Sad passing of Down legend Kevin O’Neill

NEWRY said their last farewell to one of our most famous sons following the sad passing of Kevin O'Neill.

Kevin was an All-Ireland winner in 1960 and 1961, and a man who gave great service to Down on and off the field of play, together with his brother Sean he was one of two sets of brothers on the Down Team that won the Sam Maguire for the first time in 1960, where the O'Neill brothers featured alongside their cousins the McCartan's and became history makers in their own right.

Down GAA paid tribute: ‘Kevin came up through the ranks of Abbey CBS, winning a MacRory Cup Medal as a forward in 1954, when Abbey CBS became the first "day School" to win the prestigious competition under the tutelage of Gerry Brown, Kevin soon progressed with his Club Newry Mitchels and then as a Minor and Junior with Down, before making his Senior debut in the Lagan Cup of 1958 against Derry, lining out at right half back.

‘Regarded as a tough and tenacious defender, Kevin swapped wings with Kevin Mussen and cemented a place on the team at left half back. In 1958 Kevin won an Ulster Junior Football medal at right full back when Down overcame Antrim in the Ulster Final, he would then man the same position when the Senior team came up against Derry in the Ulster Final, that same year, when on a wet day in Clones Down just came up short.

‘In 1959, Kevin was now established at Left Half Back on the team and having played in Wembley defeating Galway on the Whit Weekend, Kevin and Down were ready to try and claim a first ever Ulster title. They would do so and Down would go on to defeat Cavan and referring to the display that day, the papers reported that the ‘Two Kevin's, Mussen and O Neill were magnificent.’

‘An All-Ireland Semi Final v Galway was to be a step too far but 1960 was to be a special year for Kevin with both Club and County. Cavan were defeated in the National League Final of 1960 and Kevin had helped Down win a first national title, they would meet again in the Ulster Final for a second year in a row and Down would go on to win back to back Ulster titles, with Kevin’s coolness personified in the half-back-line. The facts show us that Down would go on to make history on Sunday, September 25, 1960, becoming the first team from the six counties to win the Sam Maguire and Kevin O'Neill would play a key part in that win, part of a defensive unit that would curtail Kerry to eight points in an All-Ireland Final.

‘Indeed Kevin would play a key part in setting the tone that day as he broke up an early Kerry attack, before finding Tony Hadden to see his fellow Newry man send over the first point, it was a settling score for Down on this their biggest day and Kevin O'Neill was the man who had helped put down the marker. In October of 1960 Kevin would crown a great year, when he captained Newry Mitchels to win the County Senior Football Championship, only four years after the Club was founded in 1956. Kevin on that day had been detailed to mark his County Colleague Paddy Doherty and so well did he do that Paddy Doherty never got going, indeed Kevin held him scoreless from play. Kevin would win Four Senior Championships with Mitchels in 1960,64, 67 and 68. He would also act as an officer of the Club and Team Manager on many occasions.

‘The year 1961 would see Kevin win a second All-Ireland Medal, as he replaced Pat Rice during the Final v Offaly, again he would play a key role, finding his brother Sean with a pinpoint clearance, which was dispatched to the net and put Down back in front. Throughout the game Kevin was in the thick of things, breaking up Offaly attacks and placing clearances with great accuracy. In 1962, he would win a second National League medal as Down defeated Dublin in the Final, before the Panel travelled to America, Kevin would win his fourth Ulster Senior Championship in 1963, to add to his Two All-Ireland medals and two National League Medals, along with Club and Schools honours.

‘Kevin would not though be lost to Down , he would act for a time as assistant County Treasurer and also as a County Minor Football selector. Throughout his retirement from playing Kevin together with his late wife Mary, retained a great interest in Gaelic Games, he attended Schools, Club and County matches, in Down, in Armagh and beyond, he never lost that passion for our games. Kevin O'Neill was an astute judge of football, he had a great love of the game, and he had wisdom and knowledge, a trait that he carried not just through his involvement in the GAA, but also in his work in local Government as Clerk and Chief Executive of Newry and Mourne Council.

‘Kevin O'Neill was a part of a very special group of players who made history, he was man of firsts, with school, with club and with county, he was a leader, who asked no one to do anything he would not do himself. He had many fine attributes but it is fair to say that his steel and determination was a key component in Down winning Two All-Irelands in 1960 and 61. Kevin played a vital part in making Down the county the way they are today, he was a man who gave of his best in any role that he was asked to fill, we are only the inheritors of a great tradition left to us by men like Kevin O'Neill.

‘We extend our deepest sympathy to his sons Michael, Shane, Donal and Ronan, his daughters in law Sophie, Fionnuala and Louise, his grandchildren Grainne, Fearghal, Niall, Naomi, Tara, Natasha, Nalova and Tala, his brother Sean, sisters Maureen, Una, Bronagh and Veronica, whilst also remembering his late wife Mary and brother Brian. To his Club John Mitchel GFC we offer our condolences on the passing of a man who gave great service to his club.’

Kevin’s funeral took place in the Church of the Sacred Heart, Cloughoge on Friday, followed by burial in the adjoining cemetery.

May Kevin Rest in Peace