O'Mara Cup legend lives on

ANY jeweller worth their salt will tell you that the O’Mara Cup is one of the most valuable cups in Ireland. One estimate puts it at over €20,000.
To the men of South Mayo, who for 83 years have left blood, sweat and broken bones after them to grasp its gleaming silver handles, it is second only to a county title.
“It’s just a brilliant piece of work. It’s a small version of Sam Maguire really,” says Garrymore legend Billy Fitzpatrick.
The O’Mara Cup has travelled the length and breadth of South Mayo over the decades.
The cup itself takes its name from Stephen O’Mara of the O’Mara family, who in 1930 established the famous Claremorris bacon factory – which gave employment to hundreds of local men during times of great scarcity and even fielded its own team in the competition.
Crafted by Thomas Weir, the cup was first donated to the South Mayo board in 1940.
Not long after their establishment, The Neale quickly established themselves as rulers of the southern realm, winning eight of the first nine titles.
However, there are numerous blanks on the roll of honour, which only goes back as far as 1985. The missing winners are, for now, lost to history.
But the legends are still very much alive.
Today, it is widely perceived as being of secondary importance, a sort of warm-up for the white heat of championship.
Not back when the likes of Billy Fitz’ and Garrymore were in their pomp.
“There was no league in Mayo, and then the championship was knock-out, so you might only get one game of championship. The O’Mara Cup, early in the year, was the big one to go for,” explains Fitzpatrick, who ‘won six or seven’ O’Mara Cup medals himself after many years of trying.
Much like the championship, the O’Mara Cup was a straight knock-out in times past.
Back then, back doors were only to be found behind large buildings.
So it was hell-for-leather, do-or-die, kill or be killed.
How does Billy Fitz’ remember them?
“Pretty tough, let me tell you,” he chuckles over a call with The Mayo News.
“There was a fierce rivalry.”
For many years, only Junior teams fought for the O’Mara Cup – there were only three or four ‘Senior’ clubs at the time and no Intermediate grade.
For those who were far off winning what must have been an absurdly competitive junior title, an O’Mara Cup was a much sought-after prize.
“You really gauged yourself on winning the O’Mara Cup. If you won the O’Mara Cup you were saying, ‘Well we’re good enough now to win a county title’,” recalls Fitzpatrick, who once marked his nephew, Jimmy Kearns, in one O’Mara Cup game against Davitts towards the end of an illustrious career.
The crowds fairly came too.
“There used to be great crowds at O’Mara Cup matches that time. I tell you, the O’Mara Cup was a big tournament back then. There weren’t that many games that time,” says Peadar Higgins, a former manager and selector with Garrymore.
The respect for the competition has remained steadfast, but its importance has dwindled.
Today, the historic chalice is lost in a labyrinth of leagues and championships and does not attract the same fanfare as before.
When Hollymount/Carramore and Mayo Gaels go to war this weekend, the cup’s handles will shine brighter than ever before.
Donal Walshe, Chairman of South Mayo GAA, recently commissioned a Dublin-based company to fully polish and restore the 83-year-old cup – which was beginning to show its age in recent years.
When Walsh’s beloved Kilmaine captured the O’Mara Cup at the expense of Claremorris in last year’s decider, it was one of most memorable days in their recent history.
“It brought brilliant excitement, fantastic excitement around the club,” says Walshe, the Kilmaine club crest proudly emblazoned on his jacket.
“It places an honour on a club that, theoretically, whether you’re junior, intermediate or senior, you’re the best in South Mayo. That’s what the O’Mara Cup brings to every club that wins it.”
With Claremorris Credit Union on board as sponsors of the competition, Kilmaine are ready to roll out the red carpet on their splendid freshly cut sod for this Saturday.
We ask Walsh what he thinks has been the key to the success of the O’Mara Cup.
His answer is straight and unequivocal.
“By great stewardship of the people of South Mayo. The likes of Mike King, Ger McHugh, all them people, all the chair people, all the committees from all through the years. It’s just not letting it die away.”
After Sunday’s final there’s just the matter of filling out the missing holes in the roll of honour.
But whatever about the past, the future of South Mayo’s sacred chalice appears to be in good hands.
“When you have your local clubs, nobody likes to lose a local derby,” says Peadar Higgins.
“Like if you were playing a club from North Mayo, it wouldn’t be as bad to get beat. But it would be a hoor altogether if your next-door neighbours beat you.
“That’s what it’s all down to.”
Long may that South Mayo tradition live on.