All Stars v Kildare, 1966

Kildare Round Towers G.F.C. had four representatives on the Kildare Leinster S.F.C. winning side of 1956 which played Jimmy McGee’s All-Stars on Monday 18 July, 1966 in aid of the Rev. Frank Duffy C.S.S.P. Presentation. The purpose of the challenge match was to provide financial assistance for Fr. Frank Duffy – who had played football for Athy and Co. Kildare – in his missionary work in a very remote and poor district in Kenya. The challenge match was held in Geraldine Park, Athy. The souvenir programme was 6d and had a blank page at the back for autographs. A crowd of almost 7,000 watched Kildare heroes like Seamus Aldridge, Eddie and Paddy O’Loughlin, Eddie Treacy, Davy Dalton, and Larry McCormack take on such showbiz luminaries as Larry Cunningham, Jimmy McGee, Brendan Bowyer, Dickie Rock, Joe Dolan, Tom Dunphy and Dermot O’Brien. The referee was Mick Phelan of Laois. Ironically, the All-Stars played in ‘All-White’ while Kildare played in blue and white. Commentators were Liam Campbell, Chris Curran and Brendan Cauldwell. The game was a draw: Kildare 6-8, All Stars 5-11.

THE ALL-STARS WERE:

Brendan Bowyer – Lead singer with famous Royal Showband.

Joe Dolan – the Pride of the Midlands, from the Drifters.

Michael and Jim Hand – the famous Hand Twins.

Shay O’Hara and Doc Carroll – Members of Royal Blues of ‘Old Man Trouble’ fame.

Paul Dolan – Olympic Athlete; famous Irish middle distance champion and record holder.

Gerry O’Byrne – Kerry; of Junior Sports Magazine.

Paddy O’Brien – R.T.E. voice of greyhound racing.

Noel McCaul – Compere of Top 10.

Liam Campbell – R.T.E. G.A.A. compere.

Brendan O’Duill – Gael Linn Cabaret Ariste.

Padraig O’Mealoid – R.T.E. Newsreader.

Pat O’Flynn – Manager of Millionaires Showband.

Tom Dunphy – Royal Showband.

Dermot O’Brien – Captain Louth All-Ireland Champions; leader of Clubmen and Jamboree.

Seán Og O’Ceallochain – R.E. Gaelic Games; former Dublin All-Ireland hurler.

Larry Cunningham – The ‘Lovely Leitrim’ and ‘Wicklow Hills’ singing star of the Mighty Avons.

Dickie Rock – Lead singer with the Miami Showband.

Jimmy Magee – Captain and founder of the Team; radio disc jockey and sports commentator; plus ’Beat the Memory Man.’

John Kelly – Lead singer with the Navak Showband.

T.J. Byrne – Manager of the one and only Royal Showband.

Connie Lynch – Manager of the Aircords.

Bill O’Donovan – Chief producer of Eamon Andrews Studios.

Mick Lynch – One of Ireland’s greatest sportsmen.

Jim Tunney – of R.E. Junior Sports Magazine.

Frankie Byrne – of Junior Sports Magazine and one of the best forwards ever to play in Croke Park.

[R.E. Radió Éireann]

THE KILDARE TEAM:

Des Marron (Clane), Paddy Feeley (Suncroft), Danny Flood (Athy), Mick Doyle (Sarsfields), Paddy Gibbons (Kilcock), Larry McCormack (Kilcock), Jim Clarke (Ballymore), Paddy Moore (Carbury), Eddie O’Loughlin (Round Towers), Seamus Aldridge (Round Towers), Peter Mooney (Ballymore), Brendan Kehoe, Eddie Tracy (Round Towers), Paddy O’Loughlin (Round Towers), and Davy Dalton (Kilcock).

Subs: Mick Byrne, Pa Connolly, Jimmy Curtis and Toss McCarthy.

After the match there was a dance in the Dreamland Ballroom, Athy. The Raindrops Showband provided the music and there were special cabaret spots by members of the All-Stars. The new football used in the game was autographed by the ‘Stars’ and raffled at the dance. Admission was 7s. 6d. with dancing from 10 p.m. – 2a.m., a memorable day and night was had by all.

James Durney

(re-typed by Harry Blake)