Other Sports

O'Connell the hero of memorable year

December 29th, 2015
by Weeshie Fogarty

 I can't really explain why but this man for one reason or another remains etched in my memory from the past years sporting highlights. His appearance on TV dragged me out of my bed recently as we watched him demolish the Brazilian Jose Aldo in thirteen memorable seconds.    He literally exploded on to our TV screens during the year like a meteorite, Connor McGregor, brash, flashy, arrogant, and boastful, real snappy dresser and an even better talker than the legendary Muhammad Ali. Conor "Notorious" McGregor the Irish mixed martial artist. He is the current UFC Featherweight Champion. McGregor is also the former Cage Warriors Featherweight Champion and Lightweight Champion, an achievement which made him the first professional Irish fighter to hold titles in two separate divisions. Born and raised in Dublin, he was the talk of the town during the year and certainly brought a great freshness and newness to Irish sport.

Great to see the Republic and Northern Ireland qualify for the European finals, they will add enormously to our viewing pleasure next year. Shane Longs brilliant finish to the net against World champions Germany will forever be spoken about. Qualification is a massive boost for soccer in this county and I have great admiration for the men and women here in Kerry who work so hard in promoting their game here not an easy task against the hugely popular Gaelic games. It was a historic day for all the soccer fraternity when Kerry claimed the SFAI Kennedy Cup for the first time in their history. Captain David Dineen led his young boys to victory in the final against raging hot favorites and defending champions Dublin District Schoolboy League who were aiming for their 13th title.

Kerry is blessed with youthful sporting achievers, and to see the Kerry minors under exemplary manager Jack o Connor win back to back minor All Ireland titles playing wonderful traditional Kerry flowing football was another highlight. And then to see Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne retain the Hogan Cup proved, if proof was ever needed that that this county continues to show the way in the line of coaching and preparing young boys and girls through sport for  a life ahead. This success was particularly historic for Pobalscoil in that it was the first time a Kerry school both contested and retained the Hogan Cup after winning a fourth successive Munster crown earlier in the campaign.

Little Brosna winning the Junior All Ireland in Croke Park together with Ardfert's win in the Intermediate was very special and what club man would not give his right hand to see his team race on to Croke park and win the ultimate prize. South Kerry's gritty and never say die attitude as the regained the Bishop Moynihan Cup was also special and their draw and re-play and extra time victory over my own club The Legion in the final was heart stopping stuff. Needless to say for people like me and all our supporters, players and management it was the greatest sporting disappointment of the past year.

One but cannot admire and sympathies with the Kerry ladies footballers as they continue year after year to win that elusive All Ireland title. And so it was again this year. They defeated what is probably the greatest ever ladies football team, Cork; in the Munster final in Mallow, their dedication and commitment cannot be questioned but once again when the big prize was close and the sides met at the knock out stages they literally froze as the Cork ladies raced to victory and went on to capture yet another All Ireland title. Their day must surly come. The Kerry hurlers had a superb year and all eyes will be on them now as they compete next season in Leinster.  St Mary's, Caherceiveen managed by Maurice Fitzgerald turned in some terrific displays capturing the Munster Intermediate title and likewise Templenoe winning the junior title. Kerry football again at it very best.

My favorite Irish sportsman is Paul o Connell. I have never spoken to the man but to listen to him being interviewed in radio and TV he simply exudes courtesy, politeness and charm. To see him leading the Irish team to victory in the Six Nations championship especially after one of the most dramatic final days in the history of the competition was one of my sporting highlights without doubt An afternoon of high drama ebbed and flowed across the three staggered kicks-offs, beginning in Rome and sweeping to Edinburgh before a gloriously chaotic climax at Twickenham. Ireland led by the wonderful Paul o Connell who set the tone himself with a try after just five minutes beat Scotland and set up the memorable victory.

Boxing legend Katie Taylor continues to amaze and mystify as she remains queen of the boxing world. The 28-year-old Taylor won gold with a unanimous decision against France's Estelle Mossely to win another European lightweight title in faraway Azerbaijan when she defeated the French girl Estelle Mosley in a performance of consummate class, to claim an unsurpassed 18th major international title. Katie is now being spoken of as the greatest ever Irish sports person.

Just a little brief taste of the past year, lots of memories course not included, space will not permit, but I include here a little mix of the big and the small. However I cannot end without remembering two exemplary Kerry sporting men have gone to their eternal reward during 2015.  Two men I knew so well and simply loved meeting. Mick Murphy, The Iron Man, from South Kerry, cyclist and man for all seasons, captivating to listen to him tell stories of his amazing life both here in Kerry and around Europe.

One thing is absolutely sure and certain; there will never ever be another Mick Murphy. He was simply, one of a kind. And the lovely former Kerry bag man Leo Griffin, quite, inoffensive, kind. A man who was loved and respected by the greatest GAA team of all time, Mick o Dwyer's golden group. Mick Murphy and Leo Griffin, you might say they were a little bit eccentric in their own way but to me they were two special people, my kind of people.


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