Wright, Sean
July 07, 2011Glasgow-born Sean who had moved to Listowel at the age of ten, was the midfield star of the Kerry minors in 1982 in the All-Ireland final.
His fantastic fielding ability, something that was to stand out throughout his entire career, meant that when an aunt prompted him to respond to a newspaper ad seeking applicants for Aussie Rules 'International Experiment,' a positive reply was quickly received from Ron Barrassi, who had captained the first Australian side to visit Ireland back in 1967.
Melbourne Demons never had any reason to regret their choice.
Sean went to to score 63 goals and play 150 games for the club between 1985 and 1995 and was selected as Left Back Pocket on the Non-Australian Team of the Century.
He was on the All Australian team in 1987 and played in a Grand Final in 1988. Among his team-mates were his riect marker in that 1982 All-Ireland minor final, Dubliner Jim Stynes, who would go on to win a Brownlow medal.
They also played together in the 1987 Compromise Rules series, where Wright scored a goal. On his retirement, Sean was made a life member and later a director of the Demons.
Mike McAuliffe was the shooting star of that 1982 Kerry minor team and remembers the enormous contribution of Sean to the team.
"Everyone who played with Sean remembers' his fielding ability - he was one of the best fielders of a ball ever and he made one catch in that All-Ireland final that was just incredible. It was as if it was in slow motion - it brought people to their feet cheering all on it's own. Sean was much more than just a great player, though. He was a lovely guy and a real team player and he was hugely supportive of everybody else."
Sean displayed all the qualities of heart and courage that he was famous for in his battle with illness. May he rest in peace.
Courtesy of Kerry's Eye, 7th July 2011 Tweet
