Annual U12 hurling clash will be a fitting memorial to Blackrock's Joseph Keohane

A poignant anniversary will be marked at Church Road next Sunday week as the U12 hurlers of Blackrock and Ballincollig face off to honour the memory of Joseph Keohane.

Sadly, Joseph died last November after illness, just short of his 42nd birthday. However, he left behind friends and family who will remember the person he was and the feats he achieved.

Beyond Joseph’s many qualities as a person, he was a true team player when wearing the green and gold of his beloved Blackrock. In an article published after his death, journalist Paul Dollery – a cousin and friend of Joseph’s – described him thus: “A sturdy but wristy defender, Joe was a cherished part of our team – the type of fella who always had your back.”

At under-age level, Joseph was fortunate to be part of a team that was coached by Blackrock club stalwart Pat O’Neill.

Prior to helping the Rockies to city league titles at U13 and U14, his first medal with the club was a City Division southside section U12 league in 1996.

In that game, Blackrock beat Ballincollig in the final – and so, members of that team, in conjunction with Joseph’s family, have arranged for the Joseph Keohane Memorial Cup to be contested by the same clubs, with Sunday week’s clash featuring the U12s of three decades later.

The hope is that the trophy will be played for each year, serving as a fitting memorial to Joseph and also acting as a fundraiser for Marymount Hospice, where he passed away on November 6 last.

"Joe was a cherished friend and team-mate of so many, so it seemed important to arrange something that would serve as an opportunity to pay tribute to his life,” said Paul Dollery, who helped to organise the game.

Joseph Keohane (right) on an outing to Thurles in the late 1990s with Alan Long (left) and Paul Dollery.