Billy Morgan on 70 years of service to Nemo Rangers, his career highs and grá for hurling

The name of Billy Morgan will always be remembered as a player and manager who gave unstinting service to his beloved club Nemo Rangers and also to his native city of Cork.

On Sunday Nemo Rangers will be bidding for their 24th Cork Senior county football championship and Billy’s pleasantly surprised in the progress of the team from the start of the campaign.

“I suppose looking at the game in the opening round against Newcestown they looked a long way off a county final team but knowing Nemo I expected them to pick up and thankfully that’s the way it’s been since that loss,” said Billy.

Nemo went on to defeat St Michael’s and Valley Rovers as the goodwill factor was back at the Trabeg club for another tilt at a county title.

Taking on Castlehaven was always going to be a tough task for Nemo but Morgan wasn’t surprised they rose to the occasion.

“I expected them to get over Castlehaven and in fairness getting key players back was crucial for that game.

“We got out of jail against Carrigaline that I watched on a laptop when I was in New York with my son but you need some luck when you are playing at the top tier of football.” 

So how does Morgan see the county final panning out?

It’s a real 50-50 game as both sides have quality footballers but with the Barrs edging favoritism the underdogs tag will suit the lads.

“The one plus for me is that this championship has thrown up five or six players that should be given a chance with Cork for the forthcoming league campaign and I do feel John Cleary and his management team are taking the county in the right direction.” 

Morgan was born in 1945 and reared in High Street where he took up football playing with Coláiste Chríost Rí.

First love

At schools level, he helped Coláiste Chríost Rí win the 1961-1962 Frewen Cup and a year later the Cork Senior Colleges final. He joined Nemo as an 11-year-old and tasted success with the U15 football team winning the Dr Lucey Shield but, surprisingly, in his early days, hurling was his first love.

“I always loved playing hurling in my youth but with my school and club very much football-orientated it was natural for me to go with the flow.” 

Morgan took over as coach in 1971 and they went on to win county titles in 1972, '74, '75, '77, '78, '81, '87 and '88.

“Winning my first county championship against UCC in 1972 was very special but little did I think that I would end up winning eight county championships during my career.” Nemo were also very successful in the All-Ireland club championship and Billy can boast four in total as player and coach.

A lot of clubs would have been shattered losing two All-Ireland club finals but Nemo, after going down to Crossmolina in 2001 and Ballinderry in 2002, bounced back to win the 2003 decider.

Crossmolina were again their opponents but this time Nemo were crowned champions after an epic clash.

I never realised it was such a great game until I looked back at the video about a fortnight after the game.

“By God, I was proud of my players after that game because they showed their true mettle when the game was going against them and it was a great day for our club and for Cork football.” 

Morgan, despite beginning his football career as a centre-forward with the Cork minor team of 1963, eventually made his name as a top goalkeeper and is regarded as one of the best ever to step in between the posts.

During the '70s, Billy had great men like Humphrey Kelleher and Kevin Kehilly and when he kicked the ball out the field he had the electric Declan Barron of Bantry to pull it out of the air.

Billy looks back with great memories of players like Down's Sean O’Neill and the Kerry duo of Mick O’Connell and Mikey Sheehy all men who oozed with talent on a football pitch.

It is well documented that Cork has been starved of All-Ireland football success over many years despite Nemo Rangers producing top-class club teams.

Morgan has been there and done that as far as football is concerned from captaining his county to winning the 1973 All-Ireland football final, he was crowned an All-Star the same year.

Now, at the tender age of 81, Billy should be proud of his achievements as his contribution to football and Cork should never be underestimated.

70 years of unblemished service to his beloved club Billy is certainly a one-off in the present climate of GAA.

What a man!