Published: Thu, 03 April 2025
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One of the best people I was ever privileged to know.
I was Chairman of Kerry GAA when Micko managed Kerry. He used to collect me at my house and we travelled to venues all over Ireland where Kerry were playing. On the way back on Sunday evening, he’d come in to my house for tea and Kimberley biscuits, and then continue on to Waterville to oversee the band playing and patrons in his dance hall that night.
No manager was more successful in so many counties: Kerry, Kildare, Laois, Wicklow and finally Clare. He was one of the nicest and shrewdest people and was a brilliant man manager – the secret of his success. Micko was able to see what would motivate one player and not another.
After winning the All-Ireland, he brought all the players, wives and officials to a big celebratory dinner in Waterville. Those are great memories.
Micko is so famous as a manager, that we might forget that he was also one of the best footballers of his or any era, firstly as a wing-back and then as a most accurate corner-forward. I once saw him score 2-12 in one match in Croke Park!
One of his biggest regrets? Not missing out on the five-in-a-row, but Waterville not winning the county championship. Waterville and Kerry were his life.
It was an honour to have been close to such a great man.
