Jimmy Kerrigan: One of the best footballers ever produced by Nemo Rangers
Nemo Rangers legends Dinny Allen, Billy Morgan and Jimmy Kerrigan with president Ber Allen at the Centenary Wall marking 100 years of the club.
NEMO RANGERS have produced many top class footballers over the years and Jimmy Kerrigan certainly contributed to many successes that included his seven senior counites.
On top of this you can add six Munster club medals and five All-Ireland club titles.
Kerrigan was also involved with the Cork Senior football squad from 1978 to 1990 in which he has two All-Ireland medals and to crown it off two National Football Leagues and one All-Star.
Like many other legendary players in his beloved club Kerrigan wasn’t slow giving something back to his beloved club and he is presently a selector with the Senior team.
“Back in the day when Ephie Fitzgerald took over the Senior team he asked me to become a selector and that time my son Paul was only 18 and coming through.
“In my first year I felt embarrassed in my selectorial role because when your son suddenly is in the mix it became harder and although staying involved I had no involvement in the selecting of the team,” he said.
After decades working in various roles Jimmy decided this season he was about to step back from the senior squad.
“In truth there was no way I was getting involved for this season but our new manager Robbie O’Dwyer who I worked with at Minor and U21 levels asked me to get involved again. I get on great with Robbie and with my son Paul coming to the end of his career I decided to give it one last shot,” he added.
The league campaign this season has been solid for Nemo Rangers and Kerrigan is hoping they can make an impact in the coming campaign.
“Robbie as we all know is son of the great Micko but when people say to me that Nemo have a Kerry man managing the team I remind them that he has been with us 27 years with all his family involved with our club.”
The season to date has been a learning curve for the senior team.
“The flip side to that is that we learned a lot about guys that wouldn’t normally be playing and that’s been an education to all concerned.”
When you have a chequered career both on and off the pitch one is bound to have experienced the highs and lows of the sport and Jimmy expressed an interesting opinion on the present standard of football.
“I don’t think the game is as good when I played but look that’s only my opinion and I am sure other people would have various views.”
There is little doubt Nemo are the envy of many clubs and at times Jimmy is mystified on peoples attitude to his club.
“I know we are envied by many clubs and I don’t get it as we are a good football club who go out and try play the game as it should be played. In Cork we are so parochial that Nemo winning anything is a no-no.”
Jimmy’s son Paul is now in the twilight of his career but he is really proud of what he achieved during his illustrious career and club and inter-county levels.
“The bottom line is that you can be very lucky as my son just happened to be a very good footballer and that’s not bragging.
“In his prime he had a great burst of speed something I never had and I must say his dedication far outweighed mine and this season he seems to be excelling in the role that Robbie has given him.”
Family life is crucial to Jimmy and next week his daughter Gillian is getting married to a former St Finbarr’s player Ross O’Dwyer and at the moment it’s all hands on deck in their household.
Looking to the Cork football game against Tyrone Jimmy feels they have a serious chance of toppling the northerners.
“I think we will see the progress of Cork if they can defeat Tyrone and get a straight quarter-final berth and I think that’s when the pressure rises for all teams when you hit the winner-takes-all games.”
Jimmy Kerrigan has certainly done his club and family proud in his illustrious career and we salute his contribution to the GAA.
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