Down the road from the home of St Anne’s, there was a white Rolls Royce.
Joe McNally was a Rolls Royce of a footballer.
He played in goal for the Dublin minors of 1982. The following year, as a forward, he helped the Dubs win Sam.
It was Joe’s birthday last Saturday (September 14). It was a special day in more ways than one.
St Anne’s were hosing the Joe McNally Invitational Masters Football Sevens. AIG and GemPool provided sponsorship.
Teams from across Dublin and Leinster. John Mitchel’s travelled from Liverpool.
Jim Gavin would have enjoyed the tournament. Himself and his crew have been putting in long days and nights in their quest to make football better.
To make Mick O’Connell smile again.
Mick would have enjoyed a craft show. With all the skills of the fair.
“It was attacking football. The Sevens is an exciting format. Nobody was too worried about getting behind the ball,” noted Joe.
The games were seven and a half minutes each way. There was a fast tempo.
The ball was moved on like it was a hot potato. And savoured just as much.
A misplaced pass was greeted with frowns from team-mates that suggested ten press-ups, or a lap of the pitch!
There were roll-on, roll off subs. The player coming on gave a baton to the player coming off. With all the efficiency of the Irish Women’s Relay team in Paris.
Dublin’s Joe McNally celebrates scoring a late goal against Louth during the 1996 Leinster SFC semi-final in Pairc Tailteann
The arena was graced by many first-class footballers. The matches were competitive. Every ball mattered. Decisions were contested. “Ah ref.”
But a sporting spirit blessed the day. And if the referees had left their cards in the car, nobody would have noticed.
There was a business-like air to the half-time team talks. “Take your points. Don’t get caught on the counter.”
Four pitches were in use. The hosts were on Pitch Number 1. On the pitch beside them were their good neighbours, Thomas Davis.
Also in action were Ballinteer St John’s, Cuala, Naas, Railyard (Kilkenny), Shankill, St Brigid’s, St Finian’s (S), St Kevin’s-Killian’s, St Laurence’s (Kildare), St Mark’s, St Mary’s, Drumbarragh Emmet’s (Meath), and St Mark’s, who took gold.
The turf sparkled with entertainment.
One goalkeeper did a Rory Beggan. Speeding from his goal to score a point.
Willy O’Connor was playing for Finian’s. The Dublin Ladies’ Football kit man and well-known referee.
He popped in a couple of goals that his daughter, Caoimhe, the Dublin and Clontarf forward, would have been proud of.
Enda Sheehy was with Naas. The 1995 All-Ireland medal still shining on his mantlepiece.
Thomas Davis had Brian Kirby and Shane Smith. Darren Homan was in the audience.
Danny O’Brien was playing in goal for Anne’s. He was arrowing passes like Luke Littler.
He kept goal for the Dublin minors. Last Saturday, the 1984 All-Ireland winning Dublin minor team met up in town for a re-union.
They beat Tipperary in the final. Paul Clarke was the captain of a side that included Jim Stynes. And two of St Anne’s favourite sons, Ciaran Walsh and David De Lappe.
The year before, the Hill 16 Armada sailed down the Lee in high summer.
The replay of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship semi-final. Dublin produced a performance for the Gods.
Joe McNally was playing. “Hard to believe it’s 41 years ago,” he muses.
It was one of Brian Mullins’ finest hours. He was the Lord of the Manor.
Brian’s son, Nathan, is playing brilliantly for St Vincent’s. The Go-Ahead Dublin Senior Football Championship quarter-finals are on this weekend.
Two big double-bills in Parnell Park this Friday and Saturday. On Friday night, it’s Cuala against Castleknock (6.45), followed by the Vincent’s v Ballymun blockbuster (8.30).
On Saturday, it’s Na Fianna v Clontarf (3.30), and Ballyboden St Enda’s against the three-in-a-row champs, Kilmacud Crokes (5.30).
Anne’s have their own big dates. “We have three teams in Championship quarter-finals. We have never had that before, so it’s great to see,” states Joe.
“Our first team are here on Saturday against St Patrick’s of Palmerstown in the Intermediate Football Championship quarter-final.
“We have a very young side. They are progressing well. Every win is a bonus.”
As Joe chatted away, updates were constantly coming in on his walkie-talkie from HQ.
Liam Marron from Sligo was MC. He didn’t miss a beat. Calling the scores. Announcing the fixtures. Reminding people of the raffle.
Liam was also doing on the spot interviews. There were no shortage of VIP’s.
Up on the hills, the cattle and sheep grazed quietly away. It was a picturesque scene.
The Dublin flags flew. And the county ones too.
The children were having fun. There were amusements and face-painting. The ice-cream van arrived.
The music was playing. The perfect soundtrack to the football.
Gerry Anderson was in the house. He has given a lifetime to this club.
Just like Alan McNally. The Nipper could find a yard in a matchbox.
He has proven himself to be a top manager too. He had good days at Foxrock Cabinteely.
The Fox Cabs and Cabinteely are looking forward to their new, floodlit pitch at Kilbogget Park. The Fox Cab’s Gaelic4Mother’s is thriving.
Anne’s entered a Gaelic4Dads in the Masters Sevens.
“The Gaelic4Dads is becoming very popular,” stated Joe.
“We were very happy how the competition went,” he added. “The weather was kind to us, and that’s always a big help.”
The crowds had no shortage of goals and points to applaud.
People recalled when the former Dublin captain, Sean Doherty, guided Anne’s to the Dublin Senior Football Championship final.
Then there was the night Páidí Ó Sé rang the club with the invitation for Joe and St Anne’s to travel to Dingle for his tournament.
The chap who took the call went into the committee meeting to tell the chairman: “There’s a phone-call for you.”
“Who is it?” asked the Chairman.
“Páidí Ó Sé,” came the reply.
“Go way out of that!”
Over the years, there was nobody more that Páidí liked to see arriving in the Kingdom than the man he marked in the All-Ireland final.
“I felt Dublin were unlucky this year,” reflected Joe. “They came so close to getting over Galway.
“And if they had done that, who knows. There’s a new year looming now. Time to re-set and go again.”
As he stands behind the goal, a procession of people come to shake his hand. Thanking him for the day.
The great man still inspiring the memories.
