Paul part of Kerry Junior All-Ireland

CONGRATULATIONS to Paul O’Sullivan of Ballyhearney, Valentia, who played at corner-back for the Kerry juniors in last Saturday week’s All-Ireland junior football final win over Galway in Ennis.

This brings to three the number of All-Ireland junior football medals won with Kerry in the O’Sullivan household.

His brother, Brendan, involved these days with the Kerry senior footballers, won two, with his first coming in 2015 with victory over Mayo. His second came in 2017 with victory over Meath.

Brendan also played in the 2014 final when the Kerry juniors were surprisingly defeated by Cavan.

Ger O’Driscoll of Feighmane and Michael A O’Connell of Knightstown won a Junior All-Ireland in 1983 when Kerry defeated Yorkshire by 15 points to two.

O’Driscoll, who of course played in the All-Ireland senior finals of 1975, ‘76 and ‘80 (winning two) won a second junior medal in 1991 with a victory over London (2-14 to 0-5). He also won an All-Ireland Under-21 medal in 1975 and many domestic awards.

Pat O’Connell of Cracow won an All-Ireland Junior medal in 1967 when Kerry defeated London by 0-9 to 0-4. Mossie O’Driscoll from Dohilla won a Munster Junior medal with Pat in ‘67 but did not qualify for an All-Ireland medal, despite being on the panel. Pat also played at midfield in the All-Ireland Minor final of 1965, beaten by Derry by 2-8 to 2-4.

He was also on the losing All-Ireland under-21 side of 1967, when Mayo defeated Kerry. They drew the first game, 2-10 each, but Mayo easily won the replay by 4-9 to 1-7.

Pat also figured in seven National League senior football games for Kerry (playing in five) between 1967 and 1969, scoring 2-3 from right corner-forward against Limerick in 1968.

John Shanahan was on the Kerry Junior team that lost to Roscommon in 2000, while Brendie Murphy, Pat O’Connor and Ger O’Driscoll lost to Galway in 1985, with Galway subsequently victorious over Warwickshire.

Congratulations also to Denis Daly of Cahersiveen and Niall O’Shea of Dromid Pearses who were also on the team.

BACK: FRONT: Paul O’Sullivan with family and friends after Kerry’s All-Ireland Junior win in Ennis. Pictured with John O’Sullivan (Paul’s father),Yvonne O’Sullivan, Eileen O’Sullivan, Ina O’Sullivan (Paul’s mother). Liam, Donagh and Cian O’Sullivan