During the past week we lost one of our former great Footballers when Willie Scannell passed away on Monday,25th June after a short illness. Willie was our goalkeeper in four consecutive City Division Junior (A) Football Championship Finals during the late seventies,winning two medals in 1977 and 1978.

             Affecfionately  known as "Big Willie" , as he was well over six feet tall, Willie was considered as one the best netminders in the City Division during the seventies. In the 1975  Football Championship Final ,Willie was between the posts when a youthful Brian Dillons team went under to a more experienced Mayfield team by 1-12 to 1-6, at Ballinlough. Brian Dillons were back in the Final the following year but,once again,we were forced to taste defeat when we went  under to Delanys at the newly opened Pairc Ui Chaoimh. Willie kept a clean sheet in that game. The final score was 0-10 to 0-6.

              It was third time lucky for Brian Dillons in 1977 when they captured their first Junior(A) Football Championship title since 1938. They recorded a 1-10 to 2-4 win over St.Vincents,at Ballinlough, with Willie Scannell ,again, prominent throughout the entire campaign. In 1978 the title was retained when we ,once again defeated St.Vincents in the final by 1-13 to 1-6, with Willie,again, playing a major part in our victory.

"           Deepest sympathies are extended to Willie"s wife, Joan,daughters Catherine, Ellen and Siobhain,sons Christopher, Paul and Liam.

                  Another former Brian Dillons clubman , Kevin Buckley,was laid to rest recently. Kevin ,originally from Kellehers Buildings,lived in the Southside of the City for many years but ,he always kept in touch with his Brian Dillons clubmates. Kevin played Football for Brian Dillons back in the fifties and we extend our deepest sympathies to his wife and family.