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Article December Week 4 2004
Golden Memories of a Sporting Year 2004

An impossible task of course to pen all our favourite memories of the past twelve months, sport is such a universal force that each day of the year throws up something special and magical, and for me my favourite sporting memories of the past year is the memory of sport itself. Year after year, decade after decade we continue to witness wonderful achievements at home and abroad and indeed unless one kept a diary on a daily basis it is a near impossibility to recall and retell one's favourite memories because to me anyway, every time I attend a sporting event of any nature what I am privileged to witness is special in its own right, nevertheless lets recall some magic moments in the wonderful world of sport.


Sunday September 7th. 04 will forever remained etched in the memory of Kerry people all over the world, on that magical afternoon in the magnificent setting of Croke Park Kerry turned in a scintilling display to win the Sam Maguire. What made it so memorable for me, and of course everyone has their own special moments, was the fact that this team which had suffered the trauma of three consecutive defeats were able to come back and turn in that performance. Colm Cooper's magical goal, William Kirby's display at mid field, the Kerry supporters, and Dara's acceptance speech which was printed in this page and is now framed and hanging for future generations to view on the wall of Jimmy o Brien's great GAA pub in College Street Killarney. However what remains etched in my mind is for me the display of the men on the side line, the three selectors and trainer Pat Flanagan.


Whatever happens in the coming year the way this Kerry team was prepared signified tremendous credit on one and all, to peak fifteen athletes for the one hour, on the one day of the year took great knowledge and skill, I made no secrete of the fact during the past twelve months here on this page that my admiration for trainer Pat Flanagan was huge and last Saturday night at The Gleneagle Hotel at the presentation of the All Ireland medals to the Kerry players an amazing spectactal unfolded. Pat Flanagan was called to the stage to receive a presentation for his work and as their exemplary Waterford man made his way forward from the rear of the hall all the Kerry players stood as in one and the huge attendance followed to give the Kerry trainer a wonderful standing ovation. He was the only person to be given this acclaim on the night, enough said, together with manager Jack o Connor he is my GAA person of the year.
And so following a glittering career the wonderfully gifted Maurice Fitzgerald won his county championship medal as South Kerry defeated Laune Rangers, having followed his footballing vocation from the beginning it will definitely be one of my great all time memories to witness this unique athlete achieve his great ambition, to me this match will be forever known as the Maurice Fitzgerald final.


For a Kerryman the Athens Olympics will be always special as our own Paul Griffin became the first man ever from this proud county to represent Ireland in a rowing event and to me watching his coxless four team finish sixth in the whole world was a remarkable achievement, on the other hand to learn that Gillian o Sullivan would be unable to participate and was forced to withdraw at the last moment with a medal within her grasp was heart breaking. Eight years of blood, sweat and tears, now all for nothing it was truly heart breaking for this exemplary young Kerry lady, our golden heroine, we wish her well. And then their was Sonia, trailing the field before the eyes of the world as she was lapped by the runners in the 5,000 meters final in the vast Olympic stadium, but for me what will remain forever in my memory is her extrondary bravery, to keep going when she must have been in complete turmoil, it was at first a pitiful sight, we can all learn from this great Cork women, she had done something that, essentially, will forever more define her greatness as a champion. She was beaten but she kept running.


I always feel that John Lenihan our legendary hill running champion is taken slightly for granted by the great sporting public, now in the the twilight of a glorious career, he continues to astound, he is like good wine, he matures with age. Only last Sunday he won the Kerry Senior cross country championship in Currow and in June he stunned the huge field in the All Ireland Championship at Lugnaquilla, Co. Wicklow, athletes from Northern Ireland, Switzerland, Scotland, and Wales trailed in his wake. It would take hours to do ample justice to his greatness over the last two decades, but that win in the mountains in Wicklow to me copper stamped once again , if such is needed, his greatness, it was his tenth win here in a row, John Lenihan, long may he continue, truly a Kerry sporting legend.


A legion of memories, the European Ryder Cup Team, three days of compulsive viewing as they won the cup at Oakland Hills, my neighbour Jim Culloty winning The Gold Cup on Best Mate for the third time, the beauty in the effortless running of Hicham El Guerrouj as he won gold in the 1500m and then went on to win the 5000m, the first man to do so in 80 years, Lance Armstrong winning hi sixth Tour de France, I have just finished reading his life story, he should have died of testicular cancer, stunning stuff, Paudie o Se after leaving Kerry in such acrimonious circumstances leading Westmeath to their first ever Leinster title, an amazing achievement by the Ventry man, swimmer Michael Phelps winning seven gold and two bronze medals in the Olympics, Fermanagh in Croke Park, their freshness, youthfulness, expressive football, was a joy to behold, if only every county played like this.


We could go on and on, however my final lasting sporting memory is confined to a miserable wet day on Watervile last Sunday, the heavens opened, the wind howled, the sky darkened the cold bit deep into the bones, and the pitch became a qudmire. However for the parish of Dromid it was the greatest day in their lives as led by Kerry's next captain Declan o Sullivan they won their first ever Jack Murphy Cup and the South Kerry Championship, the ecstasy, the tears, the sheer expressions of happiness following the final whistle was for me a joy to behold, St. Marys were defeated and I watched Maurice Fitzgerald probably playing his last big game, and I emphasise probably, and the hand behind this historic win, Jack o Connor, the same hand that was behind the winning South Kerry, team, the Kerry side that won Munster, All Ireland and National League, every thing he touched in 04 turned to gold. A far cry from the corporate boxes in Croke Park but down there in the deep South on that December day we witness the true spirit and essence of what the GAA is really about, what better way to finalise this brief look back at 04 and store away in minds eye yet another collection of sporting memories.