We had a great friendship built on respect

NEXT Thursday evening, Mickey Ned O'Sullivan will share a platform with two men with whom he shares a unique link going back 50 years.

- Pat NOLAN

In 1975, Kerry completed the treble of All-Ireland senior, Under-21 and minor football titles, the first, and only, time that it has been done.

It is worth noting that the Under-21 grade was only introduced in 1964, so it's not a feat that counties had been striving for since the formative years of the GAA, but the fact that it hasn't been done in the intervening five decades affords Kerry's achievement increasing prestige.

O'Sullivan captained the senior team, albeit he didn't get to lift the cup in the Hogan Stand (more on that later), Kevin O'Donoghue skippered the Under-21s, while Robert Bunyan lifted the Tom Markham Cup for the minors, who beat Tyrone just before O'Sullivan and Co led the seniors out on the same afternoon in Croke Park.

O'Donoghue's club, Glenflesk, are getting the three of them together in Barraduff to mark the achievement 50 years on.

"They obviously decided to bring the three captains together with Radio Kerry just to have an interview and to reflect on the year and that's on next Thursday. Robert Bunyan will be there, Kevin O'Donoghue and myself.

"We wouldn't have met in the intervening years, you know. Everybody goes their own way."

The treble was completed a fortnight after the senior and minor finals, as the Under-21s beat Dublin in the All-Ireland final in Tipperary town, with Mick O'Dwyer managing both sides, who trained together given the considerable overlap of players.

Páidí Ó Sé, Tim Kennelly, Denis 'Ogie' Moran, Mikey Sheehy and Pat Spillane were starters for the seniors and Under-21s.