Thousands Salute Kerry’s Football Heroes

Over 20,000 thousand people thronged Denny Street  on Monday evening (Sept 21) to welcome home the Kerry Football Team  following their great victory over Cork in the All-Ireland Senior Football Final in Croke Park on Sunday.  Deputy Mayor of Tralee Cllr. Mairead Fernane paid tribute to the team who were participating in a record equalling sixth final in a row.  “There is no doubt now who are the team of the decade,” she said, as she welcomed the team, captain Darran O’Sullivan, manager Jack O’Connor and his backroom staff, and county board officials on stage. 

The team arrived in Tralee Railway Station at 6.45pm where a large crowd had assembled to greet players and officials. They then made their way by the open top Kerry Group bus slowly down Boherbee, Castle Street and Denny Street. Thousands lined the route to the platform in front of the Ashe Memorial Hall where MC Alan Cantwell of Radio Kerry introduced each member of the team individually to rapturous  applause. Tributes were also paid by the Mayor of Kerry Cllr. Bobby O’Connell and the Chairman of the Kerry County Board Jerome Conway.   Selector Ger O'Keeffe responded by thanking the supporters for keeping faith in the team.

There was a special welcome for Darragh O’Shea who had won his sixth All-Ireland senior medal and for the Tralee based players  Tommy Walsh, Kieran Donaghy, Micheál Quirke, David Moran, Daniel Bohane  and Barry John Walsh, selector Ger O’Keeffe and physical trainer Alan O’Sullivan. Former AFL player Tadhg Kennelly from Listowel, who achieved his dream of following his late father Tim and Noel in winning a Celtic Cross, did a jig on stage.

This was Kerry’s 36 All-Ireland victory and one of their sweetest given that Cork had come into the game as favourites.  The Kerry team showed great character by coming back from a five point deficit after 10 minutes to record a 4 point victory 0-16 to 1-9.

The team continued from Tralee to Killarney where an equally warm welcome awaited them. Over 2,000 people travelled to Glenbeigh, home of captain Darran O’Sullivan, on Tuesday evening for the arrival of team and Sam Maguire cup there.

Darran O'Sullivan raises the Sam Maguire aloft to rapturous applause.

    Tadhg Kennelly dances a jig on stage to the delight of team colleagues

Barry John Walsh, Colm Cooper and other members of the All-Ireland winning team..