An All-Ireland day with a very strong Valentia flavour
CONGRATULATIONS to Peter Keane, the son of Nuala and the late Tom Keane of Cahersiveen, on managing the Kerry minors to the five-in-a-row recently in Croke Park.
It was great to sit up in the Davin Stand with Tomás Murtagh of Mayo (married to Dympna O’Sullivan of Renard) to witness such an occasion and, coincidentally, meet there Richie Connor and Seamus Darby too.
Richie was the captain when Offaly stopped Kerry’s five-in-a-row bid in 1982, and Seamus Darby, of course, scored that winning goal. They enjoyed the banter and laugh when we informed them that we have the five-in-a-row now.
It was also nice to chat with Sean O’Neill, the famous Down All-Ireland winning forward of the ‘60s; and Martin O’Connell, the legendary Meath wing-back on the team of the millennium. Seán, now 80, wrote notes in his programme throughout the match and is mentally sharp and in-tune with today’s game.
We also met another Sean O’Neill, he being Seán of Middle Tennis, Valentia, now domiciled in Dublin for a number of years.
Dan O’Driscoll from Farranreigh was also there. Interestingly, Oisín Gormley from the Bearna club, who entered the fray as a second-half substitute for Galway and scored a point, is the son of Ursula Gallagher of Knightstown, Valentia. His grandfather, the late Paddy Gallagher, played for the Mayo minors, and his uncle, John Gallagher, was a Kerry minor wing-back.
The Gresham Hotel on O’Connell Street is a different place on All-Ireland final day when the Kerry seniors are not involved. Not too many Kerry colours or faces were to be observed, but no All-Ireland is the same without a Casey from Portmagee.
Sure enough, prior to the match, on the steps of the Gresham were Patie and Mary Casey and family of Portmagee, as well as Patie’s brother, Johnny.
The former London and Renard football star Jerry O’Mahony passed by the steps of the famed hotel after the match, and also Sean Garvey of Ratheale and Foilmore.
The former Kerry footballer, Ger Lynch, socialised there afterwards with his son, Tadhg; daughter, Muireann; as well as Ian O’Connell from Portmagee and GG O’Sullivan of Valentia and Dublin.
Kathleen O’Sullivan, of the renowned GAA Upper Deck Gallery in Cahersiveen, was on the train home from Heuston Station on Monday morning, as well as Dan Dennehy of Cahersiveen.
Kathleen was once honoured as Kerry’s best supporter and now is as regular a presence at All-Ireland football and hurling finals as the Sam Maguire and Liam McCarthy cups. She has attended 47 football finals, including five replays, as well as for43 hurling finals, including three replays. That will take some beating.
Thanks also to Dan Dennehy for the transport favour rendered