"We all dream of a team of Carraghers"

“I was determined to ensure when the time came for me to tell my story it reflected how I play: completely honest”

Carra, captains armband, the leader

I sat down to piece this article together on hearing the news of Jamie Carraghers upcoming retirement at the end of this season.  I was naturally drawn to his honest and uncompromising style of play, and after breaking back in to the team with typically committed performances against Arsenal and Manchester City, I was chuffed that this one club legend would see out his long and distinguished career in a fitting way.

However, as only sport can do, and as the saying goes that “a pat on the back is only six inches from a kick in the ass”, Jamie Carraghers record 150^th, and now final European appearance for the Reds, will be best remembered for his underhit backpass which allowed Zenit St. Petersburg forward Falcao the opportunity to coolly slot past Pepe Reina and give the away side an advantage which unfortunately the Reds could not overturn on aggregate.  So, after all the tributes on hearing of his upcoming retirement, Carragher was now being criticised for Liverpool’s European exit.  In the 3E studio they even quipped that maybe he should have retired earlier.  Those in glasshouses and all that as they say!

I have many happy memories of Carra during his decorated career and several images will linger in the greatest hits package of his many tackles, blocks and last ditch interventions. 

On his third appearance for the club in the 1997/98 season, he made his first start for the club against Aston Villa and scored his first goal for the club.  This from a defensive midfield position. 

Carragher's versatility meant that he began to be deployed to fill wherever there was a hole, but this ironically harmed his ability to hold down a first team position of his own. In the 1999/00 season he played mainly as a right-back, the same season that saw one of his darkest Liverpool moments as he scored two own goals in a 3–2 home defeat to arch rivals Manchester United.

However, every cloud has a silver lining and in the following season, 2000/01, and after switching to the left back position, Carra was to win his first Senior honours as Liverpool went on to claim the League Cup, FA Cup, UEFA Cup, Community Shield and Super Cup all within the space of a few short months.

After the arrival of manager Rafa Benitez at the start of the 2004/05 season, Carra was moved in to the centre half position which he would make his own over the next number of years.  Further success followed in the shape of the 2003 League Cup Final win over Manchester United, 2006 FA Cup Final win over West Ham and the 2012 League Cup Final win over Cardiff on penalties but it is Carra’s performances in the 2004/05 Champions League winning campaign that will live longest in the memory.  A little anecdote from the victory celebrations sum up the career of this man which was utterly devoid of fanfare. 

This most poignant moment was not the result of denying Andrei Shevchenko or Hernan Crespo in extra time of that exhausting evening. It was when Carragher was on the podium alongside Steven Gerrard, the captain’s chief lieutenant about to take his rightful place in the iconic picture that would be wired around the world.  As Gerrard took the Champions League trophy and the red ticker tape showered the jubilant Liverpool squad, Carragher moved towards a prime position when his body gave way.  While he was creased up in agony, the emblematic photograph placed Gerrard alongside Spanish reserve Josemi.  Carragher was the Liverpool legend unseen, lost in the background, nursing the aches and pains of putting his body on the line for the club.

The Miracle of Istanbul

With the news the defender will retire at the end of the season and cut all ties with the club he loves, us supporters must reflect on the prospect of a Reds team without him for the first time in 17 years.  What perhaps prevents many from ranking him the greatest ever Anfield servant is the fact he didn’t win the title along with the 12 gongs he won as leader of his team.  But that shouldn’t diminish his reputation, or his ranking as one of Liverpool’s best ever defenders along with Alan Hansen, Mark Lawrensen and Ron Yeats, all giants for the Reds.

My abiding memory of him will be a player at his commanding best; fitting, given everything he has achieved in the game.  No one can fail to have grasped his love for Liverpool as a club and clearly he did not want to go out as a bit-part player.  Jamie Carragher, we salute you.

"To beat Moyvane by a single point you had to be four points a better team"

The recent Moyvane GAA Social was a night full of great cheer and nostalgia.

Not even the mighty Eoin Bomber Liston, guest speaker on the night, escaped the force of Moyvane footballers over the years - and he hasn't forgotten it!  The Bomber brought back happy memories for everyone at the club during his address to the mass attendance on the night.

Medals were presented on the night to the current Moyvane Junior Team for their 2011 and 2012 Division Three North Kerry League successes while the Bomber presented awards to the Moyvane Senior 1982 Junior County Championship and 1983 Senior North Kerry Championship winning teams.

M.C. on the night Johnny Stack, a member of both these victorious teams, thanked all those who received these awards for their commitment to the cause over the years and described that group of players as one of the best to represent the parish in its long and distinguished history.

A statement to stir the passions of anyone with an interest in local GAA and I therefore decided to take a look at what other great players and teams have represented the Boro over the years.

The local District Board, the North Kerry Board was established in 1925 and Newtown, or Moyvane, had the distinguished honour of winning the championship in the Board's inaugural year.  Further North Kerry Senior championship wins in 1927, '28, '30 and '32 had enabled Moyvane to stamp their authority on North Kerry football.  The start of a long and enduring legacy from this great team.

One member of that winning team had already lined out for Kerry at midfield in the All-Ireland final of 1923, in which Kerry were defeated by Dublin, the indominatable Con Brosnan.  Renowned for his immaculate fielding and precision kicking, these qualities were to carry him to such a pinnacle of fame before his career's end as to be proclaimed among Kerry's greatest midfielders ever.  1923 was to be the first of eight appearances in All-Ireland finals for Moyvane's most famous son.  Con won six All-Ireland medals. He captained Moyvane to their victories in 1927, ‘30 and ’32.  Thomas O’Mahony, his team-mate on the Moyvane teams of that time, followed him on to the Kerry team winning All-Ireland medals in 1926 & 1927. He had been captain for Moyvane’s maiden North Kerry Championship victory in 1925.  Besides Brosnan and O’Mahony, that Moyvane team comprised of other footballers of great stature: Tom O'Callaghan, Paddy Windle, Dan Kearney, Joe McCabe, J. Brassil (goals), J. Finucane, William O'Sullivan, J. Stack, Josie Enright, Paud O'Sullivan, W. Finucane, D. Mulvihill, J.J. Moriarty, J. Mahony, J. McCabe and John Flavin.  William O’Sullivan had the honour of captaining the team to their victory in 1928.

After a three year gap, Moyvane were victorious once more winning four North Kerry championships in a row between 1936 and 1939, a feat that has not been repeated to this day.  Brosnan was captain once more of the victorious team in 1939 and many of his colleagues from their inaugural successes were still soldiering away at this time.  John Flavin won an All-Ireland medal with Kerry in 1937 and contributed handsomely to Kerry's joust with Galway in the All-Ireland final of 1938.

Alas, the golden era was to dry up and Moyvane suffered a slump in football fortunes through the 1940's and 1950's when rural clubs were being deprived by unemployment and emigration.

The emergence of a minor team, good enough to win a North Kerry Championship in 1954, heralded a new dawn for Moyvane football.  The upswing continued until 1958 and Moyvane marched to victory in the North Kerry Championship that year where they defeated Tarbert.  The team was captained by Donie Mulvihill and on that team were men who had upheld the honour of Moyvane during the lean years, energised by the new blood from the 1954 minor team.

The early 1960's were dominated in North Kerry by a truly great Moyvane team with Moyvane football now back with renewed vigour. Four Championships and three Leagues were annexed from 1961 to 1966 with victories over Ballydonoghue, Ballyduff, Tarbert and Ballylongford.  In 1963 Moyvane won the double of League and Championship along with the Frank Sheehy Tournament, which carried much prestige at the time.

Paudie Hanrahan, from the great Hanrahan family of “The Lane”, Kilbaha, captained the victorious 1961 team and his brother Liam repeated the feat in 1963.  The 1963 team lined out as follows: Ed.Stack (goal), Stevie Stack, P.J.Kennelly, Paudie Hanrahan, Brendan Sheehy, John McEnery, Timmy Hanrahan, Liam Hanrahan (capt.), Maurice Stack, Des Broderick, Bernie O'Callaghan, Brendan Broderick, Tommy Mulvihill, Michael Hennessy, Colm O'Callaghan.  Liam Hanrahan had also won an All-Ireland medal with the Kerry Junior side in 1963. Both Joe Sheehy and Bernie O'Callaghan also won National League medals with the Kerry senior side that year.

Stevie Stack had the honour of being captain in 1964 and this championship win is especially memorable in that it was achieved without the services of Bernie O'Callaghan who was hospitalised for the final against Tarbert, a factor which mitigated against Kerry's chances against Galway in the All-Ireland final of the same year also.

Tommy Mulvihill lifted the cup for the victory in 1966 against Ballylongford and this final is probably best remembered for a great display at centre forward by John Chris Cunningham.   The overall display belied the team’s longevity and particularly against a youthful and soon to be dominant Ballylongford team.  An unsuccessful if gallant appearance in the North Kerry league final of 1968 against Tarbert was to be this great team's swan song.  Eleven of this team had represented Kerry in one grade or another during the team's period of dominance.

Four North Kerry Championship victories in six years, an outstanding achievement in whatever context you look at it.

Apart from a North Kerry minor league win in 1968 and unsuccessful appearances in the North Kerry Senior Championship Finals of 1970 and 1971, Moyvane had to wait until 1977 for their next major title when they won the North Kerry League defeating Ballylongford in a replayed final.

Once 1978 rolled around, Moyvane were once again back in the North Kerry Championship final and it started the legacy of great games between Moyvane and Beale in North Kerry Championship finals over the next ten years or more.  Unfortunately the Ballybunion men had become Moyvane’s bogey team and they lost to them on five occasions in 1978, ’79, ’81, ’84 and ’89. 

Sandwiched between these losses however was Moyvane's first County title won in the Junior County Championship in 1982, played in Abbeydorney where they overcame Ardfert to win the Con Brosnan Cup.  They also defeated Ballylongford in the North Kerry Championship Final in 1983, taking their first championship in 17 years.  The team was as follows: Jody Fitzmaurice (goals), Noel Sheehan, Mike Mulvihill, Noel Larkin, Johnny Stack, Johnny Mulvihill, Eamon Fitzmaurice, Michael Flaherty, Thomas Mulvihill, Tomas Keane, Hamish Beaton, Eamon Sweeney, Donal Mulvihill, Paddy Mulvihill and Colm O'Callaghan. Johnny Mulvihill, centre back on the day, had won an All-Ireland minor medal with Kerry in 1975 and followed with U21 and senior medals subsequently.  Unfortunately, this team was to taste the bitter taste of defeat once more in the North Kerry Championship Finals of 1987 and 1990 against Finuge and Tarbert respectively.

Eight North Kerry Championship Final appearances in thirteen years is an achievement that these great warriors should receive the upmost respect for however the legacy of only one championship victory in this period is one that will leave these same players with many regrets. 

A new era dawned when the 1990’s rolled around and following victories in the U21 North Kerry Championship in 1989 and the Minor North Kerry Championship in 1993, an influx of these players contributed to a further North Kerry Senior Championship success with victory over arch rivals Listowel in 1995.  Captained by Eamon Stack and driven on by a Man of the Match display by midfielder Maurice Kearney, the heart and spirit long associated with Moyvane sides over the years was in abundance as they conquered their more vaunted opponents.  Unfortunately, the following year, 1996, they were unable to put back to back titles together and were forced to give best to Finuge in the replayed final after an epic draw previously.  However, Moyvane did have the honour of closing out the old Millennium with their 17^th title after victory over Tarbert in the final of 1999.  Maurice Kearney was a very deserving winning captain on the day while the long serving Eamon Stack collected the Man of the Match award.

The new millennium saw Moyvane still challenging at the business end of campaigns and a further North Kerry League was annexed against Ballyduff in 2000.  And 2003 was to be a very special year with a second North Kerry League and North Kerry Championship double with victories over Duagh and Castleisland Desmonds respectively to capture a historic 18th North Kerry Championship title.  Jackie Mulvihill was captain on the day while sharpshooter Eddie Bowler collected the Man of the Match award.

A second County Championship title was achieved in 2006 with a victory over Na Gaeil in the County Novice Championship Final.  And the most recent success was a North Kerry League final win in 2009 over Beale which brought Moyvane's total of North Kerry League titles to nine.

The great, and late, John B Keane best summed up the attributes of a Moyvane footballer in the following words “Always tough and resilient, they were precision footballers with great artistry and a style all of their own, great men to play to the last gasp and never, never intimidated.   To beat Moyvane by a single point you had to be four points a better team.  That is the estimation by friend and foe alike of this remarkable parish”.

Lets hope that the young boys and girls of the parish continue to display the attributes that have made this club so successful over the years and the role models of Brosnan, the Hanrahan’s, the Mulvihill’s and current star Patrick Curtin continue to inspire them in the years ahead.  The following poetic words on one of Brosnan’s many successes should help in this regard:

At midfield where the fight was raging
Shone Brosnan, bright as the morning star.
He drove the leather right up to Landers
Who fisted neatly across the bar...

and the lines describing one of his great winning scores was as follows:

With steady nerve and unerring aim
He scored a point and again we led them.
'Twas the final score in a hard-fought game

 

 

 

 

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Prophetic Words on the Lance Armstrong scandal

Seven Deadly Sins by David Walsh

After watching the Lance Armstrong interview with Oprah, this extract from the above book makes so much sense now!!

Antoine Vayer was an exercose physiologist/coach who had been a physical trainer with the world's number one team Festina but refused to be involved with the teams systematic doping programme.

Vayer's passion for the sport came with empathy; his belief was that doping didn't just damage health but also had dehumanising effects.

"Many of the best riders have become psychotic.  they want to win money, to screw others because, compared to them, everybody else is small.  They want to have a nice house, a nice wife, a nice car and they will do whatever to get these things.  They have no more emotion, no more thinking, no more feeling, no internal life.  Everything they are is down to their success and they would kill to hold on to that"

Footnote: When Vayer made this case for the top cyclists being psychotic he was not thinking of Lance Armstrong, who at this point was just another contender in what seemed a wide open race.  In hindsight, much of what he did say would prove to be applicable to Armstrong    

Dubs add to Kingdom woes with comprehensive win in Killarney

10-02-2013

Kerry                                                     0-04

Dublin                                                   1-11

Dublin's Craig Dias wheels away in celebration after scoring only goal of game in Fitzgerald Stadium

Where to go from here for Kerry manager Eamon Fitzmaurice?

They say that a week is a long time in politics but it certainly is a long time in the week of an inter county manager.  As New Year’s resolutions were made and broken in turn in early January, an experimental Kerry side had cruised to victory in the McGrath Cup and all seemed rosy in the garden.  However, February has now brought some harsh realities and in the space of seven days the rookie Kerry manager has seen the second half capitulation in McHale Park against Mayo followed by the heartbreak of All Ireland Intermediate Club Championship defeat to Fr Rocks, Cookstown and today another substandard performance and a resounding home defeat to a very energetic and well drilled Dublin side.

The excuses from the Mayo defeat were that the managers hands were tied due to injuries and players unavailability but these do not carry much weight after this chastening defeat as the visitors were also blooding a number of young players and they seemed to step up to the plate with a lot more vigour.  And a statistic that will have a lot of Kerry supporters sitting uneasy is that between the 42 minutes that they failed to score in McHale Park last week and the first 22 minutes of this game, they went over an hour of competitive action without registering a score.  We also have to go back to April 1989 for the last time that Kerry only managed 4 points in a competitive game.  Worrying indeed!   

The home side made one change to the team selected with Knocknagoshel’s James Walsh  coming in for Bryan Sheehan at midfield to make his senior competitive debut while the visitors made three changes with Cian O’Sullivan coming in for Emmet O’Conghaile at midfield, Ciaran Reddin for Paddy Quinn at wing forward and Thomas Brady replacing Philip Ryan at corner forward.

Kerry started the game playing with the aid of a very strong wind and moved Aidan O’Mahoney out to marshal Diarmuid Connolly while Killian Young took up man marking duties on Paddy Andrews.  The away side started the brighter and with their strong running and direct style of play they wasted no time in testing the confidence and resolve of the much changed home team.

The ever dangerous Bernard Brogan opened the scoring from play in the 6^th minute and even at this juncture his marker Marc O’Se knew that he would be in for a difficult afternoon.  The home side had still not created a scoring chance by the 10^th minute and when Diarmuid Connolly was fouled by Aidan O’Mahoney in the 13^th minute, Brogan converted to give the visitors a 0-2 to 0-0 lead.

The resultant kick out by Brendan Kealy was poor and summed up Kerry’s laboured play at this stage and Dublin gleefully mopped up and full forward Paddy Andrews extended their lead.  Andrews was causing Killian Young all sorts of problems at this stage and he extended their lead to 0-4 to 0-0 in the 14^th minute.

The frustration in the Kerry forward line with the quality of ball being delivered and the tight marking of the Dublin defenders was summed up by James O’Donoghue in the 16^th minute with a needless trip on his marker as another attempted pass skidded out over the sideline.

Brogan converted two more frees to extend Dublin’s lead to 0-6 to 0-0 by the 19^th minute after fouls on Connolly and Andrews.  The Kerry half forwards were coming deeper and deeper at this stage in search of possession but this was making it more difficult for them to get quality ball in to their inside forward line.  The hard working Paddy Curtin did manage to shake off Rory O’Carroll in the 22^nd minute and opened Kerry’s account with a point from play.

But Brogan was not letting up and after a beautiful score off his left foot in the 23^rd minute he followed it up with an equally impressive effort off his weaker right foot two minutes later to extend Dublin’s lead to 0-8 to 0-1 by the 27^th minute.

 As he has done so many times in the past centre back Tomas O’Se showed his forwards the way with a fisted point in the 29^th minute after a trademark bursting run and the home supporters hoped that this score would lift their team before the half time break.  However, it was the visitors once more who had the Kingdom defence in all sorts of trouble and Paddy Andrews shot was well saved by Kealy with an unmarked Brogan furious that he did not get the pass as the open goal was gaping.  The score remained then at 0-8 to 0-2 in Dublin’s favour at the half time whistle.

The rain was starting to come down heavy at the start of the second half and Kerry were looking for a quick start in order to work their way back in to the game.  However, the raggidness of their play was summed up again just after the restart when a sideline ball by James O’Donoghue was taken from inside the line and referee David Goldrick had no choice but to hop the ball.

The home side’s level of performance had improved but when their forwards were winning ball they had very few options to release the ball to and they were finding themselves swallowed up by the Dublin defenders.   The Kerry manager introduced Kieran Donaghy and Declan O’Sullivan in the 43^rd minute to add strength and penetration through the middle for the home side.

However, it was Andrews again who showed great strength himself in the 43^rd minute when he shook of Young once more and kicked over to extend Dublin’s lead to 0-9 to 0-2.  Kerry responded with two converted frees by James O’Donoghue and Michael O’Donoghue after fouls on Darren O’Sullivan and Tomas O’Se who was continuing to give everything for the cause.

Substitute Philip Ryan converted after a foul on him by Crowley before the first controversial moment of the game in the 56^th minute when Dublin midfielder Michael Daragh MCauley was involved in an off the ball incident with Donaghy, and after consulting with his umpires, referee David Coldrick issued him with a straight red card while Donaghy could count himself fortunate only to receive a yellow.

With the home fans now expecting a reaction from their side, unfortunately it not happen, and the game was well and truly closed out in the 62^nd minute, when, after wing back Jonathon Lyne failed to pick up cleanly, the ever alert Brogan picked up and found substitute Craig Dias in space and he smashed the ball to the net leaving keeper Kealy with no chance.  Dublin’s lead had now been extended to 1-10 to 0-4.

Kerry were a well beaten docket at this stage and it could have been even more embarrassing for them in the final minutes with a further goal chance for Brogan which was well saved again by Kealy.  Brogan’s industry and work rate was rewarded however shortly after when he chased down a further ball in to the corner, turned his marker and curled over what would be the final score with his right foot.

The game finished up with Dublin playing the ball around their defence to the cheers and delight of their supporters and to the embarrassment of the home support, and I’m sure players, to give Dublin a well deserved 1-11 to 0-4 win.

Dublin manager Jim Gavin will be delighted with this victory on the road, especially in a very competitive division in the league this year.  His younger players are integrating well with the more established guys and their direct approach with fast ball in to their forward line reaped rich dividends.  Cian O’Sullivan at midfield was a deserving Man of the Match with his overall work rate and ability to bring his teammates in to the game and he was ably assisted by Brogan with his 7 point haul and full forward Paddy Andrews whose strength and ball winning ability caused Killian Young no end of problems.  The only concern was the injury to Diarmuid Connolly which the management team will hope is not too serious.

For Eamon Fitzmaurice, this was another tough pill to swallow and he will be the first to know that there is a lot of hard work ahead.  With away games to come against Kildare, Tyrone and Donegal, mention of the word crisis and relegation are unfortunately a reality but hopefully they will bring about a response from this group of players.  Aidan O’Mahoney and Tomas O’Se could not be faulted as ever in defence, Anthony Maher had a ding dong battle with Michael Darragh McAuley, while James Walsh had a baptism of fire against Cian O’Sullivan but hopefully he will have many better days.  The half forward line was again a big issue with Darren O’Sullivan’s peripheral involvement a cause for concern.  Paddy Curtin worked hard in the inside forward line but once again any time he won possession he seemed to be crowded out by defenders and had few options available around him.

Kerry now travel to Kildare in three weeks time in desperate need of points to get on the board while Dublin welcome Mayo to Croke Park where they will attempt to keep their 100% record so far intact.  

Teams and Scorers:

Kerry: B. Kealy, M. O’Se, A. O’Mahoney, P. Crowley, J. Lyne, Tomas O’Se (1 pt), K. Young, A. Maher (c), J. Walsh, M. Geaney, Darren O’Sullivan, M. O’Donoghue (1 free), J. O’Donoghue (1 free), P. Curtin (1 pt), B.J. Keane

Replacements:  K. Donaghy (for J. Walsh 43 mins), Declan O’Sullivan (for B.J. Keane 43 mins), B. Sheehan (for M. Geaney 53 mins), B.J. Walsh (for M. O’Donoghue 53 mins), C. Cox (for P. Curtin 67 mins)

Dublin: S. Cluxton (c), J. Cooper, R. O’Carroll, K. O’Brien, D. Daly, G. Brennan, J. McCaffrey, M.D. McAuley, C. O’Sullivan, P. Flynn, D. Connolly, C. Reddin, T. Brady, P. Andrews (3 pts), B. Brogan (7 pts, 3 frees)

Replacements: P. Ryan (for D. Connolly 25 mins)(1 free), C. Dias (for C. Reddin H/T)(1 gl), D. Nelson (for D. Daly 48 mins), D. O’Mahoney (for P. Ryan 63 mins), P. Quinn (for P. Flynn 67 mins)

Referee: David Coldrick (Meath)

Man of the Match: Cian O’Sullivan, Dublin

One to Watch: Johnny McCaffrey, Dublin