Murphy hails Cork legend McCarthy

A legend in GAA was honoured in Cork last night as long-serving county board secretary, Frank Murphy performed the official launch of Teddy McCarthy’s autobiography, ‘Teddy Boy’ at the Rochestown Park Hotel.

Describing the Cork dual star’s tale as an enthralling story, Murphy said: “Teddy Boy is an appropriate title for a book about a Corkman named Teddy — and a very unique Corkman at that. The events which make him unique were the winning of the two All-Irelands in 1990. In doing so, he reminded an appreciative audience which included many of his former colleagues and former players in both codes that he is still the only man to win All-Ireland senior hurling and football medals in the history of the association.

“Teddy chronicles his extraordinary inter-county career which began in 1982, in his second last year as a minor. It is an extraordinary record. He was to play in All-Ireland finals in Croke Park every single year from 1983 to 1990. Dates, venues, team-mates, opponents and incidents are recalled in splendid detail. ”

Written with respected journalist and author Donal Keenan and published by Irish Sports Publishing, the book not only pays tribute to his unique achievement, but vividly portrays his personal life and highs and lows since he retired from active playing.

Both of the 1990 winning captains, Tomas Mulcahy and Larry Tompkins, were among the speakers at the launch, with Mulcahy joking that only last weekend he reminded former Clare manager Ger Loughnane that while the Banner had won two All-Irelands in 100 years, Teddy McCarthy had achieved that feat in a fortnight!

Tompkins expressed the view that it was unlikely his record would ever be equalled, saying “nobody deserved it more”.

“As a person, he is sincere, loyal, committed and his heart is in his home place,’’ he added.

McCarthy described his book as a human story and in recalling the many people who had an influence on his career, he singled out the late Mickey Barry from Glanmire, (his club mentor who gave him his first pair of boots).

Other speakers were Donal Keenan and the head of Irish Sports Publishing, Liam Hayes, the former Meath star, who recalled that while himself and McCarthy were often opponents, they never marked each other.