Never Settling For Second-Best

The Irish Examiner's Exclusive Interview With Cork Legend And Manager Billy Morgan

By Dermot Kavanagh

Cork people are never slow to pledge perpetual loyalty to their sporting heroes. The country's list of sporting icons only ever increases.

Once a player makes that list he or she is never removed from it irrespective of whatever shortcomings or mishaps may occur in their lives afterwards. Loyalty is permanent.

Players who have represented the county with distinction, in Gaelic games in particular, have enjoyed a special relationship with Cork's sporting public.

Players such as the Coughlans, the Barry-Murphy's, Christy Ring, Eamon Young, Ray Cummins, Sean Og, Brian Corcoran and others too numerous to mention and of course, Billy Morgan.

I recently spent some time in the company of Billy Morgan. To say that every expectation I had prior to our meeting was fulfilled would be an understatement.

Over many topics Billy was sharp, incisive, intelligent, witty, non-committal where necessary and not unimpartially in control.

Billy exudes many diverse qualities, the brightest of which are his passion and his 'Corkness'. This passion is particularly evident in his approach to Cork football, a pastime that has occupied a major portion of his life over the last half century.

Despite this passion one feels that were he asked to settle for second-last he would literally walk away.

Billy obtained his entire first and second level education at Colaiste Christ Ri in Cork city. As Billy remarks, "my medal collection at Christ Ri was meagre but I did acquire a love of sport that over time has become almost an addiction."

Billy's introduction to the inter-county scene was as a centre forward on a Cork minor team beaten by Kerry in a replayed Munster final.

His skill as a goalkeeper was not yet established and when it was proven, it came as a result of his exploits with local soccer team, Tramore Athletic.

When Billy went to University College, the team's coach, aware of Billy heroics on the soccer field, positioned him in goal.

Billy's time at university was rewarded with an arts degree and two sigerson medals. Promotion to Cork's under 21 and senior teams quickly followed.

However Billy had to endure defeats in two All Ireland finals, in 1965 at U-21 and 1967 at senior to Kildare and Meath respectively.

Billy, by now in his early 20s, was offered a goalkeeping trial by famed Glasgow Celtic. While the trial went well he had to return to Cork city before the trial period had run its course as a teaching post in Cork city was offered to him, one which he wanted to take.

However Billy did not cut himself away from his soccer connections.

Over the years he was on the books of League of Ireland teams such as Waterford United, Cork City and Cork Alberts as a replacement goalkeeper.

After graduating from university Billy returned to play for Nemo Rangers a Cork city club.

In November 1972 Billy and Nemo realised a lifetime's ambition when they won their first Cork senior title.

From that win Billy and Nemo went on to dominate Cork and Munster club football, winning a further 6 Cork titles and 7 Munster titles in the following years. Two club all Ireland titles, in 1973 and 1979 only added to Billy and Nemo's stature.

In 1973 Cork emphatically broke the Kerry stronghold on the Munster title with a five-goal trouncing at a rain sodden Cork athletic Grounds.

That win opened the door for Billy and Cork to scale the heights when he led his county to a memorable win in the All Ireland over Galway.

In an illustrious career that lasted over 15 years Billy won every senior honour in the game - 1 All Ireland, 5 Munster titles, 4 Railway Cups, 1 National League, 1 All Star and the 1973 Texaco Footballer Of The Year.

To pursue a Masters degree in sports science Billy and his family spent the early 1980s in New York.

While there he played both hurling and football in the local championships with Clare and Leitrim respectively.

On his return to Cork Billy wasted no time in immersing himself in both club and county affairs. In time he would mastermind more club glory for Nemo, winning further Cork, Munster and All Ireland titles.

However Billy was now about to reach iconic status as a football motivator and coach as, almost single-handily, he guided Cork to their first ever 4-in-a-row of Munster titles, and back to back All Ireland titles in 1989 and 1990.

Further All Ireland glory eluded him, but he did lead Cork to a 3 in a row of Munster titles in 1993/94 and 95.

In 1996 Billy resigned as Cork Manager. However any talk of permanent retirement as Cork's football coach were greatly exaggerated and here he is now, in his early 60's leading Cork in pursuit of further All Ireland glory.

Of all the wins and losses which Billy endured over his career, two defeats in particular stand out.

Despite team trainer Donie O'Donovan's best efforts, Billy recalls that the team overcelebrated their 1973 All Ireland win.

Thus, he feels they were not ready for the challenge that a rejuvenated, highly trained Dublin put to them in the 1974 semi final.

Billy remarks that while Dublin fully deserved to win he wonders how the football landscape for the remainder of the 1970s would have looked had they heeded their trainer's advice.

The second game that still causes Billy unease was the 1976 Munster final defeat by Kerry.

In Billy's view, and in the eyes of most neutrals (supported by video evidence) Cork had a perfectly legitimate goal by Declan Barron disallowed and worse, referee John Maloney adjudged a goal line 'save' by corner back Brian Murphy to have occurred beyond the line and gave Kerry the goal they needed.

Again Billy wonders, had justice been done to Cork that day, would Kerry ever have gathered the momentum to dominate Gaelic football over the following eight years.

When asked his views on the future of the Compromise Rules series against Australia Billy simply replied that he had no interest in the concept and asked the question, "what's the point of it?"

Billy very sportingly and wisely refused to comment on some of the managerial spats that are ongoing here presently, but he did acknowledge that he has the highest regard for Brian Cody's achievements with Kilkenny.

Billy who manages his own Financial Consultancy Service in Cork City would not be drawn on Sunday's final against Kerry, other than to say that Cork are travelling to Croke Park to win.

One senses, judging by the manner in which he has led his sporting and business life, that if he didn't genuinely believe Cork could win he wouldn't even bother to watch.

Billy who is about to run his third marathon next month is a playing member of Kinsale Golf Club. He resides in Cork City with his wife Mary and family.