RIP Tim Kennelly

[Hoop]

Tadhg's father Tim Kennelly has passed away today:

Football legend Kennelly passes away
Tuesday, 06 December 2005 5:31



The death has occured of the legendary Kerry footballer Tim Kennelly.

The Listowel Emmets man won a total of five All Ireland winners medals with the county from 1975 to 1981 captaining the side in the 1979 final that claimed victory over Dublin.

Kennelly also won an under-21 winners medal with the Kingdom in 1975.

A farmer and publican Kennelly was a popular figure in GAA circles winning won two successive All Star awards in 1979 and 1980. He captained Munster to win the Railway Cup in 1982. At the end of his playing career Kennelly became a selector with Kerry.

Kennelly's sons Noel and Tadhg have also repersented the county with Tadhg now playing Aussie rules with the Sydney Swans and only last September Tadhg became the first Irish man to win a Premiership winners medal.

GAA President Seán Kelly expressed his shock and dismay at Kennelly's death and said: ""Tim Kennelly had legendary status in Kerry GAA circles."

"He was amongst the best defenders the County ever had, a man who excelled in a team that included some of the greatest players of all time."

 

[Dingo]

a true legend of Irish sport and a great man! RIP Tim and my condolences to Tadhg, Denis and the rest of the kennelly family!

 

[Horsebox]

Very sad. Just watching the old footage of him on the news earlier. Hard as nails and by all accounts a genuinely nice decent man. My sympathies to Tadhg and the rest of the family. Its good that he got to see noel win an All Ireland and Tadhg win the Grand Final. May he rest in peace.

 

[coyler]

I had the privilege of seeing him play in seven All Ireland Finals and winning five of them - hewas an outstanding footballer and by all accounts from Kerry to Sydney a true sportsman. Condolences to Tadgh, his family and all football folk in the Kingdom

 

[grimlock]

That is very shocking news indeed. He looked so happy when he was down here for the Swans GF win.

RIP Tim and condolences to Tadhg and the rest of the Kennelly gang.

 

[big_bazza]

R.I.P Tim, one of the gaelic greats from what ive heard, adn my condolences go to Tadhg and noel and joanne

 

[mick999]

Tadhg plays in North Kerry Final

Ballyduff deny Listowel in emotional meeting



Gaelic Games Round-up: Ballyduff defied the elements and the tag of underdogs as they struck late to deny champions Listowel Emmets back-to-back titles in this absorbing North Kerry Championship Senior Football final played at a rain-lashed Moyvane yesterday - the final score Ballyduff 2-6

Listowel Emmets 0-7.

It was a final full of pathos as Listowel retired the number six jersey of the late Tim Kennelly beforehand - centre back Gary Stack wearing number 16 instead - while Tim's sons Noel and Tadhg and brother Mickey stood in the rain as a minute's silence was observed.

In such circumstances Listowel were hugely motivated, but a dogged Ballyduff denied them.

Sydney Swan Tadhg did not start but Noel did and the early play suggested Listowel were the stronger side as the latter pointed an early free and Brian Scanlon doubled the lead on four minutes.

A Derek Galvin point made it 0-3 to 0-1 at the end of the first quarter but the tide began to turn when Listowel captain Liam Keane had to retire with a hamstring injury.

Tadhg Kennelly came on in the 22nd minute at centre back but Mickey Boyle added a free for Ballyduff, who trailed at the interval 0-3 to 0-2.

Ballyduff got stuck in on the resumption and led for the first time at the end of the third quarter thanks to two points from Maurice O'Connor.

In the 51st minute a long ball caused confusion in the Listowel defence and Thomas O'Rourke squeezed the ball to the net for the crucial goal.

The drama continued as Noel Kennelly put Tadhg through in the 59th minute but keeper Harrington made a stunning save and when the ball was transferred to the other end, John Paul Leahy chipped the Listowel keeper from 35 yards for the insurance goal.