THE DEATH has occurred of former Castleisland Desmonds and Kerry midfielder Dermot Hanifin (84) who had been ill for short time.

Hanifin, who was originally from Fenit, was a primary teacher, who spent most of his teaching life in Castleisland where he was a leading light with the local club for many years.

He lined out at midfield when Castleisland District won their solitary county SFC title when defeating Killarney in 1950, 1-7 to 1-4 after a replay, and one of his team-mates was the great Eddie Walsh from Knocknagoshel.

Hannafin made eight championship appearances for Kerry between 1950 and 1953 at midfield, scoring 1-1.

He won Munster medals in 1950, 51 and 53, but lost two All-Ireland semi-finals to Louth and Mayo, before winning the coveted Celtic cross in 1953. He was somewhat controversially selected for the All-Ireland final when Kerry defeated Armagh 0-13 to 1-6.

This was after Kerry dropped their top scorer Paudie Sheehy, when his father John Joe left the selectors meeting before the team was finalised.

Hannafin had a family of eight – four boys and four girls and was predeceased by his daughter Kathleen two years ago.

One of his sons, Dermot jnr, also played with Kerry, making seven championship appearances between 1985 and 1993 scoring 1-1, and winning All-Ireland medals with the Kingdom in 1985 and 1986 as a substitute and an All-Ireland senior club with Desmonds in ’85.

In 2000, all the 1950 Castleisland District county championship side were honoured at a golden jubilee banquet while, along with his son Dermot, Hanifin was inducted into the Desmonds hall of fame roll of honour on the same night.