John Kerins was one of the best Gaelic football goalkeepers of recent years. At over six feet he was a commanding figure at the heart of Cork's defence during the most successful period in the county's football history. Aged 39, his death on August 21st has taken from the game one of its most popular figures.
Born on July 19th, 1962, to Tim and Mary (nΘe O'Brien) Kerins, originally from Scartaglin, Castleisland, Co Kerry, John Kerins grew up in The Lough, the catchment area of the famous St Finbarr's club in the city.
Educated at St Joseph's National School in the Mardyke and Colβiste Chr∅ost R∅, he became involved with St Finbarr's as a child.
Although he was to become known as a football player at the highest level he enjoyed distinction as a hurler in his younger days, winning a county minor medal with St Finbarr's and playing in goal for the county minors in the same year, 1980.
His senior career began against Kerry in the National Football League campaign of 1983-'84 and in 1984 he made his senior championship dΘbut against Clare in Thurles. A year later he captained the county in the Munster final against the great Kerry team of the era.
It was with the arrival as manager in 1986 of one of John Kerins's predecessors as Cork goalkeeper, Billy Morgan, that things began to happen for the team. For so long in the shadow of Kerry in Munster, Cork footballers were on the verge of an historic achievement.
Having initially followed his father into the construction business, he joined the Garda S∅ochβna in 1986.
1987 was an eventful year in his football career. The year began well for St Finbarr's as the club won its third All-Ireland title, earning a first such medal for John Kerins in goal.
After the match, a colleague remembers, he had to get off the train in Templemore to return to the Garda College while his clubmates headed home to celebrate.
Later that year the county brought to an end the great run of Mick O'Dwyer's Kerry footballers and captured the county's first Munster title in four years and only its second since 1974. The season ended in disappointment with defeat by Meath in the All-Ireland final but the year ended on a positive note with John Kerins collecting the first of two All Star awards.
A further setback followed the following year with another All-Ireland defeat by Meath, this time after a replay.
From a personal point of view, Cork's goalkeeper could at least reflect that over three All-Ireland matches against Meath, he had conceded only one goal.
All of this was forgotten over the next two years. Cork won a National League in 1989, an unprecedented third - and then fourth - successive provincial title in the same year and 1990 and added two All-Irelands, the first time the county had achieved back-to-back titles.
John Kerins played a major role in both, deploying his skill in one- to-one situations.
In the second half of the 1989 final against Mayo, he got a hand to a shot from Anthony Finnerty, who had scored a goal not long before. Had that shot gone in, Mayo's momentum would have been unstoppable.
A year later he performed a similar feat against Meath's Brian Stafford, also at a critical stage of the match.
The second All Star followed that December.
Although his county career concluded in 1994, he continued until last year to play for the club and was coach of the senior team over the past two seasons, having guided St Finbarr's to success in the county minor football championship a couple of years previously.
He is survived by his wife Ann, children John, Paul and Suzanne, brother Humphrey and sister Breda.
John Kerins: born 1962; died, August 2001