Brothers in Sport (31 page)
Authors: Donal Keenan
Dublin met an emerging Galway team in the final. Mattie
McDonagh remained from Galway’s 1956 All-Ireland-winning team, but he was surrounded by a group of younger players who would go on to record football history by winning three titles in a row between 1964 and 1966. But before that they had to face Dublin. Des Foley, captaining the team at number eight, pointed out later that the real turning point of the game was Gerry Davey’s goal nine minutes into the second half. Galway had led by 0–6 to 0–4 at half time, but that goal changed the pattern sufficiently and Dublin held on to win by 1–9 to 0–10.
Dublin’s decline in both codes through the rest of the 1960s did not mean any great rest for the Foley brothers. The St Vincent’s football team of that decade is regarded as one of the greatest club teams of all time, while the hurling team was also enjoying great success in the county. The introduction of the All-Ireland Club Championship as an official competition in 1971 came as the two men entered the final years of their careers as footballers and hurlers. But they did play in the 1973 All-Ireland club football final, when St Vincent’s lost after a replay to Nemo Rangers of Cork. That St Vincent’s team included youngsters such as
Gay O’Driscoll, Bobby Doyle, Tony
Hanahoe, a teenage
Brian Mullins and a certain Jimmy
Keaveney, who would all enjoy great success during the 1970s.
Des was elected as a Fianna Fáil TD for Dublin County in 1965 and held the seat until his resignation five years later. Both brothers remained closely involved with St Vincent’s and Lar managed the Dublin senior hurling team from 1989 to 1993, a period in which they reached two Leinster finals, losing the 1991 decider by just two points to Kilkenny.
One of the major changes in Irish society in the period covered by these stories is the demise of the large family. It has not yet fully impacted on sport, but it will certainly be very rare in the future for three brothers to feature on an inter-county football or hurling team. The impact at club level will be even greater and the days of six and seven brothers featuring on a club team are also coming to an end.
However, just a brief glance through the inter-county list for 2010 shows that brothers are continuing to make a contribution to the rich history of Gaelic games. At least two sets of twins competed again this year in the football and hurling Championships – the McMahons, Joe and Justin, of
Tyrone and the O’Connors, Ben and Jerry, of Cork. Elsewhere, the Kernans of Armagh are entering their peak years, while Dublin’s hopes of football glory rest significantly on the shoulders of the Brogans, Alan and Bernard.
The brothers featured in these pages are a representation of a unique facet of Gaelic games. There have been, are now and will be in the future, others whose achievements should be recorded for posterity and pleasure – when time and space permit.
Distinguished Service: For twenty-seven years between 1964 and 1991 the Henderson name was a constant on the Kilkenny team. Pat, Ger and John won eleven All-Ireland medals between them.
© Ray McManus/SPORTSFILE
The late Lt Gen. Dermot Earley celebrates his daughter Noelle’s elevation to Ladies Football All Star status in 2009, flanked by his wife Mary and daughters Anne Marie and Paula.
©
Brendan Moran/SPORTSFILE
Paul Earley (right) shares a joke with two other legends of Gaelic games, Peter Canavan (left) and Nicky English (centre).
©
Brian Lawless/SPORTSFILE
All Stars: Dermot Earley Jnr celebrates a player of the month award with his mother Mary and father Dermot Snr.
© Brian Lawless/SPORTSFILE
Seán Lowry, winner of three All-Ireland senior medals with Offaly, pictured during the 1981 final against Kerry.
©
Ray McManus/SPORTSFILE
The Ferbane Clan: Seán, Michael and Brendan Lowry revisit the scene of their greatest triumph as footballers, the 1982 All-Ireland victory at Croke Park.
©
Paul Mohan/SPORTSFILE
With his brother Mick on his left flank, Pádraig Lyons collects the Meath senior championship trophy on behalf of the Summerhill club from County Chairman Fintan Ginnity.
© John Quirke Photography
A study in concentration: Mick Lyons keeps his eye on the ball in the 1987 All-Ireland final.
© Ray McManus/SPORTSFILE
Sports Carrs: Brothers Tommy and Declan Carr watch the action from the stands. Tommy captained Dublin in the 1992 All-Ireland football final; Declan went one better a year earlier when leading Tipperary to the hurling title.
© Damien Eagers/ SPORTSFILE *EDI*
Joe, Billy and Johnny Dooley scored two goals and eleven points of Offaly’s total in the 1994 All-Ireland final victory against Limerick.
© Ray McManus/SPORTSFILE
