Football fans go native ahead of county clash

BEING a Cork woman living in Kerry is not easy these days, but Kathy O’Callaghan is standing by her native county.

Ballyvourney-born Kathy is domiciled in football-mad Killarney where her husband, Niall O’Callaghan, is mayor.

He’s also the Kerry team’s maor uisce — the official who looks after drinks and gear for the players — and will obviously be shouting for the green and gold, on Sunday.

Then, Kathy (nee Lucey) also has links with the Cork side through a relative, the injured player Anthony Lynch.

She normally cheers for Kerry when they are not playing Cork, but there will be no doubt about her loyalties when the Cork team races onto Croke Park for the historic final.

“There’s a good bit of banter in the house all week, but it’s Kerry flags we’ve out. Any time certain people try to put up the red and white it disappears mysteriously,” said Niall.

The couple have two children, Amy, seven years, and Daragh, six years.

Daragh, who plays at under-six level with Dr Crokes, in Killarney, will go to the match with mum, while Amy has opted to stay at home and play with her friends.

Never stuck for a word, the Killarney mayor and deejay said: “If Kerry lose, I’ll be in Ballyvourney on Monday night. I’ll just take the ribbing on the chin!”

There’s also more interest than usual in the All-Ireland among the young people in Killarney schools as two teachers in local schools are members of the Kerry squad.

Paul Galvin recently joined the staff of St Brendan’s College, a famed football nursery, while Mike Frank Russell teaches in Holy Cross.

Not only that, but Colm Cooper, Eoin Brosnan and substitutes Kieran Cremin and Kieran O’Leary of Kerry are past-pupils of St Brendan’s.