KILLINAN END - Comparing the immortals
Growing up in a GAA environment one of the significant factors is that of an inherited belief system. The historical prowess of Cork, Kilkenny, and Tipperary in hurling, Dublin and Kerry in football, are seen as immutable traditions. Whether there is much logic to it or not it is sometimes held that some counties have a hold over others based on what might have happened half a century ago. Likewise, there is the sense that sometimes teams win because of tradition, as distinct from the more rational idea that their tradition is predicated on their ability to win.
The records of the association loom large in some thinking. The roll of honour was referenced recently by Sean Óg Ó hAilpín before the All-Ireland Hurling Final in the context of Cork in relation to Kilkenny. You would have been forgiven for thinking that Cork had more immediate fish to fry than worrying about Kilkenny. But it is a curious one as it is most certainly one which no individual can influence to any significant degree.
But those very records are under siege like never before. Who would have dreamt a decade ago that Dublin footballers would achieve six in a row, or that Limerick would produce a team that would not only bridge the yawning gap back to the county’s last title, but would go forth and dominate the game? What relevance has the roll of honour to this Limerick team?
When Kerry's famous five won their eighth All Ireland medals back in 1986 it would have been assumed that if anyone was to win nine football medals it would be one of these five. But time has proven that records are a snapshot in time only and liable to be challenged in the future. When Kerry entered the 1985 final against Dublin these players were aiming for their seventh medals. Time has probably obscured for a couple of generations the identity of the man whose record they equalled on that September day almost forty years ago.
Since 1946, Kerry goalkeeper Dan O'Keefe had stood in splendid isolation as the holder of a record which seemed all but unassailable. To achieve such records requires remarkable standards, consistency, and luck. Many great players have certainly been born at the wrong time in respect of raw numbers. One imagines that Dan O'Keefe would hardly look down his nose at Maurice Fitzgerald who didn’t win an All-Ireland until his tenth season. The young Dan O’Keefe made a remarkable start to his inter- county career by touring America with Kerry in 1931 even before he had made his senior championship debut. The first two years saw him win two All-Ireland medals. Still by the age of 30 he had added just one more, that one in a replay against Cavan in 1937. By this stage such was Dan’s prowess between the posts that he was approached by Celtic to consider going to Glasgow for a professional soccer career.
His decision to stay put was well rewarded. Kerry lost the 1938 final in a replay against Galway, in a silent five in a row attempt. Kerry had won in ’37 and went on to win three in a row 1939-41. That ‘39 final saw Meath defeated in their maiden final, with Kerry wearing the red and White of Dingle to avoid a colours’ clash.
Those Kerry teams are a veritable litany of iconic names. Dan O’Keefe and full-back Joe Keohane were chosen in those positions on the team of the Millennium. Centre-back Bill Casey of Lispole, uncle of Brian Mullins, won five All-Ireland medals. Annascaul’s Paddy Kennedy at midfield, and Paddy Bawn Brosnan of Dingle are also players whose reputations have endured.
It's one of those curious twists of fate that while Kerry wore the red of Dingle in 1939 it was arguably at the hands of the same club their four in a row attempt in 1942 fell asunder. Dingle midfielder Seán Brosnan was dropped after the Munster final for the semi-final against Galway. Brosnan took exception to this demotion and was joined by a few colleagues and players from neighbouring clubs who refused to play. The result was that Kerry lined out in the semi-final without four key players from the previous year’s All-Ireland winning team. A four-point defeat prevented Dan O’Keefe achieving a remarkable feat of playing in two All-Ireland finals where four-in-a-row was on offer.
It was also the end of what had been a time of unusual plenty for Kerry football. In thirteen seasons the county had won eight All-Ireland titles. The original Golden Years. Dan O'Keefe picked up another All-Ireland medal in 1946 when Roscommon were beaten in a replay and had the distinction of playing in the Polo Grounds final in New York the following year. Like Cluxton he was heading for the age of 42 by this time he bowed out. Perhaps the comparisons this invites between these immortals is justified.