Post by Ballyfireside on Jan 19, 2018 13:10:08 GMT
Ballythefireside – you possess sentimentality for the ‘ould sod’ that is both a strength and a weakness. I sometimes feel that maybe you are a little bit lost up there in the North West and if I can shed any light on your question I would only be glad to do so.
I cannot say with any confidence that I can recall what you describe. However, you could possibly be thinking of 1963 League game –v- Cork in Tralee, on 3rd. March 1963, which was Donie’s first game at Senior level with Kerry. He lined out at RCB and Mick played CHF that day – a game Kerry won 10pts to 1-4. That was the only game Kerry played in Tralee in that League.
The next game was against Clare at Askeaton and this time Donie lined out at 6 and O’Dwyer was back at 7. Kerry won 11pts to 3pts. The selectors back then weren’t afraid to experiment and find a balance throughout the field.
Nevertheless, it was a brave move for O’Dwyer himself, an established defender, from defense to attack. He had been operating very successfully as a half forward with South Kerry for a while and was outstanding at CHF in the 1958 county championship. So it wasn’t exactly a surprise when he was relocated successfully to the forward division. A truly great servant to Kerry football – club and county.
Incidentally, the South Kerry team that beat St. Brendan's in 1959 Co Final was:
Donal ‘Marcus’ O’Neill.
M. Duhig. J. O’Connell. P. O’Sullivan.
J. O’Connor. J. O’Shea. J. Sugrue.
M. O’Connell. D. Burke.
F. McAuliffe. M. O’Dwyer. A. O’Donoghue.
E. Fitzgerald. G. O’Sullivan. J. Griffin.
An interesting aside to that game – the reigning Co. champions, Kerins O’Rahillys failed to return the Bishop Moynihan Cup for presentation to the winning South Kerry team captain It wasn’t the only time Mick O’Connell went home to Valentia Island without the cup and he could be excused for his similar oversight in Croke Park one year later.
Regards from the Kingdom.
Ah I'd say you're nearer the facts there and maybe the auld fresh air here has me doting!
I suppose his playing career is over shadowed by his management era for people of a particular age - as a '61 baby I recall little enough of the former. Most on here would never have seen him play in the flesh so you have now just talked yourself into a job there Mandad - you are now the official Micko era expert! Seriously there is a project there, if only to bring all the folkfactlore together, much of which isn't even documented.