LIAM BROSNAN REFLECTS Kerry O’Shea Speaks to Former Kerry Player Liam Brosnan Who Was a Star of the 1994 All-Ireland Minor Winning Side
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BRINGING HOME THE SAM MAGUIRE WEESHIE FOGARTY REMEMBERS 1969 Twenty one player on this great Kerry team experiencing Earlier that evening, the crowd at Rathmore detonators on a once in a lifetime journey through Kerry Railway station applauded their own local the rail line football history. hero Den Joe Crowley, the first Rathmore man exploded in The station platform was a sea of laughing, to win an All Ireland Senior medal. The late joyous welcome joyous faces as the players alighted from the Father Kelly, uncle to former GAA president as we eased into train. The supporters surged forward to raise Sean Kelly, made a passionate and emotional my home town of Jackie Lyne and Johnny Culloty high on their speech. Killarney after the shoulders and then we were on board Galvin’s The following day we visited the schools All Ireland Final lorry to begin the familiar journey through the around Killarney, showing off the Sam in 1969. My mind packed streets of Killarney. Bon fires blazed at Maguire to the excited, awe struck youngsters. WEESHIE FOGARTY. wandered back various places and the atmosphere was the As we entered the Monastery School my to my childhood most amazing I have ever experienced. It was mind wandered back to a day in 1955 when days of the fifties and sixties. I had memories a moving and unforgettable experience to Tadghie Lyne, the legendary Kerry forward, of 1953, ’55, ’59 and 1962 when I was part look down at the happy faces of the cheering and Johnny Culloty had visited us in that very of that milling crowd on the platform to Kerry supporters. Youngsters sitting on the same school. Now the wheel had turned full welcome home the victorious captains aboard shoulders of their parents, the Killarney Brass circle and I was delighted to be part of the the old steam trains. Legendary names and and Reed Band leading the way down College group. Now I was part of the handing down magnificent captains like John Dowling, Mick St, Henn St. (now Plunkett St), Main St. High of the Kerry tradition. O’ Connell and Sean Og Sheehy together with St. and eventually after around two hours or all their team mates. And now here I was as a so arriving outside the Park Place Hotel. LIAM BROSNAN REFLECTS Kerry O’Shea speaks to former Kerry player Liam Brosnan who was a star of the 1994 All-Ireland Minor winning side When Kerry last good side in 1993 but were narrowly beaten to win but that didn’t inhibit us.” lifted the Tom by Cork in Tralee. They scored two sensational Liam remembers the build-up to the big Markham Trophy goals. That side had players who went on to day. “For a minor footballer playing in an All- in 1994, one of win All-Ireland senior medals for Kerry like Ireland final is a completely new experience the stars of the Dara O’Se, Darragh O’Cinneide, Brian Clarke and for us it was no different. We got the train win over Galway and William Kirby. “The hurt from that loss to to Dublin the Saturday morning before the LIAM BROSNAN. in that year’s final Cork drove on the lads that were still eligible match and stayed in Malahide where all the was Currow’s for 1994. We were determined to win that Kerry teams stayed at the time. We had a meal Liam Brosnan. The Currow man lined out on year. We beat Cork in the Munster semi-final and a team meeting before Charlie took us for the ’40 that day in the memorable 0-16 to 1-7 and Clare in the Munster final. Then we faced a walk on the beach just to put our minds at win over a star-studded Galway team. Armagh in the All-Ireland semi-final. They had ease. On Sunday’s encounter with Donegal, Liam remembers the build-up to the game a very good side also at the time with players Liam Brosnan is quietly confident. “I know well. “We had a great backroom team of like the McEntees, and Diarmuid Marsden. a lot of these lads from being involved with Charlie Nelligan, who was our manager, “We then met Galway in the All-Ireland final. the development squads. They are serious Mikey Sheehy, Sean Walsh, who later became Galway were backboned by players from St footballers. I think if we stick to our game plan President of the Munster Council, Derry Jarleth’s in Tuam and had future senior stars, we can overcome Donegal, but still, Donegal Crowley from Glenflesk and Junior Murphy Declan Meehan, Michael Donnellan, Padraig will be tough enough. Kerry have an excellent from Cahersiveen. “I was lucky that I was a Joyce, Derek Savage and Sean Og De Paor all manager in Jack O’Connor and that is the vital minor for three years from 1992. We had a very household names who were strongly fancied cog in our wheel.” SHEEHY QUIETLY CONFIDENT Kerry O’Shea meets up with Kerry selector Mikey Sheehy Mikey Sheehy 1978 decider against Dublin. settle the nerves. On the Saturday before a big is one of the Mikey grew up in St Brendan’s Park in Tralee. game in Croke Park, we would meet in Fitzgerald greats of Gaelic A close neighbour of his was legendary Stadium for a kickaround, before heading to the Games. As a Kerry footballer John Joe Landers. “I was very Park Place Hotel for Lunch, and then we would player, he was fortunate that I grew up near John Joe Landers get the train to Dublin. We usually relaxed the a key member in St Brendan’s Park. John Joe along with his night before by watching Match of the Day in of the Kerry’s brother Tim, was one of Kerry’s greatest players the Hotel which was a great help with winding Golden Era sides and was always there for me during my playing down.” from 1975 to career. I valued his friendship and I always Mikey is quietly confident of Kerry’s chances 1987, winning adhered to his advice.” against Donegal: “They will be very difficult MIKEY SHEEHY. eight All-Ireland Mikey has fond memories of the build-up to opponents; they are a good, hard physical side. I medals during the All-Ireland final during his playing days. was very impressed with them when I saw them that memorable spell for Kerry football. “In the week of the final, every fella did his own against Dublin, we will have our work cut out to Mikey will always be remembered for his thing. I was no different. For me, it was to go beat them but I have a gut feeling that we can scoring feats, and in particular for that great to Banna for a walk with the dog. Banna was do it.” goal he scored against Paddy Cullen in the always a great place to get away from it all and AWAITING THE ARRIVAL OF THE KERRY TEAM AT THE MEET & GREET IN FITZGERALD STADIUM ON A ‘SELFIE’ WITH KIERAN DONAGHEY AT THE MEET & GREET AT FITZGERALD STADIUM ON SATURDAY. SATURDAY WERE THE MURPHY’S L-R MARY, CHRISTOPHER, DONAL & RACHEL. PICTURE MARIE PICTURE MARIE CARROLL-O’SULLIVAN 087 391 4808 CARROLL-O’SULLIVAN 087 391 4808 KERRY FANS MIA & RYAN TWOMEY MEET AIDAN O’MAHONEY WITH THEIR DAD MARCUS AT THE MEET KERRY FANS EMMA GRIFFIN & MELISSA AHERN MEET BRYAN SHEEHAN AT THE MEET & GREET AT & GREET AT FITZGERALD STADIUM ON SATURDAY. PICTURE MARIE CARROLL-O’SULLIVAN 087 391 FITZGERALD STADIUM ON SATURDAY. PICTURE MARIE CARROLL-O’SULLIVAN 087 391 4808 4808 VIEWS FROM THE CAMP Kerry O’Shea gets the views from the Kerry Press Day Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney was abuzz faded and Donegal were brilliant in the second and experience that has served us well this year. with excitement last Saturday as the Kerry half. Nobody expected the outcome before Donegal’s win over Dublin wasn’t a surprise to team held their Open Day which afforded the game and they will be difficult opponents. me. They won the title in 2012, last year didn’t fans young and old a chance to meet the We have learned a lot from the game, and are go too well for them. They are used to the big team and wish them well for the final. It was going through the video footage and trying to days now. They have a great management. also an opportunity for local and national counteract their game plan while trying to stay They are in this final on merit”. media representatives to speak to members loyal to ours.” of the team and team management ahead of DECLAN O’SULLIVAN the decider with Donegal. “The build-up is different for a lot of the younger “It’s great to be back in another All-Ireland final lads who are on the panel for the first time. You and great to get a crack at Sam again. It was EAMONN FITZMAURICE (Kerry manager): have to prepare them for that. You have to get always going to be hard to follow up the Cork “We resumed training on the Tuesday night them focussed on the football which will be our performance with another similar performance. after the semi-final. Thankfully we have no aim between now and the final.” We are improving with every game and the major injuries ahead of the Donegal game, all games against Mayo have brought us on a lot.