Inside Track: Kevin Lynch filled many roles with distinction

Kevin Lynch had an outstanding career in Louth Gaelic football as a player, coach and referee. The younger brother of All-Ireland football, Frank, died last week following a lengthy illness.

Affectionately known as ‘Whitey’, Kevin had the distinction playing in a senior final, preparing a team to win the Joe Ward Cup, and, at a time when he was still active on the football field height, refereeing a final.

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His association with the Geraldines club went back to when he first played football. After coming through the underage ranks, he played junior, at the time the second tier in club football.

One of his best years was 1966 when, after helping Louth win the Leinster Junior Championship, he lined out on the forty for Gers in their defeat of Seán McDermott’s in the same grade’s county final.

Three years later, the Haggardstown team reached the senior final, and Kevin was again in the forward line. However, defeat was his lot on this outing, Newtown Blues proving too strong.

When his playing days were over, he concentrated on coaching. Success was quick to come, Geraldines, captained by another member of the Lynch clan, Michael, defeating Dundalk Gaels in the 1979 final of the newly-introduced intermediate grade.

This team formed the basis for Geraldines’ first senior championship win in 62 years, with victory over Kilkerley Emmets in 1982. Captain that day was the late Michael Lynch’s brother, Pat.

As a referee, Kevin Lynch was named to take charge of the 1965 County final, which had Drogheda rivals, O’Rahilly’s and Newtown Blues, drawn together. Victory gave underdogs O’Rahilly’s their first title in the grade. This honour came the Haggardstown man’s way even before his playing career had blossomed.

Along with assisting the county juniors in their provincial success, he also played Leinster senior championship football with the county in the late 1960s. Another of his brothers, Phil, was on the county junior side beaten by Mayo in the 1957 All-Ireland semi-final.

Kevin will be laid to rest this morning (Tuesday) in Haggardstown cemetery following 11 o’clock Requiem Mass in St Fursey’s Church.