“AS kids growing up, we were only too aware of the songs and stories surrounding the Dublin football team of the 1970s,” revealed Mark Molloy in his eulogy at the funeral Mass of his father, Peter, in the Church of Our Lady of Good Counsel, Ballyboden on January 25th.

“Dad was of the opinion that they were the second greatest team to ever play Gaelic football. I never had the chat with him to discover if the Dublin team of the last decade had replaced the 70’s version in second place but you can be sure that they sat second and third on his list in some order.”

Dubs at the funeral didn’t have to worry that their county stalwarts had been usurped in Peter’s regard by any squads from Kerry, Meath, Mayo, Cork or Tyrone as Mark went on to state that, in his father’s opinion, the greatest team to ever play Gaelic football was the Ballyboden Wanderers Dublin Junior Championship winning side of 1968 – of which he was a selector.

“I was never certain if Dad was prouder of the role he played in their success on the field or in the friendships that were made and remain to this day off the field,” commented Mark. “However, he continued to boast about both throughout his life.”

When Ballyboden Wanderers joined forces with Rathfarnham St Enda’s in the late 1960s, Peter served on the founding committee. He filled the role of chairman of St Enda’s from 1972 to 1977 and, to this day, remains the youngest person to hold that office. In 1975, he was a selector for the Dublin Under 21 football team which comprised many budding members of Heffo’s Army.

“While friendships formed during this time remain and a little bit of St Enda’s would always be in Dad’s blood, it would be safe to say that a whole lot of Wanderers was in Dad’s heart. So, when the decision was made for Wanderers to go it alone again Dad would go with them. He served two terms as chairman of Wanderers along with a period as President of the club.”

Peter remained a familiar sight on the sidelines watching teams from both clubs until the end of November last year.