John Coleman the man who played rugby and with Cork and Millstreet played gaelic football
By many today he is remembered as the man who made big men seem small
In seventy three with Cork he won an All Ireland along with fellow Clubmen Con Hartnett, Humphrey Kelleher and Denis Long
They became heroes of Cork County and were honoured in story and song
Like is said of the past it is in the forever gone
But his tussles with Clonakilty’s big Tim F Hayes in memory lives on
At the hits taken and given between the colossus of Clon and Millstreet’s tigerish centre back
One does have to wonder why bones did not crack
But any hard feelings between them was always left on the field of play
At the ref’s final whistle they always shook hands and bid each other good day
The likes of such men we may not see again
And such good memories of them at their best we retain
Of the sporting achievements of John and his champion brother rally driver Billy the legend does grow
Bonfires often blazed for them in Minor Row
And though the Coleman brothers are admired far and wide
They always take the mantle of fame in their stride
A great hero of Millstreet who is getting old
Of John Coleman the man many stories are told
I watched him play gaelic football many Seasons ago
Many years before time did become his foe.
