In the early 1970s Passage produced a successful under-15 team with the main feature being the presence of a number of key individuals who stood out in every game they played. One of those players became very conspicuous because he always wore red shorts when playing but it was not the colour of his togs alone that caused him to stand out. The young lad in question was Terry Howard, an all action hurler who was blessed with great striking ability.

His school Coláiste Iognáid Rís were a step ahead however as they recognised the great leadership qualities the player possessed. They afforded him the great honour of making him the captain of the schools Harty Cup hurling team. In 1975 he repayed their faith in him by becoming the only player in the school’s history to lift the most famous of schools trophies. In the same year Terry became the only player from the Passage club to win a Munster college’s senior football medal.

In the year previous to this Terry had the distinction of playing senior championship hurling with Passage against Na Piarsaigh in a game which was the last for the club in the top grade. Despite the fact that all of Terry’s early prominence was in hurling, a decision taken at the A.G.M. in 1979 was to change that forever. The decision was taken to re-grade to Junior”B” football and the subsequent appointment of Brian Geary as manager and Terry Howard as coach, was to lead to unprecedented success in the big ball code.

With the combination of Brian’s astute sideline awareness and Terry’s remarkable motivational skills, the football scene in the club spiralled dramatically upwards. Terry introduced a brand of speedy attractive attacking football and all opposition was brushed aside. Passage footballers were suddenly creating a stir in Cork football circles with success at junior “B”, junior “A”, and intermediate following rapidly in the early 1980s. County titles at junior and intermediate level and a gallant attempt at the senior title, was unprecedented and like all such achievement it did not happen by accident.

It must not be forgotten, of course, that Terry also made a huge contribution as a player on this all-conquering team. As an attacking wing back his exemplary use of possession was responsible for setting up many attacks for a powerful forward unit.

When this great run of success was coming to an end, Terry made another major contribution to his beloved Passage club. At a time when the club was facing difficult financial times, he took over the mantle of chairman and immediately set up a huge fundraising drive. Not surprisingly this venture was an unqualified success. Terry’s one year at the helm left the club in a sound financial footing for the first time in many years.

Terry, whose great grandfather, Jim Collins, was a member of the first ever Passage hurling team in 1886, is still active in the affairs of the club. His two sons, Shane and Mark, are dual stars with the club, with Mark bridging a long gap by lining out with the Cork minor hurling team in 2010.