Football Legends To Attend Tom Furlong Benefit Night
Thursday, 23 February 2012
SOME former football heroes from throughout the country have been lined up to attend a big benefit night for former Offaly footballer, Tom Furlong in the Tullamore Court Hotel this Friday, February 24.
Furlong, a brilliantly talented footballer who emigrated to New York in the early 1960s, suffered a stroke last year and the benefit night has been organised to help offset his massive medical expenses.
Offaly footballers from every era will attend the big function and the organising committee have also lined up a host of well known former footballers from other counties.
Among those expected to attend are:
Johnny Hughes, Bosco McDermott, Tommy Joe Gilmore and Coleen McDonagh (Galway), P.J. and Vinny Holden and possibly, Jimmy Keaveney (Dublin), Joe Cassells, Pat Reynolds, Mick Lyons and Padraig Lyons (Meath), Nudie Hughes (Monaghan), Noel O'Dwyer (Tipperary); Mikey Sheedy and Darragh O'Se (Kerry).
Tom Furlong was one of the most highly rated prospects in Offaly before emigration took him to New York - He won a Leinster Minor Football Championship medal with Offaly in 1960 and was on the senior panel that reached the 1961 All-Ireland final, where they were beaten by Down.
People still speak fondly of Tom's talent to the current day but in 1964, a promising football career ended when he emigrated to New York.
His life took an other extraordinary twist there as he almost ground out a successful career in American football. He had a trial for the New York Giants before winning a contract with the Atlanta Falcons as a field goal kicker but unfortunately, injury ended his dream.
He played for the Offaly exiles team in New York and won a National Football League medal with New York in 1967 but retired all together at just 27 years of age.
He owned a pub in the Catskill Mountains for years and has visited home regularly down the years.
Tom was well enough to attend the recent Offaly Association in New York dinner dance and many of his friends from home and in the States have formed the committees to help him out as he battles back to full health.
Offaly football legend and All-Ireland winning captain, Willie Bryan is chairman of the local committee and it also includes Brian Cowen, Sean Maunsell, Alo Kelly, Jim Buckley, Carole Collins, Tony Maher, Fergal McKeown, Ray Digan, Pat Cleary, Liam Norris, Ricey Scully and Tony Flanagan.
The Furlong family have been synonymous with Tullamore and Offaly football since the 1950s. Oldest brother, the late Mickey was a legendary player in the 1950s while Martin Furlong is one of the greats of Offaly football, winning All-Ireland senior medals in goals in 1971, 1972 and 1982. Another brother, the late John was one of the great characters in town and the Furlong family home was situated on the site of the current Tullamore Court Hotel - The main bar in the hotel is called the Furlong Bar. A nephew of Tom's, Ken Furlong continued the tradition into the 1990s and 2000s, playing for Offaly and Tullamore, winning senior championship medals with the town in 2000, 2002 and 2007.
Tickets for Friday's function cost 20 euros and music will be provided by Dave Lawlor. The master of ceremonies on the night will be former Offaly hurler and footballer, Michael Duignan.
Tickets can be obtained at the Court Hotel, by contacting Willie Bryan on 087 2693154, Ray Digan on 086 6026778 or any of the above named committee.
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