Maurice O'Connell (1935 – 15 June 2022) was an Irish Gaelic footballer and hurler. At club level he played with Abbeydorney and was also a member of the Kerry senior teams as a dual player.

Moss O'Connell
Personal information
Irish name Muiris Ó Conaill
Sport Gaelic football
Position Right wing-back
Born 1935
Abbeydorney, County Kerry, Ireland
Died 15 June 2022 (aged 87)
Manchester, England
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Nickname Moss
Occupation Roman Catholic priest
Club(s)
Years Club
Abbeydorney
St Brendan's
Club titles
Kerry titles 0
Inter-county(ies)
Years County Apps (scores)
1958–1959
Kerry 5 (0-00)
Inter-county titles
Munster titles 2
All-Irelands 1
NFL 1

Career

edit

O'Connell first played at club level with Abbeydorney. He won a Kerry MFC title with the St Brendan's divisional side in 1953 and later lost consecutive Kerry SFC finals with the team. He also lost a Kerry SHC final with Abbeydorney in 1954. O'Connell first appeared on the inter-county scene as a member of the Kerry senior hurling team that won the 1956-57 National Hurling League Division 2 title. He was later called up to the Kerry senior football team and came on as a substitute for Mick O'Connell in the 1959 All-Ireland final defeat of Galway.[1] O'Connell later lined out with the Lancashire team that lost the 1963 All-Ireland junior final to Kerry.[2]

Personal life and death

edit

O'Connell entered the priesthood in the early 1950s, attending All Hallows College in Dublin. He moved to Greater Manchester in 1959 and spent six years at St Anne’s Church in Crumpsall. O'Connell later spent 14 years at Salford Cathedral and a decade at St Teresa’s in Stretford, before spending over 25 years at St Joseph's in Reddish.[3][4] He died on 15 June 2022, aged 87.[5]

Honours

edit
Abbeydorney
  • North Kerry Intermediate Hurling Championship: 1954
  • Kerry Junior Hurling Championship: 1951
St Brendan's District Board
  • Kerry Minor Football Championship: 1953
Kerry

References

edit
  1. ^ "Clergy on the field of play". The Irish Catholic. 25 September 2014. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  2. ^ "Abbeydorney GAA Club News". Tralee Today. 22 January 2019. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  3. ^ "Much loved parish priest retires after almost 30 years in Stockport". Manchester Evening News. 3 June 2016. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  4. ^ "Golden day in Ardfert". Irish Independent. 16 September 2004. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  5. ^ "The death has occurred of Canon Moss O'Connell". rip.ie. 17 June 2022. Retrieved 26 June 2022.