The power and the story

THAT’S a painful story. I went on playing wing-back, held down the position all through the league of 1986, met Westmeath in the quarter-final when they had a good team — the Kilcoynes, Mick and David.

I broke my arm in that game, was in plaster up to the elbow, missed the semi-final and the final, against Galway, a dirty game up in Thurles, very physical, that set things up for the All-Ireland final in 1987 when there was no love lost. I got the cast off, came back. Seán Fennelly had taken my position at that stage and the Fennellys had kind of the upper hand, the Shamrocks going so well (seven Fennelly brothers on the team that won the county in 1988, four of whom played with Kilkenny at senior level). I knew it was going to take a hell of a shove for me to get back for the championship and I never managed it — on the panel but never made the team.

In 1987, I was wing-back again, played the league there. I was head to head with Liam Walsh from Glenmore for the position, with Tommy Lennon also on the panel. I played in the Leinster final, didn’t play in that All-Ireland semi-final against Antrim — injured again. Tommy got on in the final alright, but I didn’t (Kilkenny lost to Galway).