Hurling greats that s
READERS of my generation, now wrinklies in their early seventies will savour the swinging sixties, whether it’s the birth of the showbands in Ireland or seeing their first ever televised All-Ireland hurling final.
I’m sure everyone can remember that period in their life when they felt the freedom and excitement of what might lie ahead. Add in a spotted face and an extra helping of naivety, and that was me as a young teenager in the early sixties.
For me, sport, in the form of Gaelic football and hurling took prominence over everything else, and if I’m being totally honest hurling was my first love. I think it’s safe to say the love affair is still pretty hot. Don’t worry, herself is well aware of the ongoing situation.
Because my mother lost my real hurl sometime around 1959, (or should I say used it for firewood because of my misuse around the farm) I made my own from a spoke of an ass cart. I painstakingly used an axe to chop it down, then shaped it with a hatchet, before finishing it off with a penknife. It took a month to design and when finished it still resembled like a spoke from an ass cart. My carpentry days were over before they’d begun.
By the way, it was somewhat remiss of me not to mention in my earlier article, a story relayed to me by the great Billy Rackard about the end of his county minor days. When he was leaving the pitch at the end of the game, a senior Wexford official ran up to him and before he had reached the dressing room pulled the jersey over his head and gave it to a senior player who was about to play for Wexford in a championship game against Kilkenny. Hard to believe nowadays, there was only one set of jerseys in the county. Oh, the good old days!
My home county of Sligo was never a hurling hotbed and as a consequence I never gained any great skill at the game, and now in my seventies it is highly unlikely I ever will!
Cork’s dominance after years of plenty in the forties and fifties, gave way to years of famine in the sixties, albeit they did win an All-Ireland in ’66. The pendulum swung back the Lee-siders way in the seventies, when once again they became a force to be reckoned with.
The decade also witnessed Galway’s disappearing act, after appearing in, and losing, 3 finals in the fifties.
Wexford heralded in the sixties in style. With half of the legends of the fifties still going strong and a balance of old and new, they shocked Tipperary with an emphatic win in 1960.
But despite, this winning to the decade, Tipperary were the team of the sixties, and should have won more than their four titles. Their backline included the hardmen of
John Doyle, Michael Maher and Kieran Carey, collectively known as ‘Hell’s Kitchen’ on account of their ferocity around the goal-mouth.
In 1961, Tipperary were red hot favourites and came up against Dublin, who came out of the blue to qualify for the final. The Dublin hurlers had grabbed centre stage from the footballers and the fans were in rapture after waiting for 77 years, a mighty long time. Dublin gallantly lost by a single disputed point.
I was never a huge fan of Tipperary in the sixties, yet, amazingly, their ‘Hell’s Kitchen’ hard man Kieran Carey became related to me. Kieran’s son married my niece. It’s a small world!
Now what about Kilkenny? Hurling is in their DNA and working life regularly takes second place. The county’s rich tradition was weaved out over the years from the beginning of the last century. The sixties provided 3 titles in ‘63, ‘67 and ‘69. An impressive haul, but not quite up to the standard of Tipperary.
Anyway, enough of the teams, it’s time now to focus on the men that made them great.
GOALKEEPERS
Ollie Walsh, Kilkenny
Ollie brought the art of goalkeeping to a new level during his career, with his flamboyant style, confidence and brilliant sidesteps. He was blessed with natural flair and courage.
Pat Nolan, Wexford
A tremendous keeper under pressure, and the essence of reliability, his lengthy clearances created many scoring opportunities for the Wexford forwards.
DEFENDERS
Jimmy Brohan, Cork Although never getting his hands on a Celtic cross, he demonstrated his talents by winning Munster Railways cups in the sixties.
A tall, lightly built player who relished the challenge of subduing in-rushing forwards.
Tom Neville, Wexford
A tower of strength at corner back for Wexford, Tom was a tenacious tackler and gave sterling service to the ‘Yellow’s Bellies’.
Austin Flynn, Waterford
A sportsman to his finger nails, who worked tirelessly in the full back position, he marshalled the defence with great authority, never once resorting to rough play.
Noel Drumgoole, Dublin
From the famed St Vincent’s club in Dublin, he captained the county in the All Ireland final of 1961. A strong elegant defender.
Kieran Carey, Tipperary
Part of the quartet of ‘Hell’s Kitchen’ who enjoyed a glittering career in the blue and gold of Tipperary, Kieran was a no-nonsense corner back who optimised reliability through his tough wholehearted approach to the game. He was fast, hard and fearless, and frustrated the best forwards in the land.
Lar Foley, Dublin
A top dual player of the late fifties and sixties, he competed fiercely for every ball that came his way, covering his backline with physical toughness.
Tom McGarry, Limerick
Tom made his debt for Limerick in the late fifties and was the sole Limerick player for many years, on the star- laden Munster Railway Cup team.
He was an all-round sportsman, strong and resourceful.
Jim English, Wexford
A terrific hurler, who was fiercely competitive with great ball control and composure, he captained Wexford to glory in ‘56, and was still a class act in the early sixties.
Mick Roche, Tipperary
One of the most gifted players of the sixties, and without doubt the greatest centre back of the decade. A man with a splendid physique, unrivalled vision and incredible strength when lashing the ball upfield.
Martin Óg Morrissey, Waterford Martin starred for Waterford for many years, and was still strutting his stuff in the sixties. He had a great eye for the ball, coupled with long relieving clearances during the heady days of Waterford hurling.
Jimmy Duggan, Galway
One of three brothers who starred for Galway in the fifties and sixties, Jimmy was a delightful, elegant, clean hurler, who suffered heartbreak in losing a number of finals in the fifties.
Ollie Fennell, Laois
Over the years Laois produced some fine hurlers, but none better than Ollie. He figured regularly in Railway Cup teams, a stylish player with unlimited hurling skills.
MIDFIELDERS
Theo English, Tipperary
A very underrated powerful player, who played a key role in all of Tipperary’s successes. Quite an imposing figure, a tactician of note with good ball control and excellent stickwork.
Jim Morrissey, Wexford
This was an exemplary sportsman, and a wonderful striker of the ball both on the ground and in the air. He was fortunate that his career coincided with a Wexford team who captured the indomitable spirit of Vinegar Hill and Boolavogue.
FORWARDS
Jimmy Doyle, Tipperary
One of the greatest hurlers ever to yield the hurl, no player encapsulated the grace and skill of Tipperary hurling more than Jimmy. Once he got the ball in sight of goal, you immediately chalked up a score. One of the nicest individuals you would wish to meet.
Christy O’Brien, Laois
Christy was one of the finest exponents of hurling in the fifties and sixties. He led his club, Borris -in-Ossory to many county titles. Powerfully built, he endeared himself to colleagues and supporters alike.
Tony Doran, Wexford
One of the stars of Wexford’s hurling triumph in 1968, donning the mantle of his hero Nicky Rackard.
He was over 6 foot-tall, forceful and hardworking, alert for the slightest scoring opportunity which he snapped up with devastating consequences.