Mick O'Dwyer has been leading the tributes to legendary Kerry footballer John Egan, who passed away over the weekend at the age of 59.

O'Dwyer, who managed the great Kerry team of the 1970s and 1980s of which six-time All-Ireland winner Egan was an integral member, described the Sneem man as the "prince of corner forwards".

Writing in today's Irish Examiner, a saddened Micko stated: "I found myself taking a longer than normal walk across Waterville Beach yesterday after hearing that the great gentleman, John Egan, had died suddenly.

"My son John heard from Seanie Walsh in Tralee. Only that I knew the reliability of the source, I'd have had a second or third thought about it.

"John Egan could go around or through defenders, whichever way they liked. When he was in possession a great calm washed over me on the Kerry sideline. It was like putting the ball into Fort Knox. It never came out until Egan decided he was ready to dish it off with one of these punted passes, or clip over a point.

"Or, as most of the GAA world will remember him, until Egan had deposited the ball in the opposition's net. He scored all sorts of goals, but they invariably had one common denominator - they were very important.

"He must have sensed the value of those goals but if you took his pulse in the chaos of All-Ireland battle, it never changed. There are several ways to distinguish quality from genius: the first was to walk into any club game and see if there is one beacon out there, outshining everyone. Egan did that with the Sneem so dear to him and with South Kerry.

"The second is that indefinable ability to make something happen when a team most needs it. The final of 1975, our first, Egan tip-toes his way through Dublin defenders and along the small square to find the net. Three years later, the slaughter of the Dubs, but would it ever have been thus if Egan hadn't sensed (Paddy) Cullen coming at him for the smother, and popped it over him into the net? Television commentators knew what was coming next when Egan took it from Bomber (Liston) or one over the top from Mikey (Sheehy). Even the way Micheal O Hehir used say in a rising octave, 'and now it's John Egan....Bang'.

"There has never, at least in my understanding of Gaelic football, been a better inside forward than John Egan. I can't say he was the best, but I can say there was no-one better. And he was and is the best No. 15 to ever play the game."

Egan's former Kerry team-mate John O'Keeffe recalled how he always played for the team.

"There's no doubt but that John Egan was the complete footballer and a great team player," O'Keeffe said.

"He was never selfish and the team ethic was important to him - he would always bring other players into the game, never trying to win matches on his own.

"What stood out was his application and dedication. He worked very hard and never missed training and became an outstanding forward. He was the quiet man on the team but you always got the impression that he really enjoyed it and was a natural footballer.

"More than anything there was a consistency to John's performances. He very rarely had a bad day and came up with crucial goals in numerous games when our backs were against the wall."

Current Kerry manager and fellow South Kerry man Jack O'Connor also paid tribute to the retired garda, who is survived by his wife Mary and children John and Maureen.

"I played in a county final with him in Tralee in 1984. He was a great footballer, probably the most under-rated footballer of the great four-in-a-row team. He was a real gentleman, it never went to his head - what a footballer," O'Connor remarked.

"His greatest strength was his strength and his balance, and he had tremendous skill as well. He was hard to knock off the ball and any corner back that marked him would vouch for that. He was a great player."

Meanwhile, Uachtaran Chumann Luthchleas Gael Criostoir O Cuana has offered his sympathies on behalf of the Association to the family and friends of former Kerry footballer John Egan who passed away over the weekend.

The GAA President said: 'John was an iconic footballer on arguably the most iconic team of all time and his undoubted skills and dedication were handsomely rewarded in an era that will be remembered fondly by Kerry supporters for evermore.

'His role as a classy forward in the emergence and sustained brilliance of this team was a hugely significant one and admiration for his contribution to the game and by extension the Association, exists far beyond his home county.

'At this time I extend on behalf of the wider GAA family my heartfelt condolences to his immediate family, wife Mary, son John and daughter Maureen, Sneem GAA Club and his wide circle of friends.'

Solas na bhFlaitheas ar a anam uasal.

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