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The Greatest full back of them all

by Colum Cromwell

Later this year Meath will be celebrating the Golden Jubilee of the first time the Sam Maguire Cup came to the Royal County. Of all the great days and memorable occasions that Meath GAA has seen in the 115 years since the founding of the Association, none can compare with that glorious September day in 1949 when a gallant team led by Brian Smith brought that famous piece of silverware to the county for the first time. One of the heroes of that great victory was Skryne’s Paddy O’Brien, wearing the No.3 Jersey. Thirty five years later in Centenary Year when men sat down to name ‘The Team of the Century’ they chose just one Meathman - the full back Paddy O’Brien. Of those old enough to remember very few would disagree with the choice.

Paddy O’Brien was born in Skryne Co.Meath in 1925, the second eldest of a family of eight. He attended the local National School where at an early age his football talents were already noted. During the ‘30s, while Paddy was a schoolboy, the fortunes of the local club were on the upturn. The Meath Intermediate title was won twice - 1933 and 1937 and when the Club went up to Senior for the 2nd time in 1938 they began a sequence which has lasted to the present day. As of new Skryne is by a long shot the ‘oldest’ Senior Club in Meath.

In 1940 and 1941 the Senior Football Championship was won so teenager Paddy had something to aim at, viz a place on the best Senior team in Meath. In 1942 at the age of 17 Paddy made his Senior debut for his club and played at right corner forward in the Senior Final only to lose to Donaghmore. Duleek were Senior Champions in 1943 but Skryne came back to win the title in both 1944 and 1945 and so Paddy won two Senior Championship medals. The ‘44 final v Navan Parnells was an historic affair as it took three matches to arrive at a conclusive result. Although Paddy had already made his debut for Meath in competitions such as the Cairnes Cup in Drogheda it was his displays against Parnells at centre field in those three finals which really made the Meath supporters realise they had a special talent on their doorstep. For the next 11 years Paddy O’Brien was a household name throughout the length and breadth of Ireland and his successes included:
All-Ireland (2) 1949, 1954
Leinster Championship (5) 1947, 1949, 1951, 1952, 1954
National Football League (2) 1946, 1951
Railway Cup (3) 1953, 1954, 1955

Up until the winter of 1948/49 Paddy was ever present at midfield. On the retiral of Matt O’Toole (also a Skryne man) in ‘48 Meath needed a new full back so Paddy was tried in the position. From day one he was an instant success, with mighty catching and long accurate kicking his distinctive hallmarks. In those day the Full Back usually kicked out the ball (there is no rule to say who should do). Paddy was famous for his long raking kick outs.

Having won two Senior Championships with Skryne, Paddy moved to live and work in Dublin where he lined out for Sean McDermotts, a club which catered largely for country lads who moved to the ‘Big Smoke’ for employment reasons. Although he missed out on further championship successes with his native club in 1947, 1948 and 1954, he had compensation by captaining ‘Seans’ to a Dublin Championship title in 1947, the year before the great run of St Vincents successes began.

Paddy was an automatic choice on the first ‘Ireland’ Team in 1950 when a type of International team was selected for an Annual Match v The Combined Universities, a series that lasted for about five years. It would be roughly the equivalent of today’s All Stars Selection.

On Railway Cup duty Paddy was first selected at mid-field for Leinster in 1948 and having served there for two years was picked at full back for four of the following six years, culminating with the three-in-a-row wins 1953-1955. In the last of these in 1955 Paddy captained his province to victory and indeed in all three the whole full back line was from Meath (O’Brien, O’Brien, McConnell). Another victory as Captain was the Leinster Title of 1954 but by All-Ireland Day he had handed over to Peter McDermott who was representing County Champions of ‘53, O’Mahonys.

Amongst Paddy O’Brien’s greatest opponents in those far off days were full forwards, Peter Donohoe (Cavan) and Tom Langan (Mayo) and at midfield Eddie Dowling (Kerry). When Meath played Kerry in the 1947 All-Ireland Semi-Final Paddy’s midfield partner was Victor Sherlock. Two years later Victor lined out at midfield for Cavan on the day Paddy was at full-back as Meath beat the Breffni men in the All-Ireland Final. Victor reversed the story three years later in the ‘52 final.

When old times are asked what was Paddy O’Brien’s greatest display, two answers come to the fore, the 1949 semi final v Mayo (when Meath were outsiders) and the 1954 final v Kerry (when Meath were still outsiders) and Paddy played with a heavily bandaged neck - in fact he had been a doubtful starter. At centre field the Leinster Final of 1947 v Laois would probably be seen as his greatest display.

In 1955 after Paddy had led Leinster to Railway cup success Meath suffered two big defeats (National League Final and Leinster Final) to a young Dublin side boasting such stars as Ollie Freaney, Kevin Heffernan, Dessy Ferguson, Cathal O’Leary and Jim Crowley. During the early 50s the Dubs hadn’t been able to get the better of the Royals but ‘55 showed that the clock was moving on and the great success story had reached the end. Paddy O’Brien and his two corner backs, cousins Miceal O’Brien and Kevin McConnell all retired from the inter-county scene simultaneously. The three had been inseparable as a unit since 1949 and are still hailed as All Time Greats throughout Meath and further afield. Paddy came back to play with Skryne for just a few matches in 1956 (at full forward) and that was that.

In a few months we celebrate the Golden Jubilee of that great day in ‘49 and Meath will once again remember with pride the one and only Paddy O’Brien. In the years since ‘55 we have had many other great full backs. Jack Quinn, Mick Lyons and Darren Fay have all starred in All-Ireland victories but the old timers still remember Paddy O’Brien as the greatest full back of them all.