The death has taken place of Denis 'Toots' Kelleher, acknowledged as one of the greats of Cork football. He was in his seventies and had been ill for some time. A native of Millstreet, he had lived in Kerry Pike, Clogheen, since his marriage to his late wife, Angela Walsh, a member of a well-known and highly-respected local family. He played a key role during the county's successful period in the mid 'fifties when they contested consecutive All-Ireland finals and captured two national league titles. He served for a period as senior football selector. He and his late wife were also well-known in greyhound circles and he was prominently associated with Millstreet Coursing Club. He is also remembered with great respect as an outstanding forward with his club, Millstreet and at inter-county and provincial level. He played at midfield in the 1952 league final victory over New York in Croke Park and also played in that position in that season's Munster final victory and in the All-Ireland defeat by Cavan. When Cork won the 1956 Munster title, he was in the half forward line and in the All-Ireland final he scored two second half goals against Galway. He was deprived of a medal when Louth won the 1957 final. He was also on the losing side in the Railway Cup finals of '53, '57 and '58. Sympathy has been extended to his family, Bill, Val, Jim, Barry, John and June, his brother John, sisters Mary, Monica and Kathleen, grandchildren and his extended family. - courtesy of The Southern Star, January 2002 Tweet

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