Cork football legend Kevin Kehily dies aged 74

The Newcestown native was a formindable defender.

PLAUDITS: Then GAA presdident Liam Ó Néill presents former Cork All-Star Kevin Kehily with his 'Stars of the 80's' award before the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Final between Dublin and Mayo in 2013. Picture: Ray McManus / SPORTSFILE

Cork GAA legend Kevin Kehily has died after a long illness.

The Newcestown clubman won three provincial football titles with the Rebels in a playing career that stretched from 1969 to 1984.

Kehily earned two All-Stars awards but missed out on Cork's famous All-Ireland football championship victory over Tyrone in 1973 due to a break for his studies.  

The Hamilton High School pupil first appeared for the Rebels with the minor footballers, who claimed All-Ireland glory in 1967.

A superb defender, he went on to win an All-Ireland medal with the Cork U21s in 1970.

Kehily's adult club career with Newcestown lasted over 20 years, during which time he won junior championship titles in both hurling and football, as well as an intermediate title as a footballer in 1971.

He also earned senior football championship medals in 1968 and 1971 with divisional side Carbery. 

A physical education intructor, Kehily was drafted in to coach the Cork hurlers in 1975 before they went on to claim an hisotric three All-Ireland titlrs on the trot. 

Kehily coached various teams with Newcestown and was part of the Bishopstown football management team that masterminded the club's run to county finals in 2002 and 2004, while he also had a period coaching Courcey Rovers' hurlers.

In 2013, Kehily was named on the football ‘Stars of the ‘80s’ team and was honoured on All-Ireland SFC final day at Croke Park.

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