Eddie Healy progress a sign of North Kerry's burdgeoning talent development
Under Trophy Kerry’s Eddie Winning Healy Stack The Rob Championship Final The 20 And After Munster Lift
In 2022, Eddie Healy was wing-back on the Kerry minor team that lost an All-Ireland semi-final to Mayo. The Listowel Emmets youngster was a key member of James Costello’s side, and it was already evident that there was potential to go further.
Later that year, in a significant development for football in North Kerry, Healy captained the relatively new amalgamation of Feale and Shannon Rangers at underage level to an historic county minor title – beating Mid Kerry in a replayed decider.
Though still four years under the age limit, the versatile performer was also introduced barely five minutes into North Kerry’s county under-21 final against the mighty East Kerry. More than holding his own at the age of 17, Healy saw his side pipped at the post in an absolute classic.
Fast forward twelve months, however, and the Listowel tyro’s progression continued apace. Lining out at full-back, Healy was part of the North Kerry outfit that got revenge on champions East Kerry, adding that coveted county under-21 crown to the minor triumph, after an extra-time epic.
The feel-good factor didn’t stop there, with Emmets surprising all and sundry by overcoming Ballymacelligott to gain junior premier championship glory in Kerry. They would go on to claim provincial honours, and end up All-Ireland runners-up back in January, to Arva from Cavan.
That would be the first of two All-Ireland finals that would bring the pain of defeat to Healy’s door in 2024, as he later lined out at midfield for Tomás Ó Sé’s inter-county under-20 squad in their defeat to an excellent Tyrone in the Portlaoise decider.
Probably learning even more from the bad days than the good ones, teenager Healy has experienced the whole gamut of emotions that competitive sport can bring over the last three action-packed seasons. Just a few short weeks ago, Emmets picked up their 17th North Kerry district board championship.
To add to his almost fairy-tale career advancement, Healy is among a plethora of new and upcoming players called into the wider Kingdom senior training squad by Jack O’Connor as preparations carry on in earnest for the National League campaign, under new rules, beginning in late January.
While still eligible for the under-20s in 2025, it is a sign of how quickly the Emmets’ prodigy has caught the eye that O’Connor has wasted little time in wanting to get a closer look. Being in and around the best of the best in Kerry certainly won’t do Healy any long-term harm.
Indeed, with Cillian Trant of St Senan’s (midfield on the North Kerry under-21 team of 2022, and a Kerry hurler) also among the new names having their credentials currently examined, the tide may well be turning for football recognition within the famed district.
Since the retirement of Shane Enright, regular full-back Jason Foley has been the one North Kerry constant in the Kerry senior squad over the last four years, with the County Board being proactive in 2021 by setting up a committee to delve deeper into the issue.
Former Kingdom boss and Irish Examiner columnist Eamonn Fitzmaurice led a root and branch review into all aspects of football in the district, with the underage amalgamation already in place at that stage, and the green shoots are now being seen through the likes of Healy.
More will possibly follow in the upcoming years. Beale’s Robert Stack captained the Kerry under-20s this year, Duagh’s Cormac Dillon was the side’s top scorer (and, like Healy, is underage again next year), as is Ballyduff’s Evan Boyle, who is also making his mark through the ranks.
MTU Kerry, back in the Sigerson Cup, will also be counting on Eddie Healy next month when they make the long trek to DCU on January 8. It’s a busy period in the burgeoning upward trajectory of the Emmets’ prospect. The future looks bright for a young gun flying the North Kerry flag.