Today we look at Patrick Sarsfield’s ‘Best 15’ footballers through the eyes of former player, John Barr. John served the ‘Paddies’ for many years as a player and also represented Antrim and his high fielding made him a formidable player. He is part of this year’s management team but like most of our contributors he has modestly declined to select himself on his side’s Best 15.

Not everyone will agree with his selection. It’s just one man’s opinion. Just a bit of fun!

John Barr’s ‘Best 15’

My Sarsfields ‘15’

I note the SOS from Saffron Gael requesting a Sarsfields Best 15, not wanting to let the moment pass please see my contribution. I have been in and around our Senior Football team nearly 30 years. Firstly introduced as a fresh faced teenager in the early 90’s progressing in later years to team manager. I’m back again this year as a coach, assisting current team manager Jim Mc Menamin.

In the early nineties we had the perennial tag of bridesmaids losing three IFC Finals in a row. Firstly to Glenavy in 1992, St Theresa’s in 1993 and O’Donnells in 1994, we just couldn’t get the job done. This all changed in 1995 when we beat McDermott’s at Milltown with my father Jim Barr as team manager it definitely made the victory all the more sweet.

With over a 100 years plus of history I have limited my selections to the players I have played with, managed and coached. However it would be remiss of me not to mention some of the Sarsfields all-time greats who have worn the famous Green and Black. I was raised on stories of the exploits of Paddies icons such as Jimmy Ward, Micky McKearney, Brian Whinnery and Eamon McGarrigle Snr. The team listed is from 1995 onwards and features many dual players who have represented the club with distinction over many years..

1- Christopher Barr – Couldn’t look past my brother for this position standing at 6ft 5” he was a formidable presence between the sticks for both the Senior Footballers and Senior hurlers. He got personally acquainted with many a full forward during his playing days at the ‘Bear Pit’.

2-James Walsh (RIP) – Tough tackling corner back there wasn’t too many corner forwards that liked coming up against James, sadly gone too soon. Serious amount of nominees for this position including Liam McAllister, Kevo Snr, Danny McKavanagh  Tommy Logan, Dee McAllister and current senior player Jack Daniels. James however fully justifies his selection at corner back.

3- Conor McKearney – He will hate being selected at this position but he played here when we won the IFC in 95. In later years he was our centre half back and it wasn’t uncommon for him to finish a game with 0-3 to his name he loved those runs forward. As good a hurler as he was a footballer Conor also played for Antrim v Down under Aidan Thornberry in the Marshes and was part of the Antrim set up which defeated Down at Casement a year later.

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• 4- Jim Toal/Paddy Molloy – Two similar players couldn’t decide between them so picked them both. Both quiet unassuming players, great trainers with fantastic attitudes it was no surprise that both men would Captain the Paddies during their careers. Jim played for the Ranch and was part of our 1985 Championship winning team. Paddy captained the team brilliantly throughout 2012 when we were unlucky to miss out in the IFC.

• 5- Ciaran Clarke (Clarky) – A no nonsense half back who loved the physical exchanges. Played with Clarky from underage right through to senior, a solid uncompromising defender. Now helping out with the ladies footballers great to see him still involved in the club. I can’t let the moment pass without name checking my old team mate Gerard Donnelly who scored the winning point in the 95 final he still hasn’t let us forget about it.

• 6- Eamon (Gigs) McGarrigle – Our current club Chairman, could have easily selected Gigs at midfield where we played together for many years. Eamon was a great leader on the 95 team, not blessed with blistering pace but he was a fantastic reader of the game with the breaking ball more often than not falling at the feet of Eamon.

• 7- Micky Smart/ Niall Mcalea – Again a toss-up between the old and the new, both fantastic hurlers and footballers with Micky representing Ulster in the Railway Cup. Micky in his early career was more known for his forward exploits but as time passed he provided a very steadying influence in the half back line also a winning member of the 1985 Championship Team, what a career he had. Seems like Niall has been around for an age but still a relatively young man who has given great service to the club a fantastic distributor of the ball with great game sense, his best years are still ahead of him.

• 8- Nigel Clancy – An import from Ballymote County Sligo probably one of the best players I ever played with, a key reason we got over the line in 1995. It was no surprise he would later go on to represent both his county and Province.

• 9- Niall McKenna – Our current Senior Football Captain and Senior County Hurler. Niall is a formidable operator in both codes and a phenomenal athlete. Hopefully he has a successful second part to 2020 for Club and County.
• 10- Fiontain McCotter –.Fiontain our club’s version of Benjamin Button still playing the odd game for the South Antrim team but more known for his refereeing exploits these days. In his playing days he used his blistering pace to carve open many a defence. Ciaran Ward deserves a mention when not representing his country at Judo Ciaran was a massive addition to the team.
• 11- Gerard (Walter) Walsh – A maker and a taker of scores Gerard spearheaded our attack for a decade or more.  Gerard had a bit of everything, was brave sometimes to who his own detriment, when games were in the melting pot Gerard more often than not got us over the line.
• 12- Kevin (Kevo) McKernan Jr – A ‘Marquee’ forward automatic inclusion in my best 15.

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13-Tommy Lismore – A great servant to Sarsfields who played both hurling and football for many decades. Even when he moved to live in Larne and teach in Garron Tower he still travelled back to turn out for the Paddies, a superb player to have on our team. Sean (Oggie) McGuinness ran Tommy close for this position but given Tommy’s longevity he pipped Og for the corner forward spot.

14- Cormac (Kipper) Carmichael – One we borrowed from Lamh Dhearg, if he didn’t beat teams by scoring off his left foot or his right foot he beat them psychologically by talking to his poor man marker. An absolute character it was never dull when Kipper was about.

15- Paul (Mixer) Molloy – A club stalwart and another survivor of the 1985 Senior Championship winning team. In the early part of his career Paul played around the midfield half forward line and was the nominated free taker in the IFC winning team. Since retiring from playing Paul has been instrumental in developing our club facilities ready for the next batch of Paddies boys and girls.

Every good team also needs quality players to spring from the bench here’s mine –

Joe Devlin – Goalkeeper in 1995 steady and very reliable a great back up to have.

Cormac Murray – Up and coming young midfielder who possesses all the attributes to be a future County footballer.

Gary Lennon – One of our current players, known to score a goal or two.

Liam McAllister – Full blooded is an understatement, different character off the pitch but the ultimate competitor on it.

Sean Ward – In the Ciaran Ward category when free from his extensive Irish League commitments Wardy was instrumental in helping us avoid the drop on a few occasions have never seen anyone quicker on a GAA field.

Jim McMenamin – Our current manager Jim could play anywhere along the spine of the team due to his Irish League commitments we just didn’t see enough of him during his pomp.

Micky Brentnall – Micky came to us from Carryduff in the late 90’s, two footed not afraid to get stuck in a handy man to have when playing up the Country.

When this is published I will no doubt take some stick from the Club’s over 40’s Whatsapp group for the team mates I have omitted.