How Ballyphehane's Bryan McSweeney outshone George Best at Cork Celtic

The George Best documentary on TG4 over Christmas reopened a cherished chapter in Cork football history. 

It revisited the short, colourful and ultimately frustrating spell of one of the world’s greatest-ever players at Cork Celtic.

Yet amid the familiar narrative of unrealised brilliance and fading stardom, another story resurfaced... that of Bryan McSweeney, the Ballyphehane man who on one unforgettable Sunday, was spoken of in the same breath as Best.

The documentary portrayed Best as struggling to recapture the magic that once lit up Old Trafford and the world stage. For McSweeney, lining out alongside George Best was, quite simply, an honour.

"I was involved in all three matches,” McSweeney said. "I was thrilled and excited to play alongside such a legend of the game.” 

History has a way of singling out moments, and one particular afternoon at Turner’s Cross against Bohemians has passed into Cork soccer folklore. Best was there, the crowd buzzing every time he touched the ball, but it was Bryan McSweeney from Ballyphehane who ran the show.

Magill magazine’s Noel Barker later captured the scene with characteristic wit and precision. 

'All the trademarks were there,' he wrote. 'The jinking, almost insolent runs with the ball superglued to the boots, and the lean physique running at pace under flowing locks of hair as he darted past helpless defenders, as one team mate said, ‘for fun’.' 

Best, of course, was part of the attraction. He always was. As one teammate Gerry Myers later recalled, every time George got the ball there was “a fierce hullabaloo.” 

Best put the bums on seats. But on that Sunday against Bohemians, he was part of the support cast. 

It was McSweeney who dictated the tempo, unlocked defences and left spectators rubbing their eyes.

“If you were a guy that lived in the mountains, and you only read about soccer and you had no television and you walked into Turner’s Cross against Bohemians, you would say that Brian McSweeney was George Best,” recalled Myers, his voice still tinged with awe decades later. 

He was unbelievable. He was going by people for fun, everything he did was magical.

“Having said that, every time Best got the ball there was a fierce hullabaloo."

While Best was the headline act, it was McSweeney and Bobby Tambling who made the papers.

McSweeney himself remains characteristically modest about the praise. 

“That’s hard for me to answer,” he says of the comparisons. “I was only doing my job on the pitch. But it has been lovely over the years people complimenting me about me as a player. And I’ve had so many text messages since the documentary went out last night.” 

BUZZ

For him, the memories are rooted in pride rather than mythology.

“There was a great buzz around the city leading up to Best’ arrival,” he recalls. For people to be able to say they saw him play in Cork. As for motivation, I just wanted to play and give 100% while on the pitch."

He is honest about Best’s time at the club. 

"Of course we all wanted him to play well. Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be. 

He never trained with us so we were unsure of his fitness, but either way, it was such an honour to share the pitch with him.” 

McSweeney’s own football journey deserves recognition in its own right. He played schoolboys football with Tramore Athletic, had a short spell in Wembley, and then signed for Cork Celtic. Later, he played Munster Senior League football with Crofton, returned to Tramore, managed Carrigaline for two years, and went back playing with Pearse Celtic. 

He finished his playing days in the Business League with Novartis, where he worked, finally retiring from the game at the age of 54.

Along the way, the now grandfather of five shared pitches with some of football’s greats, including Geoff Hurst, Uwe Seeler and Bobby Tambling. In 2015, he received a distinguished service award for his contribution to Cork soccer. 

The documentary has given his family a new window into his past. 

“They are all so proud,” he says. My kids and grandkids have only seen pictures and heard the stories, so for them to see clips of me playing was great. It was a great trip down memory lane,” he adds. I was nervous to do it but so happy I did. It was a great documentary.” 

For those who know Cork soccer history, Bryan McSweeney’s story stands comfortably on its own, not as a footnote to George Best.