54 Visitor’s Links Two of the San Francisco team traveling hail from Galway and Galway hurlers have always been to the forefront of San Francisco hurling and more recently the GAA as a whole. After the disbandment of a very successful San Francisco Gaels hurling team in the late 80s, Pat Uniacke, Kilconieron and Tom Connolly, Ballygar took it upon them to form a new club, Naomh Pádraig Hurling Club. This club is still in existence today and since it’s inception has had a very strong Galway presence. This club has won two North American titles, in 1997 and 2010 and Galway men were very much to the fore on these all conquering teams. In 1997 there was no fewer than 11 Galwaymen on the team: Noel Finnerty, John and Larry Power (TynaghAbbey-Duniry), Michael “Bosco” Gallagher and Seán Flaherty (Ballinderreen), Murty Killilea (Carnmore), Tom Howley (Athenry), Brendan Uniacke (Kilconieron), James Wall (Castlegar), Enda Keane (Clarinbridge) and Rory Burke (Ardrahan). The afore mentioned Tom Connolly managed the team that year. Shortly after this winning team of 1997, Mattie Kenny, the Senior Project Manager on Aer Lingus’ behalf for this tournament put in a stint hurling for the Naomh Pádraig club. In 2010 the Galway contingent was just as strong numerically and it was represented that year by Darren Long (Castlegar), Ciarán and Ronan Hanley (Kiltormer), Shane Corban (Kilconieron), Padraic Mahon (Kilnadeema), Eoin Mahony (Loughrea), Shane Hunt (Knocknacarra), Eoin Quinn (Cappataggle), Seán Glynn (Athenry), Niall Curtin (Kinvara), Finian Coone (Mullagh) and Gary Horan (Killimor). John McGinley from Kinvara was the manager that year. The two traveling members of the San Francisco team from Galway also currently hurl for the Naomh Pádraig Club and were also members of that 2010 team, Darren Long and Ciarán Hanley. These are two very excited men to be able to make it back to Galway to hurl on home soil again. Darren Long: Wing-Back and Club Chairman Darren is another Galway man from Castlegar, where he played until he immigrated to the US in June 2004 and has lived and worked here ever since. Darren is an operating engineer who owns and runs his own construction company. He took a sabbatical from the game when he first came to America, but returned and since 2008 has been a very pivotal part of the Naomh Pádraig team and more recently the board, where he continues in the long tradition of Naomh Pádraig Club Chairmen hailing from Galway. Darren grew up in the Rosshill area of Galway City and has fond memories of going to the Galway Races every summer although he freely admits he didn’t pay the admission fee every year. Darren likes to make it At the United Irish Cultural Center in San Francisco in August 2013 were current Naomh Pádraig HC members from Galway (L-R): Pat Uniacke (Kilconieron), Liam Headd (Tynagh-Abbey-Duniry), Shane Corban (Kilconieron), Dermot Donnelly (Kiltormer), Ciarán Hanley (Kiltormer), Darren Long (Castlegar), Larry Power (Tynagh-Abbey-Duniry) and Ronan Hanley (Kiltormer). San Francisco
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