Meath Forum

Kevin Foley

(Oldest Posts First)

Just after watching a replay of the '91 final v Down on Eir Sport, first time I watched it to the end in years, 27 years on and I still bite my tongue at that one.....as often happens after watching a match from years gone by I started googling figuring out the ages some of those players are now and came across a rather remarkable statistic I didn't know from a report in the Independent some years back. In all the years he played and all the great performances he gave Kevin Foley was never once nominated for an All Star let alone win one, I found that astounding given his strength and tenacity in the half back line, perhaps he suffered that stigma certain Meath players had that they were tough but unskilled, that certainly wasn't true of Foley, but how a man that was almost a nailed on starter in that team 8 years in a row, consistently gave strong performances, scored one of the most famous goals in GAA history and frightened the shite out of Kieran Duff on more than one occasion, was never even nominated for an All Star is pretty sad, anyway Kevin for what it's worth you were certainly an All Star in my eyes, jersey out and socks down :-)

Richieq (Meath) - Posts: 3734 - 17/07/2018 21:55:30    2123319

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I didnt realise that Richie. I agree with you wholeheartedly. At least he has two all Ireland, 2 Leinster and 2 National League medals which some multi winning All Stars haven't seen the colour of.

oldsam_newsam (Meath) - Posts: 638 - 17/07/2018 22:33:32    2123332

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As oldsam says i'm sure it bothers Kevin not a jot when he looks at the silverwear on his mantle piece.

The weird thing on this is I believe back in those days if you were booked at all during the championship that automatically ruled you out of getting an all star. Royal dunne might be the man who could confirm that.

And another item of note is Liam Harnan also never won an all star. I'm not sure if he was ever nominated either.

brian (Meath) - Posts: 1954 - 18/07/2018 07:47:24    2123368

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Replying To brian:  "As oldsam says i'm sure it bothers Kevin not a jot when he looks at the silverwear on his mantle piece.

The weird thing on this is I believe back in those days if you were booked at all during the championship that automatically ruled you out of getting an all star. Royal dunne might be the man who could confirm that.

And another item of note is Liam Harnan also never won an all star. I'm not sure if he was ever nominated either."
no you had to be sent off to lose an all star colm o rourke was sent off in a league game in kells late 1987 and lost an all star

meath1977 (Meath) - Posts: 534 - 18/07/2018 09:52:48    2123396

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Replying To meath1977:  "no you had to be sent off to lose an all star colm o rourke was sent off in a league game in kells late 1987 and lost an all star"
Cheers sir, wasn't 100% if it was a booking or sending off that counted.

brian (Meath) - Posts: 1954 - 18/07/2018 10:51:17    2123416

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Replying To Richieq:  "Just after watching a replay of the '91 final v Down on Eir Sport, first time I watched it to the end in years, 27 years on and I still bite my tongue at that one.....as often happens after watching a match from years gone by I started googling figuring out the ages some of those players are now and came across a rather remarkable statistic I didn't know from a report in the Independent some years back. In all the years he played and all the great performances he gave Kevin Foley was never once nominated for an All Star let alone win one, I found that astounding given his strength and tenacity in the half back line, perhaps he suffered that stigma certain Meath players had that they were tough but unskilled, that certainly wasn't true of Foley, but how a man that was almost a nailed on starter in that team 8 years in a row, consistently gave strong performances, scored one of the most famous goals in GAA history and frightened the shite out of Kieran Duff on more than one occasion, was never even nominated for an All Star is pretty sad, anyway Kevin for what it's worth you were certainly an All Star in my eyes, jersey out and socks down :-)"
Good post.

Kevin was definitely one of the unsung heroes for Meath. 1990 was arguably his best year in the green and gold. He played centre back as a replacement for the injured Liam Harnan and won all his individual battles. Ciaran Duff in the Leinster final, Martin McHugh in the All Ireland semi final and Larry Tompkins in the All Ireland final.

Toney (Meath) - Posts: 298 - 18/07/2018 12:33:58    2123458

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Replying To brian:  "As oldsam says i'm sure it bothers Kevin not a jot when he looks at the silverwear on his mantle piece.

The weird thing on this is I believe back in those days if you were booked at all during the championship that automatically ruled you out of getting an all star. Royal dunne might be the man who could confirm that.

And another item of note is Liam Harnan also never won an all star. I'm not sure if he was ever nominated either."
It was if you sent off you became ineligible for a all star. Stopped colm Coyle getting one one year.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 18/07/2018 16:40:27    2123543

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Replying To royaldunne:  "It was if you sent off you became ineligible for a all star. Stopped colm Coyle getting one one year."
Also cost Colm O Rourke an All -Star following an altercation behind the Goals at the end of a Senior Club Championship match against Oldcastle when the game was finished ( I think it was in Kells ) . Ref red carded after the match . O Rourke was a shoo in for a All Star that year but for that card ......Some people ( a certain set of Oldcastle brothers ) never lived that one down .....And their lack of Senior appearances in the Green and Gold was meant to be attributed to that little altercation .

Meath_True (Meath) - Posts: 285 - 19/07/2018 09:24:59    2123683

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Replying To Meath_True:  "Also cost Colm O Rourke an All -Star following an altercation behind the Goals at the end of a Senior Club Championship match against Oldcastle when the game was finished ( I think it was in Kells ) . Ref red carded after the match . O Rourke was a shoo in for a All Star that year but for that card ......Some people ( a certain set of Oldcastle brothers ) never lived that one down .....And their lack of Senior appearances in the Green and Gold was meant to be attributed to that little altercation ."
The O'Rourke v Oldcastle incident took place in Dunderry the Sunday after Meath beat Cork in 1990 league Final.

Around Mid May.

Ibbecek (Meath) - Posts: 196 - 19/07/2018 11:32:01    2123713

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