It was with a heavy heart that Geraldines GFC members and supporters heard the news last Friday morning that Kevin Lynch had passed away. Although it was well known that Kevin had been in ill health for some time the news still caused a huge ripple of sadness, reminiscences and nostalgia among those who remembered Kevin as the great leader both on and off the field for Geraldines GFC over a 60 year time span.
Born into a family of footballers in Lurgangreen, Kevin quickly made his mark, lining out for Geraldines teams each week and winning a Louth Junior football championship in 1966, a notoriously tough competition to win as it featured 30 teams. In the final against sean McDermotts Kevin scored 5 out of the Gers 8 points in their 0.08 to 1.01 victory. His performances caught the eye of the county junior selectors and he went on to give a man of the match performance in the Leinster Junior final against Kildare in Croke park along with his club colleague Joe Gogarty.
Three years later Kevin appeared on the biggest day of all in Louth football as he led the forward line once more in the Senior final versus Newtown Blues but unfortunately ended up losing to a very strong Drogheda side. Strangely enough it was not Kevin's first appearance on county final day as had in fact refereed the Senior final 4 years previously in 1966 when the O Raghallaigh beat Newtown Blues, a most unusual feat.
When his career finished in the mid 70's Kevin moved into management of club teams and was met with immediate success with an Old gaels Cup victory in 1978 followed by an Intermediate championship victory in 1979. The highlight came in 1982 when Kevin managed the Geraldines to a senior championship victory over Kilkerley Emmets bridging a 62 year gap since their previous win at this grade. That golden day in Dowdallshill remains as the career highlight of a whole generation of players and supporters right through to the present day. Kevin was assisted by his selectors Oliver Brennan rip, Hughie Casey rip and Joe Mulvihill rip on that day. The following year Kevin had the Geraldines back in the senior final but lost out this time to St Fechins.
Kevin went on to manage or maybe co-select various Geraldines teams over the next 12/15 years at all levels whilst all the time serving on the club executive and at one time vice chairman. He was active in all club activities from grounds maintenance and fund raising to stewarding at events but it was along the sideline where his astuteness really came to the fore. This was where his strengths lay. Early in 2005 the club was searching for a new manager and turned to Kevin who accepted the challenge. He accepted and setting out his stall early on at player meetings built up momentum steadily until the Seamus Flood Cup was captured following a 1 point victory over Naomh Malachi in the final in the Clans field. It was one of his finest hours and Kevin derived great satisfaction from it, revelling in the name "Micko", given to him in comparison to the great Kerry manager, Mick O'Dwyer.
Ar dheis De go raibh a anam dilis. Ni bheidh a leithead aris ann.
FUNERAL DETAILS : https://rip.ie/death-notice/kevin-lynch-louth-blackrock-620835
Born into a family of footballers in Lurgangreen, Kevin quickly made his mark, lining out for Geraldines teams each week and winning a Louth Junior football championship in 1966, a notoriously tough competition to win as it featured 30 teams. In the final against sean McDermotts Kevin scored 5 out of the Gers 8 points in their 0.08 to 1.01 victory. His performances caught the eye of the county junior selectors and he went on to give a man of the match performance in the Leinster Junior final against Kildare in Croke park along with his club colleague Joe Gogarty.
Three years later Kevin appeared on the biggest day of all in Louth football as he led the forward line once more in the Senior final versus Newtown Blues but unfortunately ended up losing to a very strong Drogheda side. Strangely enough it was not Kevin's first appearance on county final day as had in fact refereed the Senior final 4 years previously in 1966 when the O Raghallaigh beat Newtown Blues, a most unusual feat.
When his career finished in the mid 70's Kevin moved into management of club teams and was met with immediate success with an Old gaels Cup victory in 1978 followed by an Intermediate championship victory in 1979. The highlight came in 1982 when Kevin managed the Geraldines to a senior championship victory over Kilkerley Emmets bridging a 62 year gap since their previous win at this grade. That golden day in Dowdallshill remains as the career highlight of a whole generation of players and supporters right through to the present day. Kevin was assisted by his selectors Oliver Brennan rip, Hughie Casey rip and Joe Mulvihill rip on that day. The following year Kevin had the Geraldines back in the senior final but lost out this time to St Fechins.
Kevin went on to manage or maybe co-select various Geraldines teams over the next 12/15 years at all levels whilst all the time serving on the club executive and at one time vice chairman. He was active in all club activities from grounds maintenance and fund raising to stewarding at events but it was along the sideline where his astuteness really came to the fore. This was where his strengths lay. Early in 2005 the club was searching for a new manager and turned to Kevin who accepted the challenge. He accepted and setting out his stall early on at player meetings built up momentum steadily until the Seamus Flood Cup was captured following a 1 point victory over Naomh Malachi in the final in the Clans field. It was one of his finest hours and Kevin derived great satisfaction from it, revelling in the name "Micko", given to him in comparison to the great Kerry manager, Mick O'Dwyer.
Ar dheis De go raibh a anam dilis. Ni bheidh a leithead aris ann.
FUNERAL DETAILS : https://rip.ie/death-notice/kevin-lynch-louth-blackrock-620835
