Duff was brilliant in the games against Cork in '83. I have the entirety of both on a DVD.
Rockâs goal against Cork to equalise the drawn game against Cork is the single greatest moment in Dublin football history. The reaction of Hill 16 for that goal has never come close to being matched before or since and you donât have to have been there to know that. It was an incredible moment and itâs hair raising just to watch it on video.
RTE made a segment of about three minutes length which they played on the Sunday Game before the 1992 final. It had all the Dublin goals from the 1983 semi-finals and final with Yelloâs âThe Raceâ playing in the background. I became obsessed with it and must have watched it hundreds of times in the three years or so afterwards.
Barneyâs lack of hardman credentials and lack of overt âDublinnessâ is ironically why he wasnât overly mourned when he left the Dublin set up.
Duff, Mullins, Joe McNally, Mick Holden, Jimmy Keaveney, Vinnie Murphy, Keith Barr and Dermo all had that in spades, which is why they were the biggest Dublin folk heroes over the years - well Keaveney didnât really have the hard man credentials but was basically perceived as Brendan Behan on a football pitch, and his career did end with a sending-off.
The opposition players I hated most when they were playing are the players I now look back on with most fondness. Mick Lyons, Tommy Dowd and latterly Kieran Donaghy. The sort of players who if they were on your team, youâd worship.
Yeah, he was pretty much obese by that stage. He actually saved Dublin against Louth in the Leinster semi-final in Navan when they were behind inside the last seven or eight minutes, he punched a goal from about two yards out off a rebounded free or something, and then scored a point with a handpass from about four yards out straight afterwards. He missed the Leinster final through injury so that Louth game turned out to be his last for Dublin.
He fell out with Pat OâNeill shortly before the 1994 championship. I think this has been addressed on this forum before actually. Iâm not sure exactly what happened to cause the falling out but Heery being played in the half forward line must have had something to do with it. OâNeill had an obsession with playing half backs as half forwards. Heery, Keith Barr, Paul Curran and Tommy Carr were all shunted up there at different stages in championship games.
Just watched the Kieran Duff programme the last 10 minutes was savagely emotional. As a father of two healthy kids one who is an adult and the other not far of it it was poignant to see the love and adoration they both give to their child that has special needs. It really showed despite county rivalries etc the GAA really is our national fabric that we should all cherish.
That was James McDonald from St Martins that was run down. Not sure if he ever played senior for Wexford. Think he was manager for Oliver Callan for a while until there was a falling out and it ended up in court. His sister Lisa McDonald was a Bertie Ahern appointment to the Seanad. Sheâs ran unsuccessfully for Fianna FĂĄil in Wexford at least once, possibly twice.
Niall and Diarmuid McDonald from Crossabeg hurled for Wexford early 90âs.