Fr Sean Heaney
Finally ended his time as Offaly county chairman in 1984 having tried to extricate himself from the job four years previously. Worked in parishes across the country was given the title ‘Monsignor’. Currently parish priest in Tullamore.
Sean Kelly
Climbed the administrative ladder in Kerry, serving as county chairman before a stint as chairman of the Munster Council. Served as GAA President from 2003 to 2006, seeing through the opening up of Croke Park to soccer and rugby before taking up his current post as Executive Chairman of the Irish Institute of Sport.
Declan Lynch/Galleon
Having been voted Gobshites of the Year by the Sunday World in late 1982, Galleon returned to their day jobs but the band went on. Later refitted different lyrics around the ‘Five in a Row’ tune and re-released the song in 1983 as a humorous tribute to Michael Fagan, who broke into the Queen’s bedroom in Buckingham Palace. Re-grouped in recent years and play gigs in Germany and around the country. Still receives countless enquiries about the availability of ‘Five in a Row’.
Tom O’Donoghue
Having concluded his stint as physical trainer with the Offaly footballers in 1983, Donoghue coached a variety of clubs in Westmeath and Laois. Briefly worked as physical trainer with Longford footballers in 1994 and was brought in by the Offaly hurlers in early 2000. Currently principal of Kilcormac Vocational School.
Gerald Whyte
Remains an active administrator and member of the Causeway club. Currently vice-chairman of Kerry County Board.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND SOURCES
While the source material for this book also comprised newspaper clippings, books and radio interviews, the principal sources were the participants from the 1982 All-Ireland final, all of whom were exceptionally generous with their time and their recollections.
Special thanks to Charlie Nelligan, Ger O’Keeffe, John O’Keeffe, Páidí Ó Sé, Jack O’Shea, Sean Walsh, Ger Power, Tom Spillane, Denis ‘Ogie’ Moran, Mikey Sheehy, Eoin Liston, John Egan, Pat Spillane and his scrapbooks, Jimmy Deenihan, Gerald Whyte, Sean Kelly, Owen McCrohan, Weeshie Fogarty, Eric Murphy, PJ McGrath, Martin Furlong, Mick Fitzgerald, Liam O’Connor, Michael Lowry, Pat Fitzgerald, Sean Lowry, Liam Currams, Tomás O’Connor, Padraic Dunne, John Guinan, Richie Connor, Gerry Carroll, Johnny Mooney, Matt Connor, Brendan Lowry, Stephen Darby, Seamus Darby, Eugene McGee, Tom Donoghue, Mgr Sean Heaney, Eugene Mulligan, David Walsh, Sean Grennan and Declan Lynch.
Thanks also to Carthage Buckley, Mick Mangan, Colleen Nelligan, Pat Nolan, Tom Humphries, Der O’Connor, Martin McHugh, Joan Herbert, Martin Rigney, Willie and Andy McCarter, Tomás Ó Sé, Junior Murphy, Declan Carroll, Alan Kerins, Brud Sullivan, Paddy Reidy, Mick Dineen, Mick Higgins, Pat Teahan, Kevin Corrigan, PJ Cunningham, Dr Paul Rouse, the staff at the National Library and at the Gilbert Library, Pearse Street, and Gracefield GAA club.
For the use of their pictures I am indebted to Sportsfile, the Offaly Archaeological and Historical Society, John Kearney, Joe O’Sullivan Photography, Tullamore, and Don MacMonagle in Killarney.
For references and sources I specifically utilised the archives of the Irish Independent, The Irish Times, the Examiner, the Sunday Independent, the Sunday Tribune, the Evening Press, the Sunday Press, Sunday Times, Tullamore Tribune, Westmeath-Offaly Independent and the Kerryman. I also sourced material in Kingdom Come by Eoghan Corry, Dublin v Kerry by Tom Humphries, Football Captains, the All-Ireland Winners by Brian Carthy, Football’s Top 20 by Colm Keane, Mick O’Dwyer, Manager of the Millennium by Owen McCrohan, Páidí, the autobiography, as told to Sean Potts, For Love of Town and Village by Jack Mahon, Fighting Back: The Rocky Bleier Story by Rocky Bleier, an extensive article with Tom Furlong by Dave Hannigan which appeared in the Irish Echo, September 2002, and in radio interviews conducted by Weeshie Fogarty with Seamus Darby in 2002 and by Eamon Dunphy with Mick O’Dwyer, April 2007.
Thanks to The O’Brien Press for the faith to undertake this project and the encouragement to ensure it got done, to Emma for a wonderful design job and Íde Ní Laoghaire for exhibiting great patience in getting the final manuscript ready for public consumption.
Thanks also to an array of friends and colleagues who kept me sane during a long, trying year. To all at the Sunday Times, particularly to Denis Walsh, whose prompting, encouragement and example was a constant source of inspiration. Thanks also to Paul Rowan, Peter O’Reilly, Donn McClean, and to my former sports editor Alan English, who kept keeping the idea for this book alive whenever I threatened to kill it. Also a special word of gratitude to Dave Hannigan for his assistance towards the end of the project and his regular emails of encouragement.
To Damian Lawlor, Dermot Crowe, Malachy Clerkin, Micheál Clifford, Christy O’Connor, Ray Silke, Tommy Conlon, Darren Frehill and Kieran Shannon for all their support and advice. To Eoghan Corry, Paul Howard, Brian Carey and Tom English for the breaks. To John O’Brien, David McKechnie and Enda McEvoy for a good early education. To Paul, John, Mani and Louise, Jabbas, Donal, Adrian, Janet and Declan in the UK, J and Oonagh, Cossie, Grainne, Damo and all the staff at Stromboli Records and affiliate industries, particularly to Mr James, whose spaghetti and wine softened a difficult winter trip to Kerry.
To my family, particularly Fr Jim, for years of support and encouragement. To Briano and Brian Quinlivan for years of unstinting friendship, and to John, Triona and Peig Hennelly for their endless hospitality and warmth, and for providing the perfect venues to write a book.
INDEX
Aldridge, Seamus, 1
Allen, Dinny, 1, 2, 3
Armagh team, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Arsenal FC, 1
Art and Science of Gaelic Football, The, 1
Aughnacliffe, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Austin, Liam, 1
Australia, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Australian Rules, 1, 2, 3
Ballycommon GAA club, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Barron, Declan, 1
Bennett, Ossie, 1
Bleier, Rocky, 1, 2, 3
Brogan, Bernard, 1, 2
Brosnan, JJ, 1
Bryan, Willie, 1, 2, 3
Burke, Dinny, 1
Burns, Mick, 1
Burns, PJ, 1
Carlow team, 1
Carney, Martin, 1
Carolan, Declan, 1
Carroll, Christy, 1
Carroll, Gerry, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27
Cavan team, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Clare team, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Clonbullogue, 1
Connor, Matt, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34
Connor, Murt, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Connor, Richie, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38
Cork team, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21
Corvan, John, 1
Cowen, Brian, 1
Creedon, Dom, 1
Creedon, Michael, 1
Cullen, Tommy, 1, 2
Culloty, Johnny, 1
Cunningham, Tom, 1
Currams, Liam, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18
Daingean GAA club, 1, 2, 3, 4
Darby, Seamus, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21
Darby, Stephen, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Deenihan, Jimmy, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20
Delaney, Ronnie, 1
Derry team, 1
Donegal team, 1, 2, 3
Donoghue, Tom, (O’Donoghue) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Dowling, John, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Down team, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Doyle, Bobby, 1, 2, 3
Doyle, Tommy, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14
/>
Drumm, Tommy, 1
Dublin team, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32
Duff, Ciaran, 1, 2
Dunne, Mick, 1, 2
Dunne, Padraic, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18
Edwards, Paddy, 1, 2
Egan, Gerry, 1
Egan, John, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32
Evening Press, 1
Fenlon, Paddy, 1, 2, 3, 4
Fennelly, Mick, 1
Ferbane GAA club, 1, 2, 3, 4 Town FC, 1
Finuge GAA club, 1, 2, 3
Fitzgerald, Ephie, 1
Fitzgerald, Mick, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18
Fitzgerald, Pat, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17
Fitzgerald, Ted, 1
FitzGerald, Garret, 1
Fitzpatrick, Martin, 1
Fitzpatrick, Tom, 1
Fogarty, Weeshie, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Foran, Dave, 1
Foran, Sean, 1
Freaney, Ollie, 1
Furlong, Martin, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Furlong, Mickey, 1
Furlong, Tom, 1, 2
GAA Central Council, 1 coaching courses, 1
Gaelic Weekly, 1
Galleon, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Galvin brothers, 1
Galway hurling team, 1
Galway football team, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13
Geaney, Dave, 1
Grennan, Sean, 1, 2, 3, 4
Griffin, Joe, 1
Grogan, Leo, 1, 2, 3
Guinan, John, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17
Hawaii, 1, 2, 3, 4
Heaney, Fr Sean, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
Heffernan, Ivan, 1
Heffernan, Kevin, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Henry, Vincent, 1, 2, 3
Hickey, David, 1
Higgins, Mick, 1
Holden, Mick, 1
Home Farm FC, 1
Horan, Pádraig, 1
Houlihan, Con, 1, 2
Hunt, Tom, 1
Irish Independent, 1
Irish Post, 1
Irish Press, 1
Irish Times, The, 1
Johnson, Amy, 1
Keane, John B, 1
Keaveney, Jimmy, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Keher, Eddie, 1
Kelly, Paul, 1
Kelly, Sean, 1, 2, 3
Kennelly, Tim, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20
Keohane, Joe, 1, 2, 3
Kerins O’Rahilly’s GAA club, 1, 2, 3
Kernan, Joe, 1
Kerrigan, Jimmy, 1
Kerrigan, Mattie, 1
Kerry team, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46
Kerryman, The, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Kildare team, 1, 2, 3
Kilkenny team, 1
Kilmurray, Kevin, 1, 2, 3
King, Frank, 1, 2, 3
Laois team, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Leddy, Ollie, 1
Limerick team, 1
Liston, Eoin (Bomber),1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20
Longford News, 1
Longford team, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Loughman, Declan, 1
Louth team, 1, 2, 3
Lowry, Brendan, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22
Lowry, Michael, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
Lowry, Ned, 1
Lowry, Sean, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28
Lynch, Declan, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Lynch, Ger, 1, 2, 3, 4
Lynch, Paudie, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14
Lyne, Denny Jackie, 1
Lyne, Michael, 1
Lyne, Tadhgie, 1
Lyne, Ted, 1
Lyons, Liam, 1
McAlarney, Colm, 1
McAlinden, Brian, 1
McAuliffe, Finbarr, 1
MacCárthaigh, Fr, 1
McCarthy, Tom, 1, 2, 3, 4
McCormack, Paddy, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
McCorry, Bill, 1
McCrohan, Owen, 1, 2
McElligott, John L, 1, 2
McEntee, Gerry, 1
McGee, Eugene, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36
McGee, Noel, 1
McGee, Fr Phil, 1, 2
McGrath, PJ, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
McGurk, Ciaran, 1
MacLua, Brendan, 1
McMahon, Fran, 1
McTague, Tony, 1, 2, 3
McWee, Fr, 1
Magnier, Noel, 1
Mahon, PJ, 1, 2
Mahony, Jimmy, 1, 2
Manchester United, 1, 2, 3, 4
Mayo team, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
Meath team, 1
Minnock, Ollie, 1
Molloy, Laz, 1
Moloney, John, 1
Monaghan team, 1
Mooney, Johnny, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30
Moran, Denis (Ogie), 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14
Moran, Kevin, 1
Morgan, Billy, 1
Mulhall, Bill, 1
Mulligan, Eugene, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Mullins, Brian, 1, 2, 3, 4
Mulvihill, Liam, 1
Murphy, Frank, 1
Murphy, Jimmy Eric, 1, 2, 3
Murphy, Tadhg, 1
National College of Physical Education, 1
Nelligan, Charlie, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19
Nelligan, Dan, 1
Newtowncashel GAA club, 1
New York Giants NFL team, 1
O’Connell, Mick, 1, 2
O’Connor, Daniel 1
O’Connor, Jim, 1
O’Connor, Liam, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14
O’Connor, Tomás, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25
O’Connor, Tommy, 1
O’Connor, Vincent, 1, 2
O’Donoghue, Eamon, 1
O’Donovan, Ambrose, 1
O’Dwyer, John, 1
O’Dwyer, Mick, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48
Offaly County Board, 1, 2, 3 football team, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48 hurling team, 1, 2
O’Halloran, Aidan, 1, 2, 3
O’Hehir, Micheál, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
O’Keeffe, Ger (Gadocha),1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
O’Keeffe, John, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23
O’Keeffe, Paddy, 1
O’Leary, John, 1
O’Mahoney, Paudie, 1
O’Mahony, Liam, 1
Ó Muircheartaigh, Micheál, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
O’Rourke, Colm, 1
O’Rourke, Mick, 1
Ó Sé, Páidí, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27
O’Shea, Jacko, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22
O’Shea, Paddy, 1
O’Sullivan, Brendan, 1
O’Sullivan, Dr Eamonn, 1, 2
O’Sullivan, Mickey Ned, 1, 2, 3
Power, Ger, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16
Reidy, Paddy, 1, 2
Reilly, Tadhg, 1
Rhode GAA club, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Rock, Barney, 1
Roscommon team, 1, 2, 3
Ryan, Christy, 1, 2
St Mary’s GAA club (Cahirsiveen), 1, 2, 3
St Rynagh’s GAA club, 1
St Sylvester’s GAA club (Malahide), 1
St Vincent’s team, 1, 2
Sam Maguire cup, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Scór club, 1
Shannon Rangers GAA club, 1
Sheehy, Mikey, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26. 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37
Sigerson cup, 1
Sligo team, 1, 2
Sneem GAA club, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Spillane, Mick, 1, 2, 3, 4
Spillane, Pat, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22
Spillane, Tom, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19
Spillane, Tom sr, 1
Stakelum, Pat, 1
Strawberry Hill teacher training college, 1, 2, 3
Sullivan, Brud, 1
Sunday Press, 1, 2, 3
Sunday Tribune, 1
Sylvester, Bro, 1, 2
Templenoe GAA club, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Tipperary hurling team, 1
Tompkins, Larry, 1
Tullamore FC, 1 GAA club, 1, 2, 3
Tullamore Tribune, 1
Tyrone team, 1
UCD, 1, 2, 3
Kings of September Page 27