The Great Denis Long Poem by Francis Duggan

Duhallow sporting greats are often honored in story and song
And not to laud them for their sporting achievements would surely seem wrong
I talk here of a classy Gaelic footballer who was deceptively strong
The Pride of Annagloor the great Denis Long

For Cork a minor and under twenty one and then a senior All Ireland in seventy three
Before he left the Millstreet Club to join Austin Stacks a Club near where he lived in Tralee
With Austin Stacks three Kerry County Senior Championships and an All Ireland Club medal to add to his dual All Star
On the success ladder of gaelic football the former Annagloor boy was one who did climb far

Those who criticized him for leaving Millstreet for Austin Stacks were guilty of an oversight
Since anyone's personal choice as an individual happens to be one's right
In the late nineteen seventies he signed for to play with the Millstreet Club again
And from the Millstreet fans a new found respect he did gain

He played for Cullen as a minor where he and Dan Morley a minor All Ireland with Cork did win
The will to succeed in anything in life comes from a will born within
And Denis Long in Gaelic football had the will to succeed
And his record tells that he was quite successful indeed

Time does take care of all as some are known to say
And physically the great Denis Long has known a far better day
Since he played his last game of Gaelic football some three decades in time has gone
But good memories of the great player he was today living on.