A rare spectacle

TIMES have changed, as Donal O’Grady can testify to. Can you imagine a player wearing glasses on the field this Sunday for the showdown.

No? Well it happened. Paddy Broderick of the Johnstown Fenians hurled with the Cats during the championship of 1973, scoring a brace of points from play in both the Leinster semi-final against Dublin and the provincial decider against Wexford.

The bespectacled Paddy was again selected at left half-forward for the All-Ireland final against Limerick, but it was one of the wettest days to hit the showcase, rendering the conditions completely against the unfortunate number 12, who was withdrawn at half-time, his tale of woe added to when the Shannonsiders ran out convincing winners.