A former teammate, and a friend for over five decades, Mickey Ned O’Sullivan knows Pat Spillane as well as anybody from the Kerry ‘Golden Years’ generation. As Templenoe’s eight-time All-Ireland medal-winner, and nine-time All Star, turns 70 on Monday, his Kenmare pal says something that might surprise people.
Despite an outspoken presenting and punditry career for over 30 years on RTE after his playing days ended, O’Sullivan stressed that Spillane is essentially a shy man at heart.
“Pat was a bit on the shy side as a person, and he probably surprised everybody (going into TV work). Again, like the football, he approached it as a challenge,” said O’Sullivan. “He kept improving, and throwing the cat among the pigeons every so often, to create a bit of controversy. That added to his profile.
“He took the feedback on the chin, and he made a big adjustment. Very few people can keep at the top of their game for 30 years, and he did, and is still at it.”
Jack O’Shea concurs with that quintessential description of a man who he soldiered with in the green and gold jersey for the bones of almost 20 years.
“He wouldn’t have spoken much in the dressing-room as such. He was always obsessed in himself, and getting everything right for himself,” explained O’Shea. “He was unusual in that respect. He wouldn’t have mixed a lot with fellas. I think he was a great self-motivator for himself. He never really played poorly. He was always there or thereabouts.
“He knew how to put his energy into what he needed to do on the pitch. Even in the playing of the game, as it was going on, you’d never hear him talking very much.
“Maybe if you did something wrong, he’d have said something alright. He was never really shouting and talking, he wouldn’t really have been that type of player. He really concentrated on his own game.”
His individual accomplishments speak for themselves about how good a footballer Spillane actually was. Indeed, O’Sullivan sums up a character trait that stood out.
“Pat had one thing that very few people have, which is a continuous search for self-improvement. That’s why he was never satisfied with his performance,” he added. “He was always pushing himself to the limit. Every year he would improve himself five or 10 per cent, and he worked towards that.
“He did his cruciate before anybody ever did it, and he recovered, and won All-Irelands after recovering. At the time, there was no solution or no remedy for a cruciate tear.
“He did his research, found out where it could be done in England, went over, got it done, and then worked incredibly hard on his rehab. He got back, and even surpassed his previous performances. When Pat was recovering with his cruciate, he would swim across Kenmare Bay from Templenoe to the other side.
“When he couldn’t do anything else, this was a challenge that very few people would be able to do. That kind of set him apart, and his focus, his tunnel vision, and his determination.”
One of the greatest midfielders in the history of the sport, O’Shea understood the value of a good forward to feed the ball to, but Spillane was much more than that.
“He was much stronger than people thought. He was a great ball winner, and a fantastic player. He had everything really, and he wore his heart on his sleeve when he crossed the white line.
“There’s nobody on the Kerry team who would have put as much work in as he did. He would always be at training half an hour before most of us, and he would probably be the last to leave the field as well.
“He would spend hours and hours and hours at his kicking. As regards being a player on the team, he had a free rein really. I suppose a bit like myself, he roamed all over the place.
“It probably suited us to have that in the forward line. It kind of created the space up front as, rather than having the six forwards, we normally only had the five.
“That generated the space for us to play the ball into, so he was very instrumental in that aspect. Commitment, effort, skill, strength, power, he had everything.
“Himself and Páidí (Ó Sé) used to have unbelievable battles in training. They used to knock sparks off each other, but he was well able to take it as well. He was phenomenal in that respect.”
As an inevitable consequence of his post-playing career in the media, Spillane would have rubbed people up the wrong way at times. Importantly, however, he was being himself.
“He’s controversial at times, but you always felt that he spoke his mind. He wasn’t afraid to express himself. He didn’t hold back when it came to analysing,” added O’Shea. “I felt he was always honest. I used to enjoy him on the TV.
“There is no doubt but that he did like himself a little bit as well. That always came across too,” he joked.
Back in April, O’Sullivan organised a reunion in Kenmare to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Kerry v Dublin All-Ireland final of 1975. Spillane’s personality was very much evident.
“Pat is genuine, and he’s never short of an opinion. He’s been a friend of mine for more than 50 years, and I enjoy meeting him. That’s all you can say about anyone.
“We had a get-together, and he probably would have said things about players, but he was able to come last April and mix with the lads as if nothing ever happened. The friendships are still there.”
Next Friday night, at the Gleneagle Hotel in Killarney, O’Sullivan, O’Shea and Spillane will all meet again in a special Kerry GAA celebration of those Kingdom glory years from 1975 to 1986.
By that stage, the man who coined the term ‘puke football’ will have enjoyed a few days of life at 70, an age which puts into perspective some of the teammates that have been lost.
Tim Kennelly, John Egan and, of course, Páidí, will be missed on the night. O’Sullivan, now 73, and O’Shea, 68, cherish the memories, and of still being around.
“Live the moment. It’s a journey, not a destination. I’m sure Pat knows exactly how to celebrate it. Basically it’s taking every day as it comes, and enjoying every day,” stressed O’Sullivan.
“You’re able to see what is important as you get older, and you’re able to appreciate what is important. Health and family are the two things.
“Three of the lads went very early, very quick, but they’re fondly remembered. They were huge parts of our team at the time, and they were three great characters,” added O’Shea. “It is sad that they’re not around, but it’s nice that the majority of the team are still there. Mick (O’Dwyer) is gone now as well.
“Slowly but surely, they’ll be dropping off here and there, and that’s part of life. When you look back on it, what a pleasure it was to be involved with that group of lads, over that number of years.
“With Pat and myself, we played under-21 together in 1975, and we ended up playing together for the best part of 16 or 17 years.
“I have very, very fond memories of that. You couldn’t buy something like that, and we can all look back on it with pride.
“It’s fantastic to look forward to seeing all the lads again. I’ve always enjoyed Pat’s company. He was shy, and when it came to football, he was very individualistic but, as a person, he’s sound.”
Shy, genuine and sound, Pat Spillane will blow out the candles on the birthday cake with his family today.
On Friday, he will gather with his footballing family. Another special week within a special life.
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