Donegal man Cormac Breslin on missing out on Louth’s two biggest days ever

“I should have bitten my tongue and taken my medicine” were the thoughts this week of former Donegal footballer and Leinster football championship winner with Louth, Cormac Breslin. 

Breslin, from Gaoth Dobhair, played in the green and gold of Donegal for a number of years, over two stints, and also played championship football for the Wee County.

This week Louth prepare to take on Dublin in the Leinster championship final, and a tilt at ending a barren harvest of 66 summers since the county last savoured provincial success. Breslin played in that last Leinster championship triumph for the  Wee County back in 1957. 

That season, Louth also went on to win the county’s second All-Ireland senior crown. But much to Cormac’s regret, he missed out on lifting Sam Maguire. 

“Of course I regret it but it is something I have kept to myself down the years,” said 89-year-old Cormac this week from his home in Bunbeg.

“I was working and living in Louth at the time. I was manager of a hotel in Omeath, a small village in the Cooley Peninsula. I went there directly from Cathal Brugha Street College. I was only 23 at the time.

“Shortly after moving to Omeath, I linked up and joined the local GAA team, the Cooley Kickhams. I had, by that stage, played for Donegal for a number of years

“Omeath was a very quiet place and the Strand Hotel, where I worked, was a very quiet hotel and we rarely had guests during the week. We had one regular guest staying during the week, from Monday to Friday, but nobody else. 

“Obviously word got out that I had played with Donegal and after a few club games I was asked to join the Louth senior team.

“I made the starting team and played in the first three games in the Leinster championship. I was in the half forward line or, as it was known back then, the three quarter line, in the games against Carlow, Wexford and Kildare. 

We qualified for the Leinster final against Dublin. But unfortunately I did not play in the Leinster final. 

“Some nosey parker complained to the owner of the hotel, Mrs McQuillian who lived in Wales, that I was away from the hotel a lot playing football and that I was hardly ever there.  

“Mrs McQuillian came over to see me and had a word with me about the complaint. I was young and hasty at the time and I quit the job on the spot and immediately headed for London. It really annoyed me that someone had gone to the bother of complaining to my boss.

“On reflection, I should have bit my tongue and taken my medicine and stayed on. Mrs McQuillian was not going to sack me she just wanted to have a word with me about it and chastise me. But I was young and hasty.”

He added: “In fairness to the Louth county board, they did present me with the Leinster medal which I’m very proud of.

“They were very good people and the players were the nicest group of men I ever played with and they welcomed me with open arms.  

“They were a very good team and of course after the All-Ireland success many of them became household names all over the country. 

“Men such as Stephen White, Dan O’Neill, Kevin Beahan, Dermot O’Brien and Jimmy McDonnell. Dan O’Neill lived and worked here in Donegal later in his life with Board Fáilte. And of course Dermot O’Brien - who was the captain - became a well known singer and musician”.

Because he had emigrated to London before the Leinster final and because the provincial finals back in 1957 were not televised and because the All-Ireland finals were not shown in London, Cormac did not get to see either game.

But he will be watching Sunday’s meeting of Louth and Dublin and though he accepts Dublin are the raging hot favourites he is not without hope of another upset like in ‘57. 

Louth were the rank outsiders for that final too and they won on a score of 2-9 to 1-7. 

“You never know and they have Mickey Harte. So there is always hope!”