 Remembering
Kerry’s First All-Ireland win on its Centenary
year-1903-2003.
‘’ Crokes
Heroes’ Part In Kerry’s First Ever All Ireland Triumph’’
As Kerry make an all-out bid to
win the All Ireland crown on the centenary of their
first success; one local club has particular reason to
feel nostalgic as thoughts turn back to that famous
inaugural victory in 1903.
When Eoin Brosnan and Colm Cooper
take to the field in search of the holy grail this
season, they will be following in the footsteps of ten
of their black and amber clubman who played a big part
in that great success of 100 years ago.
Dr’Crokes were the dominant
force when Kerry wrote their name into the history books
for the first time a century ago and seven of the
starting 15 in the All Ireland Final came from the famed
Killarney club. Before beating London Hibernians in the
1903 final proper, Kerry faced Kildare in the memorable
‘’Home Final’’which, in fact, took three games to decide
after Kildare objected to the first result and the
rematch ended in a draw.
The Killarney Crokes players on the
final team were the legendary Dick Fitzgerald [College
Street], Paddy Dillon, ‘Goalie’[Brewery Lane], Billy
Lynch[Clovers Lane], Jack Myers[Ross Road], Florence O’
Sullivan[Listry] and the Barleymount duo of Denny
Kissane and Dan McCarthy.
Another Croke Stalwart Tom O’
Sullivan from High Street – who was affectionately known
as Long Tom- played in the first two clashes with
Kildare but sustained an injury which ruled him out of
the third home final and the All Ireland proper. As his
team- mates went in search of glory, the high fielding
O’Sullivan was detained in South Infirmary for some
weeks.
Another Crokes man, Eugene O’
Sullivan, who lived in College Street and originally
hailed from Firies, played in the Munster Championship
of that year but didn’t make the team for the final.
O’Sullivan, who was also Chairman of the Kerry Co’ Board
at the time, captained Dr’ Crokes to their first county
championship winning team in 1901 in a game that saw
Dick Fitzgerald first come to the attention of the G A A
world.
Other Croke’s links with that 1903
Kerry team was team doctor William O’ Sullivan, Michael
Murray, and Tom ‘’Crosstown’’ Looney who was a
substitute during the Munster Championship.
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