The late Tony O'Connor The death occurred of Tony O'Connor, a noted footballer in his day who also made his mark as an oarsman of repute. When serving as a crewman on the Valentia lifeboat he proved himself equal to a task that is not for the faint-hearted. However, football was his first love and it was in the playing fields of South Kerry that he excelled as an old-style corner forward. Along with his brother John, who died suddenly on June 11, 1994, he came from the seed and breed of footballers, the Humphreys of Cahirsiveen and the Curtains of Valentia. Together, the brothers blossomed on days that were illuminated by the irrepressible spirit of sideline mentors like Mick Cahill, Johnny (Mund) Murphy, Bernie O'Connell and, most of all, 'The Butcher'. It was Bernie who 'baptised' Tony after a manner that was considered highly appropriate in the early 1960's. He always referred to him as Breen Morgan, so called because of his resemblance to the great Down corner forward of that name. The similarity went beyond the receding hair line because both were of similar hue, hard, tough, aggressive men who took their scores and who played in the same position. John (Dasher) O'Connor was a very legendary figure whose very name conjures up golden memories. But, in the opinion of many, Tony was as good a footballer if not better. He stood back from nothing and the bigger the challenge the better he responded. The O'Connors, who won 12 South Kerry championship medals were acknowledged stylists but, more importantly, they were the heartbeat of the team. Their father, John (popularly known as 'The Butcher', captained the Kerry juniors to all Ireland victory in 1930 when the team sheet include such luminaries as Dan Spring, Tim (Roundy) Landers, Martin (Bracker) Regan, Con Greaney, Jackie Flavin and Dan O'Keeffe. A younger brother, Patsy, played for Munster in the Railway Cup. During the peak years of Valentia's football supremacy 'The Butcher' left his mark as a no-frills manager who was feared by friend and foe alike. His word was law and at all times he felt at liberty to speak his mind which he invariably did. Keeping a low profile was out of the question and shouts of encouragement from the sideline often bordered on the inflammatory. For about 10 years 'The Butcher's meat stall became a seat of power and a forum of debate where the big stars of the team (or 'those' as he rather quaintly called them) were generously acknowledged, none more so than Dahser and Tony. But by the same token if somebody failed to deliver on the pitch he could expect to hear all about it in no uncertain terms. Against that unorthodox back-ground motivation was not a problem. In private life Tony O'Connor was a quiet, inoffensive man who left his aggression on the football field. He had no enemies only friends who understood him and who greatly appreciated his self-effacing ways and unique disposition. Ar dheis lamh De go raibh a anam dilis. Courtesy of The Kerryman 25 May 2006 Tweet

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