Laochra Gael - Back, and to the left hand on top

[binkybarnes]

@Ambrose_McNulty

Ah now to be fair, that Dublin team was packed to the rafters with scumbag knacker cunts, not just Duff. Mullins would be another fine example and he’s still hated around the country too.

I’d take them over the lily livered, surrender monkeys who wore marron that day. Ye have been bending the knee to the blue jersey ever since fair play to ye.

[Ambrose_McNulty]

@binkybarnes

I’d take them over the lily livered, surrender monkeys who wore marron that day

I’m with you on that one.

[dodgy_keeper]

Back when I was in college, which is the guts of 15 years ago now, Leahy gave a speech to one of the sports and social clubs over his own demons etc.

I was naturally cynical but he came across fairly well in fairness. Definitely my attitude to him softened.

I’d still call him a Tipp cunt if I saw him the day of a championship match, mind you.

[Mullach_Ide]

@Gman

he was one of the first hurlers I hated anyway. Tipp played Wexford in Bellfield in the mid to late 80s and he pulled on a Wexford player, I think it was a Pender, from Crossabeg and knocked him out. I dont think he actually played again for Wexford after the injury. Anyway, it was off the ball and Babs saw it and sent on a sub for Leahy and took Leahy off. The ref wouldnt take the sub slip and went looking for Leahy and sent him off. My recollection could be slightly off, I was only a chap at the time, but one of my first memories of him. Some of the elder Wexford followers like @Bandage may recall better than me.

Was the same Wexford hurler knocked down and seriously injured in Dublin? McDonnell or something?

[FlakeAway]

@Tassotti

Liam Doyle

Came in to train my club one year, Jesus, god help us lads he was useless. Stealing a living from coaching at the time.

We obviously knew who he was and he was a great player tbf but fuck me was he useless to take a training session. Wonder is he still floating around with some team?

[iron_mike]

If memory serves me correct, he came on against Limerick in 95 below in Cork and was stretchered off 5 minutes later.

[gaillimhmick]

@Watchyourtoes

@binkybarnes

@Mullach_Ide

Don’t think John Leahy gets much respect and esteem to be honest particularly in Limerick, Clare and Galway.

The last I’d heard of Leahy was he had turned his life around and was now helping other people with addiction problems. If that’s still the case and I hope it is he deserves to be respected for it. You’ll always have a few fucking eejits spewing shite unwilling to let stuff go but such is life

That was Ciaran Carey mate, Leahy was and always will be a woman beating cunt, a tramp and above all else a tinker.

Couldn’t agree with you less here pal. Leahy was an utter tramp in his youth but I had the privilege of his company on a few occassions after he changed his ways and found him to be an utter gentleman.
On the other hand, I spent some time in Carey’s company 3 or 4 years back and it wasn’t very pleasant.

[kerry1891]

@binkybarnes

@carryharry

I’m a mess after watching the end of that, what a top top fucking bloke that man is.

Another great show from Laochra Gael. I thought it showed the GAA at it’s best and at it’s worst. I didn’t realize the Meath lads had rallied around Duff when it came to fundraising for his daughter. Fair play to them because as the All Star tour demonstrated there was proper poison between Dublin and Meath in that era.

The constant abuse and vilification Duff endured for one relatively harmless mistake is hard to fathom even now. Other GAA players like John Mullane and John Leahy made far more serious mistakes in their youth but were allowed rehabilitate themselves and have earned the respect and esteem they are generally regarded with now. Duff for whatever reason was never really forgiven. Maybe the fact he looks a little like Satan didn’t help matters.

He was a tremendous footballer and I’m glad last night’s program emphasized that. Dublin let him go way too early. He was one of, if not the best club forward in Dublin from 92 to 96 while the county team were losing All Ireland Finals and semi finals by 1 or 2 points with some proper journeymen playing in the forwards.

One small gripe I’d have is Duff not accepting responsibility for kicking Pat O Neill. As he pointed out there was far worse done to him before and after but that doesn’t change the fact that he kicked a lad in an All Ireland Final and rightly got sent off for it. While the punishment he endured far outweighed the crime it was still a stupid thing to do and he didn’t seem to acknowledge that or at least not on camera anyway.

The last section focusing on his relationship with his wife and daughter were equal parts heartbreaking and beautiful. A hard man with a soft heart.
.

A few questions

If I picked up the documentary correctly Duff got a 12 months ban yet he played in the 1984 final. How did that arise?

Who was better, Duff or Barney Rock?

Did he connect with the kick?

Jez lots of footage of Paddy Cullen in the show as the Dublin manager who sidelined Duff!

[carryharry]

Spot on.

A very well got chap these days who helps every cause going. He has helped a huge amount of people battling addiction & depression.

[Fagan_ODowd]

I played against both and Duff was definitely the harder opponent. Barney was a lovely lad and was deadly with the frees and had a great poachers instinct. But Duff was the better all rounder.

[flattythehurdler]

Two great players. I’d not have liked to attempt to mark either.

[Fagan_ODowd]

@flattythehurdler

Two great players. I’d not have liked to attempt to mark either.

I loved it.

[flattythehurdler]

I always thought fwiw that there was a hysterical overreaction to duffs dunt. It was more of a half hearted prod than a kick. Thought that at the time watching it, even as a young fella desperately wanting a galway win.

[flattythehurdler]

That’s a nice thing to take with you.

[Ambrose_McNulty]

You did in your hole.

[flattythehurdler]

I actually did.

[Fagan_ODowd]

@flattythehurdler

That’s a nice thing to take with you.

It is yeah, particularly for a moderate Garlic footballer from Waterford

[binkybarnes]

@kerry1891

If I picked up the documentary correctly Duff got a 12 months ban yet he played in the 1984 final. How did that arise?

Who was better, Duff or Barney Rock?

I don’t think duff played the 84 final. That was footage from the 85 final they showed last night. I’m pretty sure he missed the whole 84 season.

I’d agree with @Fagan_ODowd that duff was better than rock. Rock was never the same after Liam Harman near killed him in the 86 Leinster final.

[flattythehurdler]

@Fagan_ODowd

It is yeah, particularly for a moderate Garlic footballer from Waterford

I thought that was Carlow

[carryharry]

Carey is roundly known to be a cunt. Tbf, i couldn’t say hey or nay as I’ve never encountered him in a personal capacity.