Kerry manager Jack O'Connor with Armagh selector Kieran Donaghy after the Allianz Football League Division 1 match between Kerry and Armagh at Austin Stack Park in Tralee, Kerry. Photo by Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile.
By Tom Stakelum
Then: Kieran Donaghy, Four Time All-Ireland SFC Winner, 2006 Footballer of the Year, Kerry footballing icon, their ‘Star’.
Now: Kieran Donaghy, all of the above, AND Armagh Senior Football Coach. As the ‘Stacks’ man preps the Orchard charges to ambush his Kingdom, there will be a familiar face devising a strategy to ensure any advancement is repelled. This strategist, once his tutor, the man who gave him his inter-county chance – Jack O’Connor.
Ahead of this weekend’s highly anticipated All-Ireland SFC Semi-Finals, there are many intriguing subplots. From Jim McGuinness and Padraic Joyce’s long standing friendship, stemming from their days back in IT Tralee where they won the 1998 Sigerson Cup together, to Kieran McGeeney looking to guide his native Armagh up the hallowed Hogan steps, 20 years on from doing so as captain.
While remaining largely out of sight and swept under the rug, these fascinating sub-stories undoubtably whet the appetite for the final-four. However, there is one footnote to the semi-finals story that threatens to remain in plain sight, just like a shining star in a clear night sky…
As we eagerly await the matchup of these old allies, in Donaghy and O’Connor, let’s take a look at three managers who have gone ‘Behind Enemy Lines’ in the domain of Gaelic football, and faced their home county.
Kerry manager Páidí O Sé, left, and Kildare manager Mick O'Dwyer during the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship 5Semi-Final match between Kildare and Kerry at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile.
Mick O’Dwyer – Kildare v Kerry 1998 All-Ireland SFC Final
Kerry’s greatest ever manager, and arguably the greatest in Gaelic Football history, guided his county to a staggering eight All-Ireland SFC medals between 1974 and 1989. One might think this would quench his thirst for success. However, it merely sparked the flame of an alternative challenge – to take the reigns of a county that was not his own. This county? Kildare. Two stints with the Lilywhites ensued – 1991-1994 and 1997-2002. It was the latter period that is remembered so fondly in Kildare. Two Leinster SFC victories, including a first provincial triumph in 47 long years, and an All-Ireland SFC Final appearance in 1998.
In order to reach the 1998 showpiece, ‘Micko’ had to face his beloved Kerry with his good friend, the great Páidí Ó Sé in the opposite dugout. The talk of ‘Micko v Páidí’ had reached fever pitch by the time the ball was thrown in.
An engrossing encounter followed, with the Lilywhites running out 0-13 to 1-09 victors, dethroning the All-Ireland Champions, and reaching the biggest day in Gaelic football for the first time in 63 years. After this spectacular struggle, in typical magnanimous Micko fashion, the Kildare boss congratulated Kerry on playing “outstanding football” and lauded the fashion in which the match was played as “Gaelic football at its real best.”
The then Fermanagh manager, Charlie Mulgrew, pictured in 2004.
Charlie Mulgrew – All-Ireland SFC 2004 Qualifier v Donegal
The fantastical Fermanagh run of 2004 will live long in the memory of the Erne public. The man in charge? A Donegal All-Ireland SFC Winner. Charlie Mulgrew. A proud Donegal man, Mulgrew got his hands on the Sam Maguire as a player in 1992.12 years later he would find himself masterminding a seismic shock as he guided Fermanagh all the way to the 2004 All-Ireland SFC semi-final. They were ultimately defeated by Mayo, who needed a replay to shake off the Ernesiders.
However, it was the unlikely upsets caused along the way, allowing the people of Fermanagh to dream, that really caught the imagination. One such shock was the qualifier defeat of Mulgrew’s native Donegal, in front of a 16,351 strong Clones crowd. This was an action packed affair, with 15 yellow cards and two reds. Fermanagh were under severe pressure for large stages of this encounter, but their unwavering belief, and steely determination ensured a one-point triumph in extra time for the Maguire County.
Mulgrew later revealed how challenging a day this was for him, not entirely sure which emotions to feel. The ecstasy of steering Fermanagh into an All SFC Quarter-Final versus knocking out his own county, and in the process, knocking out friends and young Donegal players he knew so well. This emotional conflict is one experienced by all managers/coaches who come up against their own, but it is the risk they are willing to take when going behind enemy lines.
Leitrim manager John O'Mahony celebrates after the 1994 Bank of Ireland Connacht Senior Football Championship Final match between Leitrim and Mayo at Dr Hyde Park in Roscommon. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile.
John O’Mahony (RIP) – Connacht SFC Final 1994
A meticulous planner, one of the most influential managers in Gaelic football history, and above all, a great man. At his funeral mass in Ballaghaderreen, County Roscommon, on Thursday, John’s daughter Deirdre paid a touching tribute to her father in which she spoke of how he viewed ‘rivalry as the heartbeat of the GAA.’
Johnno’s managerial career epitomised this - a proud Mayo man who steered Galway to two historic All-Irland SFC crowns, and Leitrim to a remarkable Connacht SFC title. It is this Leitrim triumph, which we will shine the light on.
The Connacht SFC Final of 1994 is a day forever ingrained into the collective memory of all Leitrim people who were lucky enough to witness it. Their opponents were Mayo, Johnno’s home county. The venue was Dr.Hyde Park. The crowd was 25,000 strong. The Leitrim contingent made up an extraordinary 20,000 or so of this crowd. After all, they had not tasted provincial glory in 67 years.
In the match itself, Leitrim answered an early Mayo goal with six unanswered scores to put them three up at the interval in an inspired display of mental resilience. Johnno’s courageous charges withstood a late Mayo flurry, to get their hands on the JJ Nestor Cup, sparking scenes of unadulterated Leitrim joy.
In typical Johnno fashion, he had booked an open top bus before the game, such was his faith in his team.
And so, following their seismic success, aboard an open top bus, draped in green and gold, the 1994 Connacht conquerors paraded through Carrick-On-Shannon, with trophy in hand and their mastermind John O’Mahony at the wheel.
