JOE’s favourite Micheal O Muircheartaigh quotes

JOE pays tribute to legendary GAA commentator Mícheal Ó Muircheartaigh following his decision to bring down the curtain on a 61-year career with RTE.

By William Nestor

This Sunday’s All-Ireland football final at Croke Park will be Mícheal Ó Muircheartaigh’s last, after the Kerryman announced his retirement on Thursday.

The commentator will, however, be in the commentary box for the International Rules series between Ireland and Australia.

As a result, we’ve selected some of Mícheal’s finest quotes which should back some good memories.

Commentating on a match in his first year for RTE in 1949

“He’s not a big man, he’s not a small man, he’s what you might call a handy man…”

On the similarity between Anthony Lynch’s style of play and his family’s business

“Anthony Lynch, the Cork corner back, will be the last man to let you down – his people are undertakers”

Commentating during a hurling match at Croke Park

“He grabs the sliotar, he’s on the 50…he’s on the 40…he’s on the 30…he’s on the ground.”

On the difference between referees and God

“The stopwatch has stopped. It’s up to God and the referee now. The referee is Pat Horgan. God is God.”

His famous delivery during a particularly exciting hurling encounter

“Pat Fox has it on his hurl and is motoring well now… but here comes Joe Rabbitte hot on his tail…. I’ve seen it all now, a Rabbitte chasing a Fox around Croke Park!”

On Colin Corkey’s spectacular return to football after illness

“Colin Corkery on the 45 lets go with the right boot. It’s over the bar. This man shouldn’t be playing football. He’s made an almost Lazarus-like recovery from a heart condition. Lazarus was a great man but he couldn’t kick points like Colin Corkery.”

Commentating on the McCarthy’s of Kerry

“Teddy McCarthy to John McCarthy, no relation. John McCarthy back to Teddy McCarthy, still no relation.”

Explaining Sean Og O hAilpin’s hurling background

“Sean Og O hAilpin…his father’s from Fermanagh, his mother’s from Fiji, neither one of them a hurling stronghold.”

Telling a tale while Tyrone’s Brian Dooher receives treatment for an injury

“…and Brian Dooher is down injured. And while he is, I’ll tell ye a little story. I was in Times’ Square last week and I was missing the championship back home. So I approached a news stand and I said, ‘I suppose ye wouldn’t have the Kerryman (newspaper) would ye?’ To which the Egyptian behind the counter turned to me and he said, ‘Do you want the north Kerry edition or the south Kerry edition?’…he had both …so I bought both. And Dooher is back on his feet…”

Making the point of a level game

“1-5 to 0-8…well from Lapland to the Antartic, that’s level scores in any man’s language”

If you would like to pay tribute to Mícheal by adding your favourite Ó Muircheartaigh quote you can leave leave a comment below.