Mick O’Connell (born 4 January 1937) is a former Irish sportsperson. He played Gaelic football with the Kerry senior inter-county team from 1956 until 1973. He is regarded as one of the greatest players of all-time. January 4 is the 4th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1937 (MCMXXXVII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... Gaelic football (Irish: Peil or Caid ), commonly referred to as football, Gaelic or GAA (gah), is a form of football played mainly in Ireland. ... The Kerry County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association (or Kerry GAA) is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic Games in County Kerry. ...

Early life

Mick O’Connell was born on Valentia Island, County Kerry in 1937. His father was a fisherman who also worked on the family’s small farm on the island. From an early age O’Connell showed great interest in the game of Gaelic football, one of the most popular pastimes for the young natives of Valentia Island. Valentia Island (Oilean Dairbhre in Irish), is one of Europes westernmost inhabited locations, lying off the Iveragh Peninsula in the southwest of County Kerry in the Republic of Ireland. ... Statistics Province: Munster County Town: Tralee Code: KY Area: 4,746 km² Population (2006) 139,616 Website: www. ... Gaelic football (Irish: Peil or Caid ), commonly referred to as football, Gaelic or GAA (gah), is a form of football played mainly in Ireland. ...

Playing career

Club

O’Connell played his club football with the local Young Islanders club. He won three Kerry County Championship medals with the South Kerry divisional side. O’Connell also played club football with Waterville. Gaelic football (Irish: Peil or Caid ), commonly referred to as football, Gaelic or GAA (gah), is a form of football played mainly in Ireland. ... This competion is confined to the strongest football clubs in Kerry together with combination teams from regional divisions in the county. ... Senior Club Championships South Kerry are a Gaelic football Divisional Team in County Kerry. ...

Inter-county

O’Connell’s career with Kerry began in 1955 when he lined out in the Munster Minor Championship. Kerry lost the replayed Munster final to Tipperary, however, he quickly joined the Kerry senior football team, making his debut in 1956. Two years later in 1958 O’Connell won the first of eight Munster titles in-a-row, however, Kerry suffered a shock defeat by Derry in the All-Ireland semi-final. In 1959 O’Connell was captain when Kerry won the National Football League. He later guided his native-county to another Munster title, however, he had to retire injured in Kerry’s All-Ireland victory over Galway. The Kerry County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association (or Kerry GAA) is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic Games in County Kerry. ... 1955 (MCMLV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... // History Gaelic football Hurling External links Tipperary on Hoganstand. ... 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Munster Senior Football Championship (known for sponsorship reasons as the Bank of Ireland Munster Championship) is the premier knockout competition in the game of football played in the province of Munster in Ireland. ... The Derry County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association (Irish: Cummann Luthchleas Gael Coiste Contae Doire) or Derry GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic Games in County Derry. ... Year 1959 (MCMLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The National Football League (known for sponsorship reasons as the Allianz National Football League) is a Gaelic football tournament held annually between the county teams of Ireland, under the auspices of the Gaelic Athletic Association. ... The Gaelic Athletic Association The All-Ireland Senior Football Championship (known for sponsorship reasons as the Bank of Ireland Football Championship) is the premier knockout competition in the game of Gaelic football played in Ireland. ... :For more details of Galway GAA see Galway Senior Club Football Championship or Galway Senior Club Hurling Championship. ...

Following a second National League victory in 1961 O’Connell captured his second All-Ireland medal in 1962 when Kerry defeated Roscommon in one of the worst All-Ireland finals ever. A third National League victory quickly followed at the start of 1963. After two All-Ireland defeats by Galway in 1964 and 1965 Kerry surrendered their provincial crown to Cork in 1966 and 1967. O’Connell won a ninth Munster title in 1968, however, Kerry lost out to Down in the All-Ireland final. This defeat was followed by a great year of success in 1969 as O’Connell added a fourth National League medal to his collection before winning a tenth Munster title. He later won a third All-Ireland medal following a victory over Offaly. 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1961 calendar). ... 1962 (MCMLXII) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar). ... For more details of Roscommon GAA see Roscommon Senior Club Football Championship or Roscommon Senior Club Hurling Championship. ... 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1963 calendar). ... :For more details of Galway GAA see Galway Senior Club Football Championship or Galway Senior Club Hurling Championship. ... 1964 (MCMLXIV) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1964 calendar). ... 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1965 calendar). ... For more details of Cork GAA see Cork Senior Football Championship or Cork Senior Hurling Championship. ... 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1966 calendar). ... 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar (the link is to a full 1967 calendar). ... 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday. ... The Down County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association (Irish: Cummann Luthchleas Gael Coiste An Dún) or Down GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic Games in County Down. ... For the Stargate SG-1 episode, see 1969 (Stargate SG-1). ... The Offaly County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association (Irish: Cumann Luthchleas Gael Coiste Uíbh Fhailí) or Offaly GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic Games in County Offaly. ...

In 1970 O’Connell entered the third decade of his inter-county football career, winning an eleventh Munster title in the process. A fourth All-Ireland medal quickly followed after a victory over Meath in the first 80-minute All-Ireland final. O’Connell claimed two more National league medals in 1971 and 1972, before winning his twelfth and final provincial medal in 1972. That year Offaly later defeated Kerry in O’Connell’s last All-Ireland final appearance. In spite of this loss he was still presented with an All-Star award. O’Connell retired from inter-county football in 1973. 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday. ... // History Gaelic football Hurling External links Meath on Hoganstand. ... 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday. ... 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... The Vodafone GAA All Stars is a Gaelic Games award given annually to the best Gaelic footballers and hurlers in Ireland. ... 1973 (MCMLXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday. ...

Retirement

In retirement from playing O’Connell published his autobiography, ‘A Kerry Footballer’, in 1974. Ten years later in 1984 his reputation as one of the all-time greats was recognised when he was named in the midfield position on the ‘GAA’s Football Team of the Century.’ In 2000 O’Connell was also named on the associations ‘Football Team of the Millennium.’ 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ... 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... GAA redirects here. ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Kevin Heffernan was a famous Gaelic footballer, hurler and coach. ... The Dublin County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) (Irish: Cummann Luthchleas Gael Coiste Contae Ath Cliath) or Dublin GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic Games in County Dublin. ... The Bank of Ireland All-Ireland Senior Football Championship is the premier knockout competition in the game of Gaelic Football played in Ireland. ... In team sports, a captain is an honorary title given to the member of the team primarily responsible for strategy and teamwork while the game is in progress on the field. ... The Down County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association (Irish: Cummann Luthchleas Gael Coiste An Dún) or Down GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic Games in County Down. ...

Teams

See also

• List of people on stamps of Ireland