[caption id="attachment_67646" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Martin Furlong in goal in 1984. "]
Martin Furlong, County Offaly's most decorated Gaelic footballer, was in goal for all three of Offaly's All- Ireland triumphs to date, 1971, 1972 and 1982, in addition to winning the minor title in 1964. He also won three senior county championships with Tullamore playing in a variety of positions.
Furlong, who left Ireland in 1998 with his family, drives a truck for Structure Tone. He and his wife Katie live in Rockland County with their two youngest sons, while their older son and daughter live in Ireland.
Irish Echo: What brought you to the United States?
Martin Furlong: My brother Tom was opening his bar up in East Durham, so I came out to give him a hand.
Were your older brothers the biggest influences on your football career?
Oh yes. Mickey and Tommy [both Offaly stars] and my brother John. People said that John was the best of the Furlong's. He was big full back, but he got sick with menengitis and I suppose that finished the football for him, but he was always a great supporter.
Did you play other sports growing up?
Yes, I hurled.
For Tullamore?
Yes and the Offaly minors.
Did you play in goal for the hurlers?
MF: I did, but I also played out the field, forwards, backs, everywhere.
Did you enjoy getting out of the goal in football?
Oh sure, it was a good change, and it probably helped with the goal keeping; it might have helped me in thinking what a forward would do.
The goalkeeper contributed very little to the game then. You were either picking the ball out the net or chasing after a wide or a point. The fullback or the corner back took the kickouts.
Was that tough on you?
I tell you it was no joke standing there the whole match waiting for something to happen and then having to make a save. Now they're making back passes to the keeper and the likes of Stephen Cluxton [Dublin] are coming out to take 45s.
When did the goalkeeper position begin to change?
It changed in the mid to late '70s.
You were well into your career by then. Was that hard on you?
It was an adjustment, but it was good. You were involved in the game an awful lot more.
Do you think the game is over-coached now?
I do think the defensive tactics are taking something away from the game
In what way?
The natural abilities of the players are being curtailed. At times it's not pretty to watch.
What was your biggest thrill in the game?
Looking back the minor is as good as it gets, although '82 was pretty awesome.
That 1982 Kerry team are considered one the best ever. What were your thoughts going into that final?
MF: We were happy enough. We'd trained 19 out of 21 nights coming up to the final, so we'd done the work.
Your penalty save against
Mike Sheehy must have been a personal highlight.
Anytime you save a penalty is special, but to save one in the All Ireland Final... it's fantastic.
You've been involved with the Offaly club since you came to New York.
Has that been a good experience?
I've enjoyed being involved, but I am disappointed that we don't have a football team. I remember back in the late 80s and early 90s when I was manager, there were an awful lot of Offaly lads around. Katie had to sew numbers on the jerseys so all the players could have one.
What do you think of the
GAA currently?
We all love to give out about it, but if anyone else says a bad word we'll pull them asunder. The games are a great past time and I've made so many friends and not one enemy in all the years. Sometimes I wonder what we'd talk about if it weren't for them.
This is the first of an occasional series of interviews with former senior inter-county players. To suggest a former player, please contact Echo sports editor Peter McDermott at irishechosports@gmail.com.
