Passing of Kinvara man who was an outstanding dual star

The death last week of Kevin Sexton from Kinvara marked the passing of South Galway's outstanding dual player of the latter half of the 20th Century. For forty years, Kevin played his heart out on every team he played on and won many honours.

Kevin's friends and acquaintances were saddened last week by the news of his sudden death as he played a game of golf with friends. Chairman of Kinvara Hurl-
ing Club, Michael Bermingham, in an oration at the graveside described Kevin Sexton, the club's Honorary President, as "a gentleman, a man who did not tolerate rancour'

Kevin was born in Co Clare and came to live in Kinvara at the home of his relative Kathleen Quinn. He attended St Flannan's in Ennis, where he won Harty Cup and Munster football medals. In the 1940s at the age of 16 he played with Ballindereen in a minor game and was subsequently chosen for Galway against Kilkenny in the All-Ireland semi-final. Galway won that game, but Galway lost the final to Cork, though Kevin held his opponent Johnny Clifford scoreless.

After Kinvara Club was re-organized in 1950, Kevin won a South Board medal a year later, the first of four in that decade, as well as a county medal. In 1966, he won the county intermediate championship, contested the subsequent county senior championships and played his last club hurling game in 1978. He won the County Junior Championship in 1975 and in 1984 came out of retirement to play in a local football competition.

Kevin played football for Galway at minor, junior and senior levels, playing at different stages with John Donnellan, Sean Purcell, Frank Stockwell and Prank Cloonan.
He won South Board football titles with Kinvara in 1952, 1966 and 1968, and played with the great Fr Griffin's senior teams of the 1960s.

The Kinvara colours. Tri- colour and the club No.8 jersey adorned the coffin and members of Kinvara Hurling Club carried the coffin to the Glebe Road at the removal of the remains from Corless Funeral Home to St Colman's Church.

Following Requiem Mass next day, celebrated by Fr Frank Larkin PP, Kinvara, Fr Michael Kelly, Craughwell, and Fr Paddy Callanan PP, Peterswell/Kilbeacanty, the funeral cortege proceeded to Mount Cross for the burial.

Kevin Sexton is survived by his son Kevin, daughters Karen, Valerie and Ruth; by his sister Carmel and'by other family relatives.

Courtesy of The Connacht Tribune Tweet

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