Legend On The Line: Jimmy O’Neill

by Tom Flynn

(first published in the August 2010 Wexford Youths match programme)

Jimmy was born on September 6th 1938. In his Schoolboy playing days there was only one club, Hibernians, and a great influence during those days was Mitchell Kennedy. In his seven seasons with Hibs he had great times – his “highlight” playing in the first Evans Cup final. In his youth football days he was rewarded with two International caps. In season 1956-57 he was a member of the Irish International Youth team versus West Germany, and also playing that day was Shamie Coad. On the other occasion it was an away trip, again the opposition was West Germany, and also on the team that night was Alfie Hale. Jimmy recalls in those days you could move “up and down” – one week play in the local league and the following one play in the League of Ireland. Today it is not possible to have such a arrangement.

In 1957 Jimmy made his league debut for Waterford, a home game against Shamrock Rovers, but as I said earlier he also returned to play for his local Junior club when available, and still found some time to be a member of Hibernians’ football committee, and was a member of the Oscar Traynor Cup winning side. He did not really socialize in those days (with his team mates at Kilcohan), and quite frankly I do not know where he would have found the time!

Some opponents of the time he admired were Frank McCarthy and Donal Leahy of Cork Celtic, Ollie Conroy of Shelbourne and Paddy Turner of Shamrock Rovers. Due to a bad knee injury his League of Ireland playing career was cut short, so he took some time out and started refereeing at local level. The Waterford manager at the time, Alec Stevenson, asked Jimmy would he return to Kilcohan, even it was a brief spell, and in all he gave five seasons to the Blues from 1957/58 to 1963/64, with his last game away to Drumcondra. Jimmy recalls the Drumcondra goalkeeper Eamonn Darcy turned out to be a legend and I would agree with that having been privileged to see him play. In his short time with Waterford FC Jimmy played in nine different positions, recieved a League runners-up medal, and was beaten in three Cup semi-finals, and two Munster Cup Finals.
 
It was at the local dinner dance of the Referees Society that the National referees inspector Kevin Redmond asked Jimmy’s wife Marie “could I borrow him for fifteen minutes”. After a brief discussion Mr Redmond convinced him he “could make it”, and so a great career began. Jimmy has had a wonderful time refereeing and officiating at local, national, and International level, with his highlight running the line (that was the term used in those days) when Shelbourne played Vasas of Hungary in the first ever UEFA Cup (previously the Fairs Cup). The other linesman on the night was also from Waterford, Don Mahon, and the referee was from Belgium. I won’t attempt to pronounce his name, but Jimmy informs me the same man reffed the great Pele’s last game. They had to go to Dublin the day before to prepare, but were delighted when word came back from the top brass that the Irish officials were very fair on the night. Jimmy’s other big night was a quarter-final of the 1977-78 Cup Winner’s Cup between FC Porto of Portugal and Anderlecht of Belgium. For the record John Carpenter was the ref, and the other linesman Paddy Mulhall.

It is fair to say Jimmy O’Neill has refereed almost everything that could be done: local Cup finals, Munster Junior Cup final, FAI Junior Cup final, Youth Inter-League semis and final, Munster Senior Cup final, FAI Senior Cup semi-final and the Oscar Traynor Cup final. When he finally hung up the whistle he had a spell as manager of the local club Southend’s youth team, and the Waterford Inter-League team. In conclusion Jimmy has held many different posts on the local management committee of the Waterford Junior League, and is currently its Chairman. Away from football he likes to do some reading but still can be seen supporting his beloved Blues from the stands.

Waterford FC v Cork Hibs, FAI Cup Semifinal 1960
Back row: Seamus Casey, Jimmy O’Neill, Seamus Butler, Vincent Dunphy, Noel Griffin, Ned Fitzgerald
Front row: Jack Fitzgerald, Alfie Hale, Paddy Coad, Seamie Coad, Denny Fitzgerald