McAndrew: One of Mayo’s finest
 “I
cycled 20 miles to Crossmolina and then played in midfield in my first
Mayo senior football final way back in 1949. I then had to cycle the 20
miles back.”
Those were the days when men were men and John McAndrew epitomised sheer
love and dedication for the game.
McAndrew from Kiltane near Bangor Erris was a strapping 6ft 3in young
man and as ever gave a great display in helping Crossmolina win their
first ever Mayo senior championship.
McAndrew is full of praise for his schoolmaster in developing his talents
at an early stage.
He says: “Mick Mulderrig was my teacher at school. He gave us all
the encouragement we needed, as he had played at the highest level himself
and starred for Mayo in the 1920s and ’30s. He was the one man who
sowed the seeds of success. He was also the father of Sean and Mick who
went on to win All-Irelands in 1950 and ’51.”
The youngest of six children and the younger brother of ‘the mighty
Pat’ — who in previous years had excelled for Mayo and helped
to destroy Kerry in the All-Ireland semi-final of 1948 — John had
the greatest regard for his brother.
He says: “Pat was a huge man and a wonderful footballer. He helped
lay the foundation for the rest of us and sadly when success came he was
not part of the team. He had emigrated to the US in 1950 and continued
to play football at the highest level in New York.”
Speaking about the early days McAndrew recalls: “I first got selected
for Mayo in 1949 after the success with Crossmolina and although we had
a good team in Bangor Erris I had to play away from home to get noticed
by the selectors.”
McAndrew attended St. Muredach’s College in Ballina and then the
Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin. It was there whilst a medical student
he won all of his honours.
He recalls: “I won two All-Ireland SFC Medals with Mayo in 1950
and ’51 and a National League medal in ’54.
“Whilst at college we had a great time in Dublin and I remember
we travelled by bikes around the city. My big brother Pat had preceded
me at the college and also became a doctor first in America and later
in Perth, Western Australia.
“Other students of medicine at the time were the Kerry stars Sean
Murphy and Jim Brosnan.”
Given the tough nature of the game in those days I am sure knowledge of
how to patch up the wounded would have come in handy.
McAndrew recalls the welcoming home after the success in 1950.
He says: “It was a long time to wait as Mayo last won the title
in 1936. There were great scenes at the end of the game and I remember
old men with tears in their eyes. We had a wonderful time travelling around
Mayo with the cup.”
The team’s success over Meath the following year tasted even sweeter.
McAndrew says: “The victory over Meath has to be my greatest memory.
Football fever had swept the county and we won by five points.”
Those were heady times for the doctor who set up practice in Birmingham
on completing his medical training in 1959.
He says: “I had retired from the county scene by this time but continued
to play the game. I joined the Birmingham-based John Mitchells club and
remember the former Down star Joe Lennon playing with us prior to Down
winning in the early ’60s. I later became the County Board chairman
in Warwickshire.”
At his peak McAndrew played his part in a great era of Mayo football.
Asked to recall his most gifted peers he singled out one man. In McAndrew’s
eyes Tom Langan possessed a talent without equal in any county.
He says: “It’s very difficult to say. You had those fine footballers
Purcell and Stockwell both of thom I rate very highly and, of course,
I was influenced by my older brother Pat but the greatest player was our
own Tom Langan from nearby Ballycastle, God rest his soul.
“He was tall and lanky and had everything. He could field a ball
and score — there were so many memorable goals. Padraig Carney and
Eamonn Mongey were the other great Mayo players at the time.”
McAndrew who lives with his wife Bridie professes to be very happy in
his adopted country.
He says: “Birmingham has been very good to me. I have one son Sean,
an engineer.
“He used to play a bit with the John Mitchells team. Otherwise it’s
the wife Bridie who I met whilst working in hospital and originates from
Coalisland in Co. Tyrone. I have now retired from practice and go to Ireland
as often as I can.”
McAndrew is quite philophical about the present state of football in Mayo
but feels with new management the team could do well in this year’s
championship.
He says: “It’s now over 50 years since the county last tasted
success. Mayo is a large county with plenty of football talent. The days
of emigration are long gone and the club teams are as good as anything
else in the country. We had a good run in the league and who knows what
may happen — just look at Tyrone and Armagh.”
A man of huge sporting and academic talent John McAndrew made a significant
contribution to Gaelic football in both England and Ireland. He still
retains his distinct Mayo accent and like many former GAA greats is modest
about his achievements. |
