Another local Tailteann connection

week’s edition, we featured the antiquity and importance of Aonach Tailteann and the Games at Teltown. It struck a chord with some of our readers.

Pat O’Brien (Fossa) is well known in local circles for his great administrative work promoting hurling with St Pat’s East Kerry. Teltown is his home place. His father Mattie bought a 10-acre farm there in 1949 for the sum of £100. The site of Aonach Tailteann and Queen Tailtiu’s grave is on the O’Brien farm, and it is still in the O’Brien ownership by Gerard, a brother of Pat’s.

cause of the death with the score tied at 1-5 each.

He also helped to revive the Tailteann Games. The Willwood Group sponsored an annual athletics tournament in the 1970s. Pat’s sister Teresa was a fine sprinter who competed in the track events. Athletics Ireland is the governing body for athletes at present, following on a noble tradition in Teltown. It is great to know that each year a torch is lit at ‘The Fort’ and Teresa O’Brien is one of those lovers athletics who helps to relay the torch to Croke Park.

baller who competed in the high jump in the 1924 Olympic Games. Of course, Osborne is remembered for the Osborne-roll high jump style which won him gold in the 1924 Olympics. He also won gold in the decathlon. That style pre-dated the ‘Fosbury Flop’. Stanley performed very well but was out of the medals. In the 1924 Tailteann games Stanley was second to Osborne. Other visitors to Teltown included Olympian Ronnie Delaney and the late Seán Ó Síocháin (GAA).

I am not surprised that Meath manager Colm O’Rourke resurrected the Latin dictum to display his delight with Meath winning the Tailteann Cup for the first time, following a tour de force second half display. He, too, understood the historical significance of the Tailteann series. In last

Their parents, Mattie and Brigid raised 13 children, seven boys and six girls, on that small farm. It features a national monument with a raised circular mound about 10 feet tall. On top is an area of one acre. For the O’Brien children, it was named ‘The Fort’ (An Ráth Dubh, as distinct from An Ráth Mhór).

Mattie was hugely involved in the local GAA club and all of his sons played hurling and football with the local Wolfe Tone club. He died in 1983 at one of the boys’ matches, Wolfe Tones v Oldcastle, abandoned after 51 minutes be-

Mattie often recalled how the managing director of the sponsors and the then Uachtarán of the GAA landed by helicopter and brought them to Croke Park where he was guest of honour, and rightly so. He recalled several GAA presidents who visited his home in Teltown. These included Con Murphy, Donal Keenan, Paddy McFlynn, and Paddy Buggy.

The same Mattie welcomed so many visitors to historic Teltown, including Harold Osborne (USA) and Larry Stanley, the famous Kildare and Dublin foot- clear in the third quarter but three bad misses was their undoing as Kerry came through with five points in the closing ten minutes.

Pat’s brother Philip managed the Meath minor and U21 hurlers to All-Ireland B success and later managed the Louth seniors.

Kevin Smyth is another proud Meath man, settled in Killarney with wife and family for many years. An excellent player, he has devoted great energies to promote diversity and inclusivity for all via his coaching of local juveniles. His cousin Dónal Keogan captained Meath to Tailteann Cup victory on Saturday last and his granduncle won a Tailteann medal for tug of war. Kevin’s uncle still has that valuable medal in Meath.

Once again, Shane Ryan excelled in goal and his one-handed save in the second half was crucial to Kerry’s grandstand finish. Stephen O’Brien came on for Adrian Spillane at half-time and his impact was immediate. Remember, O’Brien had a great final in 2022 but has been out through injury for much of the past year. He made a huge difference and kicked the point to put Kerry ahead in that tense finale.

Dublin have huge options on the bench of highly experienced medal winners. Kerry’s bench is not as potent and that plus for Dublin may well be crucial with regards to where Sam will reside for the next year.

Kerry, of course, have the best footballer of all time and no matter who tries to shackle him, his consistent scoring is unbelievable. However, Kerry are too dependent on David Clifford to hit a winning scoring margin. Look at the respective scoring sheets from last Sunday. Kerry’s goal was scored by brilliant wing back Gavin White and goalkeeper

Shane Ryan nailed an important point.

Only three of the starting forwards scored: David Clifford (0-9), Seánie O’Shea (0-4) and Paudie Clifford (0-1).

The latter played poorly by his standards both as a provider and as a scorer. No score from Geaney, Spillane or Moynihan. That scoring pattern won’t retain Sam.

The odds favour Dublin because of their strength in depth and options to bring on top class subs, so important in the modern high intensity game.

But lady luck favours Kerry. That miraculous last-minute point in last year’s semi-final was excellent but also lucky. Con O’Callaghan was missing in 2022. He will be a real handful for Foley, who was in all kinds of trouble against Shane McGuigan. Kerry were lucky that Shane Ryan wasn’t carded, or even sent off, for his rear-end charge.

More about the All-Ireland final in next week’s edition.

RIVALS: Paul Geaney of Kerry tussles with Dublin players Brian Fenton and Eoin Murchan during last year's All-Ireland semi-final. Photo: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile.