Micheál Kearins - the best ever!
(Courtesy: "Cúl")
SLIGO have produced many fine footballers down through the years but without
doubt our finest forward of all time was Micheál (Mickey) Kearins.
Mickey attended Ballinleg National School and played his club football
in the green and red of the local St. Patrick's, Dromard. From an early
age it was obvious that Mickey had tremendous natural
ability and was destined to become one of, if not the greatest forwards
of all time. He played his first game for Sligo at minor level in 1960
against Galway and made his senior inter-county debut in the National Football
League against Cavan in 1961. In all, he played senior county football
for Sligo for 18 consecutive years. For four of these years he was the
national leading scorer - a truly remarkable achievement. Mickey represented
Connacht on the Railway Cup team from 1963 until 1 975 -- another outstanding
achievement was the Rail Cup competition which was very prestigious in
those days. By now Mickey was the boyhood hero of all Sligo schoolboys
as they tried to copy his skills.
In 1971 Mickey won an All-Star Award which was due recognition for
his excellence on the football field and his devotion to Sligo football.
Mickey retired from inter-county football in 1978 to concentrate on refereeing.
By the time he retired from football he had collected an amazing 7 Sligo
senior championship medals; 3 Sligo senior league medals; 2 Railway Cup
medals; 1 Connacht senior championship medal and 1 All-Star Award.
As a referee Mickey took charge of many games, the
most important being the 1989 All-Ireland senior football semi-final between
Dublin and Cork. As a referee he had also reached the highest level.When
asked about his most famous sporting moment Mickey admits that it was winning
his first championship medal with St. Pat's. A truly gifted sportsman Micheál
Kearins is recognised by all followers of gaelic football as one of the
all-time greats.
'Give more time to training and spend less time in the pub," is his
advice to all players.
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The Sligo team -- Connaught Champions, 1975
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| The great Mickey Kearins
of Dromard
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A Castleconnor player, Barnes Murphy, and a past-pupil of
Stokane N.S. also in west Sligo, received an All-Star award in 1974, prior
to captaining Sligo to win the Connacht Senior Football Championship in
1975. Barnes is pictured fifth from left, in the front row above.
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Those who read about great men may learn to follow
in their footsteps. Mol on óige agus tiocfaidh
sí!
Actions praised become traditions!
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Barnes Murphy is pictured here to the right of Jack Boothman,
President of the GAA, (centre) on an official tour of the primary schools
in County Sligo, in October 1996. On entering the grounds of his old alma
mater, Stokane N.S., with Paul Durcan (back row on left) and Joe Queenan,
(front on right, kneeling) a great welcoming cheer arose from the children.
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