Kerry Football Families

The Lynchs of Beaufort


by Matt Leen

Brendan and Paudie Lynch, sons of Tom and Nora, were born in the shadow of Ireland's highest mountain, Carrantuohill, near the tranquil waters of the famous River Laune in the parish of Beaufort. Brendan and Paudie were born into a great football tradition, as their father Tom was a great footballer in his youth and encouraged both his sons to play the game. Their school teacher at Cullenagh, Peter Coughlan, was also a great influence on the boys and when they attended St. Brendans's Sem. in Killarney, they were already showing great promise at underage level. Brendan was first to go to the Sem. where he won a Munster Colleges Medal, before graduating to the Kerry minors in 1965, playing in goals on the team that were defeated in the All Ireland final by Derry. In 1967 he played corner forward on the Kerry U 21 team who lost to Mayo in the All Ireland Final but picked up his first All Ireland medal when the Kerry Juniors won that year,s All Ireland title.

In 1968 he played the first of his 6 All Ireland Senior final appearances, but Down were victorious. He now made the right half forward position his own and in the famous number 10 shirt, Brendan scored some spectacular goals and points from every angle. He possessed a lethal left foot, and many goalkeepers can vouch for this as they picked the ball from the net. He won his 3 Senior AlI Ireland medals in 1969, 1970 and 1975 and has the rare distinction of winning one at 60 minutes, one at 70 minutes and one at 80 minutes. Perhaps one of his greatest games was the drawn All Ireland final of 1972 when he scored 1-7 which is a county record for an 80 minute final. He captained Kerry to victory in 2 National Leagues in 1969 in New York and in 1973 when Kerry defeated Offaly. He also captained the combined universities to victory in the Railway Cup in 1973, the only time they won it.

With his club Beaufort he won the novice junior and Intermediate county Championships, with Mid Kerry, 2 Co. senior Champions medals, with Killarney, 1 Kerry Senior Hurling champions medal, with UCC, 2 Sigerson Cup medals and 2 Cork County Senior Senor Football Championship medals, with Kerry, 1 Junior and 2 Senior AII Ireland football medals, 4 National League Medals, with Munster, 2 Railway Cup medals and with the combined universities, 1 Railway cup medal.

Paudie Lynch, the younger of the Lynch brothers, took the same route. After National school he attended St. Brendans Sem. in Killarney and it was here in 1969 under the captaincy of the great John O'Keeffe that he won his first AII Ireland medal, when the Sem captured The Hogan Cup, defeating St. Mary's of Galway in the final. He was a member of the Kerry Junior team that was defeated in the All Ireland final in 1969, the Kerry minor team in 1970 who also lost in the All Ireland final, and in 1972 was a member of the Kerry U21 team and Senior teams who also lost in the All Ireland Finals. In fact, Paudie has the rare distinction of having runner-up medals in All Ireland Minor, U21, Junior, Senior and also Kerry and Cork Senior county championships!

Paudie was blossoming into a great midfielder and in 1973 was a member of the Kerry U21 team captained by Mickey Ned O'Sullivan who defeated Mayo in the All Ireland final. His first taste of Senior success came in 1975, when Mick O' Dwyers young guns overwhelmed a fancied Dublin team, Paudie played a storming game, partnering Pat McCarthy at midfield. In 1976 when the Dubs defeated Kerry in the AII Ireland final, Paudie was playing at midfield, but a transition was about to happen and when Kerry next played in an All Ireland final in 1978, Paudie wore the no. 7 shirt and in 1980 and 1981 he again showed his versatility by winning his last 2 All Ireland medals inside at corner back.

With his club Beaufort, whom he served loyally over the years, he won novice Junior and Intermediate Co. Championships, a senior county Championship with Mid Kerry, a senior Cork championship with UCC. With Kerry he won 5 All Ireland Senior medals, 1 U21 All Ireland medal, 4 National leagues, 3 All Star awards, with Munster 2 Railway Cups, with UCC 1 Sigerson Cup and with St. Brendan's Killarney, 1 AII Ireland College medal. In Paudie Lynch's wonderful career, the media rarely noticed or put the spotlight on him. He was not a man for the limelight, but whether for Beaufort in a club game or Kerry at Croke Park, his exceptional football ability shone through, and it can be truly said of him that he was a star among stars in that golden era for Kerry football. All in all, the Lynch brothers were wonderful footballers for Beaufort, Mid Kerry, UCC, Kerry and Munster. They played the game as it should be played as exemplary sportsmen, and were great ambassadors on and off the pitch.



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