Article Juny Week 2 2005
Munster Final '05 Kerry 1-11 Cork 0-11
And so the Kingdom’s march to a second in a row All Ireland titles remain well on track following the expected win over the old enemy last Sunday. It went as everyone predicted it would, close, tough and at the end Kerry would survive, and so it was. One thing that is emerging this year as Jack and his selectors sail into their second term in charge is, Kerry can win games in style, (as they did in last years final) or they can grind down the opposition and play the swarming game whenever necessary. If you can’t beat the men from the North then join them. And another thing, all the talk has been about “Gooch”, if he is held what will happen, who will get the scores. Well last Sunday there were others ready, willing and able to step up to the table and raise the necessary flags, nine men got their names on the list and this is clear indication that Kerry will go very close if not all the way to retaining the championship.
It was one of the warmest days I have ever experienced for a Munster final, (I saw my first in 1955), and the exemplary long serving Irish Examiner reporter Jim o Sullivan remarked to me before the start that it was the hottest day that he could recall. The fitness levels were going to be vital approaching the final twenty mines, both sides were in superb shape and I had based my predictions of a Kerry win here last week on what I had seen in training since the Limerick scare. Pat Flanagan had put his charges through torture in The Stadium and the intensity of the preparations had risen greatly. This was vital in the final analysis.
The decision to pick horses for courses has been a feature of this management team, while Eamon Fitzmaurice can feel aggrieved in not starting the old warrior, (he played his first game with Kerry in the Munster final of ’92) Seamus Moynihan was superb. Tom o Sullivan picked up John Hayes, Marx o Se went on Michael Cronin and Mike McCarthy policed Fintan Gould. The three Cork men were substituted, the Kerry defense was magnificent, and more importantly they cut away back in the needless fouling. Dr. Eamons dictate of the three c’s “close continues marking without fouling”, was plain to be seen
Thomas o Se continues to set the pulses racing with his scintillating surging runs the length of the field while the experiment of playing Eoin Brosnan at midfield never looked like been a success, as everyone accepts he is far better nearer the goals. . What drama surrounded our captain, from my Radio Kerry view point high up on the roof of the stand I saw the slip of paper been given to the officials at the side line table, the man on the light up board was beginning to punch in number eleven, the Dromid Pearse’s man was been substituted. Then Declan struck for one of his trade mark goals. Jack was on his feet, he appeared stunned at this amazing change of events, he rushed up to the the table frantically waving his hands like an umpire waving a wide for the opposition when his own team are playing. Great stuff.
In one twinkle of an eye the game was won and lost and what was about to happen on the line will be talked about and recalled whenever Munster finals are spoken about, such is the beauty of Kerry football, and the selectors continue to make most of the right decisions. Well done to one and all, three more big games to win before the back to back is achieved and the little community of Dromid Pearse’s led by their great chairman Diarmuid o Se welcomes Mr. Sam Maguire to their midst. The dream is alive and well.
It was the first time I met Timmy o Leary, and when it happened I have to admit to the fact that I had never before heard of him. When I left school and before I went to work in St. Finan’s Hospital I had spend three years employed by Timmy o Sullivan in The Kerry Mineral Waters factory situated on the Muckross Road Killarney. That very same building which holds so many great memories for me is now laying silent and deserted awaiting demolition.
It was a cold wet Friday evening and I went to to window of the office in the factory to claim my little brown envelope containing my week’s wages, the low sized shallow skinned man sitting at his desk spoke in a very soft quiet voice.“ So how is the football going, are ye ready for the Crokes on Sunday week”, we were facing our Killarney opponents in the o Donoghue Cup final, (1961), they beat us 2-9 to 2-8 in a cracker. He quizzed me for a few minutes on a number of football topics and when I returned to the main area of the factory I immediately put the question to the long serving Mike Kiely, “who is your man in the office, he seems to have a great interest in football”. Mike looked at me with a of amazement and laughter on his face and he replied, “you mean to tell me you don’t know your own Legion clubman, that my friend is Timmy o Leary, one of the all time great Kerry footballers”.
As the years progressed and my interest in Kerry football increased the name Timmy o Leary remain etched in my memory, rarely if ever however would you hear him mentioned in relation to star teams, legendary players, great scorers or memorable moments. Nevertheless as I delved into his playing career I was astounded to learn that he, one of my own club men had achieved remarkable success with The Kingdom and unbelievably had captained his national school Presentation Monastery Killarney to a historic Dunloe Cup victory in 1932. When I say historic I mean it in its full context because the Dunloe Cup is exclusively for secondary school competition in this county. Timmy was the Monastery captain and he and the great Bill Myres were the motivating factors in that unbelievable win
He was born in Mangerton View right in the heart of Killarney, and just two doors down from him the great Paul Russell winner of six All Ireland medals was also born. Timmy had the very unique distinction of being a member of four Kerry minor teams from 1931 to 1934 and he captained the side to victory in 1933 when they became the first ever minor team to be awarded All Ireland medals. He played with the Munster Colleges while attending the Monastryand was member of the Kerry juniors in 1934 and ’36.
He had a wonderful senior career winning two All Ireland medals, 1937 and ’39 when he was a sub. He was on the losing side to Galway in 1938. In that ‘37 final he scored two goals and might be the only man from Killarney town to have done so. He traveled to America with Kerry in 1939 though suffering from pleurisy, an illness which was finally to bring a premature end to the career of the Pimpernel of Kerry football. He was prolific goal scorer for school, club, county and Munster and in one memorable national League game against Offaly he banged in four goals, In 1933 and ’36 he starred as The Legion captured the Senior East Kerry League.
So now for the first time the career of this unsung and forgotten hero of Kerry football will be recalled and recorded in an unique way when I will devote a full hour next Monday evening of my Radio Kerry sports programme, Terrace Talk to the sporting life and times of Timmy o Leary. And joining me in studio will be Timmy’s nephew Jimmy o Leary who will travel from Cork and also his grandniece, Jimmy’s daughter Hilary o Leary home on holidays from America while we will also talk to his brother in Chicago and others to recall his career.. Hilary is a professional singer in America and we will include tracks from her recently released album, Neidin. It promises to make fascinating listening and to cap what should be a memorable Terrace Talk you can also hear an exclusive hour long interview with Kerry o Donnell who speaks candidly of her late father the legendary John “Kerry” o Donnell. This is the very first time on radio that a member of that family has spoken in length about one of the all time great Kerry GAA men. Two hours of top class radio, you should record it for the archives. Terrace Talk next Monday evening, 7-9pm. Radio Kerry. “It’s an education in itself”.
Weeshie's Week 
