980 was another special feat for the young lad from Logatemple. He showed his versatility by lining out in half-forward line on the St Colman's team that defeated arch rivals St Jarlath's by 4-7 to 3-6 in a thrilling Connacht Colleges Juvenile final. Such occasions are cherished in a special way by Colman's followers. The team was: Peter Browne; Kieran Fitzpatrick, Hubert (bertie) Penny, Tom Connolly; Cyril Connolly, TJ Walsh, Enda Veldon, Eamon Fitzmaurice, Seamus O'Brien; TJ Coleman, Sean Sweeney, Noel McCuinness; Anthony Gleeson, Liam Nyland, Vincent O'Brien. Noel was also honoured with the U-14 player of the year award by Claremorris GAA Club. Many sporting highs followed in 1981 as well as one heart-breaking defeat. Noel reverted to custodian and was selected on the Colman's senior team for their championship voyage. They edged our Jarlath's by a point in a rousing Connacht final and overcame Ballyvourney in the All Ireland semi-final down in Cloughjordan, Co Tipperary. In the All-Ireland final against Carmelite College, Moate, in Hyde Park, they led by two points deep in injury time when Moate were awarded a last minute penalty ... and won by a point. Those of us who were in Roscommon that day can still see the utter dejection of team captain John Finn and his colleagues as well as College President, Fr Mickey Lyons. Football was on a golden roll at underage level in Claremorris in those times. The club defeated Ballyhaunis in the county minor final if 1981 with Noel as the regular goalie, though still three years young enough for that grade. He was also the recipient of the club's Under 16 player of the year. Hurling was a game that came naturally to Noel and a few of us pioneered the introduction of hurling to the college in the early 1980s as well as re-establishing the underage club in Claremorris. One of they very special days for Denis O'Boyle, Tony Geraghty, Jimmy Finn and myself was the occasion in 1983 when St Colman's defeated Ballygar from Galway in the connacht C Hurling Final at Glenamaddy. It was a tremendous game with Colman's coming through on a scoreline of 4-10 to 6-1. Noel was centre half forward on the team that day and among those on the panel were Kevin Bernie and Greg Maher (who lined out with Mayo in the All Ireland senior football final v Cork in 1989), Liam Nyland, Liam Monaghan, Noel Stagg, TJ Coleman, Niall Creighton, Joe Finnegan, Sean Foley, Paul Davey, Aidan Campbell, Matt Carney, Johnny Cummins, Liam McLoughlin and Sean Thornton and others. In that general period, during which Claremorris won a number of underage Mayo hurling titles, Noel also donned the Mayo U-16 jersey as did Kevin and Sean Beirne and Liam Nyland. A great believer in fitness, Noel completed the Dublin Marathon in 1983, showing yet another side of his abiding love for so many kinds of sport. In 1984, he was a member of the Mayo minor football team that lost out to Galway in the Connacht Final in Pearse Stadium, playing at corner forward on that occasion. The following year brought about its own changes, the chief one of which was the formation of the Eastern Gaels Club in Brickens, Bekan and Logboy area and Noel decided to join them. He won a Canon HEnry Cup medal when Eastern Gaels defeated Kilmovee Shamrocks on St Patrick's Day, 1989 and the following year he won his fist East Mayo Junior medal with the Gaels on a team that included Joe Gilmore, Paul Keane, Michael John Ronayne and Seamus Royayne. Four years on in 1994, Noel scored the winning goal for Eastern Gaels when they again wont he East Junior title against Kilmovee. A highly accomplished soccer player, he began his soccer days with Balla before later moving to Claremorris shortly after the founding of the club. He played many games in the Premier Division of the Mayo League. Some of his early team mates included Peter Browne, Tony Cosgrove, Mick Shaughnessy, James Waldron and Michael Heaney. He was part of the teams that contested the Tuohy Cup finals in 1991/2 and again the following year, and various other cup and league events. Noel was Claremorris Soccer Club Person of the year in 1977. He also served as chairman for a number of years during which time the club made major advances. Only in November 2006, he was the recipient of an FAI Mayo Personality of the Year award at a ceremony in the TF in Castlebar. Golf was another game that Noel excelled at and, like many hurlers, found a natural rhythm when he took up the sport. Winning the Captain's Prize in 2002 was a very special achievement for Noel. His talent were not just confined to the sporting arena. Noel loved music and was a fine singer and guitarist. One night in 2006, he joined rising star Matt Keane from Chaerlistrane for a sing-song out at Claremorris Golf Club. Many were the songs he rendered to audiences over the years. His tastes were quite universal. He was happy and content at a good music session and always loved such social occasions. One of his favourite numbers. Moody Blue, was played at the end of his Requiem Mass in Claremorris Church. Above all, Noel was devoted to his family. He married Lucy Gilmore from Brickens (now a member of the teaching staff at Barnacarroll NS) and they had a family of four - Roisin, Sarah, Sean and Brian. These were at the heart of his life and they will always retain the fondest memories of a very special person, as will his brothers Pat, Peter and Sean and sister Ursula and the extended family circle. Fr Peter Gannon was the chief celebrant at the funeral Mass and delivered a consoling homily. Some beautiful traditional and bluegrass music, including a wonderful rendition of Heaven's Bright Shore by Karen Morley and friends, was performed during the Mass while Noel's eldest daughter Roisin played a haunting version of the tenessee Waltz on the fiddle. Noel, who was predeceased by his parents Paddy and Kathleen and by his brother Liam (who died at the age of 11) is deeply regretted by his wife and family, brothers, sister, in laws, nephews, nieces, relatives, neighbours and friends. "When I must cross that rolling tide There'll be someone on the other side Welcoming me to that fair land Made perfect by love When I walk up that milky white way I'll see that home coming in array How great it must be for Angels to see A pilgrim reach home." Courtesy of the Mayo News 4 April 2007 Tweet

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