He remembers it like it was only yesterday.
He talks about it as if it was happening right in front of him for the first time. Mickey Harte will never forget it.
Owen Mulligan’s goal in the 2005 All-Ireland quarter final replay against Dublin is the most fondly remembered green flag in GAA history.
Panache, balls, flair, pizzaz, the idea, the execution, the explosiveness.
It was all about Mugsy. He won a 50:50 with his opponent and left him face flat on the hallowed turf with a swift hairpin turn.
Head up, he had eyes for Steven Cluxton and the net behind him.
Two dummies were sold to Dublin players like cold water on a hot day to get there.
“The Dublin player bought it, hook, line and sinker,” recalls Harte on his Laochra Gael.
“He sold a second one, and it went down as well as the first one, and he buried it in the corner of the net.”
Mickey Harte – "Owen Mulligan's goal – not just a great individual effort". Mickey Harte – Unquenchable Spirit, Tonight TG4 @ 21.30 #LaochraGael #GAA #TG4 pic.twitter.com/BHLbXD10ef
— Laochra Gael (@Laochra_Gael) March 28, 2018
No different to the rest of us, Mickey Harte appreciates that it was a moment of brilliance from his bleached headed weapon. He knows well that it was a crucial moment on their road to winning the 2005 All-Ireland title.
But still, and very tellingly, this wasn’t about Owen Mulligan. Not for Harte. For 15 years he’s been the Tyrone manager and some things haven’t changed so we should have expected this.
It’s that tough love. Nobody was going to be singled out individually. This was a team goal and he was determined to show us all that. He believes that.
You can see from the glare in his eyes, the passion in his voice as he describes the role every other individual played. You then get an insight of what it’s like to be on a Mickey Harte team. Everybody is treated the same. Nobody gets special treatment.
“I would like to bring people’s attention to the fact that goal actually started with a free kick for Dublin… Alan Brogan turned to kick a point, Brian McGuigan came across and blocked him.”
“Ryan McMenamin picked up the breaking ball. He fisted it to Davy Harte. He was on the line. McGuigan was on the ball again, a centre half forward in his own D.”
This is what Harte had coached on the training field. His players were doing him proud.
“He kicked it up to Stephen O’Neill, he turned then and kicked it to Mulligan.”
“But the reason why those dummies worked was because Enda McGinley, Brian McGuigan were now up beside him heading for goals…It was very much a team goal, a really quality team goal.”
His team’s goal. He’s proud of that.
The Laochra Gael documentary went down a treat. It was yet another great production from one of Ireland’s favourite shows.
Many onlookers were keen to remain of the belief that it was all about Mugsy, but you’re going to have to agree to disagree with Mickey Harte on that one.
Disagree with mickey here. Every goal/point starts somewhere. It was all about mugsys individual brilliance. Don’t take it away from the man
— Frank McGurk (@fmg22) March 28, 2018
So everyone but Mulligan scored the goal. Yes there was great play leading up to it, but mulligan could of bottled it and went for the pt. That goal won the game an imo built the confidence to go on and get us the 2nd all ireland
— Fiona Devlin (@fionadev2014) March 28, 2018
