A Boyhood Sporting Hero

Most boys have their sporting heroes and mine played Gaelic Football The mighty Mick O Connell the greatest I recall But Mick O played for Kerry and Cork my favourite team And to play football good as him was many school boy's dream The finest Gaelic Footballer that I have ever seen Not rough or hard in any way but classical and clean And though that was many years ago and far so far away Of great player from Valentia the memory with me stay. When Mick O's playing days were over he faded from the scene But memories of his playing feats will remain evergreen His high fielding and kicking and his passing of the ball The complete Gaelic Footballer the greatest of them all. He never hogged the limelight he seemed so quiet and shy But he was sporting hero to many school going boy And even many who did not support Kerry will still tell you today That Valentia's Mick O Connell was the best they had seen play. My hero played for Kerry and Cork my favourite team And to be good a player as him an early teenage dream But as a Gaelic Footballer I never made the grade And I won't be remembered for any game I played.