Micko was the GAA's version of Matt Busby, cunning... but in a nice way

'80S INTERVIEWS AN HONOR GETTING TO KNOW ONE OF IRELAND'S GREATEST SPORTING LEADERS

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ONE sunny evening in 1981, a rogue from Kerry used his soft, lyrical tones to deliver a brutal putdown.

I was the recipient of his barb. "What the fuck is that Seoinín (west Brit) doing among us?"

There and then I felt at ease. This was my kind of place: no pomposity, no posturing, and best of all, no politics.

Once, a long time ago, I was an Irish soccer international, a midfielder with a succession of lower division clubs - York City, Millwall, Charlton, teams who failed to reach the heights of my chosen sport. Now I was here, in Killarney's Fitzgerald Stadium, its pitches buzzing with life.

I'd been assigned to interview this legend because I was a journalist with The Sunday Independent at the time. And as soon as I moved from the car park to the pitch, I could spot a swagger to his step.

I'd seen that kind of charisma before. As a young man, Manchester United signed me as an apprentice. Matt Busby was their manager. He towered over the players, even those taller than him. Matt, you see, had presence and charisma.

And so did this man: Mick O'Dwyer. His Kerry team were going for their fourth All-Ireland in a row. I was present for their previous Championship loss, way back in 1977, a semi-final defeat to Dublin, one of the greatest sporting matches I ever saw.

The Dubs were cerebral. Kevin Moran, later a Manchester United icon, was a marauding half-back, fast, skilful, tough. Tony Hanahoe was the captain, a tough man too, and extremely clever.

Weaknesses were not apparent. And nor were they in the Kerry team they encountered. Pat Spillane had great feet, a warrior's instinct and a sharp mind. He could have excelled at any sport.