The 16th Man

THE GAA don’t do statues, but if they ever get around to erecting monuments to their greatest Mick O’Dwyer should be the first man cast in bronze.

The GAA tend to honour their heroes of the past by naming grounds, stands, cups and competitions after them.

In England, soccer clubs have gone the route of putting up statues of their greatest figures and the likes of Billy Shankly, Matt Busby, Brian Clough and Billy Bremner are all honoured in this way.

And Croke Park would do well to follow their example – starting with a big, permanent likeness of Mick O’Dwyer on the Jones Road.

Micko is often hailed as the greatest manager that the Association has even known.

Well, you could easily go one further and say that the Waterville Wizard is the greatest thing that ever happened to the GAA.

For 36 years and more he has prowled up and down the sidelines, following on from a brilliant career as a Kerry footballer – something that is often forgotten.

As a boss he led the Kingdom to eight All-Irelands and just as significantly he brought Kildare and Laois to Leinster titles.

He never got close to that with Wicklow, but he re-energised a Division 4 county and gave them the belief that they could live with the best.

At 75-years-old he is still able to motivate players nearly six decades his junior and there’s rarely an atmosphere at a Championship game like there is when Micko’s involved.

He has never been slow to criticise the GAA and this hasn’t always sat well with those at the top. Who knows, maybe this is the reason he was never given the one job he feels is missing from his CV – that of Ireland Internationals Rules manager.

Some people doubt that his motivations are always pure, but it’s an undeniable fact that Mick O’Dwyer is completely in love with and addicted to football.

He wants to manage an inter-county team again next year and there are plenty of counties out there who would do well to secure his services.

There’s no need to worry about his age – this man is full beans even after 75 years, over one third of the GAA’s 126-year history, at the top level.

After guiding his Wicklow side to an All-Ireland qualifier draw against Armagh at the Morgan Athletic Grounds last Saturday week he was on the first tee at a golf course in South Kerry at 7.0 the next morning when most of his players were still in bed.

This man has done more for the promotion of Gaelic Games than 100 full-time coaches could ever manage.

The GAA should get in touch with a good sculptor, get that statue up and have the man himself unveil it before it’s too late.