Other Sports

The Castleisland Basketball Blitz and Johnny Culloty Dual Player


by Weeshie Fogarty

 When "The Duke" comes calling and requests an article for this always superb programme refusal is not an option. How can you turn down a man who has literally devoted his life to this magnificent Castleisland Christmas Blitz and I don't believe that anyone else behind the scenes would disagree with me when I state that only for Donal the Blitz as we know it to day would not have achieved the local, national and international recognition it so deservedly. So congratulations to all involved. You might not realize it but from my position on the outside looking in I can tell you all that this county is very proud of the massive amount of dedicated voluntary work undertaken by the Castleisland basketball people every year. Well done.

There is so much talk to day of sports people being pushed to the limit, having too many games, too much training, and too much travelling. But just for the record in these few words let me knock on the head for once and for all the entire notion that players of all sports back in my time, i.e. the fifties and sixties were not as busy as to day's players. I have taken the life and times in one year of one man over 35 years ago. So study this and judge for you're self and decide if you could complete a sporting programme such as the one I now outline.   

Johnny Culloty achieved the double of Kerry football and hurling county championships medals in the same year, 1969. But consider this in relation to the recent debates that present day players are over played. That year of 1969 as well as doing the double with East Kerry. (Football), and Killarney, (hurling) Johnny Culloty helped Kerry to the National league title. In May he won his third county medal as he led the County Council football side to a inter firm win over Liebhers. That same month he played in goal against Cork in the Munster Intermediate hurling championship. The game was lost despite Johnny coming out field in an effort to save the day. He missed out in a trip to Wembley stadium with the footballers to play hurling. In May also he played in a county basketball semi final with the then county champions Killarney Busby Babes. The Babes were defeated in that game by the great Tralee side The rebels. Culloty was one of only two men in the history of Kerry sport to have played football, hurling and basketball for his county. Who was the other? Ponder on that and contact me if you wish.  July saw Johnny in New York as Kerry defeated the home side in a two game final. Always a fanatical club man Johnny trained the Legion under 14s to win the East Kerry title defeating Glenflesk in the final. He never missed a league or championship game for his club that same year.

The All Ireland championship was now in full swing and he captained Kerry to victory over Offaly. The same county was defeated in the grounds Tournament shortly after and then New York came to Croke Park where Culloty led the Kingdom to yet another victory in the now defunct World Cup. Throw in a weeks work which incorporated night duty as a nurse in St Finan's Hospital together with coxing the hospital crew for the Killarney regatta and you may well ask. Are there players to day with such hectic schedules as this? And least we forget the Culloty family life had also to be accommodated.     

The Gaelic Players Association seeks to initiate strike action for the non payment of the 2,000 Euro funding per year to county players. Maybe they might think of perusing some back money for old players of the past who gave their life's to the game. Or maybe they might organize some kind of a pension fund for old broken down players?  Or even maybe the basketball authorities in this county might initiate some yearly awards wherein the players who laid the foundations for the game you will watch this weekend are honored. Extremely doubtful I would say. Eaten bread is soon forgotten.

My e-mail address commemorates that great Killarney Busby Babes basketball team of the fifties and sixties. We won Killarney, county and Munster championships and Kerry's greatest basketball player Paudie O Conner began his career with our minor team. Paudie is the only Irish basketball player in history to have been chosen on a European All Star basketball team.  E-mail   [email protected].

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