I'm told that the All-Ireland winning Louth team of 1957 celebrated royally at the Four Seasons Hotel in Carlingford recently and they were joined by two of the Cork stalwarts who suffered the acute pain of an unexpected defeat when the teams met in the All-Ireland final all of fifty years ago. The presence of Dan Murray and Sean Moore was greatly appreciated and they have both told me that they thoroughly enjoyed a wonderful occasion. Dan, of course, will always be associated with the killer goal that decided the issue. To this day he maintains that the goal should not have been allowed but, great sportsman that he is, he places little blame on the referee as the foul was committed in a crowded goalmouth. Whatever the circumstances the defeat by Louth delivered a really shattering blow to Cork football from which it did not recover for almost a decade. It wasn’t until Kerry had won eight Munster titles in a row that their stranglehold was broken with an unexpected Cork victory in Killarney in 1966. Of course, it meant that, as well as the two already mentioned, great players like ‘Toots’ Kelleher, Paddy O’Driscoll, Neallie Duggan, Eric Ryan and Niall Fitzgerald would end their careers without the Celtic Cross which their ability and dedication deserved.

Sean Moore made the trip from Dublin where he now resides. He was telling me that he was delighted to renew acquaintances with one old friend, in particular. He and Dan O’Neill shared lodgings in Castlebar when Sean went to work there as a teenager in 1953. Both looked so impressive when training with the local club that they attracted the attention of the Mayo county minor selectors. The Louth man was selected on the team but they decided not to risk the playing of a Cork man.

Neither of the two, of course, were elegible to play! Anyway Sean returned to Cork the following year and the next time he saw his old friend was when the players lined up for the throw in on All-Ireland final day. Dan O’Neill was the Louth centre half forward. I wonder would those Louth men be tempted to do what Olympic sprinter Marion Jones did recently --- return the medals!
I hadn’t realized that the unfortunate and serious injury sustained by Sean in a road traffic accident had brought his career to such a premature end. He was just twenty four years of age when that knee injury ended what promised to be a great career both as a footballer and an all round athlete. He says that the date of that unfortunate accident is still etched firmly in his mind. It was December 18th. 1958.

As well as being a top class footballer he was an outstanding all round athlete. In fact, he was Irish Decathlon champion that very year and had taken medals in the 60 yds, 100 yds, and 220 yds in the Irish championships. He was telling me that his goal was to represent Ireland in the Rome Olympics in 1960. Sadly all of those hopes were dashed. 

While in hospital a reporter from the Cork Examiner visited him and when he asked him how his recovery was progressing his reply was, “I’ll be ready for the Donoughmore Sports.”  His interview got wide circulation and so pleased was Jackie O’Shea, and his colleagues in the sports committee, that they made him a special presentation. He has particularly happy memories of competing in Donoughmore and one of his most prized possessions is the T.D.Dinan gold medal which used to presented to the outstanding athlete of the day. 

His injury robbed Cork football of one of its greatest players at that time. He and Eric Ryan formed an almost unbeatable partnership at midfield and helped to win the National League title in 1956 and, of course, back to back Munster titles in 1956 and 1957. Their aerial power invariably guaranteed the Cork attack a liberal supply of the ball.

It was a pleasure to talk to him to learn that he is still hale and hearty and that he will attend the launch of my book, ‘Rebels With A Cause’ --- 120 Years of Cork Football at the Rochestown Park Hotel on November 5th. when that doyen of commentators, Micheal O Muircheartaigh will do the honours.

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