Kerry Football Families

The O'Donoghues of Asdee


by Matt Leen

Asdee lies in the parish of Ballylongford, in the heartland of North Kerry - home of the O'Donoghue brothers, Paudie and Eamon. Paudie, who was the eldest of the two, was selected on the Kerry minor team of 1962 where he lined out at centre half back. He was a commanding figure in the centre of defence and captured his first AII Ireland medal when Kerry really demolished Mayo in the AII Ireland final by 6-5 to 7 points. Paudie was now being groomed by his club Shannon Rangers into the full back position and he played a starring role when they captured the Kerry Senior Championship of 1964. In this, the inaugural year of the AII Ireland U21 Championship, Paudie lined out at full back and captured his 2nd AIl Ireland medal when Kerry beat Laois in the AII Ireland final. He also graduated to the Kerry Senior team, playing corner back on the team defeated by Galway in the AII Ireland final. He was centre half back in 1965, when again, Galway defeated Kerry in the AII Ireland final.

In 1968 he lined out at full back when Down defeated Kerry, after which Joe Lennon made his famous remarks that "Kerry were 30 years behind the time'' and ''they would not win an AlI Ireland for another 30 years. Well, Kerry always give the answer to the critics in the best way possible, on the field of play. Kerry thundered back in 1969 when, captained by the great Johnny Cullloty, they defeated Offaly in the AII Ireland final. Paudie was collecting his first Senior AII Ireland medal. He won his second senior medal in 1970 when Kerry, inspired by a DJ Crowley pile driver, defeated Meath in the final. Paudie played his last AII Ireland final in 1972, when Kerry were beaten after a replay with Offaly. Paudie was a wonderful club man, winning County Championship medals with UCD in Dublin and Shannon Rangers in Kerry, and with O' Rahilly's of Ballylongford, whom he served loyally over a long number of years. Paudie won the following honors in his career:

  • 1 AII Ireland Minor
  • 1 AlI Ireland U21
  • 2 AII Ireland Senior
  • 3 AII Ireland 7 A side
  • 3 Kerry Co. Championships
  • 2 Dublin Co. Championships
  • 2 Dublin Co. Leagues
  • 3 Kerry Intermediate Championship
  • 5 North Kerry Championships

The younger of the O'Donoghue brothers, Eamon, came to prominence n 1964 when he was a very youthful member of Shannon Rangers who won the Kerry Senior Co. Championship. He played Kerry minor for a period and graduated to the Kerry U21 side and played on the team defeated by Mayo in 1967 in the AII Ireland final. He played in his first senior All Ireland Final in 1968, losing out to Down. When Kerry won their 21st All Ireland title in 1969, Eamon wore the no.12 shirt, left half forward, and from this position in which he was to play throughout his great career, Eamon won his first senior medal.

A free-scoring roving half forward, Eamon was a great reader of the game, often underestimated by opponents to their cost. When Mick O'Connell was soaring to the sky at midfield, Eamon was moving into position in anticipation, a long accurate foot pass, the blonde headed Ballylongford man was always in the right place and many a score came through this route. His great understanding with Mick O'Connell was a feature of some of Kerry's great victories in that period. Eamon won his 2nd senior AII Ireland medal in 1970 when Kerry defeated Meath in the final. As a club player he had few equals, with O'Rahilly's of Ballylongford he won 3 Kerry Intermediate championships and 5 North Kerry senior championships. With Shannon Rangers, he won 3 AII Ireland 7-a-side championships medals and 3 Kerry Senior County Championship medals. With Kerry he won 2 Senior All Ireland medals, 5 National league medals and with Munster, 1 Railway cup medal. Eamon O' Donoghue was more than just a marvelous player; his sportsmanship, commitment and unassuming demeanor represented everything that is positive and enriching in the great game of Gaelic football.



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