In the life of this writer, 1991 was a strange, upsetting year. Yes I was only 10 but even then it was clear that what to many or most would be rudimentry goings on had a deep and lasting emotional impact on yours truly.
Mind you, they had enough bloody practice that year. This corner’s first proper experience of a death, da’s brother Tom, as a direct result of that, not feeling able to walk anymore, and Meath’s utterly heartbreaking loss to Down in that year’s All Ireland final. Were the three connected? As sure as the Pope is a Catholic.
In fact, the day a whistle happy Leitrim referee denied us a fair crack at what would’ve been the greatest All Ireland victory of all time was the last day on which I took a step. 18 seconds of injury time. Would ya be well?
That was probably the only year that much maligned but truly magnificent Meath team got anywhere near the credit they deserved for their enduring excellence. However, perhaps they got too much of it. Allow me to explain. As far as can be recalled, Sean Boylan’s men received seven All Stars and Colm O’Rourke was honoured as Footballer of the Year. All the while, Pete McGrath’s victorious men from the Mountains Of Mourne were awarded only four gongs.
In more recent times, three players from counties that didn’t win the All Ireland in the year in question were chosen as the player of the year – Bernard Brogan, Lee Keegan and Andy Moran – so the television pundit and newspaper columnist getting the individual accolade thirty years ago hasn’t turned out to be the oddity it probably would’ve been considered at the time.
Now contrast any of the above with beaten All Ireland hurling finalists Cork not getting a single representative on the All Star hurling ensemble for 2021 announced this morning. In no way are misgivings about said issue meant as any sort of dig at Limerick, who have established themselves as the finest team of their generation. Nor does it in any way besmirch the worthiness of those not from the Treaty City who were honoured.
It would be my view, though, that Sean O’Donoghue, Rob Downey, Mark Coleman, Tim O’Mahony and Pat Horgan could easily and should have been accommodated. The All Stars are a special and prestigious part of what makes up the GAA. Regardless of what some may think, they are an acknowledgement of sustained excellence throughout the season and still mean a tremendous amount to those upon whom they are bestowed.
As they do to their people. Only earlier this week I saw myriad tributes being paid to the great footballing farmer from Walterstown and Meath Pat Reynolds on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of his selection as the county’s first All Star.
Often though, the greatest debate surrounds those who don’t make the cut rather than who are the chosen ones. That will certainly be the case this year.
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