Dedication to the cause a hallmark of Casey’s career
IALWAYS take a two-week break from work that covers the All-Ireland final fortnight. It means that I can attend the hurling and enjoy every aspect of the day, without having to rush home to chase newspaper deadlines.
And by the same token, travelling to the football final is a nice way to bring the holiday to a close.
What about the weekend in between the two big games? Back in the day when they were held on the first and third Sunday in September, there was nearly always a county final to observe in some other county.
That’s another passion of mine: getting a feel for what the biggest day on the club front means as a completely neutral onlooker.
The choice of games on that ‘in-between Sunday’ has been greatly reduced since the All-Irelands were moved to August, but thankfully Kerry has maintained a long-standing tradition of using it for its hurling decider.
And that’s what brought me - for the third year running - to Austin Stack Park in Tralee on August 25 last for a match that reminded me instantly of a proud son of the Kingdom whose contribution to the game in Wexford is worthy of the entire column this week.
I’m not sure if Fr. Martin Casey was present to watch his native Causeway recording an exciting 2-13 to 1-13 win over Lixnaw, winning the title for the first time since 1998 in the process.
However, what I can say for certain is that the battling qualities they displayed, the teak-tough approach, and the absolute refusal to treat any ball as a lost cause, reminded me of a man who left north Kerry in the mid-sixties and immediately immersed himself in Wexford sporting folklore.
As the diocesan seminary, St. Peter’s was the secondary school of choice for many young men intent on joining the priesthood.
And when a young Martin Casey first donned that white jersey with the green sash, it was clear that he had a talent for hurling that would lead to a glittering club and county career.
An All-Ireland Senior ‘ A’ double with the Summerhill seat of learning in 1967 and 1968 proved the perfect start to more than 25 years of marvellous service to Buffers Alley and Wexford.
He scored 5-2 from full-forward in the Minor campaign of ’67, when Cork claimed victory in the All-Ireland final, but the tables were turned on that memorable double day twelve months later.
Martin registered a point in that 2-13 to 3-7 success and, three months down the line, he collected the first of an incredible twelve county Senior medals that spanned the period from 1968 to 1992.
Three years as a county Under-21 followed, bringing a hat-trick of Leinster medals but also successive All-Ireland final losses to Cork.
Martin came on in the 1969 decider in Walsh Park, played at centre-forward in the draw and replay of 1970, and scored three points from full-forward in 1971.
His Senior debut for his adopted county came on December 5, 1971, featuring at left corner-forward in a 1-14 to 1-9 National League loss to Kilkenny in Nowlan Park.
He didn’t feature again until October, 1973, but he was a constant presence on the panel for the rest of the decade, making his championship debut at left half-back in a 1-18 to 1-5 Leinster semi-final win against Laois on June 16, 1974.
He collected two provincial Senior medals in ’76 and ’77, coming on for Willie Murphy in the latter year’s All-Ireland final loss to Cork.
His 82nd and final top flight game for Wexford was another appearance off the bench, in a runaway Leinster championship win over Westmeath in Nowlan Park on May 29, 1983.
My records show that Fr. Martin filled every jersey from number 5 all the way up to 15 in the county Senior colours at various stages in his outstanding career. It was a tribute to his versatility that he played everywhere, bar in goal and the full-back line. And, if he had been asked to fill those roles, I’m sure he wouldn’t have shirked that responsibility either.
Away from the hurling fields, Fr. Martin has commanded widespread respect as a priest in St. Peter’s, Caroreigh, and Carnew - his abode for many years. How fortunate we were that he left Causeway for Wexford to pursue his vocation all those years ago.