WILTON UTD FEB 1985

Ger Hayes (played with Munster v Leinster in 1985 inter-pro at The Farm, see post)


Munster defender Ger Hayes had been told in the previous year that, at 23, he was too old to turn to the professional game. The Wilton man had been spotted playing for Wilton Utd in an AOH Cup game against Carrigaline in November 1983 and scout Michael Heron, who had been sent down to run the rule over the younger free-scoring Pat Morley, added Hayes to the list.



Heron said he was impressed with Hayes and would be sending on a favourable report on the tall ex striker, then shining in the middle of the Wilton defence. The report would be going to Sammy Nelson, the former Arsenal and Northern Ireland captain, then the coach at Brighton.



The seagulls already had one Cork player on their books at the time and that was the ex Tramore Athletic ace Kieran O’Regan. Tony Grealish and Gary Howlett were other Irish players at the southcoast club. But neither Morley, who would go on to have a distinguished professional career, mainly in the League of Ireland, nor Hayes would be joining them.



Hayes recalls that the timing of the ten day trial – they travelled over on St Stephen’s Day (83) - didn’t help their cause as the staff were too engrossed with the busy post Christmas league programme and not overly concerned about newcomers.



At the end, the Cork lads were seen individually by manager Ray Cattlin. Hayes was told that, while he was a fine player, his age was against him. Ger did go on to win two AOH Cup medals with Wilton and has just finished his term as captain of Kinsale Golf Club.