Tuam Herald photographer, Ray Ryan, won the MacNamee Award for Best Photograph for this photo of Carnmore goalkeeper Torin Finnerty embracing Dylan McLoughlin, a member of the management team, after they won their first ever Galway County Minor A Hurling Championship.
By Cian O’Connell
The well regarded Tuam Herald photographer Ray Ryan could sense the energy and excitement sweeping through Pearse Stadium.
Carnmore were on the verge of securing an unexpected County Minor A Hurling Championship title. Beaten 3-16 to 0-9 by opponents Athenry in the group phase, Carnmore came thundering back in the knockout stages.
On the sideline, though, Ryan had noticed one of Carnmore’s backroom team, Dylan McLoughlin, being wheeled on to the pitch. McLoughlin, 23, was born with spina bifida, but Carnmore and sport always mattered deeply.
“They were really under pressure so the emotion after was something else,” Ryan recalls. “It was lovely because I just noticed him being pushed out on to the pitch at the time by his brother, Neil.
“I wouldn't know many of the Carnmore lads, but what caught my eye was that they had the bainisteoir bib on him, Dylan, who was in the wheelchair. That caught my eye so I started following him.
“I thought that there was going to be some reaction when these guys came over to him. There was and all the players came over to him, shaking his hand.
“Then the next minute I saw the 'keeper coming. I saw him making a beeline for Dylan, he took the helmet off, he dropped the hurley, and went straight over to give him a big huge huge.
“He nearly started crying before he got to him. It was just lovely, it was a lovely moment. It was one in a million that you capture at the time, it was great.”
Winning a MacNamee Award for the shot has brought Ryan pleasure, but ultimately it simply reiterated the value and importance of sport for people everywhere.
“It is a great honour, I was delighted more so for the young lad in it, and his family,” Ryan replies. “I met them afterwards. Her name is Raphael, she rang me up when she saw the photograph, she was really chuffed and nearly in tears about it, so excited.
“I wouldn't know any of the Carnmore lads. They are a lovely family. We went out to do a feature on them, Patrick Earley did the feature which got a great reaction.”
Ryan’s own sporting career featured some splendid days in the Tuam Stars and Galway jerseys. “I've been there myself, I won a minor championship many moons ago so I know what it is like,” Ryan admits.
Galway's Damien Comer with young supporters following the FBD League Final at Dr Hyde Park in January.
“There is something about the minor. I won a senior and an Under 21, but minor was my first one. I really enjoyed that.”
In 1981 Ryan came close to winning an All Ireland Under 21 medal with Galway. “I was sub 'keeper to Padraig Coyne when we got to the All Ireland Final against Cork down in Ennis,” Ryan remarks.
“We drew the first day, we had a chance to win it. Michael Brennan had a chance to win it with a last minute kick, but it went wide. In the replay then Cork chinned us.
“Val Daly, Padraic Coyne, Brian O'Donnell, Aengus Murphy, who was in the cadets, he was killed in the Lebanon, he was a great footballer, Dandy Kelly, and Padraic O'Dea were on it.”
The Tuam Herald remains a most respected provincial paper with sport continuing to occupy a central role in the weekly publication.
“Jarlath Burke our old editor put through the likes of Michael Lyster and Martin Breheny, these reporters,” Ryan says.
“He was GAA through and through. If we even mentioned rugby he would throw us out the door. We learned a lot from him, we always loved the sport in the Herald. Billy (Coss) is great and working under Jim Carney too, I had some great Sports Editors in my time.”
Ultimately Ryan reckons the glory days of the John O’Mahony era are the standout memories from his time on the sideline snapping pictures.
“When Galway won the football in '98, that was magic,” Ryan reflects. “I remember in 2001 Galway were beaten in the Championship by Roscommon so we went in the backdoor. I remember meeting John O'Mahony, who wanted me to take a picture of his family in the Cre Na Cille, he was having a night.
“I said no problem so I went down to take the picture. When it was done, he said what do I owe you? I said just have two All Ireland tickets for me for that September.
“He said we haven't a notion of winning it, I said you will win it even though they had got beat by Roscommon. Sure enough they did win it. He did come through with the tickets, which I bought. He did come through, though, which was nice. I knew in 2001 that they were good enough.”
Ryan’s optimism wasn’t misplaced. Nearly two decades later the Tuam native is still doing his bit for the GAA in the west.