Reluctant captain's lucky roll of the dice

Looking fit and remarkably agile, Brian Smyth greets you at the door of his house in Dunboyne. It's Wednesday morning and the man who captained Meath to an All-Ireland SFC final 60 years ago is up and about. He likes to keep busy and there's much to be done. The front garden is festooned with a huge variety of trees, shrubs and flowers, a testament, he says, to the efforts of his wife Mairead. Brian Smyth has the fresh complexion of someone who is accustomed to spending time outdoors and considering some of the more dramatic events in his eventful life, it is something of a miracle that he is still around and in such good shape. During an hour's conversation Smyth reveals how one cold, dank February evening back in 1986 he came very close to losing his life. He remembers the time and the place with great clarity. As usual, he explains, he was on GAA duty and was required to sign documents that related to re-development work at Pairc Tailteann.  He was driving from Dunboyne to Navan, when he was involved in a car accident close to Dunshaughlin. He ended up in hospital for over four months. He had his spleen removed along with a few other "bits and pieces" as the medics battled to save his life.  He says with a laugh that he was like Spider Man he had so many lines criss-crossing his body. For a time, it was touch and go if he would make it or not. Prayers were said for him and during his long convalescence he was gratified, astonished and amazed by the good wishes he received from so many people. He still has a box of cards from well wishers. Some he knew, many he didn't. "It was unbelievable to get all those cards and I'm still grateful to those people who wished me well during that time," he said. Few people have made as significant a mark on the Meath GAA scene as Smyth. He campaigned for years as a footballer and hurler. He helped his county to win the Sam Maguire in 1949 and '54. He also on the Meath side that won the 1948 All-Ireland JHC final. At club level he turned out for Flathouse, Batterstown, Skryne and Dunboyne. He went on to referee at the club and inter-county fronts. Later he had a protracted spell as secretary of the Meath Hurling Board and also a stint as chairman of the Meath Co Board during the late 1970s and early 1980s. The late seventies were challenging times for Meath football when playing for the county held few attractions. He recalls a senior football game against Roscommon at Pairc Tailteann when one or two people in the crowd had to be asked to tog out to make up the numbers.  Smyth was chairman when Sean Boylan - looked upon by some as a 'hurling man,' - was appointed manager of the Meath football team in '83. The deal was clinched at about 3am one morning in Smyth's house as both men sat drinking tea.   While he has had his share of travails and tragedies to deal with Smyth says that he is very fortunate with the way the dice has rolled for him. He mentioned the words "luck" and "lucky" frequently as he reflected on his life. He came from a family steeped in Gaelic games. He says that his brother Noel, in particular, was a talented player yet it was Brian who ended up earning a special niche for himself in the annals of the GAA.  Becoming the first player to captain Meath to an All-Ireland SFC title alone ensured him a special status. Smyth, who worked as a rent collector, never regarded himself as an exceptional footballer. He worked at it, thought about the game and got the breaks. The fact that he never drank or smoked helped his fitness. It still helps him today. He also tells the story of how he became Meath captain in '49 and says it was a fortunate accident rather than any pre-conceived plan that resulted in him walking up the steps at Croker to accept the Sam Maguire. "At that time the captain was chosen from the county champions and there were two of us from Skryne on the team, myself and Michéal O'Brien. We were in the Croke Park dressing room and we were due to play Kildare in the first round of the championship that year. We hadn't decided who would be captain. I didn't want it, I wasn't on for that kind of thing. Michéal wouldn't take it so I said to him "ok, I'll take it this year, you have it next year." We were late arriving out on the pitch because we were trying to decide. It was lucky for me anyway because it changed everything as far as I was concerned," he recalled. "I was a nobody, let's put it that way, when I started off. I had brothers who were equally as good as I was at football but they never got the breaks that I got, there were a few of us, Noel was a good hurler and footballer, he played with Skryne and he never really got a chance." There have been occasions over the past six decades when small little incidents have suddenly brought home to Smyth just how privileged he was to lead Meath to their first All-Ireland crown.  A few years ago he went on a pilgrimage to Lourdes with a few others from the '49 side including Bill Halpenny who got Meath's goal in the 1-10 to 1-6 final victory over Cavan. Also on the trip was Michéal O'Brien, who was right-full-back in '49, and another well-known name from Meath football circles - the late Dinny Donnelly. One day on the pilgrimage while they sat down to a meal they were approached by man from the Royal County who wanted to talk to them. Invariably the discussion swung around to '49 and all that. The talk forcefully brought home to Smyth how the lives of many Meath people were enriched and enlivened by the achievements of the county footballers that year.  "At that time things, economically, were low, just like the present time, yet this man, who is from Trim, talked about how the win lifted everyone. It is difficult to realise just how much winning an All-Ireland for the first time meant to the ordinary supporter." Smyth picked up his second All-Ireland SFC medal five years later when Kerry were defeated (1-13 to 1-7) in the decider. Just as he had done in '49 Smyth lined out at centre-half-forward against the Kingdom. He competently occupied other positions during his years playing for the county yet it was on the '40' that he enjoyed playing the most. It was there he was given the freedom to roam. He believes the team of that era should have won more All-Irelands. He looks back at the 1952 final in particular when Cavan got a controversial point in the first game to earn a draw. Smyth is convinced it was never a legitimate score, the ball having crossed the endline. The Ulster side prevailed in the replay. Victory in the home version of the National League in 1951 earned Meath a trip to New York. They travelled to America by plane and returned home by boat. A trip to the Big Apple was regarded as something really special at the time. Smyth had the opportunity to stay Stateside as he was offered a job in return for his football talents. He preferred to return to the Emerald Isle. As a tricky, elusive forward Smyth attracted his share of attention from backs and sometimes he paid the price. He shipped one accidential blow to the head in a game against Dublin that knocked him cold. He spent five weeks in the Mater and he still feels the effects of the injury today. Three years ago Brian Smyth was delivered another devastating blow when his son Bernard suddenly passed away at just 50. The loss remains deep and wounding.  Towards the end of the interview Smyth looks up at the only photograph that hangs in the room where he sits. It's a photograph of the 1949 panel, the players all spruced up and ready for the fray; ready to earn their place in history. In the front row is their young captain in the prime of life.  A lot has happened over the past 60 years and Brian Smyth is still surprised to discover just how much that victory in 1949 means to so many people. It certainly earned him a special status among his own people. He is just glad he could play his part. A captain's part.