Back in October, Following Stradbally Parish Gael’s Minor triumph, we spoke to joint winning captain Pauric Ramsbottom who dedicated the win to the late Ronan McNamara.
Stradbally Parish Gaels were crowned Laois minor football champions on Sunday, after a phenomenal win over St Joseph’s.
The game took place in O’Moore Park and served as the curtain raiser to the senior final.
A late goal from David Donohue was enough to give Stradbally Parish Gaels a famous victory, over a St Joseph’s side who had beaten them in previous years at both U-13 and U-15.
Ronan, aged 15, sadly passed away in August just days after playing for the minor team.
Pauric said: “I’d like to dedicate this whole achievement to Ronan.
“Ronan was a great player and a great friend, and unfortunately he should be out here with us today, but look, life sometimes it takes a twist and a turn and unfortunately that was a bad twist.
“But we’d like to dedicate this to him today, and I know he’s looking down upon us.”
An emotional Ramsbottom spoke well about the win, and what it meant for his club.
“Dreams do come true – a man told me that during the week – and by Jesus, did it come true today, he said.
“I’m privileged to be part of such a brilliant team.
“This has been coming a long while. This hasn’t just been this year; it’s been since U-13.
“All the coaches that have helped through them years – it’s just been brilliant.
“We’re delighted to get over the line there today.”
St Joseph’s have had their number for the past half decade, and it seemed they might have the edge again this year.
“Joseph’s, cracking club that they are – my own mother is a Joseph’s woman, she won’t mind me saying – did they throw everything at us,” Ramsbottom said.
“Thankfully, we got that bit of a rub of the green and we were lucky to come out on the right side.
“At one stage we even went five or six down, I was starting to think ‘oh here we go again’.
“It’s happened so many times before – we’ve played them all the way going back to U-13; a league semi-final went to extra time – they beat us.
“The following year – my first year at U-15 – they beat us by two in the group stage down there.
“They year after they beat us in the final, (they) pulled away with 15 minutes to go; and last year’s minor final (they beat us again).
“So, I’m just delighted to have a bit of silverware coming back to the parish.”
Joseph’s were ahead by a point with the game in injury time, but David Donohue’s goal was enough to secure the victory for Stradbally Parish Gaels.
“David Donohue is my hero – he’s the best thing since the sliced pan,” an excited Ramsbottom said.
“His father, the great Diarmuid, text me last night saying he had a dream of myself and Conor McDonald going up the steps.
“There was so many people saying that throughout the week, and thank god it actually did come true today.”
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