Mick Brophy

Played at midfield for Kilkenny in the 1957 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final.^[1]

Early years

Mick Brophy was born on 9 October 1932 in Danesfort, County Kilkenny. His parents Thomas and Elizabeth, farmed a dairy farm in the parish which is located 5 miles from the city of Kilkenny. Up to the introduction of the parish rule, Brophy played his underage hurling with Eoghan Ruadh (Callan). He later played with his local club Danesfort, and was a member of the Kilkenny senior inter-county team in the 1950s.

Career

He played at midfield in the famous 1957 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final, when Kilkenny beat their neighbours and great rivals, Waterford by a single point. The 1957 victory was greeted with jubilant celebration in the Marble city; the first for Kilkenny in ten years, since the famous win over Cork in the 1947 final. A special effort had been made at the time to trawl for talent amongst Junior clubs to try to reverse Kilkenny 's ailing fortunes. It proved to be successful and Kilkenny have never since waited ten years to capture All Ireland glory.

The same teams, Kilkenny and Waterford, would again meet in the 1959 final when, after a draw, fortunes were reversed in the replay with a Waterford victory. This remains Waterford's last title and Mick attended the recent All Ireland final of 2008, some 49 years later, when Kilkenny overcame Waterford with relative ease to capture the first 'three in a row' since the Cork team of the seventies. Brophy had played with the Kilkenny minor teams in 1949 and 1950 capturing the All Ireland title in 1950. For many years Mick Brophy was the only Danesfort man to hold a senior All Ireland hurling medal. Presently there are three Danesfort players featuring on the Kilkenny senior panel.

Legacy

Renowned as a skilful left handed midfielder Brophy was especially noted for his ability to double on the ball in the air; a skill which has been largely lost from the modern game. Mick Brophy died in spring 2009 and is fondly remembered by the older contingent of Kilkenny hurling followers.

References