Kilmeena stalwarts John Reilly and Pat Mulchrone make ‘senior’ debuts at the age of 95

ONE greying warrior gave way for another when the 42-year-old John Reilly made way for the 53-year-old club legend Pat Mulchrone in the second half of Kilmeena’s league meeting with Garrymore on Saturday evening.

From the dark days of county final heartbreak, to the searing heights of All-Ireland and county junior and intermediate glory, Mulchrone and Reilly were like George Jones – their old eyes had seen it all.

All except senior club football.

On Saturday evening, the ambition of a lifetime came true when these two old comrades made their senior league debuts at the combined age of 95.

But what business had two old fogeys like these playing in a Division 1 league game?

Well the pair never really ‘retired’ as such.

_{Kilmeena player-manager John Reilly in action against Garrymore (Pic: The Mayo News)}

Mulchrone has been synonymous with the Mayo Masters since the year of God-knows-when, while Reilly became their unofficial player-manager en route to their ‘Plate’ final win last year.

On Saturday, Kilmeena were down Jack Carney and three Mayo U-20s; Liam Moore, Jack Mulchrone and Ciarán Kilcoyne, as well as a host of injured players, leaving just five of the team that started last year’s intermediate final.

Eighteen-year-old Luke Durcan got his first start in adult football while another two; Michael Regan and DJ Keane, came on as subs.

Quite simply, they were stretched. Enter Reilly and Mulchrone.

Saturday’s dance against senior club opposition was the last box ticked, the last ambition fulfilled, and the final dream come true for two of Kilmeena’s greatest ever servants.

Their first ‘senior’ game in over a combined half a century of club football didn’t end in a win, but Reilly enjoyed it all the same.

“It was a good game of football, a fair game of football,” began Reilly, who’s never made any secret of his dream to see Kilmeena play senior club football.

“Garrymore came in there with a good spirit and I really enjoyed it. I know Kieran Fitz[Gerald] and Martin [Maloney] on the line there for a long time, so they might have been a bit surprised to see me coming in with 12 on my back.”

Sporting a tank-top in the warmup that would leave Diarmuid Connolly in the ha’penny place, Reilly is still in the shape of his life.

The arms are literally busting out of the sleeves, but how did the legs fare against lads half his age?

“The engine is alright, but the power isn’t in it anymore,” smiled Reilly when asked.

“I can run at one pace. I got on the ball there – and you know the difference. You don’t have time on the ball like you used to. It was good. I like to think I acquitted myself well.”

When you’re down a load of players, you’ve a match to play and all you have is a heap of young lads, Reilly and Mulchrone are your only men.