Sad to report the passing of Fergie Duffy who gave tremendous service to Navan O'Mahonys in both codes.

Fergus usually operated from the right full back position and again in both hurling and football.

By their own high standards O'Mahonys challenge for Meath senior football honours dipped somewhat during the late sixties and early seventies.

But as always the De La Salle, the underage section of the Navan club, was working in overdrive and during 1972 three minor starlets were introduced to what was now a relatively young squad.

One Joe Cassells at midfield, Paul Murphy in attack and the long haired Fergie Duffy at right corner back. 

It was an eventful year for the three Navan teenagers. Joe and Paul were important cogs as the Meath minors gained provincial honours. And good judges claim that Fergie Duffy, a specialist in the art of blocking a goal bound effort should also have been included on the starting fifteen rather than sitting on the bench.

Leinster Minor Football Champions 1972: Front row from L to R - P Murphy, P Coyle, F Duffy, G Dempsey, M Dempsey, B McGuinness, E Young, E O'Brien (Captain), J Kennedy, S Brennan, D Farrell, M Gallagher. Back row from L to R: O Clynch, P Smith, T Nugent, D Maguire, P Callinan, G Reynolds, J Farrelly, M Conroy, M Ryan, S Fanning, J Cassells, P Jennings P Shanley, M Campbell (trainer).

With this trio on board a rejuvenated O'Mahonys made it all the way to the county final. They should have beaten Seneschalstown on the first day but the Yellow Furze men, on their way to a first ever Keegan Cup success, edged matters in the replay.

But the signs looked so promising for the young O'Mahonys combination. And true to form, back they came in 73 to add another notch to a long list of Meath senior championship wins. Messrs Duffy (again in the number two jersey), Cassells and Murphy more than played thir part as Ballivor were beaten.

Navan O Mahonys remained strong championship contenders for the remainder of the decade. They got their hands on the Keegan Cup again in 1979 but the emergence of outstanding Summerhill and Walterstown combinations usually stood in their way of outright success.

Fergus Duffy was also a talented hurler and from his familiar right full back position was on the O'Mahonys XV which claimed the Meath intermediate title in 1979 and then ultimate glory as senior hurling titles arrived in our capital town during 1985 and 86. Few can boast of Fergie Duffy's medal collection.

Ar dheis De go raibh a anam.

Funeral details:

Reposing at his residence on Tuesday from 3pm to 6pm. Arriving to St. Mary’s Church, Navan on Wednesday morning for Funeral Mass at 10am which can be viewed on https://www.navanparish.ie/livestream. Burial afterwards in Old Athlumney Cemetery Navan.

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