Today we take a look at Gearoid Adams’ ‘Best 15’ footballers from St. John’s. Gearoid has served the Johnnies and Antrim as both player and manager but has resisted the temptation to include himself. Not everyone will agree with his selection but remember it’s only one man’s opinion and it’s only a bit of fun!
Gearoid Adam’s ‘My Favourite Fifteen’
For the majority of my selection I’m sticking with a mix of players who I played with the most over a number of years and who were around the teams of 1995-2001 when we were in 3 finals and won in 1998.
1 – Brian McNulty in goals was a brilliant shot stopper and was in nets in 1998 when we won the championship.
2 – Locky McCurdy played either full back or corner back for club and county and very rarely did any forward get the better of him. He was a phenomenal athlete who had great stamina during games and after them in the club.
3 – Mark Bohill came from RGU Downpatrick and was brilliant at reading the game. He had some strange routines like wearing his boots on the opposite feet to straighten them up for shooting (he never got up that far).
4 – Andy McGowan was captain in 1998 and his nickname ‘the crab’ summed up his tight marking ability. Other brilliant backs who I enjoyed playing with were Paul Collins and Andy Healy who were there when I came on to the senior team. Paul was an excellent corner back for both club and county while Andy ‘Tipp’ was a dynamic wing half back. As a kid I watched Andy’s style of attacking from half back and tried to replicate it. It’s a pity his sons don’t play for Naomh Eoin as Peter in particular plays very much like his da. Ronan Heenan, Aaron Douglas, Anto Press and Micky O’Neill were also excellent defenders.
5 – Darren Swail came from Kilclief in County Down and was a no-nonsense tough player who could have played anywhere in the middle third. Played left half in 1998 for club and County under Aidan Thornbury.
6 – John Kelly played centre half throughout his senior career and was the best reader of a game on our team. We always worked well together and knew each other’s play inside out. John also played county for a long time and was instrumental in our 2000 win over Down with a great performance.
7 – Paddy Nugent was part of our half back line from underage right through to senior. He had a great kick back in the day when it was a massive part of the game. He was a very tough defender who was also an excellent goal keeper in hurling and football. Paddy, John and myself had a great understanding of each other’s play and we enjoyed playing as a unit from underage right through.
8 – Fitzy (Matthew Fitzpatrick) is one of the best players St Johns has ever had and is a pleasure to coach. Although I am sticking predominately with men I played with for a long duration it would be impossible to leave him out.
9 – Charlie McLarnon has the best hands of any player I know. Charlie was part of that tight successful minor and U21 team that knew each other so well. Charlie played senior from a young age and was called up to the County senior team at 18 or 19. It would be remiss of me not to mention Eddie McToal who played midfield for St Johns and Antrim and who I was fortunate enough to play along side for a number of years when I was starting off. To say Eddie was tough would be an understatement. As a motivator and straight talker in the dressing room 9 Eddie was second to none. Conal ‘Doot’ Kelly was also an excellent midfielder for St Johns. In fact Doot could play anywhere from 8-15. He was the main reason we got to the County final 2012. He was also an excellent county footballer.
10 – Patrick McBride, like Fitzy, would make any St John’s team.
11 – Jimmy Wilson was the best St John’s player of my era. He was our leader on the pitch, fearless, skilful and brave with that uncanny ability to read the all-important break ball around midfield.
12 – Enda McAtamney was a major contributor to our ‘98 win and our win against Ardboe in the Ulster 1/4 final. His freetaking was immense from distance. We lost finals previously without his precision and we would lose a final again when he left.
13 – Collie McKnight was one of our core group who came through a relatively decent minor county championship run beating Monaghan and getting beat in an Ulster semi replay at Casement. There were 6 St John’s starters on that team including Grumpy. Collie had a good eye for a score and was a very smart player who made brilliant runs on and off the ball.
14 – Without Brendan Mackin 1998 would have been the same as 1995 against Cargin. His goal won us the championship and the rest is history. His performance against Ardboe was also excellent and helped us get across that line too.
15 – Packy Nolan was one of those forwards that backs hated marking. Full of skill, guile and cuteness he got us to the final in 1995 by himself. He had the ability to wind his opponent’s up, from his marker to their manager, to some visiting supporter standing on the hill watching the game. While they were all going mad Packy was usually laughing and had paved a way for us to get back into the game.
16 – Second only to Jimmy Wilson as the player I looked up to the most when we were kids winning everything. With the focus on the 1998 winning team and the players I grew up with I could give you another forward line of tremendous calibre. Men who were legends of our club that I had the privilege of playing alongside as a younger player trying to learn the ropes, to other legends who have played a long time with no championships but are as good as any: Kevin Gough (manager of the 98 team), Gerry McCann, Adrian Oliver, Micky Darragh, Conor Johnston, Brian McFall. I could add Doot Kelly, Bam Neeson, Conal Heatley and Eamon Blaney to that forward line as well.
17 – That’s the problem with playing with so many brilliant players when trying to pick 15. The question I keep asking myself after doing this is how come we only won one championship? I’ve actually been asking myself the same question for years. Thank f### for Macken’s gold in 98.
