Kerry Football Families

The Russells of Kerry


by Matt Leen

Killarney is famous worldwide for it's great natural beauty, lakes mountains and waterfalls and it has also probably produced some of the greatest footballers down through the years - from the Iegendary Dick Fitzgerald, the Lynes and the Cullotys... but up there among the greats of any era has to be the great Paul Russell. Born under the shadow of Mangerton in 1906, Paul Russell was a wonderful athlete in his youth and if he had not chosen Gaelic Football he would have gone to the top in any sport - such was his great natural ability.

Picked on the Kerry Senior team while still at school, Paul played in his first AII Ireland final in 1923, losing out to Dublin by 2 points. He won his first Senior AlI Ireland medal in 1924, lining out at right half back and he was to make the no. 5 jersey his own up until he won his last medal in 1932. A dashing half back, he was an immaculate fielder of a ball and his trademark was the drop kick which he perfected with both feet. He won his 2 AII Ireland medals in 1926 after 2 epic games against Kildare. The AII Ireland final was a draw and it was only after a replay that Kerry overcame the gallant 'Lily Whites'. His duels with the great Paul Doyle of Kildare were a feature of that period, as Kerry and Kildare were the 2 top teams in Ireland and met in 4 AlI Ireland finals between 1926 and 1931. His 3rd medal came in 1929 at the start of Kerry's first golden era, defeating Kildare in the final by 3 points. Paul won 3 more All Ireland medals in 1930, 1931, when he scored the all important goal in the final against Kildare and his last AII Ireland medal in 1932 when Kerry defeated Mayo to complete Kerry's first 4 in a row.

Paul Russell has the rare distinction of winning Railway cup medals with Munster and Leinster playing championship football in 8 counties - Waterford, Cavan, Galway, Monaghan, Meath, Westmeath and Dublin where he won a county championship medal and of course, Dr. Crokes in Kerry. In his tremendous career Paul Russell won the following honors

  • With Kerry: 6 AII Ireland Senior medals and 4 National League Medals.
  • With Munster: 2 Railway cup medals
  • With Leinster 1 Railway cup medal

Paul Russell's unique achievements are truly rare, he played on the first Kerry team to bring Sam Maguire to Kerry, he played on the first Kerry team to win a national league, he played on the first Munster team to win a Railway cup (aII Kerry team) and he played on the first Lenister team to win a Railway Cup.

Killorglin home of the famous Laune Rangers the club that has the unique distinction of winning he very first Kerry senior Co. Championship 1889 and also the club that played in the All Ireland final of 1892 - the first time a club representing Kerry appeared in an AII Ireland final. From these proud and historic roots emerged in the early 90's the young Michael Francis Russell, a product of the great underage structure put in place by the mentors at Laune Rangers of Kerry in the 70's and was an enormous influence on young Mike Frank. Attending Scoil Mhuire school teachers Jerome Conway and Declan Falvey were also great motivators and when Mike Frank started at the Intermediate School he was already showing great skill and maturity and under Frank Walsh and Brendan Twomey he quickly developed into the most feared forward in underage football.

Mike Frank was to win his first AII Ireland medal at U14 when Laune Rangers coached by Patsy Joy and Bertie Houlihan won the File na Gael title at Navan. Further success at underage level came with the Rangers, Mid Kerry and Kerry Championships and in 1994 Mike Frank was selected on the Kerry minor team. He won his only minor AII Ireland medal in '94, played minor again in '95 and graduated to the Kerry U21 team in 1996. This was to be some year for the young
Laune Rangers man. In the space of 3 months he won AII ireland Colleges medal with the Intermediate School, an AII Ireland Club medal with Laune Rangers and his first U21 AII Ireland medal with Kerry.

He made his senior debut for Kerry also in 1996 and was still U21 for 2 more years. In 1997 Kerry seniors who had been in the doldrums since 1984, were making a determined effort to bring Sam back home, after defeating Clare in the Munster final they met Cavan in the AIl Ireland semi final. Mike Frank was introduced during the game and it was evenly balance until he collected the ball about 25 yards out. In a flash of brilliance he rounded his man and rattled the Cavan net with a pile driver of a shot. Kerry went on to win and also defeated Mayo in the AII Ireland final, Mike Frank winning his first senior medal and also the Young Footballer of the Year Award for 1997. In 1998 he won his 2nd U21 AII Ireland medal when Kerry defeated Laois in the AII Ireland final and also won a Sigerson Cup medal with Tralee ITT. But the best was yet to come as the year 2000 threw up some magical football from the Kingdom. In the drawn semi final with Armagh Mike Frank showed on the greatest stage of all, Croke Park, he was the complete forward. Scoring 2-3, his dashing speed, ability to kick with left or right and clinical finishing in a Man of the Match award winning display, Mike Frank showed he is up there with the great Kerry forwards that came before him. He won his 2nd senior AlI Ireland Medal when Kerry defeated Galway after a replay in the AII Ireland Final.

Born in 1977 this supremely talented gaelic footballer, now approaching his prime, is the holder of a unique collection of medals:
Mid Kerry and Kerry Co. Championship in all grades from under 12 up to senior/All Ireland, U14, AII Ireland minor, AII Ireland U21, AII Ireland Senior, AII Ireland Colleges, AII Ireland Club, National League and a Sigerson Cup and AlI Star.



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