Big Match Countdown
LIKE the Kennedys in American politics, there can be no mention of the history of Killarney Legion GAA club without repeated and generous reference to the famous Lynes of Cleeney – the undisputed first family of the green and white.
When the club won their first and only Kerry Senior Football Championship crown in 1946-47, the side was backboned by the legendary Lyne brothers with no less than four members of the family in the starting line-up.
Teddy, Dinny, Jackie and Fr Mikey were the swashbuckling footballing heroes of 70 years ago, when high fielding, tough tackling, gritty determination and unerring accuracy were the main traits being exhibited.
They went on to become household names in the GAA and, in the process, they carved their names in the annals of the Legion club, fondly remembered for the wonderful contribution they made to the game they loved.
Maintaining the Lyne bloodline in the current Legion camp are Kerry defender Jonathan – one of the best young players in the game – who is Dinny’s grandson and Donal and Ciaran who are grandsons of Teddy.
Another Lyne connection back in 1946-47 was midfielder Tom Spillane who married the four footballing brothers’ sister, Maura, and was the father of Pat Mick and Tom Spillane of Templenoe.
Continuing with the generation game, the other Legion midfielder that day was John Murphy, a grand-uncle to current stars Conor and Shaun Keane, and he was also a brother-in law-of Mick “The Gun” O’Sullivan who, in turn, was an uncle to present day midfielder Jamie O’Sullivan.
The only surviving members of the only Legion team to win that senior championship are wing back John Joe Sheehan and centre back Micksie Palmer who both went on to win All-Ireland medals with Kerry in 1953 and 1955.
The historic Legion that defeated John Mitchels in that decider was Tommy Cooper, Dinny Lyne, Jimmy Fleming, Jimmy Wade, John Joe Sheehan, Micksie Palmer, Denis Baily, John Murphy, Tom Spillane, Jackie Lyne, Gerald O’Sullivan, Mick Baker, Fr Mikey Lyne, Teddy Lyne, Timmy Hurley.
