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Down GAA fundraiser sees former player `jailed'

Mickey Madine with pupils at St Patrick’s Primary School in Crossmaglen
Mickey Madine with pupils at St Patrick’s Primary School in Crossmaglen Mickey Madine with pupils at St Patrick’s Primary School in Crossmaglen

IT'S one of the GAA's greatest rivalries - the Down versus Armagh battle.

And for one former Down player, it's an epic challenge he faces on an almost daily basis.

With Down blood running thick through his veins, Mickey Madine crosses GAA boundaries every day as he enters his rival county to go to work.

But for the devout Down fan, he is very much alone in his support for the county at the Co Armagh school where he is principal, St Patrick's PS in Crossmaglen.

And it appears that Mr Madine, a former Loughinisland, QUB and Down player, has pushed his Crossmaglen and Armagh rivals too far.

Facing the wrath of his pupils and colleagues, Mr Madine is to face up to his crimes against football and is set to be jailed.

But it's all in a good cause - with the head teacher using the competitiveness between the two counties to raise money for, guess what, Down GAA.

In a hilarious video, the crimes committed by Mr Madine - who has more than four decades of involvement with Down GAA under his belt - are highlighted along with his trial and sentencing by his Armagh and Crossmaglen GAA rivals.

The 10-minute recording sees Mr Madine inflict his love of Down GAA on his school from the uniform they have to wear, the flags flying outside and the official school song.

The pupils are seen arriving at school wearing Down jerseys - greeted by a perplexed Armagh and Crossmaglen Rangers player Aaron Kernan.

Attempting to establish why the large Crossmaglen school is being transformed into a sea of red and black, Kernan takes a tour.

He is greeted at the school office by a member of staff, who tells of how she has been forced to wear a Down jersey before pointing him to the new school rules. They include the stipulation that all staff must wear red and black and children should have Down jerseys on at all times.

The rules also say the Star of the County Down - sung by supporters throughout the county - is now the official school song for St Patrick's and the Down GAA Year Book is the school read.

Any Armagh or Crossmaglen materials have been removed throughout the building, dumped in the bin and replaced with items paying tribute to Down.

Even the school's address has been changed to include a mention of Down.

Kernan finds kids singing and learning to play the Down song on musical instruments, while others outside hide out afraid Mr Madine will see them in their Crossmaglen jerseys.

But it all comes to a climax when Mr Madine is arrested for his crimes against Armagh and Crossmaglen GAA.

Wearing the traditional black and white prisoner uniform, Mr Madine is dragged out of the school by three angry Armagh men, which include former county player and Crossmaglen goal-keeper Paul Hearty.

Dumped into the back of a white van - much to the amusement of hundreds of screaming school pupils who have now donned their Cross tops - he is taken to face the wrath of his rivals.

Prisoner 94-91-68-61-60, reflecting the years Down won the All Ireland Senior Football Championships, is found guilty of crimes against football.

It's all part of the Down GAA Jailbreak fundraiser, which will see Mr Madine tour the county tomorrow to raise money before spending a night in Crumlin Road Gaol on November 6.

"To raise my bail money I am travelling around the 48 clubs in Down on Friday 30th October and hope to take a penalty at each one," said Mr Madine.

"I shall be noting the total distance travelled between the first and last and I'm asking sponsors to pay a £5 to guess my total distance travelled with the closest guess winning £100.

"I hope that after 45 years of being involved in the GAA, with only one red card in that time with my club and school/colleges and through my job as a teacher that some people who know me might feel sorry for me and sponsor me."