Jerry Kiernan: A prince of the Kingdom - Jimmy Deenihan mourns childhood friend

Jimmy Deenihan received a phone call around lunchtime. The news on the other end of the line was not good. One of his best friends Jerry Kiernan, had, sadly and unexpectedly, passed away

Jerry Kiernan, pictured as he won the 1992 Dublin Marathon. 'He was one of the most modest people that I’ve ever met,' says Jimmy Deenihan. Picture: Ray McManus

JIMMY Deenihan received a phone call at around lunchtime on Thursday which stopped him firmly in his tracks. The news on the other end of the line was not good. One of his best friends and former school mate, Jerry Kiernan, had, sadly and unexpectedly, passed away.

Having known each other for the best part of 60 years, the five-time All-Ireland senior medallist with Kerry was left shell-shocked by the untimely death of the 1984 Olympian at the age of 67, just one year younger than Deenihan himself.