He praised Patsy O’Hagan from Clonduff as “one of the most under-rated players of Gaelic football. He was so adaptable and versatile that he could play an exceptional game in any position. In one National League Semi-final he filled five positions, for the selectors knew that he would always do an efficient job. In fact, Patsy scored three of the most brilliant goals ever seen at Wembley Stadium, when playing against Galway.”

Victory against the Connacht champions in 1959 had been an achievement which the Northerners had never chalked up before. So, when they won the Ulster Championship for the first time, and went forward to meet the men in maroon in the All-Ireland Semi-final, a few months later, there was a great air of confidence in the Down camp. But it was a different ball-game at Croke Park, where the Tribesmen revelled in the big occasion, in contrast to their inexperienced opponents, who put in a below-par performance.

The men in red and black went on to win the National League title, defeating Kerry in the final at Croke Park, when Brian Morgan was marking the great Jerome O’Shea, - “a tremendous footballer. The Kingdom’s tradition never bothered us; once we got to Croke Park, reputations counted for nothing. We raised our game to suit the challenge, - and it was very hard to stop us!”

Nor did Cavan, once the premier side in Ulster, pose any problems for this determined Down team in the 1960 Ulster Final. Gabriel Kelly had the onerous task of keeping an eye on the elusive Brian Morgan. Four times, Brian was brought down when going through, and Paddy Doherty converted, notching a personal tally of 11 points.

On then to Croke Park, where only Offaly stood in the path of a cherished clash with Kerry in an All-Ireland Final. A master–stroke by the Mourne selectors was to enlist the experience of the Meath maestro, Peter McDermott, to analyse the squad’s weaknesses, and fine-tune their match approach. By coincidence, McDermott had successfully performed a similar task for the Down side, which contested the All-Ireland Junior Championship Final in 1946.

Brian Morgan explained: “Peter had no time for losers. He told us that, if we were not prepared to go out and give of our best, - even our lives, - then we might as well pull off the red and black jerseys. We had to prove that we were capable of winning an All-Ireland title.”

The first semi-final against Offaly ended in a draw. And the replay was a rough, tough, no-holds-barred encounter, with the pitch littered with injured Down players, early in the second–half. Then, in the dying minutes, Patsy O’Hagan fired in a fierce drive, the goalie parried the shot and Brian Morgan pounced to score the winning goal. Down were through to their first All-Ireland Senior Final.

A humorous episode in the dressing-room before the big match helped to relieve the tension for Brian Morgan and Patsy O’Hagan. They were changing close to the rear door, and could hear a crowd of supporters, who had been locked out and had no chance of getting in to see that historic game.

Brian commented: “We felt that was not fair; so when the players were going down the tunnel and on to the field, we slipped the bolt on the back-door and cleared off.” Dozens of fans were able to get on to the sideline, before the stewards could stop them.

That 1960 Final was, of course, a sensational affair, as seasoned sports commentators could not believe what they were witnessing. The dark-horses from the North subjected a star-packed Kerry squad to their heaviest defeat at Croke Park. One Press reporter described Brian Morgan’s display: “At a disadvantage in height and weight, he tore into the struggle with a vengeance, and fairly ruled the roost. Subject to some heavy tackles, he fought it out with Jerome O’Shea, and came out on top.”

The double was on the cards in 1961, Offaly once again standing in the way, this time in the final. But the men in red and black were trailing by two goals and two points, within the first seven minutes. Then Paddy Doherty laid on three terrific goals, one from Sean O’Neill and another from James McCartan. Finally came the winner when Brian Morgan almost burst the net, ensuring that the Sam Maguire Cup would return to the Mourne county.

But with the end of Down’s reign in 1962, the little man from Annaclone realised that new blood would be needed. So he took a less prominent role with the county squad, coming on as a sub in the 1963 All-Ireland Semi-final against Dublin; and was on the panel against Galway in 1964.

In 2004, President Mary McAleese, the Taoiseach and G.A.A. chiefs led the nation in mourning at the sudden death of Cormac McAnallen, who helped Tyrone win the Sam Maguire Cup for the first time. But when Brian Morgan, who played a key role in twice bringing that coveted trophy to Down, had also died, there was not even one minute’s silence at G.A.A. matches in the county!

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