Cooper, John
March 03, 2010We laid John Cooper to rest. John C, one of my great boyhood sporting heroes. Growing up in Killarney in the fifties and early sixties I adored John C. He was one of the men who engendered in me that passionate love, respect and admiration for Kerry football, or I should say the greatness off all Kerry sport because of John C was one of the outstanding all round Kerry sportsmen.
Superb footballer with his club Killarney Legion, with Kerry at minor, junior and senior level, star golfer, rugby player, county championship winning boxer and superb competitor at snooker and billiards. And most importantly of all a true gentleman, always ready to chat and discuss Kerry football and he always enquired about the progress of his club.
Family, friends and old sporting team mates gathered around the grave in beautiful Aghadoe last Thursday as his coffin was lowered to his final resting place. The scene for John C's final farewell was magnificent. Truly fitting for one of killarney's sporting sons.
John C. Cooper was years ahead of his time as a sporting hero. He played with the legion seniors at just fifteen years of age and while small of stature, he was just five foot six in height, he was huge of heart and in his prime was as hard as bell metal and a virtual ball of muscle. His brother Tommy also represented Kerry at minor, junior and senior level and in 1947 John C was selected for the Kerry minors at his favourite position of wing forward.
Lighting fast with a beautiful side step and deadly finish he was in scintillating form as Clare and Cork were defeated in Munster, however Mayo proved too good in the All Ireland semi-final winning 0-7 to 1-1. The following year he was also selected on the minor side as Kerry collected their fourth provincial title in a row. Again, however, defeat was their lot as Dublin triumphed 2-7 to 0-8. Some of his team mates on those minor sides included Johnny Foley, Donie Murphy, John Dowling, John Trant, Jim and Mick Brosnan and Bobby Miller. John C's brilliant form was immediately spotted by the Kerry junior selectors and in 1949 he won his All Ireland medal as Kerry swept to the title defeating Tipperary, Cork, Waterford, Wicklow, Down and finally, Lancashire 2-14 to 0-6 to register a record seventh title in this grade. On rout to victory they ran up a massive score of 7-53, and John C was one of the stars of that magnificent victory.
It appeared that the young Legion star was destined for greatness and the senior selectors were also of that mind. John C was chosen for the league panel the following year. However, it was not to be as the nameless, faceless men of the Kerry vigilante committee reported him for attending a rugby ball in the Great Southern Hotel in Killarney. This was the era of the infamous 'Ban' and if you were seen attending a match or dance organised under the auspices of the so-called foreign games [Soccer and Rugby] then suspension was your punishment.
John C was handed a Twelve month suspension and as he told me in a lengthy interview many years ago: 'I was completely disillusioned with the GAA and after that my heart was never in Gaelic Football. They destroyed my love of the game, that was one of the main reasons why I never persued a place on the Kerry senior team.'
He won two senior football county championship medals, one as a sub with his club in 1946 and then, with his brother Tommy in goal, he played a huge part in Killarney's 1949 victory over John Mitchels. He helped The Legion to three minor, one junior and two senior East Kerry victories. His athletic prowess were not confined solely to Gaelic football, however. As a juvenile he won a Kerry county championship boxing title and while at school in Rockwell College he was the star of their senior rugby side where he turned in dazzling displays at out half.
He later played in the same position with Killarney.
Basketball was booming in Kerry during the 1950's and John C took to this great sport like a duck to water. The now demolished town hall in Killarney would be packed to the rafters for all the big games, inter-county and local. At that time all the best Kerry footballers combined both games with little or no difficulty. I have vivid memories of him playing for the all conquering Killarney United team as they swept unbeaten to championship glory in the town and at county championship level. He was like a rubber ball on the floor and his spring from a standing position was as good as any I have seen. John C. was, in my opinion, up to Irish international standard in basketball.
This great sporting story of my hero goes on and on. While still a young man he turned his attention to golf, proving his tremendous versatility by becoming a scratch golfer in 1959. This enabled him to compete at Woodbook in the Irish Hospitals Pro-Am Tournament. He carded four superb rounds as he won the amateur section beating a host of professionals in the process.
In my opinion John C Cooper was one of the finest all round sportsmen. His story storey surely confirms this. He was one of my favourite people and I will miss meeting and chatting with him as he rambled around the streets of our town. My club awarded him the Hall of Fame some years ago and at he moving of his remains on Wednesday and Thursday a guard of honour comprising The Legion and Killarney Golf and Fishing Club flanked the hearse. His cousin, Kerry football legend Johnny Culloty delivered a fitting graveside oration as we bade farewell to John C.
There are very few Kerry sportsmen of whom we can say 'we will never see his likes again'. John C Cooper was one of these chosen few. To his wife and family and close relations we extend our deepest sympathy.
Weeshie Fogarty
Courtesy of the Kerryman
3rd March, 2010 Tweet
