Barry McGann was one of Cork's rugby greats
Barry McGann converts Ireland's try against England in 1973.
In early 1973, a packed Lansdowne Road had fallen silent.
The crowd had witnessed one of the most dramatic scores at the famous stadium as Tom Grace touched down after chasing his own chip, surrounded by four All Blacks. The scores were now level at ten points apiece, with New Zealand's hopes of a Grand Slam over the Home Nations shattered.
Cork native Barry McGann stepped up to take the conversion from the right touchline, his wrong side.
History seemed to beckon as, finally, an Irish team seemed poised to defeat the All Blacks.
A sudden gust of wind pushed the ball as it grazed past the near post. The English touch judge kept their flags down, and the deafening roar fell to a deadly silence.
In an interview with George Hook last year, McGann expressed his belief that the ball went over. Hook, who was in the Upper West Stand that day, also swore that it went through the posts.
It was the second time in a week that McGann was cruelly denied the chance to topple the mighty All Blacks. An expert at drop goals, his kick seemed to seal what would have been a famous victory for Munster at Musgrave Park. A late indiscretion by Munster allowed Tom Morris to level the scores with a penalty.
The great out-half’s death sadly came during this year’s November Series, where there was plenty of focus on the out-half position. Irish rugby supporters of a certain vintage feel that McGann would be a certainty for the role if he were around in his prime today.
McGann’s position as a Cork and Irish sporting legend will undoubtedly live on. A multi-talented athlete from his young days growing up on Glasheen Road, he epitomised the Cork boy 'who sported and played, down the Mardyke', as the famous song goes.
Barry McGann came from a big GAA family.
At 12 years old, Barry chose a path that would significantly impact his life by heading to nearby Presentation Brothers College where he was introduced to rugby and excelled beyond anyone’s expectations. He won several trophies across the age grades, culminating in captaining the school to Munster Senior Cup success in 1966.
Barry was also a talented soccer player. He was key to Glasheen winning the FAI Minor Cup in 1966 and represented Ireland in the European Youth Championships. A fellow Cork sporting star from around the Mardyke, Noel Cantwell, attempted to recruit him for Manchester United. Barry declined, focusing primarily on rugby but did play alongside Cantwell and the legendary Denis Law in a testimonial at Flower Lodge.
McGann went straight into the Cork Constitution senior team out of Pres’ and was quickly brought into the Munster setup.
In 1969, Irish out-half and star player Mike Gibson got injured for the Five Nations opener against France. McGann made his debut, helping the team to a 17-9 victory with an excellent drop goal. Notably, upon Gibson’s return, McGann retained the number 10 jersey, forming a notable partnership with Gibson, who moved to inside centre.
McGann excelled in the green jersey, with an astute all-around kicking game. He was a great reader of the game who could also make big game-changing hits, such as the one on Barry John in 1970.
In their next game at Twickenham, McGann had one of his greatest performances, producing a late drop goal and assisting Kevin Flynn for a game-winning try.
This should have set up two home games for the Grand Slam, with the Cork star at the peak of his powers. Unfortunately, heightened tensions during the Troubles led Scotland and Wales to refuse to travel to Dublin, marking another missed opportunity for legendary status.
A testament to McGann’s high regard among his peers is Tony Ward, who took over out-half duties for Munster and Ireland.
Ward cited McGann as having a significant role in his own development as a rugby player, while the words of Moss Finn speak for themselves: “The God in my history was Barry McGann. I always looked up to him. McGann was the best of them all for me.”
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