There’s a remarkable link to this year’s All-Ireland Senior Football Championship involving manager Jack O’Connor and Kerry and Dublin.
It’s all about a point, a clinical knockout blow in the dying seconds of two different games 11 years apart.
Kerry manager Jack O’Connor called to Divanes VW Castleisland as VW ambassador, earlier this week to pick up a VW Tiguan from the Killarney Road dealership.
In the course of the 2011All-Ireland championship the Dromid Pearses club-man made the same trip to Castleisland for the same purpose.
Dying Second Drama
This year, he has already been through the grinder of dying second drama as his centre forward Seán O’Shea lined up the now famous 55 metre kick and saved the year for Kerry – to say the least.
It has been reported that Jack O’Connor had turned away from the action to discuss extra time tactics with his selection team and didn’t actually see O’Shea’s kick – he certainly felt and saw the reaction to it then and since.
He won’t need to be reminded of another last second kick from which he may well have turned away from for but different reasons.
Broke Kerry Hearts
Then, Dublin ‘keeper, Stephen Cluxton won the title for Dublin and broke Kerry hearts with his last gasp free kick on September 18-2011.
Now, 11 years on and all the coincidence involved, we all wish Kerry and its squad and management structure the very best against Galway – another county of culture and heritage and keepers of an teanga ghaeilge.
Chiarraí Abú
Castleisland Co-Op Mart sent a message of support and good wishes to all involved with the Kerry team in Sunday’s final.
It was always thought, by generations past, that dry days and a dry ball favoured Kerry teams and unfortunately Sunday’s forecast for the east of Ireland isn’t a bit favourable. So if you’re travelling don’t forget to bring a face-towel to wipe the green and gold running, paper cap dye from your face. Chiarraí Abú.
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