Imokilly county winning footballers feted at 40 year reunion 

As the Centenary celebrations continue for the East Cork GAA Board, the division recently honoured the historic 1984 Imokilly football team that won the county senior championship 40 years ago, when they recorded a memorable win over favourites St Finbarr's and then followed up with another triumph against the same opposition two years later.

Many of the players and management were reunited at a special gathering in Midleton, where memories were recalled and stories were retold.

Success in the GAA centenary year of 1984 was a real headline maker in the local domestic games. 

Despite some promising performances en route to the Pairc Ui Chaoimh decider, the divisional side were given little chance by neutrals as they faced a seasoned St Finbarr's team, who were chasing a senior double. 

But the narrative transpired to be far from pre match predictions as Imokilly, captained by Conor Counihan, rose splendidly to the challenge and ran out winners by 1-14 to 2-7. 

Unfortunately, three of the stars of that day, Billy Ahern, Teddy McCarthy and Ger Glavin (who scored 1-12 between them) are no longer with us, but they were fondly remembered by the large gathering at the recent function.

Two years down the road from the inaugural '84 win, but by now without the Midleton contingent, Imokilly were celebrating again, as after something of a bizarre encounter in which they failed to score in the first half, they got the better of the St Finbarr's by 2-4 to 0-9.

So overall in this centenary year of the East Cork GAA division, there were plenty of reasons to celebrate two historic triumphs.

"It was a project that we thought about a while back and we felt it was the right time to honour this outstanding achievement," commented chairperson Avil Geary.

"We had to put a lot of work into it, to bring people back from around the country and from abroad, but everybody bought into the idea. 

"When we eventually got so many of them back together, it appears that the unique bond which they formed in 1984 is still very strong. 

"From those country winning teams, an absolute abundance of talent emerged. 

"We had dual stars, inter-county stars, - Conor (Counihan) as player, captain then winning manager. When you look around at the room full of talent gathered together and those who unfortunately passed on, one realises what an exceptional time it was for football."

Tadhg Murphy, was already assured of legendary status on Leeside, having scored Cork's dramatic winning goal in the 1983 Munster Final, but a year on he was also in the spotlight having scored 5-5 in Imokilly's maiden championship success.

"It doesn't seem that long ago since we were together, but it's great to mix and mingle again with so many old friends," said the ace forward.

"Looking back I suppose the biggest thing about us at the time was that it didn't feel like we were a divisional side. 

"Everybody was so united in the dressing room. What characters we had - Mickey Walsh, Kevin Hennessy, Denis Walsh and many more. 

"The craic was always brilliant. Once we got the first win over Bishopstown in Mayfield, you could see the potential. 

"We realised that we had a squad of players capable of doing some damage. At the beginning numbers at training might have been low, but as we advanced interest grew and training became more concentrated."

On the sidelines, Tadhg's late father Bertie was one of the Imokilly selectors and with Bertie Og also playing, it was an extra special time for the Murphy family from Glanmire.

"My father, along with Anthony Cashman and Dave Loughman, had fierce belief in the squad and they had us highly motivated. 

"In our household, nothing else was spoken about except GAA. 

"Obviously, Imokilly was a very central part of that in 1984, as we were trying to break new ground. I don't think prior to that Imokilly football would have been taken seriously."

Unfortunately 40 years on Imokilly's football star has fallen, but the exploits of an exceptional group of players from a golden era will long live in the memory. 

Those present at the recent reunion function, including Youghal's Mattie McCarthy, who travelled from New York, certainly created another night to stand the test of time in the years ahead.