Reminiscing with a Ranger

This week, I spoke to one of the  toughest men ever to don the black and amber, Benny Cassidy.

 

 

 

 

Pictured Below; The Cassidy men.

 

BC; Roisin, I started playing football at U14 level, Tim Gregory was manager at the time, the biggest influences on my footballing career would have been my father Benny and my uncle Tommie both now deceased. Neither played the game but gave me and Thomas endless support and encouragement as did my late mother and my sisters. Tommie was a former Club President who was addicted to Cross Rangers, it didn’t matter if you went to school or worked as long as you played for the ‘Rangers’!! As I got older my biggest influences came from Joe Kernan, my brother Thomas and Paddy Duffy.

 

Pictured Below; The Cassidy family when Benny’s Mother retired from St Patrick’s Primary school in 1986.

 

 

Pictured Below; Joint presidents, Tommie Cassidy & Cardinal O’Fiaich 

 

 

 

 

RM; You were known as one of the toughest and most reliable backs ever to wear the black and amber, is  there any game that you participated in that sticks out in your mind as very special?

 

BC; There are many games that stick out in my mind:

1977-We got to and won 3 County finals; Minor, U21 and Senior.

Our captain Tim Gregory got injured early on in the Senior match and I replaced him, I had just turned 17.

Also in ’77 myself and Hank Kernan RIP one of the best Rangers whose career was sadly cut short too soon won an All-Ireland Vocational School’s Title in Croke Park.

We had to wait until 1983 to win another Championship after being beaten five years in a row by Carrickcruppen. We had to work very hard to win this title-all worth it in the end however!

That same year we played a very memorable Ulster Club match beating the Monaghan Champions Scotstown in a very bruising game in Monaghan town. We won the game with a last minute point from a free kicked by Aidan Short.

The 1986 County final is also memorable as I was very fortunate to be Captain that year.

 

Pictured Below; 1986, Armagh County Champions captained by Benny Cassidy

 

 

 

Pictured Below; Celebrating County success

 

 

 

 

 

Pictured Below; Bernard McIntyre, Bank Of Ireland with Captain, Benny 

 

 

 

 

RM; In all the men you marked on the field, who was the tightest to keep an eye on?

BC; I marked a lot of good players during my career. My toughest opponents were;

Peter Loughran-Carrickcruppen

Ray Mc Carron-Scotstown

Danny Fox-Maghery

Andy Mc Callin-St John’s Antrim

Training games at home were never easy. I TRIED to mark Jim Mc Conville a few times at training-Almost Impossible!

RM; Can you outline all you have won?

BC; Medals I won playing football were, 1 U14 Championship, U16 Runner-up, 1 Minor Championship, 2 U21 Championships, 3 Senior, 5 League Div.1, 1 League Div.2, 1 All-Ireland U19 with Newry Tech and another as Runners-up captaining that team.

Pictured below; President Cardinal O’Fiaich & Benny (1986)

 

 

 

RM; If you were to play the game today, who would you like to mark?

BC; If I were to be playing the game today I would like to measure myself against the likes of Oisin Mc Conville and Diarmuid Connolly (Just to know!!)

 

RM; Would you like to be playing the game today?

BC;  The game today versus my time, both eras have pros and cons. Training regimes and methods today are much more advanced but I do feel there has to be a happy medium, it shouldn’t take over your life.

 

RM; In your opinion, do you think the game is better today or when you played?

BC; There are too many cards nowadays to suit my era of players, I doubt very few of us would finish a game!

 

RM; Benny, can Dublin keep the winning ways going or who do you think has the capability to stop them?

BC; 5 in a row for Dublin is an unbelievable achievement. I think Kerry are getting closer and I believe they’re the only team equipped to push the Dubs. Galway managed by Pádraic Joyce look to be improving.

 

BC; I am not in favour of the game becoming professional as inevitably players would come from the County panels which would result in their clubs getting less game time from them, therefore the heart of the GAA-the clubs, would suffer. Watching Bernard, Eva (and hopefully Annie) come up through Underage football and Camogie, my hopes for them are that the games remain amateur and they continue to get as much enjoyment, rewards and fulfilment and make as many friends within the GAA as I did during my football career. Your opponents might not always be your friends on the pitch but I’m a firm believer you don’t carry your differences off the field.

 

Pictured below; Benny and his Son, Bernard at the Golden Oldies match in 2007 in memory of the late Hank Kernan.

 

 

Pictured below; Benny and his Daughter, Eva 

 

 

Pictured below; Captain Bernard Cassidy lifts the Charlie Grant Cup

 

 

RM; Benny, Anything else you like to add?

BC; It was an honour and a privilege to be part of Crossmaglen Rangers Club. I look forward to supporting all the players at all levels in the future when games can resume once all current restrictions are lifted. Thank you Roisin.

Thanks Benny for reminiscing with me and for sharing great memories.

We hope to resume our weekly club Lotto in the next couple of weeks. The funds raised from the club lotto are vitally important for the everyday running of the club.