Pictured at the recent Knocks 1964 reunion were: Back l-r – Anthony Cannon, Hubert McDonald, Paul McManus – standing in for Eamon McManus RIP, Michael Maguire – standing in for Tony Maguire RIP, Jimmy Lynch. Middle, Tom Maguire, Seamus McBrien, Vincie Murray, Tom Rice, Paddy Brady, Noel McElroy, Louise Rice – standing in for Louis Leonard RIP. Front, Vincie Swift, Jimmy McCabe, Kevin McManus, Michael McManus -captain, Francie Treacy, Pat Treacy and Noel McCaffrey.
There was a reunion of the Knocks 1964 junior championship side in Donagh recently.
The event celebrated the 50th anniversary of the small east Fermanagh club’s victory over Derrylin in the final that year.
The club also did the double that season, winning the junior league with a convincing victory over Boho. It is a time that holds great memories for Michael McManus, who was captain of the team during that unprecedented run of success.
“We were a small country club,” said McManus. “The biggest problems in those days from one year to another was haemorrhaging player through emigration. 1964 was the one year we managed to keep our players together. We had gone through the year without losing anything. Of course the next year was different and off they went again.
“Knocks was in existence from 1954 until 1970, when a new club was formed in Donagh,” said McManus.
The organising committee did an exceptional job of gathering the team together, 50 years on.
“We had all back except one,” said McManus. “One of our players was in New Zealand, Brian Mohan, but other than that all the surviving members were there. There was only four who had died since. One of those was Louis Leonard who was murdered on 16 December 1972 in the shop in Derrylin, he was 26 at the time.
“It was very enjoyable to meet all the old friends again, some that we hadn’t seen for years. It was a good night enjoyed by all,” said McManus.