Brian Dillons stalwart Dave Downey celebrates his 90th birthday in style

It will be nostalgic day today for the former Brian Dillons stalwart Dave Downey, who is celebrating his 90th birthday with family and friends as the former Brian Dillons ace took time to look back on a career that spanned until he was 52.

Living in the heart of Ballyvolane, Dave with his wife Marjorie were blessed with a daughter Dearbhla and sons Leonard and Paul.

It was interesting how Dave ended up playing with Brian Dillons.

“It’s funny really I was living in Delany Park on Dublin Hill because after winning a football county medal with Delanys in 1955 there was no hurling at the club and I was approached by Brendan O’Farrell and I joined Dillons in 1957,” Downey said.

Two years later Davey was captain of the Dillon’s side that were defeated in the city final by Lough Rovers, but they did go one better in 1963 by winning the Seandun hurling title.

Indeed, the sixties was a successful decade with Paddy O’Connor and Eddie Dorney part of the Cork Senior hurling team but in 1965 Brian Dillons made short work of Glen Rovers, Na Piarsaigh and Blackrock.

The final against St Finbarr’s at Ballinlough was rated one of the best ever witnessed at the city venue where two late Peter Curley goals sealed the deal.

Disappointment again in the county final as the loss of Curley hurt them as they were comprehensively defeated by Ballinhassig.

In his many years with Brian Dillons Davey was an outstanding half back as many opposing forwards found to their cost and his 10 years playing Senior hurling with Seandun is testament to that fact.

In 1969 Brian Dillons decided to compete in the Intermediate grade and Davey with many of his teammates were miffed what happened in that season.

“We had demolished Carrigtwohill in the 1968 Junior county championship and the year we left the Junior grade they romped home to a championship win but that was the bad luck we had back in the day,” added Downey.

Outside of his outstanding hurling talents Davey moved into management in 1984 with the club Minor team.

“At the time they we hadn’t a great squad as we only had six or seven good hurlers, but we had some physical young men and we didn’t get off to a good start when Na Piarsaigh beat us by eight goals.” 

The championship run saw Dillons get a good draw in Seandun as they won their opening two games before defeating Blackrock in the semi- final with a final against Na Piarsaigh the prize on offer.

“Incredibly, we turned our early season form around and defeated Na Piarsaigh by one point in the final only to lose to a star studded Midleton team in the county final.” 

In the ensuing years Downey was part of the Cork minor hurling panel of selectors that were crowned All-Ireland champions in 1985.

Fast forward to the noughties and Brian Dillons became the nearly- team in the Cork Junior county hurling championship much to the dismay of Downey.

“I got involved in 2012 with Kieran O’Mahony and Kenny Cotter and we reached the county final against Kildorrery only to lose after a replay in a game we should have closed put.” 

Following the loss Davey felt at the age of 76 he had enough citing his belief that looking after teams is a young man’s game, but he continued to follow the progress of the club.

In 2017 Dillon’s suffered another county final loss following a replay as St Catherine’s lifted the title.

“Oh my God whatever about the Kildorrery defeat this one was hard to take and I honestly felt sorry for the lads as they were absolutely brilliant in that campaign.” 

To say Davey is GAA fanatic would be an understatement but he somewhat is disillusioned with the present standard.

“Just looking at the lads that I played with I don’t honestly think with the exception of John Horgan that any player in Brian Dillons over the last 50 years would have got their place in our forward line.” 

The inter-county scene is also closely scrutinized by Davy as he reflected last year’s campaign.

“Sad to say but we left a terrible All-Ireland behind last year but look the lads did their best and at the end of the day they are all amateur players representing their county with pride and honour.

“In my opinion I would put Robert Downey as full back and Ciaran Joyce in at centre-back as I think these are two crucial positions in the modern game.

“On a final note there is only one position for Darren Fitzgibbon and that’s at centre field as his game is suited to his running game.

“Maybe I am old style but having no player from our county senior champions Sarsfield’s in a panel of 37 players beggars belief.” 

Davy Downey, a great family man, and terrific hurler, have a wonderful 90th birthday.