Former Dublin star Mickey Whelan was inducted into the All Ireland Kick Fada Hall of Fame as its 2012 winner. The St Vincent's man has been a GAA colossus over the years as a player, coach, manager and mentor to a myriad of different teams.

He joins fellow Dub Jimmy Keaveney in the Kick Fada Hall of Fame list. Other players who have been honoured by the Bray Emmet's initiative over the years include Brian McEniff (Donegal), Peter Nolan (Offaly), Donie O'Sullivan and Mick O'Dwyer (Kerry), Billy Morgan (Cork), Paddy Doherty (Down), Frank McGuigan (Tyrone) and the late Roscommon stalwart Dermot Earley.

Bray Emmets Chairperson Frances Stephenson today said Bray Emmets and the All Ireland Kick Fada Committee were honoured and enriched by Mickey's acceptance of the award. "He has been an outstanding servant to Gaelic Games at all levels and I would like to congratulate him on what he has given back to the association after his playing career ended. He is an example to all about giving a life commitment to the GAA."

The Bray Emmets Chairperson also announced that the annual All Ireland Kick Fada competition would take place at the Club grounds in Emmet Park, Old Connaught Avenue in Bray on Saturday September 15th at 1pm.

Now in its 13th year, the All Ireland Kick Fada draws the top long-kickers from around the country in both male and female categories. Past winners include such players as Paul Hearty (Armagh), Padraig Kelly (Offaly), Brian Sheridan (Meath), four-time winner Mark Herbert (Kildare) and current holder Shane Duffy (Monaghan). Past female winners include Mary Sheridan (Meath), holder Irene Munnelly (Meath) and Suzanne Hughes from Dublin who holds the all-time female record of 52m from back in 2001.

The Kick Fada competition tests the abilities of the country's best footballers in one of the most vital skills of Gaelic Football - kicking for distance and accuracy. Every year, the country's best inter-county Gaelic Footballers compete in two divisions - Senior men and Senior ladies.

The champion male and female kickers receive the Kick Fada All Ireland medal as well as a voucher towards a holiday.

BACKGROUND

Mickey was a selector on the Dublin senior football team which won last year's All Ireland final against Kerry.

That team's manager Pat Gilroy, played for Mickey when he managed St Vincent's to All Ireland club success in 2008

Indeed he holds the rare distinction of being a former player and manager of both St Vincent's and Dublin senior football teams.

Before joining the Marino Club, Mickey played for Clanna Gael with whom he won a Dublin SFC medal in 1968

Inter-county career

Mickey was on the All-Ireland winning side for Dublin in 1958 as a substitute and again in 1963 when he won a Cú Chulainn award for his performances with the Dublin senior football team during that campaign.

He won the National football league division one title with Dublin and three Leinster SFC medals in 1962, 1963 and 1965.

As well as winning a Dublin SFC medal with Clanna Gael, Mickey won championships with St Vincent's in '75 and '76. He won a Leinster SFC club medal and All Ireland SFC club medal with Vincent's in 1976.

Whelan was the Dublin senior football manager between 1996 and 1999. In 2007 he won the Dublin SFC as manager of Vincent's and later that year the Leinster SFC against Tyrrellspass. The following year he led St Vincent's to All Ireland club victory over Nemo Rangers and stepped down from that role two weeks later. Tweet

Most Read Stories