The Late Mick O'Driscoll Mick O'Driscoll who has died from a terminal illness aged 68 had a reputation as an outstanding footballer and oarsman. Mick, the third eldest of his family, played at left half back on the Valentia team that won the 1939 South Kerry final, alongside John H O'Connor and Brendan O'Sullivan. According to legend, three stronger, more aggressive, more robust or more competent footballers would be hard to envisage. Willie Cooper who played for Carlow and Waterford saw Mick put the shackles on Jackie Lyne at Reenrusheen in 1945 and maintains that he was well worth his place on the Kerry team. It was not to be. Instead, he moved temporarily to Cork where he played with the Cork juniors before emigrating to England. He returned home in his mid-30s and it was then that two examples of his earlier prowess came to light. One day when enjoying a drink in a Cahirsiveen hostelry, a call came that deserved outright rejection. Having partaken of a hearty dinner ("spuds, 'mate' and green cabbage") and with a few pints inside him, he was in no condition to play football. But like an old warhorse he sniffed the prospect of impending battle with delight. Borrowing gear, he lined out at corner back against Waterville and played a stormer. That display earned him a recall to the Iveragh team that was drawn against championship. However, a breakdown in transport arrangements found himself merrily at Renard Point instead of togging out in Waterville. When Valentia reached the South Kerry final a year later, Mick was 36 years of age. He was well past his best and had scarcely kicked a ball in the previous five years. But on the day of the match he lined out at full back against St Mary's. His team were well beaten but it wasn't his fault. In fact, the quality of his play was amazing, leading to one obvious conclusion - what a brilliant footballer he must have been in his prime. Peggy Sweeney's poignant ballad, Around The Chapel Gate in Coraclare, has a lovely resonance when one thinks of Mick. It was outside the church in Chapeltown after 11am Mass on Sundays that he loved to hold forth on any subject under the sun but especially about football. He had strong opinions which he aired trenchantly and regularly. His son, Gerard who was two senior All Ireland medals with Kerry and his granddaughter, Kasey - a star player on the Kerry ladies football team- were his pride and joy. One day when Ger got a nasty dig in a match against Laune Rangers and a row broke out, Mick's hot temper got the better of him. Stuffing his cap in his pocket he staged a one-man pitch invasion and swung a few haymakers before being ushered back to the sideline. The cameo showed the ferocious spirit that drove him in his prime. He feared nothing. In later years his affable and engaging personality found rich expression whenever he met friends, whether it was in Boston's pub or travelling the roads on his bicycle. He identified easily with a younger generation who enjoyed his company. Although aged 85 when he died he retained the vigour of a much younger man. A larger that life character he was one of the true legends of South Kerry football - Owen McCrohan Courtesy of the Kerryman 6th January 2005 Tweet

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