Sad to report the passing of former Kilbride and Meath star Martin Quinn, one of the Royal County's Great Full Backs.

Martin was part of a distinguished G.A.A. family from once a little junior club called Kilbride, based right on trhe Dublin border.

It is no coincidence but the development of the Quinn family saw Kilbride soar through the Meath football ranks, to eventually claim senior football championship titles in 1964, 67, 69, 70 and 71.

The big, blond haired Martin on the edge of the square, the dynamic and powerful Jack in his midfield sector, sharp shooting Gerry in the full forward line and left half back Jimmy who put mant a flying wing forward in his pocket.

Martin, Jack and Gerry were all aboard as Meath dethroned All Ireland champions Dublin in the 1964 provincial decider.

A little difference of opinion between Martin and the referee saw the Meath 1965 final abandoned, Skryne wre declared champions and the Kilbride man received a hefty 12 month suspension.

Ironically Martin's suspension was to end on the eve of the 1966 All Ireland decider and the Royal's made it all the way to decider, a game they entered as warm favourites even though the great Galway team of the mid sixties were going for a three-in-a-row.

At the beginning of the 66 campaign the Meath selectors pulled Jack back to the edge of the Meath square

Martin was not selected to start and wind assisted Galway created a considerable lead. Things did not improve on the turn over and Croke Park erupted as Martin Quinn ran on to the field from the Cusack Stand dug outs mid way through the half. Jack was now in his usual position and the folk hero, wronged in many people eyes, was back.

There was no fairy tale ending though and the Men from the West ran out deserving winners.

Jack was back to play a lead role as Meath captured Sam Maguire the following year but Martin was not involved.

But there was compensation on the club scene. That autumn Kilbride captured senior title number two and went on to forge a Meath senior championship three-in-a-row of their own between 1969 and 71.

Leinster SFC champions 1964. Front l-r: Tom Browne, Kevin McNamee, Pat Collier, Davy Carty, Dinny Donnelly, Gerry Quinn, Jimmy Walsh. Back l-r: Pat Reynolds, Peter Darby, Martin Quinn, Jack Quinn, Paddy Cromwell, Peter Moore, Olly Shanley, Bertie Cunningham.

And Martin Quinn was at the heart of that winning surge. Standing at six foot three in his stocking feet, he was a full back representing his era. you simply did not mess around with him. The general at the back, strong, agile and totally committed. Very few full forwards got the better of the Mighty Quinn. 

A Quinnless Kilbride eventually reverted back to the lower ranks but a spade of young emerging talent suggests a return to better days. The tradition established by Martin Quinn, family and friends has placed down that marker. 

Martin was a regular at club and county games up until very recently. The sories and his deeds on the playing fields are the ''stuff of legends''. Like the one before the Leinster final of 1964. The Quinn's father lay on his death bed. Discussions arose as to whether the boys should play. Mr Quinn insisted that they went to Croke Park and all three, Martin, Jack and Gerry played starring roles. Mr Quinn senior passed away the following Wednesday.

An old cliche but We Will Not See His Like Around Again. 

Ar dheis de go raibh a anam.

Martin was always a great help to us here at Hoganstand.com and the Royal County Yearbook. We repeat an interview with him on Hoganstand.com some years back and titled THE MIGHTY QUINN.

The Quinn family name holds a special place in Meath GAA folklore. The eldest of the famed clan, Martin Quinn, wore the Meath number three jersey with pride and recalls a glorious period for club, Kilbride, and the Royal County.

As rags to riches stories go, there are few to compare with the footballers of Kilbride in the sixties and seventies.

The Meath/Dublin border club emerged from the backwaters of the Meath GAA scene to capture five SFC titles and their successes were backboned by the Quinn brothers - Martin, Jack, Gerry and Jimmy.

The junior championship success of 1960 laid the foundations for their first Keegan Cup triumph in 1964, at the expense of Gaeil Colmcille, and they repeated the feat in '67, '69, '70 and '71.
Kilbride's climb up the ladder didn't go unnoticed by the county team selectors and Martin, Jack and Gerry all received the call up to county duty.

Jack is widely considered to have been one of the greatest ever exponents of full-back play and he learnt the tricks of the trade from his eldest brother who few full-forwards will ever recall having marked with any great fondness.

Having represented the county minors for two years, Martin made his senior debut in the green and gold jersey in a tournament game against Kerry in 1958 and six years later he lined out at full-back as Meath ended a 10-year wait for provincial glory thanks to a 2-12 to 1-7 victory over Dublin.

Fast-forward three years and Jack, Martin and Gerry celebrated Meath's third All-Ireland SFC final success when Cork were dispatched in the Sam Maguire Cup decider.

"They were great times," Martin, a farmer by occupation, says. "We have memories that you will never forget and will bring to the grave with you. Growing up in our house it was football morning, noon and night.

Martin Quinn 5th from left back row and the all conquering Kilbride team of the 60's early 70's

"The highlights were the All-Ireland win and the trip to Australia that followed and then. with the club, we came from nowhere to win five senior titles as well as intermediate and junior and Feis Cup titles with the same bunch of players and all in the space of 10 years."

Martin rubbed shoulders with the top players of the day who were the toughest opponents he came up against?

"The way I looked at it was every opponent I went out to play against was a difficult one but there were the likes of Lar Foley and John Timmons from Dublin, James McCartan (Down), Bobby Burns of Longford and Con Sullivan from Cork who stood out."

The modern game is practically unrecognisable to the game that Martin and his brothers grew up playing and excelling at and he doesn't think that's a good thing.

"To be honest I'm not a fan of the modern game, I prefer the old style. I'm very much against these cards, they are ruining football in my opinion for what it's worth. 

"And high fielding has disappeared. It's all about the breaking ball and running off the ball now. It's a different style of game that what I was used to.

"I used to love going to Croke Park and watching Paddy O'Brien's high fielding."

On the club front, Kilbride are struggling to make an impact at junior level these days but Martin is optimistic that the injection of young blood will reap dividends in the not too distant future.
"There's great work going in at underage level by a lot of people and we've a hard-working committee in place so I would be hopeful."

Meanwhile, the heavy defeat suffered by Meath in this summer's Leinster SFC final against Dublin (1-10 to 3-20) came as a great disappointment to Martin.

Not least because the Meath versus Dublin rivalry is acutely felt in his neck of the woods.
"Two bus loads left Kilbride for the game and it was half full of Dubs. They've be doing it for years now and there's great craic.

"They couldn't have done it 40 years ago!" he concluded laughing.
How times have changed!

Funeral details

Reposing, Tuesday, 14th December, at Ratoath Chapel of Rest from 16:00 to 20:00. Removal from his home Wednesday, 15th December, for Mass at 11:00 in St. Brigid's Church, Kilbride with burial afterwards in adjoining cemetery.

 

 

 

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