Kevin O’Neill, who recently retired as Chief Executive of Newry and Mourne district council, was a member of the first Abbey C.B.S. side to win the MacRory Cup. He had been in the county senior squad from the mid-50’s.

Younger brother, Sean, gained a reputation on Abbey teams, which won the McMahon, Corn-na-Og and Rannafast Cups, with the legendary Gerry Brown as manager. Sean described those sides as the best-coached that he had ever played on. However, he missed out on the Mac Rory Cup, having left for Queen’s University.

A few months later, the Newry Mitchels striker joined the county senior squad. And it was at Wembley Stadium, early in 1959, that the Mournemen sprang to national attention, by comprehensively defeating a star-studded Galway side, which included Sean Purcell, Frankie Stockwell and Mattie McDonagh. Patsy O’Hagan scored a hat-trick.

“It was green for go,” Sean recalled. “We were knocking at the door, and the national press was forced to sit up and take notice. Challenge matches were arranged with other Southern sides, to give us a taste of their style. And when we played a draw against the reigning All-Ireland champions, Dublin, in a friendly game at Croke Park, that did us no harm.”

In the 1959 Ulster Championship, the Mournemen skated through all opposition, destroying Cavan with the heaviest defeat ever suffered by the Breffni County in an Ulster Final. The coveted Anglo-Celt Cup had come to Down for the first time. But when a confident side in red and black faced the Connaught champions at Croke Park, they met a craftier outfit, who had learned some lessons from the Wembley encounter.

Sean O’Neill said: “Back in the dressing-room we were very despondent, believing we had not displayed the football of which we were capable, - that we had let down ourselves and our supporters. At that moment, we were resolved to come back the next year, and go all the way. The squad realised that they had the talent and ability to win an All-Ireland Final.”

Prospects looked good, as Cavan fell victim once again in the 1960 Ulster Final. But it took two dour and hard-fought battles against Offaly before Down got through to meet the mighty Kerrymen, in their first-ever challenge for the Sam Maguire Cup.

Now there was magic and excitement in the air; the impossible dream was within reach. A forest of red and black greeted the dark-horses from the North, as they calmly paraded alongside the men in green and gold, behind the Artane Boys’ Band. And it came to pass that the Mourne side dictated the game at the outset, with the side in green and gold counter-attacking.

Sean recalled: “We held on, did not wilt or collapse. And, in typical fashion, James McCartan scored a brilliant goal from 40 years. Then came a penalty, after Paddy Doherty had been nailed by Tadg Lyon. `Mo` punished the foul. After that, there was no way we were going to be caught.”

The celebrations, as the Sam Maguire Cup was carried over the border for the first time, were joyous. And the feat was repeated the following year. But, just as it seemed certain to be three-in- a-row in 1962, came disaster in the Ulster Final at Casement Park, when a Cavan forward named Peter Pritchard scored two shock late goals, - and spoiled the party!

Many pundits have puzzled why star-studded, experienced Mourne squads failed to climb the G.A.A. Everest for another six years. Sean O’Neill once again mounted the rostrum at Croke Park to receive an All-Ireland medal in 1968, after his early, opportunistic goal had set the Down side on the road to victory over Kerry.

He explained: “We had been at the top for three years, and had achieved everything. Most of us had sacrificed family, friends, other interests, - and even careers. And it was agreed that we should not go back into strict training, as we needed a mental rest.” There had also been the extensive United States tour, a few weeks before the 1962 Ulster Final.

The name and reputation of Sean O’Neill will live on for the rest of this century at least, in the new G.A.A. Academy, based at Queen’s University. And, if future students and graduates can surpass Queen’s record of last year alone, in supplying 13 members of Armagh’s historic All-Ireland winning squad, as well as four players on Tyrone’s National League Champions side, the new Academy will be a glorious success.

As the Head of the Academy’s Development Panel, John Devenney explained: “We hope to attract some of the brightest young Gaelic games’ stars from across the country, who can follow in the footsteps of those prestigious predecessors. The Academy can aid in a player’s development, to ensure that he can achieve his goals.

“At a time when players are facing increasing demands, and the threat of burn-out, their needs must be catered for. In order for players to compete at the higher levels for longer, we must provide the best coaches and services, to help improve performances, and lift some of the burdens.”

Certainly, if those aspiring stars can emulate the skill, dedication and loyalty to club and county of the Newry superstar, - that torturer of defences, poised, menacing, intelligent and quick-silver, they will justify this imaginative initiative. And they will be proud to have graduated from the Sean O’Neill G.A.A. Academy!

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