Donegal's first Ulster title of 1972 - like a Phoenix from the Flame

Mickey Sweeney (St Eunan's)
I had Mickey Sweeney as a county minor in 1969 and '70. He was a good minor and then went off to the guards. Then I saw him playing for St Eunan's against St Joseph's in 1972 and brought him into the squad. John Hannigan was playing at full-forward, but we sprung Mickey from the bench in the first game against Cavan. We had got the game in Irvinestown after I went to an Ulster Council meeting as Cavan were used to playing in Clones.

We were down five points at half-time and were out on the field waiting for Cavan in the rain in the second half when some smart Cavan man shouted, 'send out the jerseys'. But Joe Winston and Mickey Sweeney had other ideas and got us back in the game and we got a draw. Sweeney was outstanding in the replay and also in the Ulster final. He was very fit from his training in Templemore and had a great swerve.

He got injured after that and at that time there was no such thing as physios and he never really got to fulfill his promise, probably because he was based outside the county. He won a senior club title with St Eunan's in 1972 also. Now retired and back living in Letterkenny.