By: Kevin Corrigan
There was a magical evening of nostalgia and rekindling of great memories when one of Offaly’s most important hurling teams gathered to celebrate the 40th anniversary of a success that meant to much to the county and had such a big spin off over the following decade and a half.
The significance of Offaly’s win in the 1986 All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship was huge. Inspired by the deeds of the 1980 and 1981 pioneers that won the first Leinster and All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championships, it confirmed Offaly’s transition into a genuine hurling county.
It sparked a golden era for Offaly underage hurling as the All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship title was retained in 1987 and won for a third time in 1989. These successes sowed the seeds for a fantastic decade in the 1990s with several of the players becoming household names as Offaly won the All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship in 1994 and 1998.
There were talented players on those teams who didn’t make it due to a variety of factors. There were others who weren’t good enough for the top level and there was another few who didn’t play much hurling in adult level, drifting away from the game within a few years. Attacking genius, John Troy, sub goalkeeper in 1986 and between the posts in 1987 and 1989, is the only man with all three medals and there are a few with two.
Saturday’s reunion in Birr’s County Arms Hotel was a truly special occasion. It was greatly enhanced by the presence of Cork players that featured in the 1986 final, full back Damien Irwin, wing back Rory O’Connor, centre back Pat Kenneally, wing forwards Ronan Sheehan and Michael Mullins.
Most of the Offaly players were in attendance and a very warm welcome was given to two figures who have been battling ill health in recent times but brightened up the occasion with their presence and the warmth and humility that they spoke with, the genuine affection they showed for the players who they guided and had such an influence on in their formative late teenage years: the manager Pat Joe Whelahan (Birr, and formerly St Rynagh’s) and the 1986 County Board chairman, Paudge Mulhare (St Rynagh’s).
Whelahan and Mulhare starred alongside each other during a golden, hugely influential era for St Rynagh’s in the 1960s and 1970s and the bond between the two men was obvious – Pat Joe Whelahan was the Birr manager as they dominated Offaly hurling, winning a plethora of Leinster and All-Ireland club titles in the 1990s and 2000s but Paudge Mulhare was not one bit shy about reminding him of his Banagher roots.
The respect the players had for the two men was also obvious as many hugged them when they received a special memento of framed pictures at the end of the formal part of the evening – before many adjourned to Brian Whelahan’s pub for the second half.
There was an air of sadness to the night to and fond memories were shared of two players who have died, the captain, Birr man Michael Hogan and sub, Brendan Dwyer, also from the Birr club.
There was laughter when Michael Duignan recalled in typical ebullient style a story that Paudge Mulhare told him about selector, late Willie Gorman. The two hurled together for Offaly in the 1960s and Killoughey man Willie Gorman was a notoriously tough, take no prisoners, ask questions later, do what it takes to win hurler. He passed away in 2012, just missing out on seeing his beloved Kilcormac-Killoughey win their first senior hurling title later that year.
With his son Barry and daughter Marie watching on, Duignan outlined how Willie Gorman and Paudge Mulhare were great friends and Paudge went to visit him in the final weeks before he succumbed to illness. It was a very emotional occasion and both men knew they were having their last conversation, saying their last goodbyes. The two men were as tough as they come but there were tears in the air on that day, yet it ended with what Michael Duignan labelled real traditional humour and laughter. As they prepared to leave, a dog with only three legs wandered across the yard in front of them and Paudge Mulhare, one of the greatest, most natural characters you will ever meet, wondered if he had lost the leg after meeting Willie on a hurling field!
There were other stories to brighten the spirit. Tales of illicit teenage drinking exploits, free bars missed by some, a young John Troy being brave enough to get up and sing the Offaly Rover in front of the minor and senior squads (Cork beat Galway in the senior final) at the traditional Monday reception – the great Lusmagh man spoke with a smile as he insisted that he had no memory of singing that day and wouldn’t repeat the feat until later on that night.
Team selector Pat Moylan, the manager in 1989, was present and the gathering sang happy birthday to mark his 80th. Team secretary Pat Leogue, formerly Raheen, travelled up and back from a wedding in Wexford to be present and other team members made the trip from their homes outside the county.
The squad were also delighted to meet with team selector Tony Sampson, the then hurling officer, Declan Hanniffy and the kit man, Barry Hayes. They all got special presentations while a bouquet of flowers was presented to Michael Duignan’s wife, Aisling Fennin who did most of the background, organisational work of the function.
Michael Duignan spoke glowingly about Paudge Mulhare’s contribution to Offaly as a player, county chairman and selector in the 1990s. Paudge Mulhare spoke about that era with Offaly winning All-Ireland senior hurling, minor hurling and U21 football titles. He said it was important to remember these successes and he hoped that such functions would provide inspiration for current young players.
He also stated that it was great to see a management team made up purely of Offaly people, making reference to the number of outside personnel brought into management teams in the current era. He remembered the loss to Cork in the centenary All-Ireland hurling final in Thurles but how he had one of his most enjoyable days ever at the same venue in 1998 when Offaly beat Clare in the All-Ireland semi-final.
Michael Duignan paid a glowing tribute to all the management and backroom team, stating that they were so clued in to Offaly hurling and did so much for them as young people who weren’t “all easy to manage”.
Pat Joe Whelahan thanked the players for the great commitment they gave him and the memories they provided while the evening had started off with an entertaining questions and answers session with some of the Offaly and Cork players.
The Offaly 1986 panel was: Joe Erritty (Birr); Peter Nallen (St Rynagh’s), Roy Mannion (St Rynagh’s), Declan Sherlock (Birr); John Kilmartin (Kilcormac-Killoughey), Mick Hogan (Birr), Brendan Kelly (Lusmagh); Damien Geoghegan (Birr), Alan Kelly (St Rynagh’s); Gary Cahill (Birr), Daithi Regan (Birr), Thomas Moylan (St Rynagh’s); Ronnie Byrne (Lusmagh), Michael Duignan (St Rynagh’s), Declan Pilkington (Birr). Sub used – Billy Dooley (Birr). Other panel members: John Troy (Lusmagh), Brian Hennessy (Birr), Padraig McGuinness (Kinnitty), Billy Dooley (Seir Kieran), Seamus Morkan (Shinrone), Brendan Dwyer (Birr), Ger Maher (Shinrone), Kevin Bergin (Killeigh), Shane McGuckin (St Rynagh’s), Enda Pyke (Tullamore), Kieran Egan (St Rynagh’s), Aidan Ryan (Belmont).
Manager – Pat Joe Whelahan (Birr); Selectors – Pat Moylan (St Rynagh’s), Tony Sampson (Shinrone and then Birr), Br Vincent (Birr), Willie Gorman (Killoughey); Kitman – Barrry Hayes (Birr); County Board officials – Pat Leogue (Raheen, Bord nan Og secretary), Declan Hanniffy (Birr, Hurling Officer), Paudge Mulhare (St Rynagh’s, County Board chairman)
By Offaly Secretary Wed 16th Sep
