This season is the first for more than forty years that Joe Keenan has not kitted out to play in the Fermanagh and Western League.  Since his first senior game at the age of fifteen for Enniskillen Rangers Reserves against Lisnarick Reserves on the old High School Playing Field – Joe remembers scoring the winner – until last season with Enniskillen Santos, Joe has been a regular fixture (and he says he might not be finished yet!)
The Keenans have always had a strong family connection with Enniskillen Rangers.  Joe’s older brothers all played for many seasons, and of course the young Joe was inspired and mentored by “Uncle” – Uncle Jim Keenan, a Rangers stalwart since the early sixties.  Joe first played for various Rangers youth teams from the Under 12s to the Under 15s, winning the Telegraph Shield and a host of tournaments, and he played for the Esso Cup squad managed by Ced McLeer, another Rangers stalwart.
He graduated to Rangers First team under John Craig’s management, initially as a lean, strong and speedy full back, and won a total of six Mercer Cup medals between 1982 and 1999. Over that period he played in no fewer than 12 Mulhern Cup Finals, with a haul of seven Winners medals.  He has numerous Top Four or Kennedy Cup medals, and he played in three IFA Junior Cup Finals, gaining a Runner-up medal in 1989 at Dungannon against Oxford United, a Winner’s medal at Loughgall against Lisburn Rangers in 1999 and another Runner-up medal the following year when Rangers, with Joe as Player Manager, lost the Junior Cup Final to Lisnaskea Rover at Ballinamallard.  Joe’s exploits in the Junior Cup were almost repeated when he led Santos to a semi-final in 2008 which they lost narrowly to Bessbrook. He can even claim to have a Second Division Championship medal after managing Santos to the Enda Love Cup in 2015. Joe has the perfect response to any young player who might have the cheek to say, “Show us your medals.” His trophy cabinet provides the answer.
Joe played for the Fermanagh and Western Representative team on a number of occasions, always at full back, but as his career progressed he showed his versatility by moving upfield. One of the trophies in his cabinet marks the season he scored fifty-one goals.
Joe describes as his proudest moment in football the occasion of the Fermanagh and Western FA’s Centenary in 2007.  As part of that celebration, a Team of the Century was chosen, and from it the Player of the Century was voted on by those present in the Killyhevlin.  Joe emerged as a clear leader for that accolade, and another fine trophy found its way to his cabinet.  Joe is typically modest about this achievement, and pays tribute to all of the others in the squad, saying that he was in good company.
Indeed Joe is quick to give credit to the many players he has encountered over the years. It’s a very long list, and there are far too many to mention, but in conversation the names of his Rangers team mates, Warren Dixon, Tony Roofe, Ray Sanderson, Davy Phair usually crop up, while he says he always had great respect for opponents like Shelbourne’s Marty Woodhead, Mickey O’Sullivan and Paul McAnea, or Tommy Nethery from Dergview. He picks out Kenny Maguire and George McFarland as probably the goalkeepers he found most difficult to beat.
Joe is quick too to point out that credit should be given to the team managers he served under – he learned a great deal, he says, from John Craig, Denzil McDaniel, his brother Paul and Liam Williamson, to name but four. And Joe will also acknowledge the support he got later in his career from Thomas McCaffrey, a fine example of commitment and enthusiasm.
Joe will also acknowledge the rapport he has had over his long career with referees.  He concedes that he was sent off three times, though one of these was later rescinded, due in fact to the intercession and evidence of our League Secretary, Mr Connolly.  On another occasion he was sent off by Gerry Flynn, after a mistimed “last man” tackle, the first season that measure was introduced, and once by Joe Crawford.
Joe puts down his longevity in the game to his dedication to training, the fact that he never smoked or drank, and his sheer love of the game. He still talks enthusiastically about great matches in the past. He misses the great derbies between Rangers and Town in front of big crowds at Celtic Park and Derrychara. He remembers one match in particular which finished 6-5 in Rangers’ favour, with Denzil McDaniel and James Rehill each scoring hat-tricks.  He recalls two Mulhern Finals against Irvinestown Wanderer in the Eighties: the 1981 Final when Rangers beat Irvinestown Wanderers 4 – 1 (Phil Murphy and “Toots” Lunny were outstanding that day) and the 1988 Final at Ferney Park when Rangers won 3-0 with Greg Turley scoring twice and Joe getting a goal himself.
Finally, it’s a tribute to Joe’s popularity and the respect that he has gained in Fermanagh and Western circles that so many people wanted to be a part of tonight’s tribute. He is proud that his two sons, Christopher and Jason, and his daughter Lisa, are heavily involved in local football. Joe was occasionally almost tempted away to play at a higher level, but his devotion to local football always held sway, and it is entirely appropriate that he is honoured with a place in the Hall of Fame, joining two of his dear friends, Enda Love and Brendan Keogh.  In his young days, Joe regularly drove those two gentlemen to matches and meetings in Belfast, and I’m certain both would be very proud of the contribution Joe has made over many, many years to a body which they held dear and which tonight recognises one of its greats. (Wrote by Roy Cathcart- Fermanagh and Western Association Chairman)