The late Pat Griffin

The death last week of Pat Griffin was an occasion of great sadness. Pat was known far and wide, not only because of his fame on the football field but also because of his affable personality. He had friends everywhere and Tmoleague was no exception. Many an hour he spent discussing the finer aspects of a wide variety of sport in houses throughout the parish over a cupan tae. He was a frequent spectator at games at Our Lady’s Well Sports Grounds but more especially if Clonakilty were in action. I can picture him with his broad arms leaning on the railings in the corner in front of the dressing rooms as he observed every aspect of the game as it unfolded in front of him. His concentration was constantly broken by the many other spectators who went up to him to have a word.

My fondest memory of the great man go back fifty years. He was in his prime as a Kerry footballing great in those years and was stationed in Clonakilty as a garda. Argideen Rovers under 14 footballers were blazing a trail in West Cork in those years also. We “won” the championship in ’68 defeating Castlehaven on the field of play at Burgatia. We received our medals at a function at Clogagh in January of ’69. Pat presented us with our medals. Here among us was the captain of the Kerry team that had tasted defeat in the All-Ireland final against Down the previous September. That medal is a treasured possession, not only because of the manner in which it was won but also because it was presented by Pat who was a god in our young innocent eyes. He made up for that defeat and won All-Ireland medals in ’69 and ’70 which were richly deserved. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam dilis.