Meath Sports Awards Hall of Fame: Big Joe and his days in the green and gold

There were times when Joe Cassells - or Big Joe as he is affectionally known - could with justification have taken out a six inch nail and hung up the boots. Packed in his inter-county football career especially in the late 1970s and early '80s when Meath's fortunes were low indeed. He could have said enough is enough. He didn't. He kept at and became a central figure in Meath's glory years.

Big Joe had a career playing senior football for Meath that continued longer than most. It started in 1974 and finished in 1990. In between he experienced a great deal. He was there when the fortunes of the team dipped and rolled like a rollercoaster - and there all the time was the Navan O'Mahonys man who, every time he was handed a green and gold jersey, could be relied upon to give total commitment.

At the Meath Chronicle Sports Awards on Friday night Joe was presented with the Hall of Fame award - and he received a warm and sustained round of applause when his name was called out. A standing ovation too. His career underpinned the idea that persistence can pay rich dividends indeed; that even a cause that appears hopelessly lost is worth sticking with.

When he started out first on his adventures with Meath in the mid-1970s the county's fortunes were declining, like a sun setting in the distance, yet there was one big day still left to be enjoyed. It was the National League final of 1975 when Meath caused a major shock and defeated All-Ireland champions Dublin with young Cassells playing a leading role.

Then Dublin's ever lengthening shadow put Meath in the shade. Demoralising defeats were followed by demoralisng defeats. On Friday night Joe recalled playing Clare in a league game in front of "a few seagulls." The barren years of the late 1970s gave way to the equally barren years of the early 1980s. Meath suffered defeats to teams like Wexford and Longford in the Leinster Championship. Some gave up the ghost. Not Joe.

On Friday night as he stood on the stage at the Knightsbrook along with David Beggy and Sean Boylan he gave an insight into what kept him going. "A lot of the games we played in around that time there was nothing at stake yet they were really enjoyable ."

He enjoyed some great days with O’Mahonys and when Boylan took over as Meath manager fortunes started to change on the inter-county front too. In 1986 Meath made a very significant breakthrough with Cassells playing a major, unorthodox role. They defeated Dublin, 0-9 to 0-7 in the Leinster final on a day when it rained in biblical proportions. Joe, essentially a midfielder , was named at right-full-back. His job was to mark Tommy Carr. He did just that and did it well.

Then in the twilight of his career the glory days really dawned. In 1987 Cassells played his part in helping Meath to win the Sam Maguire. The Promised Land. He bettered that the following year accepting the famous, coveted trophy when Meath again defeated Cork in the final, after a replay.

On Friday night Boylan revealed just how much of an achievement that was. He outlined how in Boston in April 1988 when on tour with the Meath team, Joe damaged his back getting out of the bath. As Meath made it to the All-Ireland final Cassells could play only for brief moments. Meath drew with Cork in the All-Ireland final. It went to a replay when Joe played a significant role.

"Joe Cassells first full championship match for club or county at that stage was the All-Ireland final when he lifted the Sam Maguire. We were a man short after a few minutes and Joe played the full match, lifted the cup, the day before his 34th birthday and I think that takes some courage."

Those words summed it up. Big Joe - a man not short of courage. The kind of man you would want in the trenches when the bullets start flying.