Pat O' Callaghan RIP

The Late Pat O’Callaghan

The Gaels of Timoleague were plunged into stunned disbelief last week when news of the sudden death of former Argideen Rangers sterling defender Pat O’Callaghan filtered through. Many had met up with Pat and his family recently, at the premier junior hurling relegation game against Douglas at Ovens. It was a trip down memory lane for many as stories of the glory days of Argideen hurling were retold. Pat was an integral part of that hurling journey. The strapping young lad from Union Hall began hurling with Timoleague at under age having befriended some locals at Farna. He first put on the maroon jersey in 1982 with Timoleague winning the under 16 title and going all the ways to a county final only to be denied by Fermoy. That was repeated the following season but again defeat was experienced in the county final against Conna. Abbeymahon won the minor West Cork title for the first time      in ’84 and retained the title the following year with Pat anchoring the defence. In colleges hurling he was on the Farranferris team that won the Harty Cup and All-Ireland Colleges titles in 1984. In fact, he made his Harty debut in the replayed final against Limerick CBS and announced his arrival by scoring two goals when lining out at full forward.

He graduated to junior ranks in ’86 and was ever-present with Argideen for the next eleven years. He won a first under 21 title in ’87 beating Kilbrittain in a replay. There was a memorable first West-Cork title in ’93. He followed that up with another in ’96 when Argideen won their first junior A county title. He played intermediate when Argideen were promoted in ’97 and after two great games with Eire Og we had to give way to Youghal in the next round by a point. That was Pat’s last game with Argideen. What service he gave to his adopted club. He was a key player in all our underage and adult teams from 1982 until 1997 and shared in all our success during that Golden Age of Argideen hurling.

As long as a sliotar is pucked and hurling discussed, the name of Pat O’Callaghan will be fondly remembered on the banks of The Argideen. Sincere sympathy is extended to his wife Therese, daughter June and sons, Michael and Liam and all the extended O’Callaghan and Kingston families. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam