To sing his praises how could one begin
He Captained Millstreet Gaelic Footballers to their greatest win
He never did leave Millstreet or Cork down
Johnny Keeffe is a legend in Millstreet Town.A man who never bragged about his fame
He only played because he loved the game
Never found to be wanting when put to the test
A gentleman as well as one of Millstreet’s best.
Johnny Keeffe is a man who lived his dream
The Captain of Millstreet’s County winning team
And what a game against St Vincent’s he did play
His legend living on with him today.
Yet so down to earth and untainted by conceit
We laud him as a hero of Millstreet
Not alone a great footballer but a good person in every way
The truth of him to you I only say.
The story of his life would be so great to read
Today as he always did by good example he does lead
These simple words to honour the renown
Of a living legend of old Millstreet Town.
The Cup comes to Millstreet
Nineteen forty eight was the date of the year
Our young football team on the field did appear
They won from Dunmanway right down to Fermoy
And the city of Cork they went out to defy
On the banks of the Lee on an October day
For the County Cup we went for to play
Ten to one were the odds on that great City team
Our men were too soft and our boys were toogreen
With Den Connors midfield and the brave O’Keeffe brothers
Those brave city lads would soon sigh for their mothers
Still they put down the cash to humble our pride
And send us home beaten to the Blackwater side
Our team lost the wind to the toss of a coin
So St. Vincent’s they planned for to lick us in time
Then Munty tried hard for to stop the attack
But the first point they scored put our nerves on the rack
The play was resumed at the kick-out of the ball
When Kelleher, Pound Hill, got a very bad fall
John Joe Tangney, Dick Barrett, Byrne and Weir
Shouts ‘toughen the game while the wind is from there’
Then on to the field the sub Dennehy came
Sub or no sub he played a fine game
We went on defending till the half-whistle blew
Then of points we were nil, but St. Vincent’s had two
The restart of the play, oh what terrific speed
Jim Manley he proved a true friend indeed
Young Kelleher thought of sweet Minor Row
And he scores a fine goal with the tip of his toe
Then Cork’s ardent backers fell into despair
While Millstreet’s supporters flung their hats in the air
St. Vincent’s they rushed on their major attack
But Dineen and O’Driscoll knew how to hit back
Still they sent in the ball to the mouth of the goal
Denis Manning with honours put his name on the ball
With excitement the sidelines by now had gone mad
They were betting their shirts and what money they had
Five minutes to go with our team in the lead
Our opponents displayed all their old keen breed
They rushed and they fought in the air and the ground
‘Twas then Jerry Connor showed himself sound
When at last came the whistle with a cheer for full time
Old Millstreet were champions till 1949
Then home by Macroom over many a mile
All gay and light-hearted we wore a bright smile
The bonfires were blazing in our dear native town
And even old Claragh looked lovingly down
By our priests and our people the welcome was great
We have brought home the Cup for 1948
By Jerry Doody, taken from A Millstreet Miscellany 3 (page 41) by the Aubane Historical Society
The Cullen Pipe Band met the team on the Macroom Road that night and led the County Champions back into town.
A man amongst men back in his prime day
In Gaelic Football for Cork and for Millstreet great games he did play
Most of those he grew up with in eternal rest lay
But Johnny Keeffe is a living sporting legend today
In life there are happy times and times of woe
Johnny grieved for his beloved wife Lena a few years ago
She was his true soul mate as well as his wife
Her passing to him a low point in his life
His physical best years in time may be long gone
But Johnny Keeffe and his legend in Millstreet live on
Of years of life thus far he has lived quite a span
And more than a great Gaelic Footballer he is a true gentleman
Good memories a lifetime are ours to enjoy
I saw Johnny Keeffe play Gaelic Football when i was a young boy
He captained Cork in the red and Millstreet in green and gold
The memories live on though great players grow old
He was past his best years when i was quite young
But surely his praises deserve to be sung
Time does slow the best of them as they do say
But Johnny Keeffe is a legend of Millstreet today.
“Johnny Keeffe” is by Francis Duggan
http://francisrhymer.blogspot.ie/2015/04/johnny-keeffe.html
(added by mdc)