Pat O’Shea was born in 1966 and following on from a successful playing career, the Dr Crokes clubman has emerged as a highly rated young coach with innovative coaching techniques. O’Shea played for the Killarney club predominantly as a corner forward and won a Kerry senior football championship in 1991 and an All Ireland Club Championship in 1992.

O’Shea was manager of the Kerry Minor team in 2002 and 2003 and presided over back to back Munster titles. Before that, he managed the Limerick minor team for two seasons. He was appointed to manage the Kerry senior football team for the 2007 campaign and he took over the reins from Jack O’Connor, who had led the Kingdom to three successive All Ireland finals, winning two.

Following his appointment last November, O’Shea had to juggle club commitments with Dr Crokes along with his new Kerry post. Despite losing the county final, the county’s representatives Dr Crokes dethroned champions Nemo Rangers in the Munster semi final and in early December, the Kerrymen withstood a spirited comeback from Waterford outfit, The Nire, to collect a first Munster crown since the memorable 1991 season.

O’Shea managed to combine both club and county roles in early 2007 as Dr Crokes went all the way to an All Ireland Club final , where they were defeated by Crossmaglen Rangers after a replay.

He has co-authored a book on Gaelic Football Training Drills and seasoned observers have remarked that he has managed to keep the Kerry players remarkably fresh throughout the championship season.

A new approach under O’Shea seems to have given the Kerry players a new lease of life and against Dublin, few would have believed that this was a team looking to book a place in a fourth successive All Ireland final. A Games Officer employed by the Munster Council with responsibility for Clare Limerick and Kerry, O’Shea was given special permission by the provincial body to enjoy a dual mandate role for this year.

Courtesy of All Ireland Football Final Programme 2007

Honours Won as a Player

1 All Ireland Club Championship, 2 Kerry Senior Championship Medals, 1991 and 2000. 2 Munster Club Championships, 2 Senior County Leagues, 7 East Kerry Championships (O’Donoghue Cup).

The Family Man

Pat is married to Deborah-Ann and has four children, Gavin, twins Amy and Leah, and Rebecca.