That Sunday I was up at 5.30 am, did my washing and shining for Harry and, after a quick breakfast, headed for the Sneem Road where although cars were as scarce as hen's teeth in those hungry 1950s a thumbed lift to Killarney was quick to arrive. The terrace of Fitzgerald Stadium was a heaving mass of humanity. No crash barriers, no safety regulations, no yellow numbered stewards back then and the only colours to be seen were rosettes or badges sold on the way to the grounds by Killarney entrepreneur Pats Coffey.

What a day to attend your first Munster Final as Kerry had three teams out that afternoon. (Tom Collins from Ardfert played in both junior finals, hurling and football, and was introduced as a substitute in the replayed senior final, creating a record that is unlikely to be equalled in our time.) It was in that replayed Senior Final of 1956 between Kerry and Cork that I first laid eyes on Tom Long. He had made his debut in a first round game against Tipperary in Tralee, as Kerry won 3-7 to 3-2. Jim Brosnan later saved Kerry in the final in Cork with a last minute goal and Donal 'Marcus' O'Neill had brought off some miracle saves in the Kerry net. Cork led at half time, 0-6 to0-0 and it was described as highway robbery as the game finished in a draw.