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Pat Spillane Tells Joe Brolly Why He 'Cried In Croke Park Cubicle' After Historic Kerry Defeat

Pat Spillane Tells Joe Brolly Why He 'Cried In Croke Park Cubicle' After Historic Kerry Defeat
Lee Costello
By Lee Costello Updated
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Back in 2020 when Dublin beat Mayo in front of an empty Croke Park, they lifted their six All-Ireland title in a row, breaking their own record.

The year before they made history by winning five in a row, officially overtaking the great Kerry team of the '70s and '80s, a team that a certain Pat Spillane was on.

The Kingdom had won four in a row between 1978 and 1981, and when they prepared to face Offaly in the '82 final, a fifth title looked certain.

However, disaster struck for Kerry and Spillane, as Offaly shocked everyone by turning over the all-conquering champions, and ending their run.

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Speaking on a special episode of The Free State Podcast, Spillane tells Joe Brolly the impact that that defeat had on him.

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It's only in recent years that I admitted - I remember going to the cubicle in Croke Park, and I cried for two, maybe three minutes.

"When I came out of the cubicle, I was ready for next year. In 1982, I shouldn't have been playing because my cruciate was gone, but I hung on to see if I could be a part of the five-in-a-row, but in hindsight, I shouldn't have hung on.

"But once I came out of that cubicle, I said 'right, that chapter is close. I'm going to get my knee operation done, and I'm going to come back and play for Kerry.'

"Medals and trophies were incidental. People say 'what motivated me?' but once I won one All-Ireland medal, everything else to me was an accumulation."

Spillane did come back, and enjoyed many more years in the green and gold, finishing his career with a total of eight All-Ireland titles.

SEE ALSO: 'This One Was For Me!' - Kellie Harrington Retires In Brilliant Interview After Gold Win

 

 

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