Person of the Year

JERRY’S sporting career began in the playing fields and handball alleys of Ballybricken/Bohermore GAA Club in East Limerick.

One of Jerry’s early achievements was winning an All-Ireland Under 15 Handball title in Croke Park in 1985. On moving to Kerry later that decade, Jerry quickly immersed himself in Gaelic games, playing football for Firies and hurling for St Marys / St Pats.

Jerry played Minor and Under 21 hurling for Kerry, before making his debut with the Kerry Senior Hurlers in 1992. Coinciding with Hurling’s “revolution years”, an extraordinary period in the mid 1990’s where Clare, Wexford and Offaly all annexed All-Ireland Senior titles, Kerry under the tutelage of John Meyler enjoyed their most successful spell of the modern era.

Most famously, Kerry defeated Waterford in Walsh Park in the 1993 Munster Hurling Championship, with Jerry contributing 0-2. Two years later in October 1995, Jerry was part of a Kerry side that defeated the reigning All Ireland Hurling Champions Clare in the Division 1 clash in

Tralee.

At club level, in 1992 Jerry captained St Marys to win the County Intermediate Hurling title.

Not a man to complain about player burn-out Jerry was ever present for the Firies Footballers for over two decades having made his debut in 1987. During that period, Firies secured promotion from Division 5 to Division 2 of the County Senior Football League. Jerry was a prominent member of the Firies team that won the County Novice title for the first time in 1995.

On the back of his excellent club form, Jerry was a member of the East Kerry Divisional sides that went on to secure three ina-row County Senior Championship successes in 1997, 1998 and 1999.

As Jerry’s long and distinguished playing career came to an end, his focus quickly switched to coaching and management. In 2012 he formed part of the Newcastlewest management team who unluckily lost the Limerick County Football Final replay after extra time.

In 2013, Jerry made his first