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Niall Quinn Reveals The Influence Fluke Meeting With GAA Legend Had On His Career

Niall Quinn Reveals The Influence Fluke Meeting With GAA Legend Had On His Career
Joshua Bell Curran
By Joshua Bell Curran Updated
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Having played a role in some of the greatest moments in this country's footballing history, Niall Quinn is without a doubt one of the most recognisable names in Irish football.

Quinn, who hails from Perrystown in Crumlin enjoyed a stellar two-decade-long career in the Premier League, representing Arsenal, Manchester City and Sunderland and racking up over 470 caps across the Irish Sea as well as a League Cup with Arsenal and First Division title with Sunderland.

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His greatest exploits however came in the green of Ireland where Quinn amassed 92 caps, broke the all-time goal-scoring record, went to two World Cups, one European Championship and of course scored that famous goal against the Netherlands that sent Ireland into the last sixteen at Italia 90. Simply put, Quinn was ever-present in the glory days of Irish football.

While on the field Quinn will always be remembered for his 1990 heroics, off it there have been few occasions on which Quinn's adornment with Irish fans has wavered, with the 58-year-old well-known for his generosity with time and good relationship with fans. Sunderland fans enjoy a similar relationship with Quinn, who is also well-remembered for his generosity during his time as chairman there.

Niall Quinn

7 October 2000; Niall Quinn of Republic of Ireland during the World Cup 2002 Qualification Group 2 match between Portugal and Republic of Ireland at the Estádio da Luz in Lisbon, Portugal. Photo by Damien Eagers/Sportsfile

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Niall Quinn on the GAA player who shaped his attitude to people

As it turns out, it was a fluke meeting with a Kerry GAA legend that shaped the Irish man's attitude towards fans.

Kerry legend O'Dwyer would've been at the peak of his famed Kerry career when Quinn was going up. Unlike many other of this country's finest footballers, Quinn grew up in a staunch GAA household - something that stood to him when he happened across Mick O'Dwyer under a car.

Asked about his sociability by Ryan Tubridy on the Bookshelf Podcast, Quinn revealed that it was a kind moment from the Kerry legend that shaped how he approached fans throughout his career.

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I made my mind up sometime ago, when I was starting to get noticed and people were asking me for my autograph. I saw one or two players turning away and pushing them (autographs) away and I thought jesus I could never do that.

Because I can remember asking Mick O'Dwyer, Mick O'Connell and these players from Kerry on my holidays for their autograph. Mick O'Dwyer was in under his car in his garage where he was a mechanic, and he wheeled out and washed his hands before he signed my book, so that had a kind of effect on me when somebody started asking me for my autograph I couldn't possibly say no.

Others would say that I love it and crave it, I don't but I also think its right just to give people time, and even now, I was in the airport the other day and I think two different people came over to me to thank me for 1990 as if it was all down to me and you know (it's important) to give those people a bit of time because I got so much out of it.

While for the four-time All-Ireland winner, who went on the become one of the, if not the greatest Gaelic Football manager of all time, his chance meeting with a young footballer from Dublin is probably nothing more than a distant memory.

For Niall Quinn and probably so many others, his kindness has a legacy far beyond that of his historic tenure as Kerry manager that saw the county claim eight All-Irelands.

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SEE ALSO: The Under Appreciated Starting XV Of The 2024 Gaelic Football Season

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