Paddy Mo’s greatest Down side of all time

Paddy Mo’s greatest Down side of all time

22 April 2020

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Paddy Doherty was a key member of the historic Down All-Ireland-winning team of 1960. In a glittering playing career, the Ballykinlar man went on to win two more All-Ireland medals and established himself as one of the legends of the Gaelic football. Here, he selects his greatest Down team of all time

HIS name alone is enough to rekindle treasured memories of a time when Down football reigned supreme.

Paddy ‘Mo’ Doherty had the deadliest left foot in Ireland and he used it to maximum effect as Down swept all before them.

Incredibly, it’s 60 years ago that Down took the sporting world by storm when they defeated Kerry to win the All-Ireland senior football title for the first time. It was also the first time that a team north of the border had won the Sam Maguire Cup.

To reinforce their emergence as a new power in Gaelic football, Down retained their title the following year with Paddy as captain of the side which defeated Offaly and he was also a member of the Down team which won a third All-Ireland for the county in 1968, Kerry again falling victim to the Red and Black machine in the final.

As well as his three All-Ireland medals, Paddy won seven Ulster Championship, seven Railway Cup and three National League medals. He was the leading scorer in Ulster for eight seasons and in Ireland for three years. 

Now in his 80s, he’s followed Down’s fluctuating fortunes ever since, relishing in the return of the glory days in the early 1990s, sharing in the disappointment of the barren times and casting a critical eye from the sidelines, though always with the optimistic outlook of the true fan.

So what does he believe is the greatest Down team of all time?

Not surprisingly, given their accomplishments, he’s largely selected his choice from his team-mates from the Sixties — though with typical modesty, he has not picked himself for the starting 15.

“You have to remember that the Down team of 1960s was the first to bring the Sam Maguire over the border,” he says.

“That was a really big achievement and we had beaten Kerry in the final. We had shown we were the best team in Ireland and we proved that again the following year in the final against Offaly after beating Kerry in the semi-final. We also beat Kerry in the 1968 final, which meant that we had beaten them three times.

“Kerry have always been the benchmark. If we had not beaten them, they would have won another three All-Irelands.

Asked how his Down team would fare against present day sides?

“It’s a different game now, what with the blanket defence and other things, but the Down teams of the 1960s would have won in any era. Well, that’s what I think, though I’m sure there are many people who would disagree.”

1 Eddie McKay (Dundrum)

Eddie won two All-Ireland medals with me in 1960 and 1961. He was a very good goalkeeper believe me, always safe, dependable and brave. He was an excellent shot stopper and made many excellent saves. I also played against him many times when Ballykinlar took on Dundrum. These were local parish derbies and everyone was trying to kill each other, but somehow Dundrum never managed to beat us.

2 George Lavery (Kilwarlin)

George also won two All-Irelands in 1960 and 1961. He was the quiet man on the team, but there were few better man markers in the game and he would have been a star in any era. He had played a match of two for Antrim, but Maurice Hayes, who was secretary of the Down county board, persuaded him to sign for Down. He played as sweeper and was a good, tight marker.

3 Leo Murphy (An Riocht)

Leo was a terrific full back, tough and reliable. Not too many players could get past him and he could kick the ball a long distance. He also won two All-Irelands in 1960 and 61.

4 Pat Rice (Castlewellan)

There was no one better than Pat Rice at catching a ball. His high fielding was magnificent and he was quick at clearing the ball. He gave away few chances and often kicked the ball out for Eddie McKay. He missed little and he wasn’t a dirty player at all.

5 Dan McCartan (Glenn)

One of only three Down players to win three All-Ireland senior medals along with Sean O’Neill, Joe Lennon and myself, Dan is one of the all-time greats of Down football. He had outstanding ability, tackled hard and always looked for the quick clearance up to the front men. He could play anywhere as he showed when he moved to full back in the 1968 final.

6 Joe Lennon (Aghaderg)

He was our captain in 1968, though he did not play in the second after getting injured. He was a great captain and a terrific leader. Joe placed a great emphasis on fitness and pioneered new coaching practices. He thought greatly about the game and was possibly ahead of his time. He was a very talented player.

7 Tom O’Hare (Mayobridge)

Tom played in the 1961 team, but was good enough to get his place on any team. He was probably one of our best players that year. He was always steady and was great at delivering a ground ball.

8 Jarlath Carey (Dundrum)

Jarlath won two All-Irelands in 1960 and 1961. He was a tireless worker, who was at home either in midfield or in attack. He was always forcing his way into the forward line and would wag his finger at me to go back into midfield to cover for him. I didn’t mind one bit, because he was good enough and I was fit enough to do what he asked.

9 Colm McAlarney (Castlewellan)

They called Colm ‘The Mighty Arkle’ after the famous racehorse because of his long strides up the field. Colm and Tom O’Hare were our two outstanding players in 1968 and Colm was definitely one of the best midfielders in Ireland at that time, or any other time.

10 Tony Hadden (Newry Shamrocks)

Tony won two All-Irelands in 1960 and 1961. He could fist the ball further than many players could kick it and he could also move into midfield if things were going bad. He was tall and well built and could score a point as well as anyone.

11 James McCartan (Glenn)

A very strong player. Down would not have won anything without him because he took a lot of the abuse which would otherwise have been directed at me or Sean O’Neill. He played a critical role in the 1961 final against Offaly. We were two goals down in the first half and getting beaten. I crossed the ball to James who turned in mid air and put into the back of the net. Two more goals from Sean O’Neill and Breen Morgan had us a goal up at half time, but it was his goal that turned things around.

12 Sean O’Neill (Newry Mitchels)

You would have to say that Sean was the greatest Down footballer of them all. He was named in the GAA Team of the Century which says it all. We played well together, wherever I kicked the ball, Sean was there to get it. He had a wonderful sidestep and took a lot of abuse, but he never retaliated. He went on to become a successful manager and won the Sigerson Cup with Queen’s University.

13 Mickey Linden (Mayobridge)

Mickey was a flying machine and one of Down’s best ever forwards. He could blow defences away with his pace and score with either foot. He was also very versatile. You could play him anywhere and he would still be a threat. Perhaps his only failing was that he was too nice a player. He rarely made a foul. Won two All-Irelands in 1991 and 1994.

14 Patsy O’Hagan (Clonduff)

Full forward and winner of two All-Irelands in 1960 and 1961. He could have played full forward, full back, or just about anywhere else. He was that good. One of his best performances was Wembley Stadium during one of the Wembley Cup tournaments when he scored four goals against Galway.

15 Breen Morgan (Annaclone)

They made them tough in Annaclone and for his size Breen was one of the hardest men on the field. He had broken his jaw before the 1961 All-Ireland final, but went to the field without the protector which was made specially for him. He just threw it on to a chair. He was marked by Offaly’s Paddy McCormick, who was made of iron, but Breen was afraid of no one.

Paddy’s substitutes

Danny Kelly (Downpatrick), Greg Blaney (Carryduff), Barry Breen (Downpatrick), James Milligan (Ardglass), Ross Carr (Clonduff), Paddy O’Rourke (Burren), DJ Kane (Newry Shamrocks), Dan Gordon (Loughinisland), Benny Coulter (Mayobridge), Paddy Doherty (Ballykinlar).