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Post by Tadhgeen on Apr 9, 2012 21:01:29 GMT
One of my favourite Kerry players if not my favourite. I will always remember the discussions between my Dad and his buddies on the way to matches in relation to Egan's condition after wintering well.
I think they all knew that he used to put on a few pounds over winter but equally they also knew deep down that John would be fine and would play his part and more when the chips were down.............and of course he always did. What an outstanding player with brilliant balance, great strength running with the ball , an eye for the killer pass and of course a scorer of pivotal and killer scores.
I feel privileged to have watched him play in the flesh since '78.
Condolences to his family and friends.
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Post by Annascaultilidie on Apr 10, 2012 2:04:00 GMT
I know it is not my fault that I'm not a younger man and never saw him play but and so all I can really say is thank you to "the waiter" (I need a second opine on that moniker).
Kerry football would not be the same nor is the same without heroes like you.
I use this site to get the news and results but I am reminded of a past post of mine:
"In mathematics there is the story of "The Book" --- written by God and containing all the most beautiful theorems and all the most elegant proofs. Paul Erdos was a legendary Hungarian mathematician who quipped --- "You don't have to believe in God; but you should believe in The Book".
Perhaps in heaven there is an All-Ireland Championship where all these fallen, forgotten heroes of Kerry lore compete yearly to get a spot on the greatest Kerry team of all time --- the team which togs out for this epic championship against the warriors of times past. Now this great game, moreover it's history, it only but a pup: many of the greats of Kerry are still living.
Maybe one day we'll all be watching these matches, where the heroes of our youth are kept on the bench by the likes of Kennedy, Murphy and Brosnan (and White --- we can throw him in there now sadly)... and we'll understand why.
I think then, and only then, can we pick the Greatest Kerry Team of all time."
John you are on this team and I hope onto you your eternal rest.
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Post by kerrystar on Apr 10, 2012 2:37:01 GMT
He had a great celebration when he scored goals, one hand raised with the palm open rather than a clenched fist, looking like it was to thank the crowd for their applause, rather than celebrating the goal itself.
(Goals in the last minute of the clip)
Seemed to sum up his modest, unassuming sporting personality. Two other greats who I'm sure John himself would have appreciated,Mike Frank Russell and Lionel Messi, exhibit the same qualities.
A truly great player.
RIP John
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Post by Annascaultilidie on Apr 10, 2012 2:50:29 GMT
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Post by Ballyfireside on Apr 10, 2012 6:20:29 GMT
Them vids are gr8 lads, ta. Thanks to technology we can re-live truly great moments. John Egan is one of those who would grow on you if you get my drift. An infectious type of sensation, as MO'M said 'he had a football brain' and in my opinion a GAA physique aswell, the way he carried himself. I hadn't realised how strong he actually was until it was highlighted in recent days. I suppose he had to have it to deliver what he did and maybe it was his pure football v non-confrontational style that fooled me into thinking that he could be all that without being so strong.
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Joxer
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Post by Joxer on Apr 10, 2012 10:08:55 GMT
John Egan was, without doubt, one of the all-time greats. Very difficult to add to anything Micko has said above. Suffice to say, that he was indispensible to the 'goldenest' of golden eras in Kerry and Gaelic football. Symbolic of so much that makes me proud to call myself a Kerryman. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.
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Jo90
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Post by Jo90 on Apr 10, 2012 10:49:06 GMT
In his heyday nearly all the forays over the rebel border were joyous occasions thanks in large parts to his great footballing ability. Tonight and tomorrow will see many Kerry forays over the rebel border, but this time in sadness to pay respects to a footballing giant. RIP John.
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Post by longball2 on Apr 10, 2012 11:16:04 GMT
A great player I remember from my childhood. I saw him playing when I was younger but really only appreciated him from watching the Kerrys Golden years video. Like many people I watched that video over and over.
As good as we have produced and thats saying something. Always seemed to do the right thing and nothing was for show. A classic Kerry footballer: do the impossible on the big day and make it look easy and he didnt seem to make a big deal of it either.
I met him briefly long after he retired and I was still in awe of him.
May he rest in peace.
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Post by leftoutside on Apr 10, 2012 17:20:36 GMT
RIP John, was a fantastic player in his day.
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valyn
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Post by valyn on Apr 11, 2012 9:45:20 GMT
I had the privilege of seeing him play and knowing him off the field a gentleman and most unassuming. His goals were always important to Kerry but his passing was sublime. One thing that sums up John for me is his humanity and respect for his fellow man can anyone remind of what game it was that John put the ball over Cullens crossbar when he could easily have scored a goal too much of a genteman to rub it in - that was John RIP
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 11, 2012 17:06:34 GMT
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Post by Ballyfireside on Apr 11, 2012 20:14:05 GMT
By coincidence on the evening of John's burial he was shown on 'Reeling in the years', was it one or two goals out of nothing in 1975. The one where he soloed in had a hallmark that I hadn't noticed of him previously. i.e. The ball in the air in front of him but no question as to who was in control of it. I wonder how many more of his natural traits did we miss? Hopefully we will correct the situation and it will be a nice tribute to a gentle giant.
An t-ualach is mó is ar an fatach is milis the heaviest load is on the gentlest giant
How could anyone not shed a tear when his son John in his eulogy quoted dad as saying 'it's a pity we didn't play together, we could have caused right havoc'. Never a truer word was said and other counties are lucky that this did not prevail and he created enough of singled handedly. Still I am sure everyone joys at the wonder of what would have been; can you just imagine the 'one 'two's' all the way up the field, from pillar to post, to net? Scoreboard characters defined, personified.
Following is my poetic endeavour to communicate the hallmark, and it would accompanied by a graphic portrayal, as it would not be picked up that easily. And I am not engaging in self-promotion, and I hope those of you who latch onto it will see what it is all about. This is the verse from 'The Kerry Ingredient' and I know myself that having see John that I can sharpen it a little more. If it all too much for you just read the final 4 lines first -
Fashioned, faithful and fluent of voltage spike virtuous unison circuit of the OKISoS poetic peileadÓir paraphernalia hovering dimension of rhyme, rhythm and reason For the Kerry head to toe to hand in-flight mid-air-space Spate of sporadic, surging, savvy and speeding sortie spinning solo spree Of concerted and composed harmonious symphonic Mind over ball man over ball Centre of gravity airborne suspension
RIP Gentle giant
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Post by Mickmack on Apr 12, 2012 16:53:33 GMT
Like everyone else, the passing of the great John Egan greatly saddened me. I was 15 when he rose and got his fist to a Pat Spillane centre in the final minute of the 1974 league final to goal and force a draw. Kerry won the replay. Between 1974 and the break up of the team in 1989 I followed them everywhere as I was young and single with no family committments. Tis hard to describe the joy and pride that that team gave Kerry people at the time (no more so that the current crop by the way).
I remember a county final in the early 80s with Jacko at centre back and Egan at centre forward. It bordered on the ridiculous just how influential the two of them were in that game which SK won.
When the final whistle sounded at the end of the 1982 final, my eyes sought out John Egan as I fervently wanted John to be the man to bring Kerry to the 5 in a row. There he was walking towards the dressingroom with his head bowed but shaking the hand of every Offaly person on his journey.
That was a fine article by Mick O'Dwyer in the examiner.
In the 1984 final John Egan and Mick Holden had a mightly tussle.. Tis hard to believe that these two great men are gone now.
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Post by Ard Mhacha on Apr 12, 2012 18:59:07 GMT
The Golden Years tape was played regularly in our house. My idols growing up were the likes of Pat Spillane, Mikey Sheehy and Jack O'Shea. John Egan had just retired when I began playing and watching Gaelic Football, but from watching TGY, he was one player I wished had been around another year or two, just so that I could have seen him play.
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Post by veteran on Apr 12, 2012 20:16:11 GMT
Michael Mac says he clearly remembers Jack O'Shea and John Egan starring in a county final in the early eighties. I have often made the point here and elsewhere that there was a time when you went to club match, a man from Mars could pick out the county player. Nowadays, very often you would struggle to notice the county player above the other players. I am sure not why this is or perhaps it is my imagination .
I remember way back, as a follower of the North Kerry teams in the county championship, players like Dan McAulffe, Jerh D. O'Connor, Berney O'Callagahn, Garry McMahon etc would be dominant in those matches. Ditto, players like Mick O'Connell, Mick O'Dwyer, Tom Long. It is no exaggeration to say that Mick O'Dwyer carried Waterville to a couple of county finals on his back. He was indomitable.
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mossie
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Post by mossie on Apr 12, 2012 21:30:33 GMT
niall cahalane and John egan seemed to have been great buddies. pictures of cahalane crying in the paper at his funeral and he carried the great man's coffin. great to see such friendship across such a sporting rivalry
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Post by kerrygold on Apr 12, 2012 22:02:58 GMT
The first of Iveragh's footballing poets takes his leave before his time and joins the footballing Gods in their own private pantheon. A delightfully gifted forward, O'Heir screaming into microphone, Liston - Egan - Sheehy is etched in the mind forever. Micko speaks with some regret of the '84 Final, slipping off like that might have suited John.
At one of the summer training sessions in '84 a group of people passing in behind the goals at the dressing rooms end in Killarney shouted out onto the pitch on passing in, John John. John looked around and waved out with a beaming smile back towards a group of friends.
Kitted out in an unassuming blue zipped tracksuit top, shorts and socks below the ankle bones, John and Paidi resumed battle in the left corner of Fitz Stadium in one of Micko's legendary games of backs and forwards.
Condolences to the families. RIP.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 12, 2012 22:23:21 GMT
www.corkman.ie/sport/gaelic-football/my-son-cried-himself-to-sleep-after-he-heard-john-was-gone-niall-cahalane-3079242.html'My son cried himself to sleep after he heard John was gone' - Niall Cahalane A TRUE friend, a great character and one of the best footballers of all time are just three of the countless memories that Niall Cahalane has of Kerry GAA great John Egan (59) who passed away at his home in Cork city over the weekend. In what was a friendship that transcended the Kerry and Cork sporting rivalry, former Rebels' football star Cahalane and six-time All-ireland winner Egan lived, for many years, just three doors away from one another on Elmvale Avenue in Wilton, Cork. And Cahalane counts himself amongst the very lucky ones, for a very simple reason: he knew John Egan as a friend, a neighbour and a footballer. "In a way we were both out-of-towners that had landed in Cork city, and even though it was still Cork to me it was 60-odd miles from home," Cahalane explained. "We had similar interests in sport and we developed a friendship right up to his day. It was a friendship that got closer and closer. It wasn't just with John, it was with his wife Mary too. I can guarantee you that if you hit the wall or were in trouble in the morning you could not ask to have a better woman on your side. "We could not have asked to have better neighbours or friends. It made life easy for us in Cork. The one thing about John is that you probably couldn't have asked for a better friend." Cahalane can recall many days when he returned home from work to find Egan playing football with his kids, and the high esteem that all of Cahalane's seven children hold John Egan in is a testament to the Sneem man. "I obviously admired him as a footballer but outside of all that we knew John Egan as a person," Cahalane said. "If you want to know someone you need to look at them through your kids' eyes, and all of my seven kids absolutely adored the ground the man walked on. That was because when he called he gave them so much time, he was a great man for telling stories, even about his playing days. "My kids would all be natural left and right footed in football and left and right handed in hurling, and a lot of that would be down to John Egan. He would call to the house and ask that if they were working off their weak side and he would help them with the small, important details. "I have a nine-year-old, Jack, who cried himself to sleep after he heard John was gone." Not even the Cahalane's decision to move to a different area of Cork city affected their great friendship, as he explains. "Even when we moved that didn't stop the two or three times a week when we would be calling back and forth," Cahalane said. "There were times there when I wouldn't even bother reading the newspapers because I would know that Egan would have them read cover to cover. All I would do is call to him late at night and he would tell me all the news worth knowing and everything that went on in the The Kerryman, The Examiner." From a football perspective, Cahalane hails Egan as one of the greats. His incredible trophy haul in Kerry's green and gold is evidence enough. "He was probably one of the greatest footballers of all-time. He was definitely the greatest corner forward of alltime. Bar none," Cahalane said. "If you look at some of the players today they are afraid to take a man on but every time John got possession he was going at you as a forward. And I presume he put up with a lot of punishment in his day but he never complained. That's a sign of the man. "When you used to see him solo up the left-hand side of the field it was one of the great sights. We will all miss John." Meanwhile Egan's former Kerry team-mate Páidí Ó Sé added: "John was a complete gentleman who kept very much to himself but at the same time he was a friend to everybody. He is a Kerry great, there is no doubt." - KIERAN MCCARTHY
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Post by Dermot on Apr 13, 2012 8:43:05 GMT
I grew up watching this man and all the other Kerry greats ... When you're a kid you think these people (and indeed your own family elders) are indestructible ... But of course they're not .... But John Egan and the likes will live on through their legendary status .. RIP
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Post by Ballyfireside on Apr 13, 2012 10:19:13 GMT
Michael Mac says he clearly remembers Jack O'Shea and John Egan starring in a county final in the early eighties. I have often made the point here and elsewhere that there was a time when you went to club match, a man from Mars could pick out the county player. Nowadays, very often you would struggle to notice the county player above the other players. I am sure not why this is or perhaps it is my imagination . I remember way back, as a follower of the North Kerry teams in the county championship, players like Dan McAulffe, Jerh D. O'Connor, Berney O'Callagahn, Garry McMahon etc would be dominant in those matches. Ditto, players like Mick O'Connell, Mick O'Dwyer, Tom Long. It is no exaggeration to say that Mick O'Dwyer carried Waterville to a couple of county finals on his back. He was indomitable. Hi Veteran, one of the key differences betwen club and county player is the ability of the latter to read the game, Eg to anticipate what will happen next and so get ahead. Was it more physical in bygone eras and where the above difference might not be so obvious? Maybe there is more to the issue? As you mention Jerh D. O'Connor, what do you say to notion that he was on a par with Mick O'Connell, or was it that he had similar capabilities is key areas? Jerh D. was also a bit unlucky with injuries at bad times wasn't he?
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Post by delorean on Apr 13, 2012 12:28:53 GMT
Seems like he was a real gent of the game. Niall Cahalane spoke very well about him at the fundraiser in the Ballyroe Hotel on Sunday night. RIP PS: Oh to be an 'unsung hero' with 5 All-Stars
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Post by veteran on Apr 13, 2012 15:57:14 GMT
K Man,
I must admit that I have never heard of the notion of Jerh D. being on a par with Mick O'Connell. As you say he was cursed with knee injuries for which there was little or no treatment back then. Consequently, Jerh D. missed out on several of his peak years.
Jerh D. was a very strong man with a wonderful leap. He opposed Micko in a club game in 1964 and it is/generally agreed that it was one of the best duels ever seen in Austin Stack Park.
His leap and his modesty were about only things Jeh D. had in common with Micko . Neither Jerh D. or anybody else could kick the ball like Micko, right or left , out of hand or off the ground. Even his sublime fielding belonged to a different school. It is no reflection on Jerh D to remark that saying he was on a par with Micko O'Connell is ludicrous. There was also the mystique that Micko engendered. He was simply the most talked about footballer of his generation. That did not happen by being on a par with anybody.
The foregoing is not a criticism of the gentleman Jerh D was/is. It is simply a rejection of the idea he or anybody else could rank with Micko then or now.
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Post by Ballyfireside on Apr 16, 2012 0:48:04 GMT
K Man, I must admit that I have never heard of the notion of Jerh D. being on a par with Mick O'Connell. As you say he was cursed with knee injuries for which there was little or no treatment back then. Consequently, Jerh D. missed out on several of his peak years. Jerh D. was a very strong man with a wonderful leap. He opposed Micko in a club game in 1964 and it is/generally agreed that it was one of the best duels ever seen in Austin Stack Park. His leap and his modesty were about only things Jeh D. had in common with Micko . Neither Jerh D. or anybody else could kick the ball like Micko, right or left , out of hand or off the ground. Even his sublime fielding belonged to a different school. It is no reflection on Jerh D to remark that saying he was on a par with Micko O'Connell is ludicrous. There was also the mystique that Micko engendered. He was simply the most talked about footballer of his generation. That did not happen by being on a par with anybody. The foregoing is not a criticism of the gentleman Jerh D was/is. It is simply a rejection of the idea he or anybody else could rank with Micko then or now. I am the better for your response Veteran. What do you think of my response about reading the game? Between yourself and Sullyschoice with his camera I am going to let Denis O'Brien know that in Independent Newspapers he is buying a pig in a poke. You will close down his sports dept. On 2nd thoughts I'll let him alone, teach him a lesson! Hallmarks is a thing I look for in players, Eg How John Egan couldn't be dispossessed because of the trivial distance between toe and hand, Sean Walsh leaping from a standing start, etc. With what hallmarks do you most identify? I focus on these a lot in my poetry, so I warn you, anything you say may be used in evidence, but not in a court of law, no, somewhere far more serious, like on here or in a Ballythefireside poem! Anyway gr8 to exchange with a NK man and keep it up, it is cool, clinical and inoffensive, a very fine line, having read your report on the league semi-final, the finest in every sense! Go neiri an bother leat and may the splinters of life point in the right direction as you slide down the bannisters of life! And ok I am going to repeat myself here, but Egan's son in his eulogy probably rocked the GAA planet on it's axis: He quoted his late dad as saying that 'it was a pity the pair of them didn't play on the same team, they would have caused havoc'. I mean, where would you get it? Only a Kerryman could come out with something like that! If he was serious it defines the man, if he wasn't it defines him in another dimension. RIP, and as I said, the heaviest load falls on the shoulders of the gentlest giant, and may the sod lay as light on you as you did on the hallowed sod itself.
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Post by greenandgold on Apr 16, 2012 20:27:29 GMT
RIP John Egan. My memories of him in the late 70's/early 80's are all him scoring goals and making it look easy. I was a very dedicated teenage Kerry fan back then and thought that these great hero's would go on forever. Sadly not so but it is good to read all the great tributes to John Egan .. hope it is some small consolation to his family.
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Post by Gaa Lover on Apr 17, 2012 15:23:20 GMT
Had the pleasure of talking to the man one night. I didnt know it was him at first and I was talking about football for a good few minutes with him. Next thing an old fella tapped me on the back and said "He has 6 All Irelands" and it dawned on me who I was talking to. Very modest fella.
RIP to a true great
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Post by glengael on Jun 12, 2012 18:40:59 GMT
John Egan would have been 60 tomorrow the 13th of June.
TG4 are showing the 1975 All Ireland tomorrow night at 7.30.
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Post by A.N. Other on Jun 12, 2012 19:13:41 GMT
John Egan would have been 60 tomorrow the 13th of June. TG4 are showing the 1975 All Ireland tomorrow night at 7.30. 1985 Id say is it?
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Post by kerryeye on Jun 13, 2012 22:17:19 GMT
It was the 1975 final shown alright tonight.
Having watched this game tonight,and this may not go down well with some of our 'veteran' forumites, i must say that that is the style of football i would describe as puke football,players just driving aimless ball after aimless ball without a notion of who or where it was going to.
Give me todays football anyday anyway,we amy have gotten too worked up over tactics and stuff in the modern game but looking at these games it very much seemed like all players wanted to do was get the ball as far up the field as possible.
If anyone has any grievances or agrees with my opinion id be interested to hear.
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Post by lár na páirce on Jun 13, 2012 23:35:19 GMT
It was the 1975 final shown alright tonight. Having watched this game tonight,and this may not go down well with some of our 'veteran' forumites, i must say that that is the style of football i would describe as puke football,players just driving aimless ball after aimless ball without a notion of who or where it was going to. Give me todays football anyday anyway,we amy have gotten too worked up over tactics and stuff in the modern game but looking at these games it very much seemed like all players wanted to do was get the ball as far up the field as possible. If anyone has any grievances or agrees with my opinion id be interested to hear. I have to disagree i quite enjoyed the game,Yes there was alot of aimless kicking,but there was alot of 50/50 balls driven in and that was exciting to see if the back or forward won it,it also resulted in alot of high fielding,smart knock downs. Alot of the scores were of very high quality and some added physicality..Was gas to see Paudie O Mahoney push an injured horse outta the way cause he wanted to take a free By no means Puke Football
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Post by glengael on Jun 14, 2012 9:31:59 GMT
The players wanted to get the ball as far up the field as possible? Now there's a shock. Here was me thinking that part of the point of Gaelic football was indeed to do this, to get the ball away from your own goal in the hope that it might go nearer to the other goal, where you might actually get a score and well, I don't know, maybe win the match. Daft idea though. Much better the constant lateral handpassing and massed defences of more recent years. Much better the lack of players who are willing to try and kick a ball over the bar from distance. Much better the galloping athletes who will only kick when there is absolutely no other choice. Much better indeed. PS how long do you need to have been watching football to be deemed a "veteran" ?
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