Inside Track: Transfers from county to county has long been part of the game

It would have been noticed by now by Louth followers that the two midfielders in last Sunday’s game – and you’d have to believe for many more to come – play with clubs from outside the county.

Tommy Durnin, for so long a Westerns mainstay, transferred to Inniskeen Grattans a few seasons ago, while at the beginning of this year, Conor Early found a new home with top Dublin club, Na Fianna, having played all of his football prior to that with Oliver Plunkets.

Durnin is now playing club football at a higher grade, and it will be the same with Early when he togs out for his first competitive game in new surroundings.

Durnin’s loyalty to Westerns was beyond question. Not only did he rarely miss matches with the Reaghstown club competing in junior football, he resisted the temptation to move to a higher grade club. And there were several requests.

What has to be said is that he has benefitted enormously from his move to Monaghan, manifested by his performances in the red jersey.

He wasn’t Mickey Harte’s first choice for a midfield berth at the beginning of the league – Early’s partner against Clare was Ciaran Byrne, who, unfortunately, shipped a serious injury in the opening quarter.

Durnin replaced the St Mochtas’s clubman, but wasn’t retained for the next outing, the home fixture with Derry. Nor did he start against Limerick in the third round.

However, he had the 8 jersey from the start against Kildare next time out, and it was here that he showed what he is capable of, scoring 1-2, linking well with attack and, as we’ve become accustomed to, pulling quite a few from the sky.

He’s now an integral member of the side and one of the most popular, judged by followers’ reaction every time he’s on the ball.

It didn’t go well for himself and Early on Sunday, but excuses can be made. In opposition were one of the best midfield partnerships in the country, one that Dublin will be outing a huge reliance on in their bid to regain the Sam Maguire.

The two lads’ changed set-ups prompted us to take a glance to see which other prominent players either moved into or out of the county. A connection can be made with Durnin’s switch to the Grattans.

Dundalk is now home to Joe Carroll – no, not him, another one. He was at one time Grattans’ outstanding performer, his forward play winning him a regular spot on the Monaghan team and a place – and Railway Cup medal – with Ulster.  

This was in 1965, at a time when the inter-provincial competition was relevant, holding a prominent place on the calendar. Among Joe’s colleagues on the 1965 team were the Down trio of Sean O’Neill, Paddy Doherty and Dan McCartan, Derry’s Sean O’Connell, and Cavan sharpshooter Charlie Gallagher.

Since changing counties, Joe has given the Sean O’Mahony’s outstanding service at committee level.

Another Inniskeen man to head this way many years ago was Jack Crawley. Another to wear the Monaghan jersey, he worked in the old GNR Works on the Ardee Road. He joined Young Irelands and was successful, winning league and championship medals with the Dundalk club in the late 1930s and early ‘40s.

It was less than a decade later when Irelands made one of their best ever signings. Employment in the drapery business brought one of the ‘Terrible Twins’, Frankie Stockwell, to town.

Though his stay here was a short one, the Galway man – who formed a devastating partnership with Sean Purcell on the Galway All-Ireland-winning 1956 side – made a huge impact with Irelands and also figured on the Louth team.

Another All-Ireland winner, Kevin Coffey, also wore the Young Irelands jersey, the Kerry defender playing in these parts in the 1950s.

Conor Early’s former club, Oliver Plunkets, had three on the Louth team and another in the subs for the 1960 Leinster final with Offaly, Georgie Carroll, Jim Gough, Jackie Reynolds and Frank Clarke. All bar Carroll went on to win championship medals with Newtown Blues.

Early’s new club has Dublin manager, Dessie Farrell, along with former GAA President, John Horan, and government minister, Pascal Donohoe, as members.

The Sean McDermott’s club in Dublin was once a home from home for Louth players. The great Eddie Boyle played most of his club football there having transferred from Cooley Kickhams; also, Jimmy Coyle, Hugh McNamee, Eugene Callan, Colm Boyle and a star of Louth’s All-Ireland win, Kevin Beahan.

The Civil Service club also welcomed Louth players, the 1950 All-Ireland goalkeeper, Sean Thornton, Hughie O’Rourke and Benny Gaughran among them.

There are many more who moved in and out of the county. It’s been the same in other counties, part and parcel of the game.