Kerry Football’s Golden Years Celebrated

The great and the good of Kerry football gathered last week to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their coming of age – when football’s ‘golden years’ began in 1975.

Over the next 11 years,Kerry woudl win eight Sam Maguires,and were famously denied a ninth and the five-in-a-row by a last-minute Seamus Darby goal for offaly in the 1982 decider at Croke Park.

The occasion was a Gleneagle Hotel fund-raiser for Kerry’s Centre of Excellence at Currans, and the players of the golden years were formally recognized.

Chairperson of the organizing committee john O’Dwyer-fittingly,the son of the late Kerry manager Mick O’Dwyer-explained: “Earlier in the year,the minor team celebrated their 50th anniversary,so it kind of started as an idea in [chairperson] Patrick O’sullivan’s mind that we should reflect on the past,celebrate the present,and look forward to the future.”

“We hope to raise some money for development in Currans, and also to celebrate those who are still with us. We’re missing a few-Páidí O Sé, Tim Kennelly, and John Egan-who have passed.”

Fighting fit was ‘the prince of fullbacks’ John O’Keeffe, who reflected on the 1975 triumph against all odds.

“I would say the youth of the team was significant,” he said. “I had played with the team of the 60s and early 70s,and I was a bit older than most of the lads. This was a complete new influx of young players. I suppose the vitality they brought to the whole scene. And the enjoyment we had in training,with Micko directing affairs.”

“I don’t think it ever occurred to us that we were going to win an All-Ireland. I think we were just beginning to build a team together.”