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A Kerry Footballer.
There is only one Mick O'Connell and this is his book. From the first word to the last, one knows that this is O'Connell himself speaking - telling it the way it was in a down-to-earth way reflecting his style on the field. Not only does Mick O'Connell tell his story in Gaelic football, but he also offers a feast of technical expertise to to Gaelic fans. In fact his book might serve as an unique vade mecum for the person who wants to play or watch , and above all, to understand Gaelic football. His book is full of personalities: Seamus Murphy, Sean O'Neill, Cathal O'Leary, Jim McKeever, Tom Long, John Donnellan, Nicholas Clavin, Paddy Doherty, Noel Tierney, Mick O'Dwyer, Willie Bryan and many more.
Mick O'Connell is an expert on the psychology of the Gaelic footballer, both as an individual or as a member of a team. In a fascinating and controversial chapter he picks and names his ideal time. He describes his own training methods in a section that should prove of permanent value to young players and he gives his views on such topics as equalisers, the vital role of the midfielder, the qualities of that make an ideal goalkeeper, the four step rule - and he makes a plea for the curtailment of the solo-rum.
This is not only one of the most authoritative books ever written about Gaelic football, it is also the portrait of a player beyond compare, a man whose modesty rivals his determination and whose earnest competition is balanced by perfect sportsmanlike behaviour.
Mick O'Connell is an expert on the psychology of the Gaelic footballer, both as an individual or as a member of a team. In a fascinating and controversial chapter he picks and names his ideal time. He describes his own training methods in a section that should prove of permanent value to young players and he gives his views on such topics as equalisers, the vital role of the midfielder, the qualities of that make an ideal goalkeeper, the four step rule - and he makes a plea for the curtailment of the solo-rum.
This is not only one of the most authoritative books ever written about Gaelic football, it is also the portrait of a player beyond compare, a man whose modesty rivals his determination and whose earnest competition is balanced by perfect sportsmanlike behaviour.
158 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 1974
About the author
Mick O'Connell
2 books1 followerMichael "Mick" O'Connell (born 4 January 1937) is an Irish retired Gaelic footballer. His league and championship career with the Kerry senior team spanned nineteen seasons from 1956 to 1974. O'Connell is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the game.
Born on Valentia Island, County Kerry, O'Connell was raised in a family that had no real link to Gaelic football. In spite of this he excelled at the game in his youth and also at Cahersiveen CBS. By his late teens O'Connell had joined the Young Islanders, and won seven South Kerry divisional championship medals in a club career that spanned four decades and included a spell playing with Waterville. He also lined out with South Kerry, winning three county senior championship medals between 1955 and 1958.
O'Connell made his debut on the inter-county scene at the age of eighteen when he was selected for the Kerry minor team. He enjoyed one championship season with the minors, however, he was a Munster runner-up on that occasion. O'Connell subsequently joined the Kerry senior team, making his debut during the 1956 championship. Over the course of the next nineteen seasons, he won eight All-Ireland medals, beginning with lone triumphs in 1959 and 1962, and culminating in back-to-back championships in 1969 and 1970. O'Connell also won twelve Munster medals, six National Football League medals and was named Footballer of the Year in 1962. He played his last game for Kerry in July 1974.
Mick O'Connell was born on Valentia Island, County Kerry, where he spent all of his life apart from a term studying engineering at University College Cork, and another brief spell in England. In 1959 he became the first member of the local Young Islanders football club to win a senior All-Ireland medal with the Kerry team which he also captained that year. He later won All-Ireland medals in 1962, 1969 and 1970 and several National League titles with his native county. In 1962 he was presented with the Sportswriters and Caltex Footballer of the Year awards. He now lives with his wife and child in Valentia.
Born on Valentia Island, County Kerry, O'Connell was raised in a family that had no real link to Gaelic football. In spite of this he excelled at the game in his youth and also at Cahersiveen CBS. By his late teens O'Connell had joined the Young Islanders, and won seven South Kerry divisional championship medals in a club career that spanned four decades and included a spell playing with Waterville. He also lined out with South Kerry, winning three county senior championship medals between 1955 and 1958.
O'Connell made his debut on the inter-county scene at the age of eighteen when he was selected for the Kerry minor team. He enjoyed one championship season with the minors, however, he was a Munster runner-up on that occasion. O'Connell subsequently joined the Kerry senior team, making his debut during the 1956 championship. Over the course of the next nineteen seasons, he won eight All-Ireland medals, beginning with lone triumphs in 1959 and 1962, and culminating in back-to-back championships in 1969 and 1970. O'Connell also won twelve Munster medals, six National Football League medals and was named Footballer of the Year in 1962. He played his last game for Kerry in July 1974.
Mick O'Connell was born on Valentia Island, County Kerry, where he spent all of his life apart from a term studying engineering at University College Cork, and another brief spell in England. In 1959 he became the first member of the local Young Islanders football club to win a senior All-Ireland medal with the Kerry team which he also captained that year. He later won All-Ireland medals in 1962, 1969 and 1970 and several National League titles with his native county. In 1962 he was presented with the Sportswriters and Caltex Footballer of the Year awards. He now lives with his wife and child in Valentia.
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