SEAMUS DOWLING Chip off the oul' block He couldn't miss being a footballer even if he tried. Yet strange to relate, Seamus "Sos" "sos" Dowling never played Minor football for Kildare. "I was too small and light at that stage," muses Seamus. "They always seemed to pick the big fellow," he added. Seamus was born and reared in the town of Newbridge, scarcely two good kicks of a ball from St. Conleth's Park. There are two Senior clubs in the town - Sarsfields who traditionally claim the area at the bridge or Naas end of the town, and Moorefield who lean towards the Curragh end. Dowling Snr. is well-known in Kildare football circles, for Jimmy "Baa" Dowling had a colourful, chequered career in the green jersey of Moorefield and the white of Kildare. The "old man" was no mean footballer himself playing Minor, Junior and Senior in the '50's. A Leinster Junior medal in '56 (the last year in which Kildare won the provincial Senior title), came his way. Indeed, Jimmy went on to become a stalwart for Moorefield winning three Senior League awards (2 Hurling) and contesting the county final of 1963 only to be beaten by the young Carbery Lions - Mangan, Crinnigan, Kelly, Nally and Co. On his mother's side, Seamus's grandfather Tommy Behan won an All-Ireland Junior medal with London in the '30's. in the British metropolis he helped, along with former County Board Chairman Liam Geraghty, to found the famous Round Towers club, for many years a force to London football. So Seamus grew up in a house where the regular topic of conversation was football and footballers. At Underage level, success came rapidly for in that period Sarsfields and Moorefield had amalgamated under the Black and Amber banner of Newbridge. Newbridge swept all before them in that period of the mid-seventies to early eighties. Spearheaded by Garda Sgt. (Now Supt.) Gerry Moran they consistently produced the finest Underage sides in Kildare. So the light, little lad from the Moorefield end of the town won Championship and League honours at Under 14, Under 16, Minor and Under 21 levels. It was during this halcyon period of success that "Sos" came in contact with the man who, apart from his dad, he sees as the greatest influence on his career, namely Seamus "Tango" Dooley. "Tango" was involved with every team," says Seamus. "Even now, he is still around me as a Senior selector with Moorefield constantly coaxing and urging me to do better - I owe him a lot." If the Kildare Minor selectors thought the "Baa's" gasun was too small, a problem Dowling Snr. never had, it didn't take their Under 21 counterparts long to realise that this young man was developing rapidly both in size and talent. The 1985 Leinster Under 21 final saw Kildare, with "Sos" Dowling in defence, lead Meath by five points at half time in Tullamore, yet lose by the odd score in the end. Messrs. Flynn, Gillie, Stafford and O'Malley were on board for the Royals that day. By now "Sos" had made his Senior debut (in '84). Ironically also against Meath in the League in Navan. He's been a regular in defence ever since starting out at wing back but moving back to make the No. 4 shirt his own under O'Dwyer. Recognition by the Leinster selectors has followed and Kildare's Footballer of the Year Award won. While success with Moorefield, apart from a Division 2 League title, has eluded him, Seamus is immensely proud of the Curragh edge club whose facilities are reckoned to among the finest in the province. Indeed, the family connection here is strengthened further by the fact that Seamus' wife Colette's father Jim McDermott is a former stalwart of the club. Picking out his most difficult opponent was no trouble to "Sos" "Ask anyone who was at the Down match," he grins ruefully. Seamus caught a tartar that day in Mickey Linden. He has great admiration for the Mayobridge star but would relish another crack at him when fitness levels would have evened up, say in an All-Ireland semi-final. On the Wicklow match, Seamus is quick to pooh-pooh the media hassle about the transfer from Droichead Nua to Croke Park, well sure that's it! ," he muses. One senses from him that defeat is not a prospect which he will even consider. There must not be a second Drogheda, like the rest of Kildare team Seamus Dowling knows it only too well. A successful young man off the field with his own carpet business in Newbridge, Seamus Dowling has the word at his feet. Success with Kildare forms a major part of that world at the moment. On 14th June, Kevin O'Brien and the Wicklow forwards will try to blow that world apart. Kildare will look to Seamus Dowling to guard the glory and the dream of a Leinster title. Taken from Hogan Stand Magazine - 05-06-92 Written by "Lilywhite" Tweet

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