When did the man last play for Meath? Was before my time and was asked about it at work today

upthesen (Meath) - Posts: 45 - 05/03/2011 19:52:41    882026

He won an all ireland in 1967 with meath think he retired in the early 70s.

tailteannpark (Meath) - Posts: 174 - 05/03/2011 20:08:56    882051

I mean he retired in the early 1970s.

tailteannpark (Meath) - Posts: 174 - 05/03/2011 20:19:34    882063

I know that he played at no 5 in the 1970 all ireland final.

jake1 (Meath) - Posts: 268 - 05/03/2011 20:33:35    882081

Ollie Shanley played in that final with a broken bone in his ankle.

eyeinthesky (Meath) - Posts: 44 - 06/03/2011 12:50:54    882224

I understand the 1970 All-Ireland Final was an 80 minute game !!!! against a Kerry team which included among others a certain Mick O Connell and Mick O Dwyer. Believe Shanley was the speed merchant for that Meath team in the sixties and was the leading scorer on that Meath team which went unbeaten in all 7 games on the Meath tour of Australia in April 1968. I think Peter McDermott was the manager and wrote a book about it after called " Gaels in the Sun" .

spillanesmeat (Meath) - Posts: 103 - 06/03/2011 15:06:21    882264

spillanesmeat
That's a reasonably good summary. He came on the Meath team after the 1966 defeat to Galway as a corner forward and replaced Gerry Quinn who was undergoing an operation for a cartilage problem. In the final in '67 against Cork Peter McDermott called him over after a few minutes of the game and told him to operate as a third midfielder, something that was most unusual at that time. He played a blinder and it was this move more than any other which all the analysts, such as they were at the time, said won the game for Meath. He played in the '70 final but I cannot remember him after that. Mick O Dwyer scored a goal in that game but the clincher was a goal which many would say was one of the best ever scored in an All Ireland final. D.J Cowley soloed about 40 yds before hitting an unmerciful, unstoppable shot. It was game over after that.

The real Árd Rí (Meath) - Posts: 990 - 06/03/2011 18:47:31    882438

The reason that Oliie moved to midfield was because like in the previous years All Ireland final there was one heck of a gale blowing in Croke Park. In 1966 wind assisted Galway were 9 or 10 points up against warm favourites Meath at the break and the match was over. I think in those days Meath traditionally always played into the wind in the opening half and Cork had first advantage of the elements in 67. The plan worked and I think Meath only went in 0-4 to 0-1 behind at the break. The rest is history as they say.Ollie was also switched to right half back in the terrific Leinster decider of 1970 to curb a rampant future All Star Tony McTeague of Offaly. Again the plan worked and he lined out in that position against Kerry in the final. Ollie played for his native Duleek, Trim while based as a Garda there and later became invoved with Simonstown who he managed to a Meath junior title in the late 80s.All his sons played with the Navan club.He was also manager of the Meath minor team which reached the All Ireland decider of 1977. A real Gentleman.

Auldfella (Meath) - Posts: 472 - 06/03/2011 19:02:56    882458

Was Ollie Shanley born in Leitrim?

HarrietPotter (Leitrim) - Posts: 31 - 07/03/2011 09:16:10    882700

I do not know if Ollie was actually born in Leitrim but his father was from that county and was a Garda based in Duleek.

Auldfella (Meath) - Posts: 472 - 07/03/2011 10:54:00    882753

Something tells me that his father also served in Kingscourt probably in the thirties or forties. Can anyone confirm.

The real Árd Rí (Meath) - Posts: 990 - 07/03/2011 16:38:12    883080

One of my earliest memories was after the All Ireland Finals in 1970 when we were brought as younsters over to Trim to see the team homecoming.Despite the loss to kerry the crowds that turned out was incredible and for some reason I remember Ollie Shanley getting a great reception from the crowd.I think he was a Guard based in Trim at the time but I could be wrong.I know he later changed careers and worked as a solicitor in Navan.He took up golf and played for years out of Royal Tara.Also remember him with the minors in 1977 when by all accounts he was a popular coach who had a good way with fellahs.

noneutrals (Dublin) - Posts: 316 - 07/03/2011 18:08:58    883153

All posts have a little bit right and a little bit wrong. Ollie Shanley was corner forward in the 1964 Leinster Final victory over Dublin (2-12 to 1-7), He had oreviously played in a number of positions for Meath including in the backs. They lost the All Ireland s/f v Galway. He won another Leinster title in 1966 and again Galway won, Ollie sustained a broken ankle in this game. However that team was rewarded the following year when the All Ireland was wone with a 1-9 to 0-9 victoty over Cork. He again featured at No 15 in the first 80 minute Leinster Final of 1970. (Provincial finals All Ireland simi finals and Finals were over 80 minutes from 1970 to 1974 - all other games were 60 minutes). At h/t in the 1070 Leinster Final Ollie switched to right half back, Mick White of Rathkenny went from No 5 to right corner back, Bertie Cunningham switched from right corner back to left corner back. Peter Black (RIP) Bellewstown was the player to loose out. Mickey Fay of Trim came on in Ollies place at left corner forward and scored two goals to get one hell of a recovery on the way. The team retained that winning line out to get a championship victory over Galway at last in the simi final. Kerry wone the final 2-19 to 0-18 in a very good final, except for the result that is. Mick Gleeson scored Kerry's first goal mid way through the 2nd half. He recently was an independent canditate in the recent general election - he was not elected. D J Crowley got Kerry's 2nd goal at the very end of the games as Meath pushed forward to try and get a goal. M Fay (0-10), Tony Brennan (0-5) and Ken Rennicks were outstanding forwards for Meath. The two Vincents, Foley & Lynch had good periods at mif field even against Mick O'Connell, Jack Quinn gave an exhibition at full back. Pat Reynolds had an outstanding first half, Ollie was sound and Mick White had an outstanding 80 minutes on Mick O'Dwyer. Ollie played for about another 3 yeras, mainly in attack.

MillerX (Meath) - Posts: 1132 - 08/03/2011 18:14:11    884020