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Eamonn Fitzgerald: My golden memories of East Kerry’s 1971 Club All-Ireland

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Former East Kerry player Eamonn Fitzgerald recalls his team’s historic run in the 1971 All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship.

It took all of 50 years for East Kerry, the winners of the inaugural 1971 All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship, to be brought together and honoured.

The local East Kerry Board (EKB) did it in style at sun-splashed Fitzgerald Stadium on Sunday last. The winning players of ’71, led by captain Mick Gleeson, are unique as they are the only divisional team to ever win the title. The GAA decided very quickly that divisional board teams were no longer eligible to take part.

The present EKB, led by genial cathaoirleach Johnny Brosnan, spent 10 weeks of hard work sourcing the whereabouts of the title winners and making all the necessary arrangements which ensured that everything went off like clockwork on Sunday, including the presentation of specially commissioned and personally inscribed medals for all.

Of the first 15 that played in the final in Croke Park in 1971, only one person has passed away, that great, lovable rogue and brilliant forward Denis Coffey of Lewis Road. That’s a remarkable feat when one considers that we have been surrounded by so much mortality, especially over the past few years.

Fittingly and much appreciated was the decision of the EKB to present the special medals to all who played their part at different stages on the way to Croker. Gone but not forgotten.

Also remembered was the peerless Donie Sheahan, who trained East Kerry to three Kerry SFC wins in a row from 1968 to 1970. He had his greatest moment on November 21, 1971 when East Kerry beat Bryansford in the All-Ireland final at Croke Park.

He was the catalyst for victory, aided by fellow selectors Brendan Walsh (Glenflesk), Johnny Culloty (Legion), Donie O’Leary (Spa), and Johnny Barry (Gneeveguilla).

The efficiency and drive of EKB officers Brendy Walsh (Chairman, Glenflesk), Denis Fenton (Secretary, Spa) and John Daly (Treasurer, Dr Crokes) was crucial. No hassle about out of pocket expenses, especially for students and the then unwaged, meant a well-oiled winning machine. And there wasn’t any GPA to ruffle feathers.

As Kerry champions in 1970, when they completed the three-in-a row, East Kerry qualified for the national title.

I have clear recollections of that memorable journey, which began with a home g ame against Ardfinnan, the Tipperary champions, in the Fitzgerald Stadium on January 24, 1971. The weather was seasonally dreadful and as centre back I had the task of making sure no opponent came soloing through the middle. Mind the gap was the mantra. They had two very good forwards, Olly O’Connor and a very young Babs Keating. Both scored goals but East Kerry added winning points to Mick Gleeson’s goal for a narrow win (1-6 to 2-1). It was the first win of many.

Next up was an away match against John Mitchells in Portlaw, Co. Waterford. “We’ll stick you in at corner forward today and hang under the big fellows Gleeson, Kavanagh and Coffey for the breaking ball.” Those were my riding instructions from Donie Sheahan. What a delight, just like plucking golden apples. Timing and positioning was crucial. Raising different coloured flags was a liberating experience. A handsome 1-4. The other goalscorers were Mikey Lyne, Mick Gleeson and a screamer from Pat Moynihan’s ensured a facile 4-15 to 1-4 passage to the Munster final.

KERRY V CORK

The Munster final on St Patrick’s Day was anything but easy. The worst conditions I ever played in. Four seasons in one day, and really play was nearly impossible.

I was back to being a defender once more and it was just about survival; it was nearly as terrible as the weather conditions the great Tom Crean experienced. The explorer from Annascaul was a great footballer himself and we could have done with his indomitable spirit of endurance in the blizzard that day, facing some great Cork players such as full back Mick Scannell, Connie Kelly, Séamus McCarthy and many more that I can’t re-call after 50 years.

We were haunted to edge out the very good Muskerry Divisional Board team who defeated Nemo Rangers in the 1970 Cork county final. The final score was seven points to six and the man to save us was Donie O’Sullivan.

Is it any wonder that the New York Jets wanted to sign him up as a kicker? Yes, just that, come off after each kick and wait for the next one. Thankfully for East Kerry, he rejected the NFL and in the storm-lashed Fitzgerald Stadium blizzard he converted two monster kicks into the gale to snatch victory. Was it any wonder he went on to be Kerry’s first All-Star 1971?

Paddy O'Donoghue (two) and Johnny O’Mahony RIP (three) also scored invaluable points. We were haunted and frozen stiff. Did you ever try to unlace muddy boots through frozen eyelids in a blinding blizzard? No parades that time in Killarney. Haven’t we come along ways and for the better too.

NO FOUR-IN-A-ROW

Meanwhile, the plans for four-in-a-row of Kerry SFC titles disappeared. Was this the end of an era?

In Kerry, yes, but the lure of a big day out in Croke Park was the bait used by Donie Sheahan. This was the crossroad for decision-making. How did he plámás the panel to give it an almighty go for gold? Spa had taken over from Dr Crokes as kingpins of the O’Donoghue Cup, but they were shocked to not alone lose to unfancied Listry, but to be well beaten in the 1970 final (2-8 to 1-7). Spa roared back to win the 1971 decider, defeating Dr Crokes in the final.

Opponents on Sunday, but when that rivalry saw its course, Donie Sheahan got them together the following Tuesday night. Club affiliations were set aside to unite under the red geansaís of East Kerry. Unity was paramount, in the name of the game.

No such word as bonding at that time, but an almighty effort was needed for the All-Ireland semi-final away to Gracefield, the Offaly champions. They had a good number of Offaly intercounty players on home soil in Tullamore and the weather was fine in early September.

“You’re up to corner forward again, but this time we are switching you to the left corner forward side,” said boss Donie.

Gracefield were very tough, backboned by Offaly’s John Smith, who took no prisoners. Tom Looney was playing very well at right half forward but had to leave the field after a head-on collision with big Smith. Unfortunately for Tom it cost him his place in the final. I recall the game held up for quite a while following that incident. East Kerry’s best players that late evening were Donie O’Sullivan at centre back and the versatile Dan O’Keeffe on the 40. Their best were goalkeeper Jimmy Murphy, Tadhg Bryan and Smith, of course.

Majestic at midfield was that graceful fetcher Pat Moynihan, and also the hard grafting Pat Casey. Seán O’Sullivan (Lissivigeen) came on for Looney and the great-hearted Mike Lyne (Legion) substituted for Paddy O’Donoghue. Other memories were fine goalkeeping by Weeshie Fogarty, no surrender by Derry Crowley and Jim Gleeson, and two points from the left corner forward, one from a free. It was one of the few frees I ever converted. Dee Coff wanted a break, winked and wanted to get me on the scoreboard. We were fortunate to have Paul Kelly (Dublin) in charge, the best referee in Ireland at that time.

ALL-IRELAND FINAL

The All-Ireland final against Ulster champions Bryansford on November 21 was played in Croke Park and they were highly rated having accounted for Crossmaglen in the ferociously competitive Ulster series. They had four Cunningham brothers, three Neeson brothers, and the best of all was the Down star Cecil Ward. East Kerry played with the wind in the first half. Donie Sheehan’s words and tactics are still clear in my mind.

“Go out there and show them that Kerry football is the best of all. Play to our strengths. Donie (O’Sullivan), you’re the longest kicker in Ireland, in fact in the world. One of ye Pats (Casey and Moynihan) lepp high and the other one stay down. Send it straight into the best full forward line in Ireland and they won’t miss. I want no tippy tappy stuff imitating that Down football. Make every post a winner. Go out there and make (Joe) Lennon eat his own words.” (Lennon, in intercounty star, had stated that that “traditional Kerry football is 10 years behind the rest of the country”.)

“Lead them out there, Mick (Gleeson),” Donie continued, “and for God’s sake play with the wind in the first half. Make every post a winner.”

THE GREEN AND GOLD

And the irony of it all was that some Dublin based late comers to the game cringed as the green and gold defenders were swamped in that opening salvo of goals.  Bryansford’s club geansaís were green and gold while Kerry sported their traditional red!

East Kerry struck early and often, led by Gleeson, captain fantastic. The goals came him (two), Kavanagh (two) and Coffey. James Borden, the Bryansford goalkeeper, had to retrieve the O’Neill’s leather five times in all from a bulging net, but he was like the little Dutch boy who stuck his finger in the dyke in a valiant attempt to save his country from being swamped.

The full back line of Cunningham, Burns and Neeson were bamboozled. But fair deuce to them they rallied as we expected and as goalkeeper I, too, had to unravel the net, but fortunately only twice. Gerald Cullinane played a blinder at wing back, the best player along with Donie O’Sullivan to drop-kick the ball, a skill that is redundant in the modern hand-passing game.

At 4.15pm, referee Jimmy Hatton sounded the sweetest whistle of all. 5-9 to 2-7.

Winner takes all and Donie Sheahan was like the traditional kangaroo hopping from one East Kerry player to the next. God those home pills from Main Street were working.

When he did get to me he said: “Look at the scoreboard. Five goals. Lennon will have to eat humble pie now. What will he write in the Sunday Press after that. I can die happily now.”

Fortunately for all, he lived on for 50 more years and nearly made it to last Sunday’s golden anniversary. Memories such as these and many more came tumbling back at sunny Fitzgerald Stadium on Sunday last. Donie Sheahan had the best seat in the Park, the helicopter view!

HISTORIC MAKERS

East Kerry lined out as follows in the 1971 All-Ireland Club Football final: Éamonn Fitzgerald (Dr Crokes), Donie O’Sullivan (Spa), Derry Crowley (Glenflesk), Jim Gleeson (Spa), Gerard Cullinane (Dr Crokes), Noel Power (Legion), Jerh O’Donoghue (Rathmore), Pat Moynihan (Gneeveguilla), Pat Casey (Spa), Paddy O’Donoghue (Glenflesk), Dan O’Keeffe (Gneeveguilla), Denny Healy (Glenflesk), Denis Coffey (Dr Crokes), Michael Gleeson (Captain, Spa), Domhnalll Kavanagh (Dr Crokes). Tom Looney (Dr Crokes) came on as a sub for Pat Casey. Subs: Weeshie Fogarty (Legion), Seán O’Sullivan (Spa), Johnny O’Mahony (Gneeveguilla), Mikey Lyne (Legion), Dan Kelleher (Dr Crokes), Jimmy Hegarty (Glenflesk), Johnny Batt Cronin (Spa), Peter Clerkin (Glenflesk).

DUG THE WELL

The fortunate ones to taste the water of success at Croke Park in 1971 never forgot those who dug the well over several years and played their parts in ultimate glory. The EKB also remember and appreciate them. That hard working meitheal of Johnny Brosnan, Michael O’Mahony, Anne Holland, John Dineen, Séamus Healy, Ellen O’Keeffe, Peggy Horan, Gary O’Halloran, Dermot O’Connor, Noel Kennedy, Ger Galvin, Peggy Brosnan, John O’Leary, and Daniel O’Sullivan. They didn’t forget those wonderful players and selectors who could not be present, but were represented so well and so gracefully by relatives, shown in brackets. I think of Tom Looney (Ian Looney), Denis Coffey (Noreen Coffey), Weeshie Fogarty (Denise Fogarty), Johnny Culloty, Johnny Crowley (Martin Crowley), Tom O’Keeffe (Breda McAuliffe), Johnny O’ Mahony (Sheila O’Mahony), Jimmy Hegarty (Tim Murphy), Der Sweeney (Denis Sweeney), Johnny Cronin (Donagh Cronin), Peter Clerkin (Sam and Ann Clerkin), Brendan Walshe (Cathal Walshe), Denis Fenton (Mark Fenton), and Donie Sheahan (Liam Sheahan).

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Injured Kerry quartet return for do-or-die showdown with Cavan

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by Adam Moynihan

All-Ireland Preliminary Quarter-Final

Kerry v Cavan

Saturday 3.30pm

Fitzgerald Stadium

Key players Brian Ó Beaglaoich, Diarmuid O’Connor and Seánie O’Shea are back in Kerry’s starting 15 for tomorrow’s All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final against Cavan, with playmaker Paudie Clifford also returning to the 26.

All four were sorely missed in last Saturday’s jarring nine-point defeat to Meath in Tullamore, a result which unexpectedly left Jack O’Connor’s men in second place in Group 2. They must now earn the right to play in next weekend’s quarters by defeating the Breffni County in a straight knockout tie at Killarney’s Fitzgerald Stadium.

The return of O’Connor in particular has lifted the spirits of Kerry supporters. The highly-rated midfielder has only played once since injuring his shoulder against Armagh in the league almost 100 days ago. He did feature in the Roscommon match on the opening weekend of the group phase – playing all 70 minutes – but he was a notable absentee in the subsequent fixtures against Cork and Meath.

With little to no information emanating from the camp about his status, rumours claiming that his season was over had swirled. That gossip was wide of the mark going by the Kerry line-up that was unveiled on Thursday night as the man from Na Gaeil has been selected at right half forward.

O’Shea, who was not risked against Meath due to a tight hamstring, will line out alongside O’Connor on the 40. Ó Beaglaoich reclaims his number five jersey having missed the last outing, presumably due to injury or illness.

Tadhg Morley, Micheál Burns and Tony Brosnan make way for the returning trio. It is believed that Brosnan has sustained a hamstring injury.

Three-time All-Star Paudie Clifford is fit enough for a place amongst the substitutes after sitting out the Meath defeat with a hamstring issue.

Kerry’s other changes see Seán O’Brien replacing Mark O’Shea, and Conor Geaney coming in for Killian Spillane.

Paul Geaney (shoulder) is not included in the match day squad but it is hoped that he will be back in the mix for the quarter-final if Kerry progress.

KERRY TEAM TO PLAY CAVAN:

1. Shane Ryan

2. Paul Murphy

3. Jason Foley

4. Tom O’Sullivan

5. Brian Ó Beaglaoich

6. Mike Breen

7. Gavin White (c)

8. Joe O’Connor

9. Seán O’Brien

10. Diarmuid O’Connor

11. Seánie O’Shea

12. Graham O’Sullivan

13. David Clifford

14. Conor Geaney

15. Dylan Geaney

SUBS: Shane Murphy, Dylan Casey, Killian Spillane, Tadhg Morley, Armin Heinrich, Micheál Burns, Evan Looney, Tom Leo O’Sullivan, Mark O’Shea, Paudie Clifford, Dara Moynihan.

Meanwhile, Cavan manager Raymond Galligan has made one change to his starting line-up for the trip south as midfielder Ryan Donohoe replaces Oisín Kiernan.

Gearóid McKiernan, the 34-year-old forward who has scored over 400 points for his county, is named amongst the 26 having recuperated from injury.

CAVAN TEAM TO PLAY KERRY:

1. Liam Brady

2. Niall Carolan

3. Killian Brady

4. Cian Reilly

5. Brían O’Connell

6. Ciarán Brady

7. Pádraig Faulkner

8. Ryan Donohoe

9. Evan Crowe

10. Gerard Smith

11. Dara McVeety

12. Oisín Brady

13. Cormac O’Reilly

14. Paddy Lynch

15. Cian Madden

SUBS: Gary O’Rourke, Luke Fortune, Killian Clarke, Oisín Kiernan, Jason McLoughlin, Ruairí Curran, Luke Molloy, Gearóid McKiernan, Thomas Edward Donohoe, Ryan O’Neill, Seán McEvoy.

Cavan caused an upset in Round 1 of the round robin by turning over Mayo in Castlebar. They subsequently found the going tough against Donegal (19-point defeat) and Tyrone (13-point defeat), but they scraped through to the last 12 thanks to Donegal’s dramatic late winner against Mayo on Sunday.

In the other preliminary quarter-finals, all of which take place this weekend, Dublin host Cork at Croke Park (Saturday 6.15pm), Down play Galway at Páirc Esler (Sunday 1.45pm), and Donegal welcome Louth to Ballybofey (Sunday 4pm). All four preliminaries are being streamed live on GAA+.

The four group winners – Armagh, Tyrone, Monaghan and Meath – await the winners in the quarters, which will take place the following week at Croke Park.

If Kerry manage to beat Cavan, and the other favourites also advance (i.e. Donegal beat Louth, Dublin beat Cork, and Galway beat Down), the only team Armagh can draw in the last eight is Kerry. The reigning champions would not be able to face any of the other challengers as they have already crossed paths in either the provincial final (Donegal) or the group stage (Dublin and Galway).

Of course, none of that is set in stone yet. Far from it. For now, Kerry’s full focus will be on beating Cavan – ideally without suffering further injury setbacks in the process.

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Kerry’s All-Ireland heroes launch new football camp for girls

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Legendary Kerry ladies’ player Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh will be inspiring the next generation of superstars at the new Laochra football camp, which takes place in Killarney in August.

Aimed at girls aged 12 to 16, the camp is being run by three leaders who were central to Kerry’s magnificent All-Ireland triumph in 2024: Darragh Long (joint manager), Declan Quill (joint manager) and Anna Maria O’Donoghue (selector).

Camp ambassador Louise will be on hand to offer guidance in a coaching capacity, as will some members of the current Kerry team.

“We want you to train with your heroes so you can be the next hero,” explains Darragh Long.

“We feel very strongly about ladies’ football. It has been brilliant to myself and Declan over the last five or six years, and it has been brilliant to Anna Maria and Louise over their full careers, so we just see it as an opportunity to give something back to a sport that gave an awful lot to us.

“We’re aiming at an age group of 12 to 16, girls who will hopefully be starting on their intercounty journey. We will be able to give them a skillset they will be able to use as their steps to success. To try and be the next Louise or the next Síofra O’Shea.

“We have three workshops planned. One with Eric McDonnell, who was our strength and conditioning coach when we won the All-Ireland. One with Michelle O’Connor, an All-Ireland winning performance coach. And one with Claire O’Sullivan, our nutritionist when we won the All-Ireland.

“It’s all about giving the girls the skills and the bits and pieces they’ll need if they want to make it to the top. We really think we can give them a good grounding. We’ll also be providing a huge amount of coaching throughout the week.”

Many teenage girls give up on sport around the ages of 15 or 16. Long and his fellow camp founders are hopeful that attending Laochra might encourage girls to stick with it that bit longer.

“We would see it as a huge success if 10, 15, or 20 of the girls who come to the camp continue to play football after the camp because they got a bit of a buzz or a bit of energy from us during the week.”

The Laochra camp will run from August 12-15 at Dr Crokes GAA grounds in Killarney. You can register here.

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