Tommy Burke was part of the Cork Minor Football team that made history by winning the County’s first ever All-Ireland title in this grade, defeating Mayo in the Final by 3-7 to 0-5. That team was honoured at half-time in this year’s County Senior Football Final. Pictured above are Tommy with Michael Cremin, and that Cork Minor team before winning the All-Ireland Final at Croke Park. Tommy is fourth from the left in the front row. Click on the photos for larger photos
Photo Credits: John Tarrant of the Corkman, AghadaGAA
Belated congratulations(only 50 years late) to Tommy.He was a great footballer/soccer player and an inspiration to many over the years.
Obviously Tommy is modest as well because I never realised that he was a Cork Minor until now.
The Burke brothers Tommy and Brendan they may have known a better day
They played Gaelic Football for Millstreet before time on them had a say
In the green and gold of the Finnowsiders some marvelous games they did play
Good memories last a whole lifetime and only in death fade away
Quick on their feet and quite hardy they were not broad shouldered and tall
But they were loved by the fans of Millstreet since they were great at Gaelic Football
They were amongst the best of Cork County in the great days of the green and gold
But time it is everyone’s master and the best do eventually grow old
In the Cork County senior Gaelic football championship With Millstreet the Burkes never left the side down
They were famed beyond Duhallow’s borders as the football brothers of Millstreet Town
They were never found to be wanting whenever they were put to the test
In their prime years the Murphy’s Terrace brothers at Gaelic football were amongst Millstreet’s best
The great years of Millstreet Gaelic football does now seem in the distant past
And sadly as in all things in life the good times do not seem to last
Time on the Burkes now is telling but they left us with great football memories to recall
Against Cork’s best with success they competed and for Millstreet they always gave it their all.
“The Burke Brothers” is by Francis Duggan
http://francisrhymer.blogspot.ie/2015/04/the-burke-brothers.html
(added by mdc)
The Millstreet team that won the 1963 County Junior Football title:
Front Row, from left: Robert Kelly, Brendan Burke, Donie O’Mahony, Connie Kelleher, John Corcoran, Tommy Burke, William O’Leary, Jerry Cronin, Brendan Kiely.
Back Row, from left: Neily Dennehy, Paddy Golden, James Cashman, Mattie McAuliffe, Denis W. ‘ Toots’ Kelleher, John Kelleher, Dermot Cribben, Christy Dunne, Paul Ryan, Denis Kelleher, Fr. Corridan