Offaly football folk heroes savour golden memories of glorious past

NOSTALGIA was in the air when Offaly's seven All-Ireland Senior Football and Hurling Championship winning captains were the special guests at a gala fundraiser for the Offaly GAA County Board in the Tullamore Court Hotel last Friday night.

The football and hurling captains were brought up to stage separately with Offaly GAA chairman Michael Duignan conducting interviews with them.

Football captains, Willie Bryan, 1971, Tony McTague, 1972, and Richie Connor, 1982 were given a great reception as they were introduced to the large crowd.

Michael Duignan described it as a “very unique and wonderful occasion for Offaly GAA” and gave a passionate outline of the footballing achievements.

Willie Bryan (Walsh Island)

“I was competing at right half forward on the 1964 All-Ireland minor winning side and I got fed by the bigger boys but I grew a bit since then. It was very enjoyable and it is very enjoyable to see the crowd after all those years to see a couple of cripples up here.

“We did believe in ourselves in 1971. We worked damn hard to get to the final. They were a great bunch of lads. The final was a very poor game from our perspective but nonetheless we won thanks to Murt's (Connor) goal. You don't realise what it means at the time, the whole thing passes you by but it was absolutely terrific.”

Tony McTague (Ferbane)
“It was special in 1972, especially to beat Kerry in the final. They don't be beaten too often. There was a great team spirit. We had the leadership of Paddy McCormack as well which was a very important factor in us winning. He gave the leadership and we looked up to him. He was a very important person to us.

“I practicised frees but you don't look at the hours when you are doing it. As long as you have someone else to throw back the ball to you, that was the most important factor in kicking the ball over the bar.

“It was a great time for Offaly football. Club wise, we did very well in Ferbane as well.”

Richie Connor (Walsh Island)

“As it turned out, 1982 was our third time to beat Kerry. We played them in the 1980 All-Ireland semi-final and they beat us by five points. There was never a doubt about them winning in that game looking back on it but Kerry at the time, if they could beat you by thirty points, they wouldn't beat you by 29, they would beat you by the 30. They went out to put us away and we managed to sort of stay with them and they only beat us by five.

“In the 1981 All-Ireland, at half time, it was a draw match and Jack O'Shea got a very good goal near the end that put a bit of daylight in it but it wasn't much. We convinced ourselves that we had to be improving and Kerry had to be going back a bit, they were there so long. There was a great belief but having said that, we were lucky enough. Things fell for us and we were in position to take the chance when it came.

“In the lead up to the match, so much fell into our path. We weren't given a chance. We had a very poor semi-final against Galway, a very bad match. The analysts on the Sunday Game that night said the pick of Offaly and Galway wouldn't give Kerry a match. There was a five in a row song brought out. We were delighted with it and it set the scene for a snatch and grab.

“The Monday night after the match, there was a great auld Offaly character from Gracefield, the Pilot (Paddy) Maher. He is dead and gone now, he was in a pub and there was Kerry fellows and lads from different parts of the country saying it was an awful shame the greatest team that ever was hadn't won five in a row. The Pilot said, they can't be that good when a couple of families from the bog beat them.

“You were talking about free takers. We had battles against Ferbane when Tony was playing and were told not to give away a free within sixty yards or it would be a point. Before Matt (Connor) was on the scene, Willie (Bryan) and myself used to take the odd free for Walsh Island. Before one championship semi-final, we were about to go out and someone said we hadn't talked about the short in frees. The selectors went over to the corner and had a little chat. They came back and said, Rich Connor, you chance the short in frees and when you miss a couple, Willie Bryan, you take over. It would fill you with confidence! Lucky enough, Matt came along. Matt didn't have much competition.

“Myself, Padraig Dunne and Seamus Darby were in a pub in Portlaoise after Offaly beat Laois in the championship this year. Three different people came up and asked to take a picture with Seamus and they asked us to stand aside!

“It was unbelievable at the time but having said that, two weeks after the All-Ireland we were playing Rhode in the county final. We were back training on the Wednesday night. I know we were going around with the cup but there was another bit of business to be taken care of. We were going for five in a row with Walsh Island and here we were playing Rhode with Seamus Darby. With two minutes left there was only two points in it and Seamus Darby was knocking around the goalmouth. A chance did present itself. Eugene Mulligan was full forward on the Rhode team that day and the ball fell to him. Eugene pulled on it and it just went a foot over the bar. I was keeping an eye on Seamus Darby but he could have destroyed us as well going for five in a row.”