O’Driscoll testimonial nets over €8,000 for scholarship

A SPECIAL testimonial match raised almost €8,500 for a GAA scholarship in honour of West Kerry sports star Brendan ‘Bawnie’ O’Driscoll

O’Driscoll, a popular sportsman who played football with Annascaul and West Kerry and soccer with Camp United, died on October 26 after collapsing during a football game for his club days earlier. As a tribute, West Kerry GAA Clubs have founded a scholarship in his honour, which will benefit a first year college student who has played underage football with West Kerry, with a special testimonial game between West Kerry and Dingle on December 30 raising money for the fund.

Annascaul GAA Club PRO Sean Barry explained: “It exceeded our expectations in every way. Donations were accepted on the day, and it was a great success, raising almost €8,500.”

In a poignant end to a competitive game, Christopher O’Driscoll, Bawnie’s brother, came up and took a last-minute penalty to level the game, which finished 1-11 each.

Another of Bawnie’s brothers, Jamie, who plays with Athenry in Galway, captained the West Kerry team.

Barry continued: “It was a fantastic tribute to Bawnie. We had a minute’s applause before the match started, as a celebration of his career.”

Before the game Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh introduced both teams, while referee Peter Lyons, who refereed the game where O’Driscoll collapsed, was in charge.

On the scholarship, Barry said: “A student starting college next September will benefit from this. We will be seeking applications and we will have an independent adjudicating panel to decide who the recipient will be.”