
Dundrum GAC
EDDIE McKay was born in 1936 on the Old Belfast Road in the townland of Cloghram, Dundrum.
He attended the local primary school throughout the 1940’s where he got his first experience of sport, primarily through the GAA and gymnastics.
As Eddie progressed into his teenage years, he developed a fervent interest in Gaelic football. As a minor player, he lined out for a team from Newcastle alongside fellow Dundrumian’s Paddy Haughian and Hugh Killen.
The Dundrum GAC club secretary at the time, Aloysius Rooney, ferried the three lads up to training and matches and this marked Eddie’s first real opportunity at competitive games.
At a game at minor level in Newcastle, Eddie was selected to do goals. The county minor goalkeeper at the time, a player with the surname Cleiry-Clarke, was stationed at midfield that day so Eddie got his opportunity.
Eddie performed suitably well and Dundrum soon took notice and began playing him in goals too at senior level.
Dundrum GAC reformed as a club in 1951 and throughout this decade, the senior team began garnering momentum.
Eddie started playing for the side during the mid-50’s and success soon followed as the Duns won the 1957 Down JFC. Eddie was the goalkeeper on this team that defeated Drumaness, Kilclief, Banbridge and then Magheral in the final to capture the club’s first ever adult title.
It was a 2-6 to 0-3 win in that decider at St Patrick’s Park, Newcastle, with Eddie keeping a meticulous clean sheet throughout.
Although having never made the county minor or junior team, Eddie’s star was rising steadily. In 1957 he was one of the top performers on the Kinelarty team in the Down Barony League.
Playing alongside fellow clubmen Malachy Glavin, Pat McKeating, Tommy Kilmartin, Tommy McShane, Dan McElroy, Paschal Flynn and John Forsythe, Eddie’s performances made the county senior selectors stand up and take notice.
Along with Malachy Glavin and Tommy McShane, he was called up to the Down senior squad that year and was part of the successful Lagan Cup campaign. He also made his debut in goals in the defeat against Donegal in the Ulster SFC in Ballyshannon.
Eddie was disappointed with his performance on his championship debut. He believed that this would be his last appearance in a Down jersey so after the game he went to the famous Mick Higgins (referee) and got his autograph.
Higgins gave Eddie some advice, “It’s harder getting on a team than it is getting off it!” And so Higgins’ words rang true in the intervening years.”
In the full piece read of how Eddie played for Dundrum, moved away but by a twist of fate was able to return.