Footballers who shone
STILL in sort of lockdown, and you certainly know you are living in strange times when buying a bag of compost feels like a treat. I couldn’t contain myself, as I loaded a sack full into a trolley at the garden centre. ‘Oh, happy days!’
Obviously, my selection of the teams of the decade have stirred debate, and as a consequence many readers of The Sligo Champion have had their say. Joe in Tubbercurry has challenged my fifties football selection of Sean Purcell of Galway, without the other half of the ‘terrible twins,’ Frankie Stockwell.
Tommy in Drumcliffe put down a marker with his own ‘best team of the sixties’. In his opinion, Paddy Doherty of Down should be in any sixties selection as should John Keenan of Galway. In my defence I have been aiming for a balanced team rather than all the super-stars. Now for the eighties!
This decade heralded a golden era for the Kingdom of Kerry. It all started for them in the late seventies, and by the time the eighties were finished, they had won 7 senior All-Ireland titles, the greatest achievement of any Kerry team ever. The great rivalry between Kerry and Dublin always brought excitement to the game, but Dublin were now in decline and in their shadow lurked Offaly, whose resources were scarce compared to the riches that Kerry enjoyed.
In 1982, Kerry had notched up four on the trot, and were red hot favourites to create history by being the first team ever to win the five-in-a-row. In one of the most dramatic All-Ireland Football finals ever, up popped Seamus Darby who wrote himself into the history books by scoring a goal in the last minute of the final, to end Kerry’s dreams and sending a shiver down the spine of all Kerry folk.
It was very much a family affair for the Offaly team, with five sets of brothers involved, including three Lowry brothers. What has happened to Offaly football since then? Why has a county that could win an All-Ireland title nearly forty years ago slip to the bottom rung of the rankings?
The near total Kerry dominance of the football scene was resumed in the Centenary Year of 1984 and continued with the completion of the 3-in-a-row in ’86. The departure of Kerry, after completing the hat-trick, was greeted by football fans with a degree of relief, as their dominance had become somewhat monotonous towards the end.
Dublin, under the astute management of Kevin Heffernan, fashioned a cult following, with their sky-blue banners filling Hill 16. They brought a new dimension and extraordinary glamour to football during this period. The results did not live up to the hype, but they did surface briefly in’83, when they overcame Galway to win the title.
Sean Boylan, the herbalist from Dunboyne, took over the helm of Meath football in 1982, at a time when it was a wilderness, yet when he left, the ‘Royal’ county had played in seven All-Ireland senior football finals winning four of them, including ’87 and ’88.
Under his leadership, Meath earned a reputation of being one of the toughest sides in modern day football.
I have always felt that the footballers in Cork were the downtrodden second citizens to that of their hurlers. In fact, it would be a lean year indeed if at least one All-Ireland title failed to find its way to the Leeside. Before the introduction of the ‘back door’ system, Munster finals had been effectively reduced to a two-horse race between Cork and Kerry, with the Kingdom usually ruling the roost. The end of the eighties saw Cork turning the screw on their old enemy and winning the All-Ireland title in ’89.
It was back to the drawing board for Sligo in this decade, the only crumb of comfort was reaching the Connacht final in ’81, when they lost heavily to Mayo.
GOALKEEPERS
Charlie Nelligan, Kerry Charlie was always alert, displaying an unflappable way about him. He was also extremely brave in the face of in-rushing forwards.
John O’Leary, Dublin
For 17 seasons John was a key member of the Dublin team, and was coolness personified between the posts.
DEFENDERS
Robbie O’Malley, Meath
An outstanding corner back, tough and uncompromising in the last line of defence. Strong as well as skilful.
Mick Holden, Dublin
Mick was a talented, committed player, who established a reputation as a footballer of the highest quality.
Mick Lyons, Meath
The county has long been renowned for producing excellent full backs. Mick was a hard, robust type of player, with an obsessive streak and bone crunching reputation.
Harry Keegan, Roscommon
A wonderful footballer, who played in a number of different positions, usually in defence for Roscommon and Connaught. He was known for his incisive forays and jinking solo-runs outfield, scattering opposition players in all directions.
Niall Cahalane, Cork
A forceful, determined player, who was still playing senior football at the ripe old age of 40. An integral part of the Cork team that won the ’89 and ’90 All-Irelands.
Mick Spillane, Kerry
Mick was one of an amazing family of three brothers who won 19 All-Ireland senior football medals in Kerry’s glorious run between ’75 and ’86. It would be very easy to fit them all in for my selection, so I’ll start with Mick, a man whose endurance and ability made him special.
Séamus McHugh, Galway Séamus was one of the finest players ever to come out of Galway, but never got his hands on an All-Ireland medal. He read the game superbly and although a little on the light side for a defender, was as tough as they come.
Colm Browne, Laois
A wing-back of the highest quality, who had great style and passion for the game, his greatest attribute was his consistency in the half back role, that inspired his team-mates.
Páidí Ó’Sé, Kerry
An inspirational player, who won eight All-Ireland medals during a glorious career with Kerry. His timely defensive interceptions gave him the freedom to make marauding runs up and down the field and create havoc for the opposition.
Mattie Brennan, Sligo Mattie was a dashing, clever footballer in a long and distinguished career with Sligo.
His wholehearted approach, determination and courage inspired his team mates.
Willie Joe Padden, Mayo
A cult figure in the green and red of Mayo, Willie Joe’s never-say-die attitude endeared him to the faithful. With his Kerry style of high fielding lengthy clearances, flamboyance and style he was a born footballer of true grit.
Tim Kennelly, Kerry
Tim was nick-named ‘The Horse’ due his size and natural strength. The Listowel man was a player of huge stature, who starred for many years in the pivotal role of centre back for the green and gold.
MIDFIELD
Jack O’Shea, Kerry
Arguably the greatest midfielder of his generation, and certainly since the days of Mick O’Connell, Jack was an industrious type player, who travelled the length of the pitch, either to help out in defence or creating vital scores in attack.
Brian Mullins, Dublin
A player with a huge physical presence. As in the words of the Billy Ocean song, ‘when the going gets tough, the tough get going’, lyrics that would best describe Brian Mullins.
T.J. Kilgallon, Mayo
The towering Balla man was a member of the Mayo team that reached a first All-Ireland football final in 38 years. The supremely talented T.J. was one of the finest midfield players of his generation.
FORWARDS Kevin O’Brien, Wicklow
Had Kevin been born a few miles north of the Wicklow mountains, Dublin may have been the beneficiary of his natural talent. An absolutely beautiful footballer, who tormented so many defences.
Mickey Martin, Leitrim
With his shrewd football brain and great pace, he was one of Leitrim’s finest forwards since the days of the great Packy McGarty.
Colm O’Rourke, Meath
Colm will always be remembered for his brilliant displays in many ill-tempered games against the old enemy, Dublin. He was pivotal in the Royals’ attack over many years, with his running, intelligent play and scoring opportunities.
Joe Kernan, Armagh
The big man from Crossmaglen was a legend among the followers of the ‘Orchard’ county. A versatile player, with tremendous strength and durability, who was comfortable in any of the forward positions.
Pat Spillane, Kerry
Probably the greatest of all the Kerry footballers from the golden era of the seventies and eighties. The splendid sight of Pat surging away leaving opponents in complete disarray, remains with me. He was virtually unstoppable, and his scoring record was sensational.
Mike Finneran, Roscommon
A tall and skilful player, who occupied a variety of positions in the primrose and blue of Roscommon. A star of the team that won 4 Connacht tiles in a row in the late seventies and eighties
Mikey Sheehy, Kerry
Mikey was one of greatest corner forwards in the history of Gaelic football. The Tralee man had such belief in himself that he had the ability to take defences apart with lightning speed, then clinically finish it off with a score.
Anton O’Toole, Dublin
The ‘Blue Panther’ as he was commonly known - a swerve, then a couple of stalking strides and he’s gone, either to score, or get ‘pulled’ down for a free. A marvellous footballer.
Matt Connor, Offaly
The best Offaly footballer of all time. On many occasions he rescued the team from impending defeat by his scoring exploits. Matt was blessed with extraordinary talent, and his exemplary sportsmanship on the field of play shone through.
Eoin Liston, Kerry
A giant of a man, who earned the nick- name, the ‘Bomber’ for his scoring feats. Because of his massive frame he was the ideal target man for the high dropping ball, in addition to his brilliant distribution to his colleagues.
Eugene (Nudie) Hughes, Monaghan An integral part of the Monaghan side that scaled the dizzy heights by winning 3 Ulster titles in the late seventies and eighties, he was an inspirational player who had complete confidence in his own ability to beat his marker.
Bernard Flynn, Meath Bernard was a footballer of great spirit and vision during the glory years when Meath reached the summit with All-Ireland success.
In the meantime, do look after yourselves and stay safe.