GAELIC GAMES/Death of Tim Kennelly: The president of the GAA Seán Kelly has led tributes to former Kerry footballer Tim Kennelly, who died suddenly yesterday afternoon at the age of 51. A member of Mick O'Dwyer's historic team of the 1970s and '80s, he won five All-Ireland medals during a glittering career, writes Seán Moran, GAA Correspondent

He is thought to have suffered a heart attack and had experienced cardiac health problems in recent years.

The Kennelly name was perpetuated by his sons Noel, who won an All-Ireland with Kerry in 2000, and Tadhg who made history less than three months ago by becoming the first Irish player to win an Australian Rules Premiership when his club the Sydney Swans won the AFL grand final.

"Tim Kennelly had legendary status in Kerry GAA circles," said his fellow county man Kelly. "He was among the best defenders the county ever had, a man who excelled in a team that included some of the greatest players of all time. His duels with Tony Hanahoe of Dublin are etched in the folklore of the GAA and his untimely loss will be mourned right through the country."

Born in July 1954 just outside Listowel where he was a farmer and publican, Kennelly was a specialist centre back winning all his silverware in that position. Six foot two tall, he was a big physical pivot in the conventional mould but his strength on the ball and pace allowed him to break forward to telling effect.

His first All-Ireland came in 1975 when a young Kerry team swept to victory against then champions Dublin and triggered one of the seminal rivalries in football. Shortly afterwards he also lined out on the under-21 side that added a second All-Ireland to the senior title.

Having persevered through the defeats by Dublin in 1976 and the famous semi-final of a year later, the team came good in 1978 and set off to record only the third four-in-a-row in All-Ireland history.

These triumphs featured Kennelly at the peak of his career. In 1979 he captained Kerry to All-Ireland victory over Dublin and a year later he was acknowledged as the outstanding player of the win over Roscommon. In recognition of his performances, he was chosen as an All Star in both years.

He also won four Railway Cup medals with Munster, including in 1982 when he captained his province. For the last three years of his intercounty career he was also a selector and he retired in 1984.

O'Dwyer remembered the player as being at the core of his remarkable team.

"He was some footballer in his time. I remember in the 1980 final he was man of the match. Solid as a rock, I'd say he was one of the best ever to play in that position. I brought him into the under-21s at centre back in 1974.

"He impressed me the first day he came in. There were some people who thought he wouldn't make it but I was sure from the start. He was one of the really solid men on that team. Tim was a gentleman off the field, he really was. It's a big shock for everyone."

As referred to by Seán Kelly, his main tussles in the great years of the Dublin-Kerry rivalry were with Dublin centre forward, captain and 1977 manager Tony Hanahoe. Both were specialists and marked each other in nearly all of the counties' matches during that memorable period.

"Tim and I were there for five or six years of league and championship matches," said Hanahoe. "My memories of him are of a very strong, very fair player. He was a very good centre back and the linchpin of that team, very consistent. Off the field he was a bit of a character. I met him quite a bit over the years and we got on well.

"I was the guest speaker at a special function in Listowel to honour Tim as a player. He was obviously very popular. He gave it all in every aspect of life."

He was a fervent member of Listowel Emmets with whom he won a North Kerry championship in 1976 and he added county medals with divisional side Feale Rangers in 1978 and '80.

The Kerry County Board also expressed its shock at the news and commiserated with the family.

"I am deeply saddened and shocked at the sudden and untimely death this afternoon of Tim Kennelly," said county chair Seán Walsh. "On the field he was a colossus, off the field he was hugely popular with everyone.

"While the people of Kerry will have extreme difficulty coming to terms with the sad news of Tim's death, our thoughts and prayers are at this time with his wife, Nuala, sons Noel and Tadhg, daughter Joanne, his mother, brothers and sisters."