Earley to join Hall of Fame

ROSCOMMON football great Dermot Earley, recognised as one of the best players never to win an All-Ireland medal, has been inducted into the MBNA ‘Kick Fada’ Hall of Fame.

He joins two other legends of the game, Peter Nolan, the former Offaly, Leinster and New York star and Kerry’s Donie O’Sullivan, recognised as one the best ‘dead-ball’ kickers in the history of the game.

Earley, who is a Brigadier General in the Army, achieved notoriety early in his career by becoming the first player from Roscommon to play at minor, U21 and senior championship level in the same year.

That was back in 1966 and it marked the beginning of an illustrious career. It saw him win an All-Ireland U21 medal, five Connacht senior medals, a National League medal and a Railway Cup medal with Connacht at the age of 18.

His talents were also acknowledged in his selection as an Allstar in 1974 and 1979, an honour similarly accorded to his brother Paul (in 1985) and his son Dermot (with Kildare) in 1998.

In later years, he managed Roscommon and then Kildare.

Ciara Kennedy, head of business development at MBNA Ireland, said Earley was a ‘very worthy addition’ to their Hall of Fame scheme.

This year’s All-Ireland final ‘Kick Fada’ will be hosted by Bray Emmets on September 17 at the club’s new grounds at Old Connacht Avenue. Admission is free.

Meanwhile Bank of Ireland has announced a new competition to coincide with the culmination of the 2005 Football Championship. The bank wants to reward the ‘unsung heroes’ of the GAA by offering 25 pairs of All Ireland tickets and one main prize of e20,000 to the overall winner who will be announced at Croke Park on the big day.

The competition will be run on local radio stations across the country and listeners will be invited to describe the special efforts made by their ‘unsung hero’ that qualifies them both to scoop the cash prize.

The finalist from each station, along with the person who nominated them, will attend the Bank of Ireland football final on September 25 where Micheál Ó Mhuircheartaigh will judge the final entries and announce the 2005 Bank of Ireland GAA ‘Unsung Hero’.

The person who has proven 100% commitment to GAA will receive €15,000 while €5,000 will be awarded to the individual that nominates them for the prize.