A FABULOUS FOOTBALL 15
Furlong’s top team chosen
WE MAY not have the titles to show for it, but cast a glance to the right of this page and you will have to agree that Wexford has produced more than its fair share of top-quality footballers since 1970.
Veteran reporter Brendan Furlong set himself an arduous task when the reality of having no live games to watch kicked in last month - to choose the best players in both codes that he has seen representing the county over the past 50 years.
And now, three weeks after his hurling fifteen was finalised, it’s the turn of football to take centre stage as the six attackers to team up with the nine stars already named are disclosed.
Brendan didn’t have as many high-achieving eras to choose from this time around - only one, really, if truth be told, straddling the spell from 2004 to 2011 when Pat Roe and Jason Ryan guided their respective teams to feats that Wexford football fans could only dream about before or since.
Who will ever forget the National League Division 1 final appearance against Armagh in 2005, followed by the loss to Tyrone when just one step away from All-Ireland day three years later?
There was two Leinster final battles with Dublin, and an admirable level of consistency in the league that saw Wexford locking horns with the very best and conjuring some marvellous results, both home and away.
It was a special time to be a football follower in this county, so it should come as no major surprise that the final team is drawn heavily from that successful period.
Nine in total served with distinction during that era, and their individual records can stand up to any scrutiny.
In terms of the forwards, it was always going to be a case of Matty Forde and five others.
The Kilanerin ace remains our only All Star award winner from 2004 and, on a personal level, the display he gave in Tuam in March of that year when scoring 4-3 from play against Galway in a National League match stands tall as the best I have ever seen from an individual wearing a Wexford county jersey.
I was waiting, with interest, to see where Brendan would select Michael Carty of Castletown on his team, because it was simply inconceivable that he would not be included.
He was a bright star of the seventies, a key figure on a powerful U.C.D. club side laden with star material from all over the country.
Seamus Fitzhenry was another player that simply couldn’t be overlooked, and his RTE goal of the year against Dublin in the Leinster championship of 1986 is still one of the best I have ever seen.
If Matty Forde was the leading Wexford footballer of my lifetime (no surprise there), then the second player on my own personal list was that outstanding defender from Taghmon-Camross and later Dicksboro in Kilkenny, John O’Gorman.
One of my first, albeit vague, memories of watching Wexford football is being in St. Patrick’s Park in late 1983 as an elevenyear-old when he made his Senior debut in a National League game against Mayo.
John played with Leinster at a time when the Railway Cup meant something, and when Wexford weren’t on the radar at all as a football force.
On that particular topic, I believe two forwards are very unlucky not to make this team, namely Ger Howlin from Dan O’Connell’s and the late Scott Doran of Kilmore.
Both also donned the green jersey of their province with distinction, and it must have been a close call not to include them.
Of course, that begs the question: who would I have left out to accommodate the pair?
Well, Michael Carty would be my centre-back, and I must stress that I never saw Brendan’s choice, Denis Asple, in action as he was before my time so it’s nothing personal in that regard.
Carty at number six would free up one place in the forwards, and I’d have to think long and hard then about which one of the modern attackers would miss out in order for both Howlin and Doran to make my team!
That’s the beauty of these selections, as there’s never a right or wrong answer.
It’s all about personal opinion, and the era you can relate to best, dear reader.
And if you want to have a go at naming your own top team, in either or both codes, then send me an email at a.aherne@peoplenews.ie and we’ll be happy to publish them over the coming weeks.
IT’S HARD to believe that it’s 75 years since Wexford last won the Leinster Senior football title.
It was a star-studded team but, unlike the present day game, their All-Ireland semi-final loss to Cavan was a very low-scoring encounter, ending on a final scoreline of 1-4 to 0-5.
That particular Wexford team had some household names, with many dual players. Unlike the current situation that has developed at inter-county level, they were very much part of the scene at the time.
The Wexford team contained the great Nickey Rackard and Gusserane’s Paddy Kehoe, along with one of Wexford’s finest footballers, Willie Goodison. They were backed up by the outstanding talents of Jimmy Coady, Fr. Dermot Clancy, Des O’Neill, Joe Nolan, Tom Somers, John ‘Suck’ Morris, Jim Foley and Tom Doyle.
While Wexford can be looked upon as a strong dual county, by no means can it be regarded as success-laden in both codes, given the meagre return of silverware in the big ball game in those 75 intervening years.
But the wonderful thing about Wexford is that it still contains pockets of loyal football people, with clubs such as Castletown, Gusserane O’Rahilly’s, Ballyhogue and Enniscorthy Starlights still making major contributions to football in the county both at club and inter-county level, with many of their players proud to wear the purple and gold.
It was a real pleasure to reflect back on the past 50 years in both hurling and football over recent weeks, which has thrown up some interesting debate.
Since that 1945 provincial success, Wexford have been there or thereabouts at times but never managed to make that long-awaited breakthrough.
They contested magnificently during both the Pat Roe and Jason Ryan eras, just coming up short of a major title, losing in the Division 1 league final and provincial deciders, but it was a period when the game made real progress in the county.
Even in spells prior to this they were always genuine contenders, and a team difficult to beat, but the slippage over recent years has seen football in the doldrums.
The drop down to the lower reaches of Division 4 marks a more difficult time for the game in the county.
The current side is giving hope. Under the guidance of Paul Galvin, they had got themselves into a challenging promotion spot until the recent halt to games, so there is that glimmer of a chance when the games resume.
Looking to the best team of the past 50 years, I have dealt with goalkeeper, full-back line, half-back line and midfield. Now the time has arrived to try to decide on what I believe to be the best six forwards of that period, but it was a challenge, with some real talent failing to make the cut.
When you try to decide on a half-forward line, there’s an abundance of talented players available. Football may have changed but talent never fades, and that is why it’s worth considering players like Seamus Fitzhenry, one of the best wing-forwards of his time; Martin Quigley, a great dual player who made 16 championship appearances for his county over a period from 1970 to ’84; Fethard’s Jim Byrne, an All-Ireland Senior hurling medal winner in 1996; and Scott Doran (R.I.P.), a real talent from the Kilmore club.
Other players to shine for both club and county included Redmond Barry, one of Wexfords finest forwards from the St. Anne’s club, Pat Murphy (Taghmon-Camross), Jason Lawlor (Adamstown), Ciarán Deely (Horeswood), Dessie O’Brien (St. Fintan’s), Paddy Colfer (Clongeen), Noel Fitzhenry (Duffry Rovers), and John Hudson (Starlights).
There would always be a star talent in every era, and Wexford had one in Castletown’s Michael Carty. Carty always relished a challenge, and his ability always won out.
How he would have thrived in the present day expansive football is not for debate, as he would have exerted a playmaker’s influence and his talent would not have been curtailed.
The winning of many a game depends on quality in the full-forward line.
Wexford had forwards in this sector who would have enjoyed ding-dong battles with the best of full-back lines.
Lone All Star Matty Forde would have been an ever-present in any county side, as his scoring expertise lit up so many games both at club and inter-county levels.
No one needs reminding of the talent of Ciarán Lyng and P.J. Banville, who continue to demonstrate their talents at club level, and even the best corner-backs found it difficult to put their shackles on that duo.
Jack Berry of St. Anne’s, who retired early in the 1970s, was another scoring artist and great dual player, but his playing career ended after so much success at inter-county level in 1973.
Kilmore’s Michael McGee was a leading marksman in the National League, while another who troubled many a defence was Ger Howlin, as the Dan O’Connell’s player always fired from full-forward.
There was also the talented Martin Hanrick, who played his club football with HWH-Bunclody and later Dicksboro in Kilkenny.
Sarsfields’ ace free-taker, Billy Dodd, merits a mention too, along with John Hegarty, Ben Brosnan, Diarmuid Kinsella and Pat Forde.
RIGHT HALF-FORWARD
SEAMUS FITZHENRY (Duffry Rovers): He was the embodiment of the modern Gaelic footballer, hugely talented, and extremely influential in every match. He adorned the game with his talented attacking play, with many believing his displays were ahead of their time in terms of the future pattern of football.
He played over a long period, but such was his footballing ability that he would have shone in the present day expansive style of play. He had great pace, with wonderful ability to carry the ball, and was always a real scoring threat, grabbing crucial goals and points.
A leader of that history-making Duffry Rovers Senior football outfit, he’s a player who emerged through the grades to become one of the county’s finest half-forwards.
CENTRE HALF-FORWARD
MICHAEL CARTY (Castletown): The Castletown clubman’s performances over the years marked him out as a towering presence for both club and county.
He brought a different dimension to the game, being a constant winner of the hard ball, not to mention those surging runs,
And his versatility, and presence either in defence, midfield or attack, marked him out as a great player.
Both himself and Matty Forde brought different qualities to their game but, given their impact and influence on games, it would be difficult to separate them.
He also captained U.C.D. to an All-Ireland Club Senior football title where he was always looked upon as someone special, even in the eyes of the late Eugene McGee, who later managed Offaly to All-Ireland glory in 1982.
LEFT HALF-FORWARD
REDMOND BARRY (St. Anne’s): Only recently retired from the inter-county scene, Redmond Barry played for what seemed like forever. While he may have hung up the purple and gold jersey, he continues to shine for his club, St. Anne’s, in both codes.
During his career he was an ever-present in the forward line, and he constantly reminded us of how special a player he was. The ability to win his own ball, his driving runs, those goals, not to mention the crucial points, were always hallmarks of his talent which shone through even against the best of defenders.
Hugely influential in his games, he was the spiritual leader of the side. One of Wexford’s finest attacking talents.
RIGHT FULL-FORWARD
CIARAN LYNG (St. Martin’s): His performances right through that 2008 campaign under Jason Ryan brought him into the national spotlight.
It was that marvellous goal against Tyrone in the All-Ireland semi-final defeat of that year which marked him out as one of the most talented corner-forwards.
I had the privilege of watching that goal over and over again during recent weeks. Without doubt it was the goal of the championship.
It was the type of rocket that lit up many a club and inter-county championship game. He would be in any team for his talents, with that left boot so often seen kicking delightful points that helped his style shine through a glittering career.
FULL-FORWARD
MATTY FORDE (Kilanerin): Comfortable off both feet, the Kilanerin clubman is the county’s lone All Star, but his displays deserved more.
One of the most talented players to grace any venue, he was most effective when on the ball, and the manner in which he utilised that possession saw him emerge as one of the great talents of the game.
His ability to kick points from the most acute angles and from distance saw him win the admiration of even neutral supporters.
When he managed to deliver huge performances, Wexford were always in with a winning chance.
Perhaps his finest game was in that historic 2008 comeback victory over Meath in Dr. Cullen Park. Will we witness such talent again in the future in the purple and gold jersey?
LEFT FULL-FORWARD
P.J. BANVILLE (Horeswood): Those surging runs, the goals, the ability to test corner-backs, marked the Horeswood player out as a forward of quality.
His resilience, his workrate, his penchant for taking scores, always saw him in the manager’s plans throughout a stellar career.
An ever-present in the Wexford side, apart from a short spell in New York, whom he assisted in the Connacht championship, it was in the purple and gold that he demonstrated his style best.
His blistering pace, goalscoring ability, and those runs at the full-back line, always lifted his side. Comfortable off both feet, while retired from the inter-county scene he continues to showcase those talents on the club front.