Ger Manning was one of the best schoolboy players Cork ever produced

In 1980, our winner as a then 15 year old was arguably the highest rated and best schoolboy player in the country.

He represented Ireland five times against Holland, West Germany, France, Wales and Scotland.

He would have willingly traded a couple of those honours for an FAI Evans Cup medal when his side, Castleview were robbed of glory when drawing with St Kevin’s Boys in Dublin.

With the sides level at 1-1 our recipient crashed a match winning direct free kick to the back of the net to send the Cork supporters wild with delight.

A linesman’s offside flag against a non-interfering player brought a shock end to their celebrations.

He saw out his under-age days in the red of Castleview and after a season with the juniors departed in 1985 to neighbours Temple United, who were strengthening their squad.

Within two years Temple, with our winner pulling the strings in midfield, alongside Austin Ricken and Denis Keane, challenged on all fronts, winning the Munster Junior Cup and AUL Premier League.

It was then 42 years since a Cork team won the FAI Junior Cup; and against all the odds Temple travelled to Dublin and beat fancied Usher Celtic in the semi-final.

It was only then that they could afford to dream.

They were off to Dublin’s fair city again where Temple, magnanimous in defeat, conceded victory to Cherry Orchard who netted the game’s lone winning goal.

In 1988, Temple with the help of some quality set piece strikes and deliveries from our winner made it three premier titles in a row, and a fourth was added a year later.

It was unlikely that Temple, three times beaten AOH Cup finalists, would have left the junior grade without capturing the AUL’s Holy Grail at least once.

In their last season before the jump to the Intermediate grade they finally got the trophy they craved when defeating Bandon 1-0.

In the AUL’s history publication and the Echo’s Shoot, our winner’s goals, particularly his renowned left footed thunder-bolts, are punctuated descriptively throughout.

Much more of the same would then be needed when Temple moved up the ladder.

They won the Intermediate League Championship in five of the six years it was played for.

In their first year in senior they qualified for the FAI senior Cup where they lost to Athlone.

Apart from 1991 when they finished trophyless, that grade proved to be a bonanza for Temple.

Our recipient became player manager in 1992 and under his leadership they completed a clean sweeps of all four available trophies in 1993 &’94.

1993 turned out to be a specially memorable year.

They got a dream tie in the FAI Senior Cup - a little trip to the Brandywell to play Derry City.

They were in the big time now so they flew to Derry on an Aer Lingus charter.

They even brought their own Piper who led the teams on to the pitch.

Derry scored midway through first half and not again until a late brace secured their place in the next round.

The morning newspaper headline’s thundered, “Derry win the game, but share the honours”.

That was just the novelty stuff, the real thing left a sour taste; leading 2-1 in the Intermediate Cup semi – final at Turner’s Cross when a mistimed tackle resulted in a controversial Bluebell penalty which was converted to send Temple back to Dublin for the replay.

Home advantage swung it in Bluebell’s favour with a solitary goal earning them their cup final place.

Temple regrouped quickly after the cup disappointment and finished off the season in brilliant style completing a clean sweep of the AUL’s four senior trophies-League, Shield, Corinthian’s and Linnane Cups and in doing so brought their goals tally up to a fantastic 143.

This man always found it hard to say no and during a time of leisure when Temple’s golden days were just a memory, he answered a call and helped Knocknaheeny Celtic.

It was a fruitful partnership as Knocka went on to win the Premier League and AOH Cup double in 2018.

He will be remembered for his many deadly set piece goals – he didn’t do tap ins.

As a manager he was first class and gained the respect of his players.

And tonight, we are delighted that he is to receive his award for distinguished service to Cork soccer.