Video above is of Denis ‘Toots’ Kelleher from Minor Row scoring his two goals for Cork in the 1956 All Ireland Football. Both goals were scored in the second half, but failed to help Cork overtake the Galway lead.
Interestingly the final that year was late in the year as there was a polio outbreak in Cork, and authorities of the time though it unwise to have large numbers of Cork people coming to Dublin, spreading the disease.
The video is taken from a longer video that of the full match highlights, which was brought to our attention by Ted Barrett:
thanks for this memory wonderful to see Dad in full flight! And not a theatrical celebration in sight! the soccer guys with the backflips wouldn’t know how this goes!
Beyond the borders of Duhallow’s green countryside
Toots kelleher was a man who was known far and wide
By fans in Ireland of Gaelic football
His name often mentioned when the greats of the game they recall
A legend of Gaelic football this is going back in time
To the nineteen fifties when he was in his prime
He was one of Ireland’s best forwards back then
The great player from Millstreet a man amongst men
He may be long deceased but his legend lives today
For Cork and for Millstreet great games he did play
Strong and determined and quick on his feet
His name lives today as a legend of Millstreet
In his prime years a tall, sturdy and handsome fellow of rather dark hair
He took and gave hard knocks but he always played fair
A true sportsman in victory or defeat he seemed much the same
He was one who played for the love of the game
Good memories are ours to recall and enjoy
A hero of Millstreet when i was a boy
But time to the best of them becomes the foe
And the nineteen fifties now seems long ago
For Munster and Cork and his home club of Millstreet
Against the best Gaelic footballers he did compete
He surely did earn his place in renown
Toots Kelleher a legend of old Millstreet Town.
“Toots Kelleher” is by Francis Duggan
http://francisrhymer.blogspot.ie/2014/06/toots-kelleher.html