Heery, Seamus
December 02, 1994
Royal Hero SEAMUS HEERY Had Only 2 Years On The Intercounty Front, But In That Time The Rathkenny Star Won Every Honour Available
Seamus Heery enjoyed an inter-county career which lasted a mere two years yet within that short space of time he enjoyed a run of success most players can only dream about.
Seamus exploded onto the scene when he was unexpectedly picked by Meath for the first round of the 1949 Leinster Championship and he played a prominent part in helping the Royal County claim their first All-Ireland Senior football title the following September. Less than two years later, however, his inter-county career lay in ruins, the victim of back injury which left him uncapable of playing football at any level. These days Seamus looks back on his playing days with no sense of regret or bitterness. Instead he feels grateful for the opportunities given to him during his short sojourn in the limelight.
"I was only 24 when I had to give up the football and I was very disappointed of course. But it was something I just had to accept. We had great times, some great laughs."
Seamus played his club football with Rathkenny, near the Louth border and then a Junior club. He also lined out at Senior level with the North Meath Divisional team and helped them to a Senior County title in the early fifties.
Playing at club level Heery gave a series of outstanding displays which soon attracted the attentions of the county selectors. Few however could have foreseen his selection onto the Meath team at the start of the 1949 Leinster Championship. "I was the surprise choice on the team. I played at right half back and I remember before the game our captain Peter McDermott coming over to me and saying I would be marking Wexford's top scorer. He said I will treat you if you keep him scoreless and that's what I did. When I was playing I would stay close to the player and not foul him, it was important not to give away frees."
In the second round against Louth Seamus held onto his place and remained on the team as Meath progressed to the All-Ireland final. "We played Louth three times before beating them. They were tough games but I don't know if they were as fantastic as they were made out to be."
In the All-Ireland final Meath took on neighbours Cavan with Seamus Heery playing a major role in helping to contain the dangerous Breffni forwards. "There is very little about the match itself I remember. I can recall other games a lot better. The build up to the final was very exciting though, it was a great time for us," he adds.
Because of his involvement with the championship winning North Meath team, Seamus was appointed Meath captain in 1951. The team progressed to the National League semi-final where the Rathkenny player received his fateful injury. "We were playing Cavan and I had a good game. They moved me to midfield and at some stage I went for a ball with a Cavan player and we collided and I slipped a disc, although I didn't know it at the time. I played against Mayo in the final and we won it. And despite the injury I won the Sports Star of the Week Award the following week. I went to the US after the final with the Meath team but I didn't play there, the injury became too uncomfortable.
"When I came home a specialist had a look at me and he told me I would have to pack in playing altogether. It was the end of my inter-county career. At the time there wasn't much known about slipped discs and I didn't know what it was for a long time but when it was diagnosed my inter-county career was as good as over. It was tough but I had to accept it"
Since giving up playing the Rathkenny man has remained very interested in GAA affairs. He has not, however, taken any direct involvement in club football as a coach or as an official. It is now over forty years since Heery hung up his boots but he can still look back on many golden moments from his short yet eventful career. Two years was its duration but not any have an All-Ireland and National medal to a boast about.
Taken from Hogan Stand magazine
2nd December, 1994
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