Himself deserves place among the greats

CHRISTY O’CONNOR SNR celebrates his 87th birthday tomorrow.

One of this country’s most successful and charismatic sportsmen enjoys sound health and on the odd occasion has been known to leave his Clontarf home to enjoy the company of old friends at nearby Royal Dublin, where he presided over affairs as the club professional for many years.

He will not be as well known to the modern generation as Pádraig Harrington, Rory McIlroy and Darren Clarke but he was one of the game’s greatest ball strikers in his pomp and that status will not be lost in the mists of time.