82 Wednesday November 22, 2017 www.tuamherald.ie Jim Carney This Sporting Life Galway's links with the home town of Footballer of the Year NDY MORAN was a popular winner of the AFootballer of the Year award on GAA All-Stars night. It's an achievement that also brings honour to his county, Mayo, and his club, Ballaghaderreen, but two questions remain hanging in the air: Is Mayo really his county? And is Ballaghaderreen in Mayo? Since time immemorial, Ballaghaderreen was in eastern Mayo but it was transferred over the border to Roscommon in 1898 when a new Local Government Act was introduced "with the intention of bringing order to the local authorities." In reality it was much more likely that the man who had the real power in ensuring the map was redrawn was acting on behalf of the town's big traders who had discovered that rates were lower in Roscommon than in Mayo. That man was DOWN MEMORY LANE: Mick Reynolds putting the Kerry defence under pressure in the 1964 All-Ireland final, supported by the Galway full-forward John Dillon, one-time leader of line: John Keenan (No. 15), Seán Cleary and (on left) Christy Tyrrell. the Irish Parliamentary Party at Westminster and MP for East of the victorious Galway minor Young Mick settled into a new life Mayo, and he too owned a large panel and five of that team, all in Ballaghaderreen and was cared store which grew throughout the former colleges football stars, were for with love. He went to St Nathy's 1800s to become Ballaghaderreen's destined for Three-in-a-Row glory for two years but then decided he'd biggest employer. The Dillons who in the mid '60s but John Morley did "serve his time" in a local shop and kept the business alive were the not get the reward he deserved: an later applied for a place in a Dublin ancestors of James Dillon, leader of All-Ireland SFC medal. shop and got it, and then got a Fine Gael from 1959 to 1965. Another connection with Galway: better job offer from a well-known It was a sign of the strength of the John's son Gordon Morley was Tuam shopkeeper, Joe Grogan. GAA in 1898, only 14 years after it centre half-back for the Salthill- In early 1955, at the age of 19, he was formed at the historic meeting Knocknacarra team who won moved to Tuam and stayed there in the billiards room of Miss the All-Ireland Club Football for three years; he was very happy Eliza J. Hayes's Hotel at Liberty Championship final on St Patrick's in Tuam and got in with the Tuam TUAM Golf Club’s victory in the Guinness Trophy at Galway G.C. in the Square, Thurles, that the fledgling Day 2006, against Naomh Gall Stars club in the middle of their 1960s; it was an annual competition of great prestige. The Guinness Ballaghaderreen GAA Club from Antrim. Championship seven-in-a-row. representative (3rd from left) Frank Sheehan was pictured presenting refused to budge. The town might A Galway Three-in-a-Row hero In 1958 he decided to go back to the trophy to Mick Reynolds and his team-mates Dan McGrath (on left), have been transferred, with the had a Ballaghaderreen connection: Manchester; he was in his early Pat O’Gara, Tony Shortt and Seán Higgins. PJ Acton was also a member of approval of the then ruling Houses legendary midfielder Mick twenties and he wished to link up the winning team. PHOTO COURTESY OF CHRISTY O’GARA of Parliament at Westminster, but Reynolds who drove an equalising with his parents, and he could play its Gaelic Games stalwarts were "50" over the Meath crossbar in football with the St Wilfred's club. until 1967, the year they went to including a couple of seasons in staying in Mayo. the dying minutes of the 1964 All- Two Tuam lads were also going the USA after winning the National Galway with Corinthians, playing So, Ballaghaderreen is in Ireland semi-final and then played over there: Séamus (Jossy) St John League and Mick played his final in the second row; he loved golf Roscommon, except for the playing a part in creating a clinching point and Johnny Mannion, along with game in the Maroon & White in too, and through all the years he of Gaelic football. And that's why scored by full-forward Seán Cleary. a Mayo county footballer, Richie Chicago, as captain specially for loved football and he loved life. Andy Moran wears green & red, as Galway were on their way to glory Davey. That group boosted the the occasion, an honour he would He made one more big move - John O'Mahony and the late John and "Mick the Kick", as he became Lancashire team who qualified cherish. back to Manchester. He enjoys Morley did many years before him affectionately known, was assured to play Galway in the 1958 All- He won five County SFC medals living there now but he misses old - two renowned Ballaghaderreen of everlasting fame. Ireland Junior final, with Reynolds with the Stars and he liked friends who have gone to their men well known to us here in He was born in England. His and Davey anchoring the team everything about living in Tuam, eternal reward, including Tom Galway. Tragically, Garda John mother, Kathleen Phillips, a native in midfield, but Galway won the including going to dances and to Joyce from Killererin. Another Morley and his Garda colleague of Monasteraden, Ballaghaderreen, final by seven points. Mick recalls films at the Mall and the Odeon. great friend, Christy O'Gara from Henry Byrne from Knock, Co Mayo and her husband James Reynolds, that the date of the original fixture He bought a house in Galway city Tuam, now living in London, rings were murdered at Aghaderry, from Meelick, Ballinlough, Co was changed as a mark of respect and he also kept in touch with Mick every time there's news from Loughglynn by an armed gang on Roscommon, were living in following the death of Pope Pius Ballaghaderreen people who were Galway. Christy always knows July 7th 1980, in the aftermath of a Manchester. In 1940, at the age XII and when the final was refixed close to him. In 1968 he moved what's happened in Tuam before bank robbery. of five, Mick was sent to Ireland Riche Davey was unavailable. there again and got involved with most people in Tuam have heard it! John Morley was one of the top where his Aunt Mary (his mother's Mick got good work in the football club; he was a mentor I asked Mick to select a few centre half-backs in the country sister) would look after him Manchester but he came back to when minor and under-21 titles highlights from his football career. in the 1960s and '70s, having until World War II was over. His Tuam in time for the 1959 County were won and he got a medal He gave me two: "Seeing the '50' starred for St Jarlath's, Tuam in father was working at Manchester Championship. He had been very himself when he played for the go over the bar in '64 and, many the 1960 Hogan Cup final win Racecourse (long closed) and his happy working in Grogan's but juniors. He got to know John years later, getting a good mention over St Finian's, Mullingar. Seven mother was a hospital matron. he had an ambition to go on the Morley and some good new players in Mick O'Connell's book. I really St Jarlath's students who won They had to keep working; road as a company rep and that coming through including the enjoyed that," he said with a hearty All-Ireland Colleges medals that everything had changed across- happened for him, with great three O'Mahony brothers and Seán laugh. day went on to become members Channel in the War years. success. He played with Galway Kilbride. Mick also played rugby, Thanks for the memories, Mick..