Inside Track: Louth custodians team up on a very special team

The death last week of Andy Kieran brought to three the number of former Louth goalkeepers who have passed in recent times.

By coincidence, the Drogheda man, along with Paddy Gallagher and Jimmy Clifford, were in the county colours within a short time of each other.

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Indeed, having played in the league in the early part of 1961, Clifford was succeeded by Kieran. It was a year after when the Naomh Mhuire clubman ended his stint in a 1965 league match with Kerry in St Brigid’s Park, that Gallagher took over at No 1.

The still hale and hearty Seán óg Flood, a hero of Louth’s All-Ireland win, had Jimmy Clifford as his understuday at Young Irelands, before Clifford moved to St Patrick’s.

While featuring with the Lordship club before ending his career with Geraldines, playing in a senior final in 1969, the solid ball-stopper won a place on the Louth junior side, and played a significant role in the 1961 All-Ireland success.

But before Jimmy Clifford made it on to the senior side, Newtown Blues’ Matt Murphy, having stepped in as Flood’s replacement, had a season in goals.

Andy Kieran replaced Clifford in the middle of the 1961, and was the regular choice for the No 1 spot for four years after that, missing out for just three games through injury. Another Kieran, Dickie, of the St Kevin’s club, stepped in.

When Andy Kieran retired, Joey Leech, of the O’Rahilly’s club, took over, and he in turn gave way to Matt Murphy, coming back for his second outing.

It was then Paddy Gallagher’s turn, and as recorded here a few weeks ago, the Roche Emmets had some memorable outings between the sticks.

While there might now be some serious debate among the three lads as to who was the better goalie, they’ll have to concede that the latest to join them on the celestial playing fields had few peers when it came to earnest endeavour, with an eye for a score thrown in.

Paddy Geraghty, who died a fortnight ago at the age of 88, came from a Collon family that has given Mattock Rangers outstanding service since they were first represented in club football, in 1952.

Centre half-forward on the Rangers team that won the Junior championship in 1961, Geraghty was a leading player in the following year’s senior championship, when Rangers competed with a emerging Newtown Blues in the final. A low-scoring match ended 2-4 to 1-3 in Blues’ favour.

By then the swashbuckling Geraghty had figured in a Leinster senior final with Louth, playing at corner forward in the 1960 one-point defeat by Offaly.

He had a productive spell with the county side, and at times was joined on the first fifteen by his brothers, Ollie and Paddy. Another brother, Jim, played in goals with the minors.

After captaining Mattock to that 1961 success, Ollie transferred to the Seneschalstown club in Meath, and soon made the county team.

He was in the Royal squad that won the 1967 All-Ireland final and then made a trailblazing trip to Australia for the first compromise rules matches. The quartet’s gone, but the memories live on.