Our best hurlers since 1970
Quality abounds in half-back sector and at midfield
HURLING IS experiencing a golden age. In recent years the game had moved from the traditional 15 on 15 to a total transformation, with a real free-styling appearance to the action.
This makes it all the more difficult in choosing a team going back over five decades given the change the game has enjoyed.
But one would not swap any of the past decades since they all brought their own style to the game, their excitement, the man-on-man clashes, the individual skills, brilliant defending, and memorable scores.
Going back to 1970, and for a number of decades to follow, the game of hurling stuck by its traditional format. Then it took the appointment of managers to the helm of Senior inter-county sides to bring real change to the game.
The game evolved on so many different levels that it now bears no comparison to what one witnessed in the past.
Physical fitness is now a key factor for all players. To target its introduction, one would have to revert over to the big ball game for physical fitness to be brought to a new level, through that great Kerry team under Mick O’Dwyer.
It quickly found its way to hurling with far-thinking managers in Ger Loughnane, Liam Sheedy and Brian Cody, whose side dominated the game for so long.
Davy Fitzgerald heralded his arrival with All-Ireland and National League success with his native Clare, before arriving in Wexford where he has brought not alone a resurgence to the dying game in the Model county, but brought supporters back in their thousands.
It’s plain crazy now the way hurling has evolved, but supporters are enjoying it. There is not a low moment to be found, until the coronavirus arrived that is, but hopefully we will spring back safe and well to continue what has been a marvellous hurling journey.
Last week I set out to pick what I believe to be the best Wexford hurling team of the past 50 years.
In goal I had Damien Fitzhenry, the best shot-stopper in the game.
The full-back line consisted of Tom Neville (R.I.P.), Liam Ryan and Darragh Ryan, a trio that would look after the best of full-forward lines.
This week I set out to continue on my selections. The more one studies the players available, the more difficult it becomes as the county enjoyed some wonderfully talented players in this sector of the field.
Great players immediately spring to mind. Dan Quigley was an outstanding centre-back on the 1970 All-Ireland final losing team to Cork.
While he will be best remembered for his 1968 display in captaining Wexford to All-Ireland success, and winning the accolade of hurler of the year, the Rathnure man continued to display those talents into the ‘70s.
Then one had Michael Jacob, equally comfortable in midfield, the flamboyant Larry O’Gorman, of 1996 fame and hurler of the year in that memorable season, and the dancing feet and skilful hurling of Liam Dunne.
Colm Doran, the late Liam Bennett, Matt Browne and Eddie ‘Heffo’ Walsh were other fine exponents of the wingback position, as was Willie Murphy, who finished out his career at full-back.
Moving on then to the modern day, we have players like Matthew O’Hanlon, Pádraig Foley, Shaun Murphy and Kevin Foley, whose artistry is deployed in a sweeping role which he has perfected.
Wexford have also had some great midfielders who would grace any team.
There was Michael Jacob, who donned the number nine jersey in the 1970 All-Ireland final, Dave Bernie, Ned Buggy and Billy Rowsome.
We move on to Adrian Fenlon, one of the best ground strikers in the game, George O’Connor, whose aerial process saw him lift crowds, while in the present there is Lee Chin, also an outstanding half-forward, and current All Star Diarmuid O’Keeffe.
HALF-BACK LINE
RIGHT HALF-BACK - LIAM DUNNE: Ferociously competitive, with remarkable dominance of any half-back position, despite his lack of inches.
He played in a number of defensive positions, with centre-back being his preferred option, but given his silken skills, physicality under the high ball, and fleet-footed approach, he would prove a great of the game in any of the half-back positions.
CENTRE-BACK - DAN QUIGLEY: Centre-back saw many great players don the number six jersey, but it was Dan Quigley through his career who reigned supreme in this defensive role.
He was a throwback to the Wexford team of the fifties, who prided themselves on their physical prowess, that saw them win over hurling followers the length and breadth of the country.
‘Big Dan’ as he was popularly known fitted into this template. He had the ability to dominate in the air, and to adapt to the changing attacks from the low ball, much of which was aimed at exposing lack of pace.
But such was his ability to read the game, and show a delightful first touch coupled with his huge clearances, that most of those tactics failed. I have never seen a player who had such an inspirational presence over those around him.
He was one of Wexford’s greatest centre-backs, following in the footsteps of his clubmate, the late Billy Rackard.
LEFT HALF-BACK - LARRY O’GORMAN: The flamboyant Larry O’Gorman was a real crowd favourite both on and off the pitch. Inevitably when selecting a left half-back, many players will spring to mind, but during a golden era, the Faythe Harriers man drove forward from this position to provide the necessary inspiration.
All of this saw him power Wexford to that 1996 All-Ireland success when he enjoyed an outstanding season, culminating in the accolade of hurler of the year.
His exceptional stickwork, ease of moving forward when in possession, but equally his ability to curtail the threat of the best wing-forwards, saw him stand apart as a wing-back.
He had it all, with a spring in his step, quality whether dealing with the ball in the air or on the ground, but also an attacking fortitude helped by his excellent ability to read a game.
He was always ferociously competitive, having settled in under Liam Griffin, while he had the uncanny knack of producing inspiring displays on the big day. He was at his best when the biggest prize was at stake, the winning of the Liam MacCarthy Cup in 1996.
MIDFIELDERS
MICHAEL JACOB AND DIARMUID O’KEEFFE: Before arriving at this pairing, I had a lot of soul-searching to do given the quality of player at my disposal.
To settle on the first midfield position, the two players in contention would have enjoyed a great battle, as they would have tried to impose themselves on any game.
I’m talking about Michael Jacob and Adrian Fenlon, who brought something different.
With Jacob, it was his huge level of fitness, ability to move around the pitch, and of course his hurling skills and stickwork. He had a gift of dominating his position to matter who his opponent was.
Fenlon had an exceptional ability to strike the ball on the ground, with great accuracy and speed, an art which is lost to the current game. He was a massive contributor to all games, with the forwards thriving off his accurate service.
Both players were honoured with All Star selection, Jacob in 1972, 1976 and 1977, and Fenlon in 1996.
Jacob may have been a late starter at inter-county level, but I chose him as he was more skilful and an artist with the stick.
The question of the second midfielder came down as a straight battle between the legendary George O’Connor and Diarmuid O’Keeffe.
O’Connor established himself as the outstanding midfielder during his time, although he also enjoyed spells at centre-back along with centre-forward.
Despite his lengthy career, he had to wait until 1996 to win that long desired Celtic Cross, after which he announced his retirement from the game.
Never lucky enough to win a Senior county championship medal with his club, St. Martin’s, the tall midfielder will be remembered for his aerial strength which helped him dominate opponents.
Diarmuid O’Keeffe has an exceptional ability to be both effective in his defensive duties along with being an attacker of real power.
A scorer of some vital, brilliant points, along with the odd goal in between, the St. Anne’s clubman proves not alone an awesome worker throughout the pitch, but also carries a supreme ability not alone to create chances but to pick off huge scores of his own, which separates him from O’Connor.
Both are All Star recipients, George way back in 1981 as a centre-forward, and again in 1988 at midfield, with Diarmuid honoured as a midfielder last year.
Next week I will bring the curtain down on what I believe is the top team of the past 50 years with the selection of the half-forward line along with the full-forward trio.