Monaghan Obituaries 1999

The late Dickie Sullivan
The Faughs club is still reeling, totally devastated at the death of Dickie Sullivan, such a familiar and colourful figure at the heart of club activities for the past 40 years. Dickie fought for his life against serious illness, with the same fortitude and determination, as he himself had shown on the field of play, and passed on to generations of juvenile and minor footballers, where his legendary motivational qualities were best exemplified. In a striking funeral tribute, the club’s juvenile footballers in full green and gold regalia were given pride of place on the steps of St Mary’s Church, as the funeral cortege flanked by club players, past and present together with a special Guard of Honour of his Post Office colleagues entered, followed by hundreds of mourners and sympathisers. The Church was crowded to capacity for Requiem Mass celebrated by Dickie’s good friend Father John Flanagan, with the Church Choir augmented by more special friends - Paddy Cole and Susan McCann.
The final tribute in a crowded cemetery came in the form of a graveside oration by Liam Mac, who was visibly affected as he spoke of the passing of an old friend and comrade in arms, a member of the first squad of his “old boys” who had by their football prowess rescued the Faughs fortunes out of the doldrums and elevated the club to undreamed of heights of football glory. Dickie was a man of intimidating physical presence, but under the surface a gentle giant, and no malice. He spoke of Dickie’s virtues as a family man. In his wife Rosaleen, his sons Derek and Kieran and his daughters Denise and Caroline, Dickie, he was singularly blessed. They lightened up the hospitable Sullivan home in the Crescent, and when Dickie was struck down by illness, they surrounded him with love and affection, care and attention. Their dignity and courage was matched by Dickie and his own indomitable spirit, and he fought the good fight to the last, was inspiring and uplifting. Liam concluded “Dickie was a Blayney man, born and bred. He wore his heart on his sleeve, and the sleeve was green and gold. It was fitting that such a man should rest among so many other Blayney sporting heroes in this cemetery, where Blayney honour their dead. Two of Dickie’s best mates, Jack Callan and Eddie O’Connor have only recently gone before him. Dickie is in good company, as he joins them in the peace that knows no ending. May the soil and sod of their beloved Blayney, rest kindly on them all.”

The late Mrs Elizabeth McPhillips
The death of Mrs Elizabeth McPhillips of Drumbrain robbed us of one of the most loyal and faithful supporters of our club over the last forty years. The memory that will remain with us is of Mrs McPhillips coming on her bicycle, in hail, rain and sunshine to our home games with her handbag which contained pen and paper to record the score and scorers. In fact the deceased was our score keeper for many years before the official PRO came into being.
Mrs McPhillips motto was, if you are going to a football match, go in time. A great supporter in the lean years as well, she was proud of the contribution her two sons, Patsy and Seamus, as players, gave to the club in the 1970’s and in more recent years the contribution of her grandchildren.
Thankfully Mrs McPhillips was able to share in our successes in 1990, 1992 and 1994, and was there on every occasion to urge on the team.
Yes, the players quite rightly often get the limelight in our moments of success, but lets never under estimate the important role of our supporters as well. This was best exemplified when our club made a presentation to Mrs McPhillips in 1986 in recognition of her outstanding support to the club.

The late Hugh McGlone
One of the great characters of our time, Hugh McGlone died peacefully on Monday morning 8th March, in St. Mary’s Hospital, Castleblayney at the age of 92 years.
“Ford” as he was popularly known was one of the most loved and revered players of his era, retaining that aura right up to his death. Despite his advanced years, Ford continued to retain his interest in the affairs of the club, and was briefed weekly, by the visits of his sister, nieces and nephews on the comings and goings of the area, rebuking them if they did not know whom Aghabog was playing on a particular day.
The Aghabog footballers of the 1960’s, 70s and 80s grew up or played in the shadow of the achievements of the great Aghabog teams of the 1930’s. The record books shows that Aghabog won in the Intermediate Championship in 1934, and the Dr Ward Cup in 1936. Ford played a pivotal role in those years, and while Ford thought highly of the latter day footballers, he always boasted that players in his day could jump higher for the ball, kick the ball further and take better scores than the players of today. Who were we to argue?
Ford didn’t confine his playing career solely to the Aghabog club, but also played for the neighbouring clubs, it was with the Ballybay club however, that he had special fond memories, the friendship with the late Charlie McCarthy, continued long after their playing days were over. The Ballybay club acknowledged this with a special presentation to Ford at a social occasion two years ago.
Our club was proud to have Ford as our first Hon. Life President and our first Hall of Fame winner in 1990, as indeed Ford was proud of the Club’s recent upsurge in fortunes in the 1990s. We were privileged to have known Ford, a character from the past whose exploits on the playing field will always be remembered as long as football in Aghabog is talked about.