The late Peter Moore
March 16, 2010
The late Peter Moore
Peter hailed from the Ballinabrackey club located along the Offaly border, with Rhode GAA club acting as neighbours in the Faithful County.
He was a substitute on the Meath squad which romped to All-Ireland minor honours in 1957. Nine years later, the tall gangling Moore had made one of the midfield berths on the Royal County fifteen his very own property.
In the All-Ireland senior decider of 1966 and alongside centre-field partner Tom Brown (a man who had also lined out for Laois and Leinster) Peter and his team-mates suffered a 1-10 to 0-7 defeat to Galway. Although the Tribesmen were going for a three in-a-row, Meath were classed as warm favourites entering the match.
However, there was compensation for Peter and his Royal friends the following season when Meath won their first senior title for 13 years.
Moore played his part at midfield and it was his starting partner Terry Kearns who, after switching to full forward, scored the games' only goal midway through the second half. Cork were beaten 1-9 to 0-9.
The 3-14 to 1-14 semi-final victory over Mayo that year placed the Ballinabrackey man in Meath GAA folklore.
Semi-finals were televised in those by-gone days of Black and White. On this August Sunday, and with the Connacht champions leading, RTE went off the air for something of around ten minutes. Unknown to viewers in that time, Moore went centre half forward in a direct switch with Matty Kerrigan. Peter went on to score two goals during that spell, one from about 40 yards out.
Other scores flowed too in this period of RTE inactivity and when viewing resumed Meath had turned around a 0-13 to 1-9 deficit into a commanding 3-14 to 0-13 advantage. A young Mayo side, inspired by Joe Corcoran, made a late recovery.
As All-Ireland champions, Meath became the first county GAA team to tour Australia the following Spring and playing a brand something akin to the present-day Rules Series, beat the locals on five different occasions over the course of 14 days.
Such was the prowess with the new rules that Peter Moore was voted Player of the Series.
On the club front, Peter Moore served Ballinabrackey with distinction. He was captain when Dunsany were beaten in the 1972 junior championship final.
Peter's work schedule with Bord na Mona saw the Moore family live in Screggan, about three miles south of Tullamore in County Offaly. There he became heavily involved with the local St. Carthages of Rahan club, which later merged with nearby Mucklagh and are nowadays known as Shamrocks.
The Meathman was particularly at home coaching various underage selections and managed the Offaly under 21 side to Leinster provincial honours in 1995. Stars of that team included Cathal Daly and Ciaran McManus.
Peter is the first member of that starting Meath 1967 team to pass on to pastures greener.
Ar Dheis De go raibh a anam. Tweet
