This
led the Rathmullen man to partake in Swilly’s run to the 1967 Junior
Cup Final. “We played Orchard United from Dublin in the final played
at St Pat’s ground in Inchicore and actually lost 1-0. However, it was
discovered that they had played an illegal player and a replay was ordered.
This was played at Oriel Park in Dundalk and this time we made no mistake
running out winners by the same scoreline. Ironically enough both Dundalk
and St Pats approached me to sign for them. Alan Fox was the player manager
at Dundalk at the time and he was a centre-half, so I decided I would have
a better chance of first team football at St Pats.”
“I
stayed there for two seasons and then Harps got into the league. As a Donegal
man, naturally I wanted to play for my home county club in the League of Ireland,
but I had two very good seasons in Inchicore and felt I owed the club another
season, and that is why I didn’t end up signing for Harps until the
start of the 1970/71 season.”
Jim
sights a number of people who had an influence on his career. His father John,
ensured that he was reared to football and he recalls his mother washing and
ironing the Rathmullen Celtic sides jerseys from an early age. Jim recalls
“people like Harry and Teddy Blaney, Fr Mick (Sweeney), Fr Dan (McMenamin)
and Jim Kennedy would always have been about the house and heading off to
games.” Later on people like Busty Blake, who would have given me lifts
into Derry to play for Foyle Harps who were basically Derry’s third
side at the time, Brendan McDaid and Paddy Sweeney at Swilly Rovers, who gave
me my chance to go back into senior football. Then I had three very good managers
at St Patricks Athletic the late Peter Farrell, the last John Colrain and
Harry McCue. Finally both Fran Fields and Patsy McGowan who gave me the opportunity
not only to play for Finn Harps but also to captain the side.”
Jim
has absolutely no regrets about his playing career and says “Every day
was a good day, even when things weren’t going well, I loved playing
and I loved training and I would have no regrets about my career. If I were
to describe it, it was a fantastic adventure. I was privileged to play and
captain Finn Harps for thirteen seasons. Everyone on that side was a great
player and the team was like a family. There was no bitching and all the players
were very close. In point of fact there was great back up, if someone was
having a bad day and only giving 70%, one of the others would be putting in
the work to give the extra 30% to bring the team back up.” He continues
on “Those days in the seventies we had a great side and I owe a lot
to Patsy McGowan for giving me the opportunity to play for the side. If anything
I would have a disappointment that we didn’t win the league back then.
We were good enough and on three occasions we finished runners up but never
as League Champions.”
Jim
describes winning the FAI Cup in 1974 as the pinnacle of his career. “You
know growing up I never would have thought that it would happen. It was my
home county team and there I was captain and about to lift the cup. I was
filled with great pride and you know it was an incredible feeling to see thousands
of fans running across the pitch at Dalymount Park in celebration. It was
an unreal feeling. My caps were great, to play in a foreign land for your
country and to hear the national anthem give you pride but I have to be honest
when I say that day in April 1974 was definitely the best day of my career.”
When
asked as to which opponent he found the hardest Jim answers without hesitation,
Alfie Hale, before adding that he is a man whom I have the greatest of respect
for. Jim then adds you know I played against Brendan Bradley a couple of times
when he was with Athlone and Sligo Rovers but I have always considered him
a team mate. Jim then throws in the names of some others like Ray Treacy,
Mick Leech, Dave Wigginton and Marsden from Cork as examples of other worthy
opponents. When asked as to the best player he played alongside again the
answer comes back with no hesitation as Tony O’Doherty.
Jim’s
son, his namesake, is of course playing for Sligo Rovers. “I am very
proud to see Jim playing for his hometown club. Although he wasn’t born
in Sligo he has been living here since he was six and both he and his brother
John, consider Sligo home.” Sadly for Jim jnr, he has been unfortunate
with a couple of injuries but the good news is that he should be totally fit
for next season. John, also plays junior football for Cartron United in the
Sligo/Leitrim league. Jim takes up the story again “My wife Patricia
is a season ticket holder in the Showgrounds, but I don’t go to matches.
I am a very good supporter but a bad spectator. I would always look for the
Harps result and the Sligo results but I find it very hard to watch games.
Funny a close friend of mine is always having a go at me to go and watch Jim,
saying his career will not go on forever.”
Jim
has recently retired from the Garda Siochana, where he reached the rank of
Chief Superintendant. He laughs “you know I am probably busier now than
I have ever been, I don’t appear to have any time on my hands”.
One promise he will keep to himself, is that he will make it to Finn Park
before the end of the season.
Our
conversation covered so much more, but I could probably fill this entire programme
with stories and anecdotes from Jim. Suffice to say Finn Harps are still very
close to Jim’s heart and he is very proud of his achievements with Donegal’s
only senior club.
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