O’Keeffe set for a whole new ball game

TONY O’KEEFFE certainly doesn’t want Sunday’s All-Ireland final to end in a draw.

Quite apart from the implications that would have for the completion of the Kerry county championship and other domestic fixtures, the demands on his time have never been greater now that he has been appointed Principal of Tralee CBS.

It’s the reason why he will be bowing out as county secretary after 18 years in the position.

Back in 1981, he became involved in administration for the first time when he was chosen as the Board’s Irish Officer (Oifigeach na Gaeilge) in succession to Seamus MacGearailt. Following the unexpected deaths of Secretary Andy Molyneaux and PRO Tim Linehan in the space of a month, he took on the responsibility for co-ordinating fixtures. Continuing as acting secretary until January, he was formally nominated for the position. It was also contested by Gerald Whyte, vice-chairman at the time, who won the election.

One year later O’Keeffe became a delegate to the Munster Council following the election of Michael O’Connor as vice-chairman and finally he was chosen as county secretary after Whyte retired in 1985.

He recalled a conversation with Kerry midfield star Sean Walsh during the summer of 1981, after he had taken over as acting secretary: “Seanie welcomed me by saying that he hoped I wasn’t a bit of a magpie! That team was full of “piseogs’’ and they were going for four-in-a-row and I would have been the only change in personnel in the set-up. I’m glad to say I wasn’t!’’

The four-in-a-row in 1981 remains a treasured memory: “It was absolutely brilliant, because of the whole excitement it generated, the fabulous footballers in the team and the reaction by Kerry people everywhere.’’

A prominent footballer with Austin Stacks, he played with Kerry in several National League campaigns.

However, he never won an All-Ireland medal.

In the mid-80’s he played a major part in a successful fund-raising venture undertaken on behalf of the board, then about £85,000 in the red: “At that time there was very little funding available for team holidays. So people used to raise funds themselves and very often it wouldn’t meet the targets that had been set.’’

It’s a very different story nowadays. Only last Friday, a corporate function at the National Event Centre in the Gleneagle Hotel attracted close to 800 people. Tony’s brother, Ger, was part of the organising committee. Tony paid tribute to his teaching colleagues who provided invaluable support over the years in easing the burden of his County Board responsibilities, particularly around All-Ireland final time. Now, with the increased pressure and greater demands on his time resulting from his new appointment, he has been depending more and more on the co-operation of his fellow officers. “They have been very supportive, in that they have taken over some of the functions I have performed in the past.’’

Already, he says, he is beginning to experience pangs of regret at leaving it all behind him. On the other hand, he feels that it is time for a change at the helm, commenting: “there are plenty of good people around. I would say that you will always find the people in Kerry to do whatever jobs are necessary. The same as you will find footballers to play on the county team, you will find administrators to fill the roles at club and county level.’’

He doubts if the board could afford to pay a full-time secretary - even though he maintains that the workload would warrant such an appointment. “If the Strategic Committee Report adopts the principle I would imagine there would be funding put in place at central level. Then, it would become a lot easier for counties to appoint full-time people.’’

Coming in with a win in 1981, it goes without saying that he will be hoping to go out on a similar note next Sunday. One way or another, it would have to be said that not just the Kerry County Board, but the GAA is losing one of its most competent and personable administrators.