Declan Daly is a latest inductee into the Cork AUL Hall of Fame

THIS AUL Hall of Fame inductee was passionate about both hurling and soccer when he was younger and Na Piarsaigh and St Mary’s provided the springboard for a very successful dual underage sporting career, which began with Farranferris Park in the Farranree Soccer Street Leagues.

But, enjoying the best of both worlds would create its own problems further down the road for our talented winner Declan Daly.

In 1981, his St Mary’s team were hard done by a decision of the SFAI who ordered the Saints to return to Waterford for a second time in the Barry National Cup final to play St Kevin’s Boys who failed to put in an appearance on the originally fixed date.

And to make matters worse the Dubs won the Cup.

There was some small consolation as they won the U16 League and a year later with this teak tough defender giving a sensational performance, they won the AUL Youth’s flagship trophy, the Murphy Cup.

When our inductee was picked to play on the Cork minor team in the Munster Hurling Championship it looked as if his future sporting career had been defined.

But wait - the postman knocked twice and a telegram informed him that he had been selected by the Irish Junior International selectors for a match in 1984 against Scotland in Galway.

He must have done very well as it led to him signing League of Ireland forms with Limerick.

His stay on Shannonside was initially brief as Noel O’Mahony, manager of Cork City persuaded him to transfer back to Cork.

Noel resigned and was replaced at the end of the season by Eamon O’Keeffe.

There was also a change in Limerick where Billy Hamilton took over and our winner, who took up marathon running after his career, moved back to the Markets Field.

He spent three seasons there, enjoyed his football, made great friends and was grateful to the understanding manager who permitted him to play with his beloved Na Piarsaigh in the semi-final and final of the Cork Senior Hurling Championship against the Glen and Midleton respectfully.

It was musical chairs in Cork where Noel O’Mahony returned to Cork City in 1990 and this led to our winner heading home to Cork.

Great progress was being made with City on and off the field.

There were disappointments with few needing reminders of the pain inflicted on him and City not to mention the fans by Tom McNulty’s title gut-wrenching goal for Dundalk at the Cross in 1991.

Their defeat in the FAI Cup in 1992 by Bohs was nothing compared to that.

Now, the heartbeat of the City side, he lifted the League Championship in 1993 at the RDS defeating Shels after an exciting but prolonged three way play-off.

Those were memorable days especially after City returned home to the Cross having suffering the bleak atmosphere in Bishopstown.

This man, with the heart of a lion, teak toughness and admiral positional sense became the type of defender idolised by the fans and hated by opposition forwards.

1998 was another memorable year for him as he got to raise the FAI Cup for the first time in Dalymount after his central defence partner Derek Coughlan headed the winner against Shels.

A year later they were involved in an epic League Championship battle with St Pat’s and despite finishing with a record points tally they were pipped for the title by the Paul Osam inspired Dubliners.

Our newest Hall of Famer had a great career, one typically full of ups and downs and memories to last a life time.

Who can forget the visit of Bayern to Musgrave Park and Stefan Effenberg’s rantings or the great performance against Galatasaray in Bishopstown?

He was immense in both.

The Echo’s Eamon Murphy in a ‘Big Interview’ with our winner wrote, “With the heart of a lion and granite toughness, he inspired supporters as Cork City captain.

He played like a northsider in the best possible sense. No-nonsense and totally committed”.

His leadership qualities were renowned and regularly referred to by the players privileged to have played under his captaincy.

He is up there with John Coughlan, Noel O’Mahony and Martin Sheehan all leaders you would want with you in the trenches.

Now, for him, there is nothing more enjoyable than a Friday night watching League of Ireland football.

His passion for the game didn’t cease when his 19 year playing career ended.

He is City’s biggest fan and shares all the joys and heartaches of his beloved City.

In GAA, he won a county with Na Piarsaigh and marked some of the greatest players in the history of the game.

Late in life he took up marathon running and competed in New York, Chicago, London, Berlin and of course Cork.

Declan has the heart of a lion and without doubt an outstanding personality who embellishes the coveted ‘Cork Soccer Hall of Fame’ Award.