I wish I had been around to see the victories in 1968

I DIDN’T have the privilege of being around in 1968, but what a special time it must have been for Wexford people the world over. Thankfully, I did get to experience what it means to be All-Ireland Senior hurling champions in 1996, and then I was lucky enough to have a personal involvement in the camogie success eleven years later.

However, the fact that both titles were won in the space of a few short weeks 50 years ago is mind-blowing, particularly when one adds that Minor victory to the mix.

The St. Peter’s College march to glory earlier in the year had laid the platform for the latter win, although there was also a healthy injection of players from other schools that helped to mould those youngsters into the best team in the land.

Any child born here in the 1970s was constantly reminded of the heroic deeds of the teams and players we are honouring with our own tribute in this week’s edition.

I know that for certain, because I was one of those youngsters who grew up hearing all about the tales of ’68 and the giants of the small ball who brought such glory to Wexford.

Sadly, many of those mighty men of 50 years ago had retired by the time I started to show a healthy interest in the local club scene at the age of seven or eight, and I’m disappointed that I never got the opportunity to witness them in the flesh.

Still, I have an admittedly vague recollection of the likes of Dan Quigley, Willie Murphy and Teddy O’Connor performing in their latter years, while I’ve written before in this column about being mesmerised by the free-taking style of Jack Berry as he drilled a 21-yarder into the ground and past a helpless defence one particular day in Piercestown.

I can now confirm that the game in question was the Wexford District Junior hurling final of 1983 between St. Anne’s and Faythe Harriers.

John Quigley was still up to his old tricks around the opposing goal too in my formative years watching hurling, while naturally enough I was a big fan of Ned Buggy who lived just seven houses away from me in Pinewood Estate.

Mick Jacob was an elegant hurler that I did have the pleasure of seeing in action, and it was a crying shame that Oulart-The Ballagh didn’t make the Senior breakthrough before he was forced out of top-flight hurling with a serious eye injury.

Of course, there’s one of the stars of 1968 who left a particularly lasting impression on me, and that’s because Tony Doran’s glittering career thrived for so long.

Given the shorter playing cycle for inter-county performers these days, it’s incredible to consider that he was still going strong in a Wexford Senior jersey all the way up to the centenary year of 1984.

And then, five years later, he was doing his stuff for his beloved Buffers Alley as they defeated O’Donovan Rossa from Belfast to bring that sole All-Ireland Club Senior title to the county.

Indeed, returning to last week’s focus here on Fethard, it’s worth noting that Tony was the full-forward they faced when they won the county Junior hurling title of 1992 in January of 1993, nearly 30 years after he claimed an All-Ireland Minor medal with Wexford.

The big red lad was a hero to children of my generation, but he wore that tag with typical modesty and never bragged or boasted about his achievements.

It’s easy to understand how Wexford made it to the pinnacle in 1968 with men of that calibre so centrally involved.

I had dealings with the recently deceased Tom Neville during his time as a club mentor, and I always found him to be a thorough gentleman. I often bumped into him too in Carlow’s Cullen Park, and his loss will be sorely felt in the G.A.A. community.

Our tribute to the men and women of 1968 who brought unbridled joy to the county was crafted by reporter Brendan Furlong. He lived through every minute of it, and that’s why his recollections have an air of authenticity that others who weren’t around - this writer included - couldn’t dream of replicating.

Fifty years on, the deeds he witnessed evoke as much pride as ever among Wexford folk, and that will never change.