Mayo GAA legends meet for the first time in over 40 years

FORMER Mayo footballers, Billy Fitzpatrick and Ger Geraghty, met for the first time in over 41 years during the Ballintubber man’s trip home from Chicago to Mayo last week.

Billy, from the famous Garrymore club, was a selector with the Mayo team managed by Liam O’Neill back in 1984. After Mayo’s controversial defeat to Galway in the Connacht Final in Salthill that year, Ger departed for Chicago where he has resided for the last four decades.

It was another Ballintubber native, Noel Finnerty, who resides in Claremorris, that facilitated the reunion of Ger and Billy and it was an amazing afternoon in the home of Billy and Catherine on the Balla Road.

“It was great to see Ger again after all the years. He looked nearly the same as he did all those years ago! Ger was one of the best midfielders that I ever saw playing for Mayo. He was a tremendous fielder of the ball. He was superb in the All-Ireland U-21 final when they defeated Derry in 1983 with Sean Maher alongside him.

“Gerry was a central player on our senior team in 1984. He was such a special talent. There was a lot of controversy about the Connacht Final that year when the referee, Mickey Kerins from Sligo, disallowed what almost everyone thought was a perfect goal by Big Tom Byrne from Kiltimagh at a crucial stage of the game. He sent Tom off a short time later which added a lot to the tension of the occasion,” says Billy.

Ger Geraghty headed Stateside that summer and thus ended his immensely promising career with Mayo. A year later, Billy found himself back on the Mayo senior panel when they won the Connacht title and took Dublin to a replay in the All-Ireland semi final.

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Former Offaly All-Ireland winner, Sean Lowry (uncle of golfer, Shane Lowry), was also part of that team and cherishes his Connacht medal with Mayo from 1985. That game in Hyde Park marked the last performance by Dermot Early in the Roscommon jersey.

“Dermot was a great sportsman. We all looked up to him. We had massive respect for Dermot and it was no surprise that some of the Mayo lads carried him shoulder-high in Hyde Park after the game.

“I have no hesitation in saying that Liam O’Neill (former Galway player) changed the whole direction of Mayo football. We had won only one Connacht title in a sixteen year period. Liam added a bit of steel to our play and I would say that 1985 was the rebirth of all that was to follow since then. John O’Mahony brought Mayo to the All Ireland Final in 1989 and the passion for Mayo football has remained very special all down the years,” added Billy.

Over in Chicago, Ger Geraghty has played a central role in GAA matters since moving there in the mid-1980s. He continued to play football on the scene in Chicago and was very good to many young people who came to the city and whom he helped out in various ways. He remains a familiar figure on special occasions at Gaelic Park and is synonymous with all things Mayo in that region.

“Ger was intrigued by the gallery of photos from over the years here in the house and we shared many memories and plenty of laughs during his visit. He is in top shape and is looking forward to his son’s wedding in Ballintubber Abbey later in the year. Looking back over the years, I would have to say that Ger was truly a class act in the Mayo jersey. It was great to see him again and take a trip down memory lane,” concluded Billy.