‘Best, McGrath, Beckham… I saw them all’

In Part 2 of his interview with Eamonn Fitzgerald, Fr John Ahern recalls some of the great Irish players who lined out with his beloved Manchester United

We all have sad memories of that awful day that shocked Manchester and the world in 1958. Briefly, for the benefit of younger readers, I will summarise. On February 6, 1958 the chartered plane carrying the Manchester United players, supporters and journalists home from a European Cup game crashed after refuelling in Munich. The accident claimed the lives of 23 people, including eight Manchester United players.

“All of those survivors from Munich have since passed away, the last being Harry Gregg and Sir Matt Busby,” Fr John says. “Busby played a key role in the reconstruction of the Busby Babes and the new Man Utd, phoenix-like, out of the ashes of Munich, to become the all-conquering side of the 60s/70s. Busby was the catalyst.”

Having Old Trafford within his ministry area must have given Fr John great access to the grounds, the big names and to games.

“I saw all those great players of different eras, like Law, Best, McGrath, Moran, Neville, Irwin, Beckham, Robson, the Dunnes, of course, and many more. Johnny Giles was gone at that stage. On Mondays we met great United players in the Devi Hume golf club.”

Talk to me, Fr John, about some Irish Man United players of particular interest. Start with George Best, my favourite United player.

“I can see why he would be your favour- ite. He was very special indeed even at a very young age on that great United team. The way he could dribble was legendary. What control he had with both feet, even in the depths of winter on muddy pitches and opposing defenders going with the sliding tackles. His sense of timing and control was miraculous, learned under the streetlamp lights in Belfast where you had to be deft, smart and able to swerve to keep the ball away from neighbouring children.

“He transferred that to Old Trafford and elsewhere. Who can ever forget him in the European Cup?”

Another great he saw in action, was Kevin Moran, who also excelled with the Dubs in football.

“Kevin Moran was a natural competitor who gave it everything in any sport he chose. He never shirked a tackle or a header. He put his head in where others would withdraw, the kind of player you would want on your team. He was al - ways comfortable on the ball, always driving on. A true warrior.”

And the enigmatic Roy Keane of course. Was the Mayfield native as odd as he appears to us in public?

“True, you got what you saw from Roy. He was his own man, always playing with fierce drive and determination, expecting everyone on the team to give 100% to support his guaranteed 110%. Somewhat strange in public, never tolerating slackers and a mighty driving force in that engine of the great United team of his era.

“If things were not right he would say so. I also saw the private side of Roy’s life. He always kept his family life private and shielded his family from the glare of publicity. His children attended the local Catholic school and he never missed important family occasions, liturgical or lay. He was the dutiful parent at the parent-teacher meetings and not the public brash Keano.

Of course, he does great charity work especially with the dogs for the visually impaired. He also does a lot of other voluntary work for other charities that people do not know about and he does not seek the limelight. It’s not so long

| By Eamonn Fitzgerald

ago since he was in Kerry to support a very worthy cause.”

Fr Ahern was a great man to get tickets for sports aficionados here at home. I know that over the years Kerry players like Mikey, Powery, Seánie, Ogie, Bomber, Jacko, Gooch and many more can thank him.

“Yes, those were great sports heroes who enjoyed the soccer experience as spectators and we saw that sport transcended all codes when we got them into the hospitality suite after the games. These people understand each other irrespective of the code. Sure, they met them all there. They were great occasions.”

Fr John left Manchester in 1973 to work on the Missions in Peru until 1982. “Soccer was very important in that country also. I kept in touch with sport, like in 1977 when Liverpool were deemed unbeatable but United denied them the treble. I watched that game in a satellite tracking station in Lurin in the company of the late Fr John O’Connell, a Columban priest from Béal na Díoga. You know that place well, just out beyond Barradubh.”

Fr Ahern is retired in his native Firies, but like so many other retired priests here in Kerry and elsewhere he is still helping out with masses, sacraments, funerals and other liturgical ceremonies. Where would we be without them?

Saol fada romhat, Fr John. It was a joy, as always, to be in your company.