Tadhg Lyne
Encyclopedia
Tadhgie Lyne was an Irish Gaelic football
er with Kerry
. Called 'the Prince of Forwards', Lyne was one of the finest scoring forwards of his time.
, only half a mile from the famous Kerry ground of Fitzgerald Stadium
. His football talent apparent from an early age, and he spent hours daily practising the skills of the game with a ball suspended from the rafters of his father's house. Nevertheless, despite being called for trials for the Kerry All-Ireland Minor Football Championship
for two years in succession he could not make the panel, with contemporaries such as Jerome O'Shea
and Seán Murphy
outshining him.
and went on to play in his first All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
final, giving a man-of-the-match display with six points as Kerry beat Armagh
0-13 to 1-6.
Kerry won Munster and reached the All-Ireland final again in 1954, but Meath
beat them by 1-13 to 1-7. In 1955, Lyne might have been lost to football, but he turned down the offer of a professional soccer contract with Glasgow Celtic to play with Kerry. Kerry were Munster champions for the third consecutive time that year. They progressed to face Cavan
in the All-Ireland semi final. Lyne scored 1-6 and punched a goal in the last moments to earn Kerry a draw. They went on to win the replay and faced Dublin
. Lyne kicked a fine point in the first minute and notched five more as Kerry won by 0-12 to 1-9. The game is remembered as 'Tadhgie Lyne's All-Ireland". He was the championship's top marksman that year with five goals and forty-two points, and was named Footballer of the Year.
Lyne won another Munster senior medal in 1958, when he came on as a replacement in the final. However, Kerry were beaten in the All-Ireland semi-final. The 'Prince of Forwards' gained his third and final All-Ireland in 1959. Kerry won the Munster championship and went on to qualify for the All-Ireland final, in which they beat Galway by nine points.
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
er with Kerry
Kerry GAA
The Kerry County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Kerry...
. Called 'the Prince of Forwards', Lyne was one of the finest scoring forwards of his time.
Early life
Tadhgie Lyne grew up on High Street, KillarneyKillarney
Killarney is a town in County Kerry, southwestern Ireland. The town is located north of the MacGillicuddy Reeks, on the northeastern shore of the Lough Lein/Leane which are part of Killarney National Park. The town and its surrounding region are home to St...
, only half a mile from the famous Kerry ground of Fitzgerald Stadium
FitzGerald Stadium
Fitzgerald Stadium is the principal Gaelic Athletic Association stadium in Killarney, Ireland, and is the home championship venue for the Kerry senior football team....
. His football talent apparent from an early age, and he spent hours daily practising the skills of the game with a ball suspended from the rafters of his father's house. Nevertheless, despite being called for trials for the Kerry All-Ireland Minor Football Championship
All-Ireland Minor Football Championship
The All-Ireland Minor Football Championship is the premier "knockout" competition for under-18 competitors of the game of Gaelic football played in Ireland...
for two years in succession he could not make the panel, with contemporaries such as Jerome O'Shea
Jerome O'Shea
Jerome O'Shea is a retired Irish sportsperson. He played Gaelic football with his local club St. Mary's and was a member of the Kerry senior inter-county team from the 1954 until 1960. O'Shea's son, Conor, played rugby for Ireland in the 1990s.-References:-Teams:...
and Seán Murphy
Sean Murphy
Sean Murphy may refer to:* Sean Murphy , cartoonist* Sean Murphy , professor at Royal Holloway, University of London* Seán Murphy , retired Irish football player...
outshining him.
Playing career
Lyne's county career only began after his club, the Dick Fitzgeralds, won the 1951 Kerry Senior Football Championship. Lyne kicked 1-5 from right-half forward in the final against Dingle. He became a fixture in the Kerry team for a decade. In 1953, Lyne played at wing-forward on the Kerry team that won the Munster Senior Football ChampionshipMunster Senior Football Championship
The Munster Senior Football Championship is the premier "knockout" competition in the game of football played in the province of Munster in Ireland. The series of games are organised by the Munster Council and are played during the summer months...
and went on to play in his first All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
The All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the premier competition in Gaelic football, is a series of games organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association and played during the summer and early autumn...
final, giving a man-of-the-match display with six points as Kerry beat Armagh
Armagh GAA
The Armagh County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Armagh GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Armagh...
0-13 to 1-6.
Kerry won Munster and reached the All-Ireland final again in 1954, but Meath
Meath GAA
The Meath County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Meath GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Meath, as well as for Meath inter-county teams.- Pre-1960s :...
beat them by 1-13 to 1-7. In 1955, Lyne might have been lost to football, but he turned down the offer of a professional soccer contract with Glasgow Celtic to play with Kerry. Kerry were Munster champions for the third consecutive time that year. They progressed to face Cavan
Cavan GAA
The Cavan County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Cavan GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Cavan...
in the All-Ireland semi final. Lyne scored 1-6 and punched a goal in the last moments to earn Kerry a draw. They went on to win the replay and faced Dublin
Dublin GAA
Dublin County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Dublin GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Dublin. The county board is also responsible for the Dublin inter-county teams...
. Lyne kicked a fine point in the first minute and notched five more as Kerry won by 0-12 to 1-9. The game is remembered as 'Tadhgie Lyne's All-Ireland". He was the championship's top marksman that year with five goals and forty-two points, and was named Footballer of the Year.
Lyne won another Munster senior medal in 1958, when he came on as a replacement in the final. However, Kerry were beaten in the All-Ireland semi-final. The 'Prince of Forwards' gained his third and final All-Ireland in 1959. Kerry won the Munster championship and went on to qualify for the All-Ireland final, in which they beat Galway by nine points.
Later life
Tadhg Lyne died at his home on Killarney Road, Castleisland on 31 May 2002 at the age of 69.External links
- http://archives.tcm.ie/roscommonherald/2006/03/01/story3145.asp
- http://www.terracetalkireland.com/weeshie_week/article_march_12005.htm
- http://www.terracetalkireland.com/articles/text/lynes.doc