In 1952 Brownstown hurling club won their sixth championship in their 27 year history after having also annexed the title in 1938, 43, 46, 47 and 1948. The beat Rickardstown in the final 4-5 to 3-7 and playing at right half forward that day was nineteen year old Sean Henry in his first county final. He reflects on that glorious day. Brownstown earned their place in the final with wins over Cullion and Delvin. The Cullion game has become part of Westmeath folklore as it lasted an incredible one hour and forty five minutes. Henry did not play in that game but he recalls the event. "We drew with Cullion and played them in a replay a week later. The game was fairly close and it was a draw near the end of the hour but the ref kept playing. It was lucky for us because Cullion were in the lead and the game didn't finish until we were in front," he laughed. "In the semi-final against Delvin the game was refereed by Tony Donnelly, a Kilmessan man who was a great hurler with Meath. I didn't start but Charlie Gaffney got knocked out in the first five minutes and I came on for him. Paddy Gavigan had a great game that day and we won by a point or two." Rickardstown who had the great John 'Jobber McGrath in their side were the opposition for the final and many argue that he was one of the greatest hurlers ever produced in Leinster, never mind Westmeath, but this did not seem to deter the men from Archerstown as they were to prove. "We had some great players, the likes of Paddy Gavigan at centre half back, his brother Joe was full-back, Jimmy McNeice was horrid skilful as a half back. Tommy Daly was at midfield and Paddy Gaffney was beside him and Joe Leonard was a great forward." Indeed the ability of Paddy Gavigan and Tommy Daly were truly recognised, two years ago when they were both named on the Westmeath millennium hurling team. A team that was picked by the supporters of Westmeath hurling. These days the emphasis of the game has been mainly the physical fitness training, but things were different in the fifties as Sean describes. "We didn't have a trainer. We trained in Daly's field [just across the road from Sean's house] and two of Brownstown greatest servants Paddy Bartley and Paddy Monaghan were selectors. We would go out and play hurling for a few hours and we might do a couple of laps of the field." After his performance in the semi-final when he came on as a substitute against Delvin, Henry held his place for the final and made his mark in the first few minutes. "I scored the first point in the final," he said modestly. "Paddy Gaffney was brilliant, he did a great job on the Jobber, which was no easy task. It was a very close game but when Joe Leonard scored a goal near the end we hung on thank God. Even though we were under shocking pressure for the last few minutes." Baron years followed for the North Westmeath club and a Senior league title in 1959 was all that there was to show for their efforts. "Emigration destroyed the club around that time. Paddy Fagan (An uncle of Michael 'Spike' Fagan who represented Ireland in the compromise rules series against Australia) was the first to go and lads just seemed to follow straight away." Brownstown were on a downward spiral after 1952 and just fourteen years after winning the title, they made the agonising decision of amalgamating with near neighbours Delvin. The two teams were called St Earnans and they were to play in the Junior championship of 1966. Sean was nearing the end of his career at this stage, but was delighted to have one more chance of glory. St Earnan's won the junior championship at their first attempt and Henry had a extra reason to celebrate as he was captain of that victorious side. "I was a senior member at the time and I suppose I was given the captain's job because of me age," he joked."We had a fairly young team that time with likes of Jimmy Henry, John Davis and Noel Fitzsimons all playing. They all went on to win championships with Brownstown a few years later." Despite winning the junior championship in '66, pride in the blue and white jersey was too much and in the spring of 1968, a meeting was held in Sean Henry's house where it was decided to reform the club and after purchasing some land, Brownstown hurling club found a new home in Archerstown which was named Fr. O'Reilly Memorial Park. In 1970, Brownstown were back to winning ways as they won the junior championship after they received a walkover against Castletown-Geoghegan. A strong under structure was also being built at the time and back to back minor titles in 1973 and '74 were to bore well for the future. Then in 1977, the comeback was complete as they triumphed over Castletown and further championships were to follow in 1978, 81, 83, 85, 86, 88, 89, 91 and 93. The club are now currently on top of the all-time roll of honour with fifteen titles. Since 1993, Brownstown have struggled to reach those dizzy heights and a relegation dogfight has been par for the course most years since. Although last season saw them reach the quarter-finals of the senior hurling championship, although they won only one match against Cullion and suffered defeats against Oliver Plunketts and Castletown-Geoghegan All through those years Henry has been one of the club's best supporters and a committee member that has done more than his fair share of work for the club. Sean has lived all his life in the homestead that he was born in, just yards away from the pitch and he and his wife Maisie have raised eight children, five boys - Miko, David, John, Ollie, Eddie and three girls Helena, and twins Mary and Emer, all of whom have donned the Blue and White jersey of Brownstown with distinction in either hurling or camogie. Sons Miko and Ollie are still heavily involved in the club with Miko acting as selector last season after serving as secretary for six years, while Ollie is still playing in his father's position of '52 - right half forward. Daughter Mary has represented Westmeath at all levels and won her first senior camogie title in 2001 with her adoptive club Lough Lene Gaels. Although Brownstown are going through a lean patch for the last few years, Sean believes that the club will not have to wait another 25 years for their next county title. "There's a great bunch of young lads playing at the moment and if they could just get a bit of luck, they would have no bother in winning another championship. Against Oliver Plunketts sure, the lads were very unlucky and they have had results like that for the last few years. "Getting to the quarter-final was a great boost and hopefully this year everything will go right and we will have another championship to add to the list," he surmised. The victorious team in 1952 was: Michael Daly, John Kennedy, Joe Gavigan, Joe Davis, Jim McNeice, Paddy Gavigan, Mick Gaffney, Paddy Gaffney, Tommy Daly, Sean Henry, Willie Dugdale, Pat Smith, Bernie Connell, Peter Leonard, Joe Leonard. Subs: Charlie Gaffney, Pat Burke, Tommy Murphy, Tom Daly. Tweet

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