On Friday night we welcomed James Molloy Select to Finn Park. Here is more on their history and connection with Harps and the Twin Towns.
Our link to Ballybofey and Finn Park goes as far back as the early 80’s when we, as a football team, would travel to Donegal, staying in Lifford, over the Easter period. We would play 3 games, Lifford Celtic, The Irish Army, inside Lifford barracks, (the former Prior School) and the most anticipated- Ballybofey United at Finn Park.
The tour came to a halt in the early 90’s. Then with the untimely passing of our team captain, James Molloy in 1995, it was decided to bring a team back in his name ‘James Molloy Select’ to play charity games.
Ballybofey welcomed us with open arms and started playing veterans games against each other well into the mid 2000’s.
When one of Ballybofey’s players Patsy McGowan sadly passed away it was a honour that Ballybofey United invited us to contest for a memorial trophy in Patsy’s name, in fact James Molloy Select won the inaugural game but alas the cup was won and retained by Ballybofey in all the subsequent contests.
Although the last game we played in Donegal was in 2015 we still visit every year for 4 days and this will not be our first visit to Finn Park to support the Harps, as much as we would like to be playing on the pitch age has caught up, but we look forward to watching a win for Finn Harps.
Four of us that have travelled this year were here in 1985 and have barely missed a year since then.
Ballybofey has been kind to us with its genuine hospitality, with the likes of Aiden ‘Turps’ Gallagher, Ronnie Lambe, Sean ‘Wizard’ McGowen and Charlie Kelly to name a few.
Heeney’s U Drop Inn hosted us for all those years especially Easter Monday nights upstairs in the early years.
It was a pleasure for us all to have graced Finn Park playing against and having banter with like minded people who love their football and the craic. Ballybofey, its people and its football club will always have a place in many a Brummie’s memories and heart.
Thank you.
James Molloy Select
Birmingham
