Emotional reunion for Furlong and Fenning

Tullamore GAA legends and All-Ireland winners Martin Furlong and Paddy Fenning were reunited on Friday night last as a special presentation was made to them by their local GAA Club.

The pair are the only All-Ireland senior football medallists from the Tullamore club, both men having been part of the 1971 and ‘72 successes, with Martin winning his third Celtic Cross 10 years later.

The footballing heroes were presented with a framed picture - taken at Paddy Fenning’s home on the Clara Road earlier in the week - which is drawn from the team photograph taken before the 1972 final replay. In that memorable game the goalkeeper was Martin Furlong, who kept a clean sheet, while Paddy Fenning went on to score the game’s only goal in Offaly’s nine-point win over Kerry.

Martin returned home from his New York base last week to officially open the new state-of-the-art gym in Tullamore GAA Club last Friday night, with club stalwart Billy Dowling performing the honours for the refurbished social centre.

 Martin Furlong’s next trip to Tullamore will be especially for the 5km walk along the banks of the Grand Canal in Tullamore on June 7, which Paddy Fenning is spearheading in aid of motor neurone disease research/support and local homeless causes.

The drive to raise €150,000 is on target with hundreds of sponsorship cards having been distributed following the hugely successful launch night last month, while the cause can also be supported by donating at https://www.gofundme.com/f/MNDwalk.