PHARMACY AND SPORT
contInUIng oUr nEW SErIES of PharMacIStS and SPort, thIS ISSUE’S Star PErforMEr IS gaa PlaYEr and doWn hEro, John kEllY.
one pharmacist who gets a ‘kick’ out of his work!
t
hese days, pharmacy owner, John kelly, is busy running between his two successful East
Belfast businesses. But 25 years ago, John was running slightly faster at croke Park, when playing for the history-making down gaa team that was the first northern Ireland team to lift the Sam Maguire trophy in over 20 years!
the famous victory – a sell-out match that was played out in front of 65,000 fans – was the culmination of John’s illustrious gaa career; a career that had first started at St Patrick’s grammar School in downpatrick.
‘I was always interested in gaa from an early age,’ John told Pif, ‘and, in fact, I had my first club game playing for the Under-16s when I was only eleven! that wouldn’t happen now, of course, because my local club sides carryduff and Bredagh would have at last two boys’ teams in each age bracket from Under-8 through to Under-16.’
John proved to be a very influential figure for St Pat’s, since, during his tenure, they won two rannafast cups – the last major titles they have claimed.
56 - PharMacY In focUS
‘I think I was very fortunate to be involved at the time that I was because we had a great year of pupils and we enjoyed success right across the board. In my seven years at school, we won three Ulster colleges football titles, one Ulster colleges hurling title and one Ulster basketball title - all at a grade. We had a great cohort of players.’
John’s career was to develop from the Under-16 team as he moved firstly to play club gaa with carryduff before moving on to down for two years at Under-16 evel and then two years at county Minor level.
having decided on a career in pharmacy, John began his degree course at Queen’s University, Belfast in 1986 and quickly became involved with the freshers team, which went on to win the all-Ireland that year. he also took part in three Sigerson tournaments, captaining the Queen’s side in the 1989 season.
at the same time, he had firmly established himself in the down side and it would only be two short years until he played as wing-half back (and vice-captain) on the down team,
John in his Championship debut against Derry in 1988
which shot to acclaim in seizing the Sam Maguire cup in 1991.
In 1994, the county surprised most observers by emphatically beating all- comers to regain the illustrious trophy, with John still very much part of the squad. (he also picked up three Mckenna cup medals along the way.) ‘obviously lifting the Sam Maguire after so many years was the pinnacle of my – and many of my teammates’ career,’ John says. ‘I don’t think any of us will ever forget running out in front of 65,000 people – the noise was deafening!
By this time, John was working in fitzroy Pharmacy in South Belfast, closing up three evenings a week at 6pm and heading either to training in newry or to weights sessions in Belfast, not returning home until 11pm, to be back in the pharmacy to open up the following morning!
‘In those days you had to be really dedicated,’ John continues. ‘then, you were lucky enough to be able to pull down the shutters at half five and head out three nights a week – and one night at the weekend – for training and weight sessions. the paperwork and administrative work in
pharmacy today is too heavy to allow for anything like that now and I think it would be very difficult for a pharmacist today to be a full-time pharmacist and a dedicated sportsman.’
John stopped playing for down in 1996 and played his last game for his club in 2002 at the age of 35, but has recently returned to the sport in a coaching capacity.
‘I’ve really gone back to my roots, if you like,’ he laughs.
‘there’s a really vibrant club base in the ormeau road area and I’m coaching teams at Bredagh. as a healthcare professional, naturally I fully appreciate the benefits of sport for good health, but I think sport also teaches you about the importance of teamwork and about accepting responsibility. I’m particularly attracted by the benefits of gaa. My daughters are currently playing the sport and I noticed the other day that some of the northern Ireland netball players who are taking part in the commonwealth games are also playing county standard gaa.’
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