Offaly GAA in mourning at sad death of a real football icon

THE death has taken place of one of Offaly football's most iconic figures, a real force of nature, Kevin Kilmurray -and one of the greatest footballers in a county that has produced several legends.

While news that the charismatic, brilliant Daingean man was battling a serious illness for the past year plus and that his end game had approached in recent weeks were common knowledge, news of his passing on Sunday still came as a great shock, greeted with tremendous sadness and grief in his native Offaly and Daingean.

72 years of age, he is the latest member of the great Offaly 1971-1972 All-Ireland senior football champions to pass away. He was predeceased by team mates Larry Coughlan, Kieran Claffey, Mick O'Rourke and Paddy Fenning and like all of them, he was a man who touched the heartstrings of Offaly people far and wide.

As a player and a man, he was one of those indestructible type characters – he possessed a powerful force of personality, obvious inner and outer strength, terrific commitment, a huge will to win. He was a lay it all on the line type footballer, an all action, buccaneering hero, a centre half forward who was absolutely pivotal to the 1971 and 1972 All-Ireland triumphs.

Kevin Kilmurray pervades the Offaly football story in a way that few others can match. He played for over a decade, making his debut in 1969 and playing his last game in 1982.

He plaeyd 85 competitive league and championship appearances from 1969 to 1982. He played in three All-Ireland senior football finals, losing as a young man, not long out of minor to Kerry in 1969 when he came on as a sub.

He established himself on the team in 1970 and by 1971, he was one of the main men. Still U-21 at that stage, he was outstanding as Offaly won the All-Ireland senior football title in 1971 and 1972. He also won a Leinster U-21 medal in 1971 and the importance of him to that Offaly senior side can't be understated.

He was a classic centre forward of that era, a ball winning player who took his opponent on and drove at teams. He wasn't a natural, prolific scorer, far from it and his importance was more in breaking the line and setting up scores for the deadly forwards beside or inside him. He did, however, get several scores throughout his career and it was a sign of his quality, his ability to perform when the pressure was at its most severe that many of those were on the biggest stages, against the best teams when the pressure was at its most intense – he got vital goals in All-Ireland semi-final wins in 1971 and 1972.

He won five Leinster senior football medals – 1969, 1971, 1972, 1973 and 1980. He was one of the handful of players that transcended the two truly great Offaly football teams. After losing to Galway in the 1973 All-Ireland semi-final, many of that team went into decline but after the middle of the decade, an outstanding new crop began to emerge on the scene and win their places on the team.

Richie Connor, Mick Fitzgerald and Pat Fitzgerald were among the first to arrive and were followed a short few years later by a golden generation, encapsulated by Matt Connor, Gerry Carroll and Johnny Mooney in particular – with two more stars, Brendan Lowry and Liam Currums arriving hot on their heels. The survival and experience of players from 1971 and 1972 was paramount to their development and Kilmurray was one of those.

When Offaly won their seventh Leinster senior football title in 1980, Kilmurray along with goalkeeper Martin Furlong, Mick Wright, Eugene Mulligan and Paddy Fenning were still there from the 1971-1972 champions. Furlong went onto win a third All-Ireland senior football medal in 1982 when he was joined by 1972 team mates, Sean Lowry and Seamus Darby.

By then Kilmurray, Wright, Mulligan and Fenning were all gone but their contribution to the 1980 Leinster title was absolutely pivotal. They were all superly effective in a famously tough game that unseated Dublin after their long reign as Leinster champions and without that win, Eugene McGee would have been gone as manager and Offaly probably would not have won in 1982. And without the contribution of that older brigade, Offaly would not have been able to beat Dublin, even though Matt Connor cut loose, having one of his greatest ever days and many other younger players came of age that day.

They had been getting closer and closer to Dublin from 1978, losing narrowly to them in '78 and '79 and that 1980 final was make or break time. With Matt Connor scoring the decisive goal, Kilmurray led the line from his customary centre half forward position and his leadership and experience was crucial.

Kilmurray played in the All-Ireland semi-final defeat by Kerry but was now on borrowed time in football terms. He played in the 1980-1981 National Football League campaign but was gone for the championship as Offaly reached the All-Ireland final. He returned for one final National Football League game in January 1982, coming on as a sub in a defeat against Kerry but that was it for him.

Apart from the role he played in helping many of the younger players from 1982 settle in to top level football, his contribution to one of the most famous All-Ireland wins of all time went infinitely deeper with this. Back in late 1976, he had a profound influence in the appointment of Eugene McGee as manager. He had come in contact with the Longford man while a student at University College in Dublin and he recommended him to County Board chairman Fr Sean Heaney.

The rest was history as McGee led Offaly through another period of fantastic success, albeit not without its turbulence.

Kilmurray had a great time with the UCD teams managed by Eugene McGee. He won Dublin, Leinster and All-Ireland club senior football titles in 1974, playing at midfield on a multi-talented team. McGee guided UCD to the same hat trick of titles in 1975 but Kilmurray did not play in their All-Ireland win over Nemo Rangers.

It was through the Kilmurray connection that Offaly became aware of McGee's promise as a manager and went down the road less travelled in that time of appointing an outside manager.

He won All-Stars in 1972 and 1973 and also won three Grounds Tournament medals from 1971 to 1973. He won a Railway Cup with the Combined Universities team in 1973 and with UCD, he won two Sigerson Cup, two Dublin, two Leinster and two All-Ireland club medals. While he won national fame as a centre half forward, he played centre back and midfield on different teams. He played centre half back for Combined Universities in 1973, though he went to midfield for their replay win over Connacht with Dublun folk hero Pat O'Neill coming in at centre half back – O'Neill had come on as a sub the first day. Kilmurray was mdfield for Eugene McGee's UCD, playing there in their 1974 All-Ireland final win over Clann na Gael of Armagh.

He was a prolific medal winner from the titme he won his first, an U-12 schools title with Daingean NS in 1961 -. While he spent the vast majority of his life outside of and away from Daingean, he was fiercely proud of his roots. His contribution to his home club was considerable. Ironically, the wider Kilmurray family are synonymous with Rhode and Kevin's late father came from Toberdaly but then moved to Springfield, Mountlucas in Daingean, just across the bridge that separates Daingean from Rhode parish – and Rhode's loss was very much Daingean's gain.

He won a Senior “B” Football Championship medal with them in 1974 and along with Mick Wright, was their star player as they went very close to capturing the Senior Football Championship in 1975 and '77 – losing to Rhode and Tullamore in the finals. At the time, a colleges player could also play club championship in a different county as well as his own.

He was the coach in 1975 and he returned to his home club, serving on the management of the side that won the Junior Football Championship in 2014 – Daingean's decline and fall back down the ranks in Offaly was something that upset him and he often spoke about it in very honest terms.

The travel from Dublin eventually took its toll on him and he transferred to the Civil Service club in 1980 – he scored the winning goal as they won a sensational Dublin senior football title. After retiring from playing, he immersed himself in the St Brigid's club in Dublin. With his own sons playing, he was pivotal as manager of several teams as they worked their way up the ranks to senior level, reaching two Dublin finals – the Castleknock/Blanchardstown based club lost to Na Fianna in 2001, when he was the manager but won in 2003 (Gerry McEntee was the manager that year) while they won a second title in 2011.

In 2004, his own county Offaly came knocking and he stepped into the hot seat. The Offaly job was a very poisoned challice at that time – Paul O'Kelly had been ousted after one year as manager in 2003 while Galway man Gerry Fahy resigned at the end of the 2004 campaign, after just narrowly surviving two County Board votes.

The players went on a much publicised strike after Fahy opted out and it took a Eugene McGee brokered agreement to end the dispute between them and the County Board. Some of the senior players harboured hopes that Fahy could be got back for 2005 but that was never a runner for the County Board and all speculation was ended with Kilmurray's appointment.

He stepped into a very turbulent environment with fears that some players would not return – he stated at the time that he did not possess a burning ambition to manage Offaly but after being approached and giving it due consideration he took it on.

He served for 2005 and 2006 and it was a roller coaster two years, full of highs and lows. It was crazy stuff in ways but Kilmurray's quality, class and leadership again shone through. It was the last time that Offaly competed really well at provincial and national level. Gerry Fahy had left them in Division 1 after they won the Division 2 title in 2004 and Offaly held onto their top flight status in 2005. In 2006, they were relegated, almost staying up as they won two, drew one and lost four games.

Despite that they embarked on a great championship run in 2006, reaching the Leinster senior football final for the last time. Kilmurray's passion and drive was in full evidence as Offaly reached the final with wins over Westmeath, Kildare and Wexford. With some of the players who were disgruntled at Fahy's departure playing lead roles, Offaly were playing very well, with real character as they displayed some of the characteristics Kilmurray had shown as a player and they went into the Leinster final against Dublin with a good outside chance. They weren't far away but it didn't happen on the day as Dublin won by 1-15 to 0-9 – the 53rd minute dismissal of Alan McNamee and a controversial first half injury time incident when Stephen Cluxton got away with a yellow card after chopping down the unlikely figure of Cathal Daly – who had returned during the season after opting out at the start of the year - as he raced in on goals were big turning points.

It was a symptom of where Offaly were at the time, the atmosphere in the county and mood among players that Kilmurray opted to walk away at the end of the 2006 season. A Leinster final place should have secured his place but amid rumours of dressing room discontent, he opted out.

2006 had been another turbulent year for Offaly with a lot going on. After being appointed, Kilmurray had to deal with queries from reporters about a comment by long serving star Ciaran McManus, asking had Gerry Fahy been reconsidered – adept at dealing with the media, not one to suffer fools in any way gladly, Kilmurray did the wise thing by kicking for touch and stating that he had no comment to make on the matter that he wished to share with the public!

He had an endearing, no nonsense, fortright character. People who fell out of favour with him or weren't doing what he felt was needed mightn't have had him on their Christmas card list but they always knew where they stood and they respected him for that. If Kevin Kilmurray had an issue with a person, they knew it but he didn't hold grudges and often resumed friendly and very cordial relationships with people he had crossed swords with – , it was generally about football and doing what he felt was needed for the team, not personal.

One of his most memorable comments came after a well established player had been left off the panel in 2006 and there was plenty of talk and controversy about this – when I asked him for a comment on this and remarks by the player the season before, his quick, short reply was that “an empty vessel makes the most noise” and nothing else needed to be elabourated on his views on the issue.

That player had been in outstanding form in the club championship that season but had burnt his bridges with the manager after a dressing room outburst and criticism of management after Offaly gave a shocking display when losing to Carlow in the 2005 qualifiers.

He dropped another young player from the panel in late 2005 after he missed training one Sunday morning. He was furious when he discovered that the reason for missing training was that he had played a junior soccer match and that he had been given a different reason for it. At the time, he spoke about the affair in a very straight manner and explained his reasons by saying: “I would never close the door on any Offaly footballer, unless he abused the green, white and gold jersey to such an extent that it was beyond reproach. There has to be discipline in a panel. You have to have rules and regulations and I do demand commitment and integrity in the jersey.”

He did offer an immediate olive branch by speaking highly of the player, his potential and his future and he was duly invited back for 2006, playing several league and championship games. The young player also said at the time that he would come back if asked.

There was, however, a lot going on during 2006 and it did take a toll on the manager. Beaten by Laois in the qualifiers in 2006, Kilmurray was entitled to a third year, though there was a review process allowed under the terms of the Eugene McGee agreement between players and County Board. He immediately threw doubt on jis future, stating that he would take time to consider his options and the statement that he was going cited family and work commitments.

There had been other controversy during the year, some of it outside the manager's control. Kildare had disgusted many people in Offaly by objecting to their Leinster championship defeat over the number of subs they had used. Kildare had argued that Offaly had used six subs as they brought on James Coughlan, Paschal Kellaghan, John Reynolds, James Rafferty, Damien Hunt and James Keane. Coughlan had replaced Kellaghan who received a bad cut over his eye in the first half and when Kellaghan came back on at half time, it was for Trevor Phelan. Kildare appealed the whole way to the Disputes Resolution Authority but Offaly won every step as the way as authorities ruled that James Coughlan was not classed as a permanent sub when he came on and was entitled to stay on.

Kevin Kilmurray was a very loyal, steadfast man and he resolutely defended his team secretary Christy Hand in the early days of that furore, when it appeared that Offaly may have errored.

Earlier in 2006 there had been speculation about his future after a particulary bad league defeat by Dublin, with stories circulating that the players and management were on collision course. That didn't happen. Kilmurray himself was hit with a two month ban for comments to the referee during a league draw with Monaghan that April. He had mounted a fierce defence at the disciplinary hearing but was still suspended and Offaly subsequently appointed selector Gerry Cooney as acting team manager with County Board chairman Ollie Daly stepping in as a selector for the duration of his suspension. They had been told that the manager could take no part in team preparations during his ban, though the reality was of course very different and he continued to be the main man behind the scenes – he couldn't operate on the line or in the dressing room for the first couple of championship games but was very much back in control for the latter games. At the time, he decided against appealing his suspension, stating that a programme was in place and would be implemented in full.

After his departure as manager, he remained a fiercely proud and dedicated Offaly man. While he lived outside the county for fifty years, he was Offaly to his very core.

His football exploits and story brought him national fame but there was of course a lot more to the man than that – the side that the public doesn't see in his role as a loving partner and father. A devoted, loyal friend.

He was also a very successful business man, running different enterprises at different stages – in the past decade he had a company that installed all weather pitches at sports venues and complexes all over Ireland, including Dublin.

He was confident, gregarious, outgoing, generous, decent and fantastic company. He exuded charisma and he lived life to the full. He was a well travelled man and he made a point of attending the frequent reunions and trips of the great 1971-1972 teams – he was a regular on their holiday to Spain and Portugal after the 1971 silver jubilee trip in 1996.

He enjoyed a social drink but lived a moderate lifestyle. He remained fit throughout his life and that was no surprise as he was surpremely fit in his playing heyday, one of Offaly's fittest in his early days. He always presented himself well and looked well. He had the unique ability to dominate a room without seeking attention and people were drawn to him.

He was a very keen golfer. An excellent low handicap single figure player in his day, he had a long standing affection for the game and was very competitive. He attended most of the Offaly Footballers Golf Society outings and was a regular player in Dublin.

His contritution to Offaly football was recognised with his selection on the county team of the millennium in 2000 and a People's Choice team earlier in centerary year in 1984.

His funeral will be a huge, emotional affair and details will be announced later.