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Irish Examiner 7-9-98

THE town of Killarney was last night trying to come to terms with the loss of two of its brightest teenage sportstars in a fatal road accident on their way back from their holidays in Spain. Another man from Kilkenny was also fatally injured in the accident and a fourth teenager and friend of the two deceased boys from Killarney is seriously injured in hospital. The three young lads were returning from their holidays in Spain when tragedy struck yesterday morning near Toomevara, Co Tipperary, on the main Limerick-Dublin road.

The dead were named last night as Martin Beckett (18) and Sean O'Connor (18), both of Woodlawn Road, Killarney, Co. Kerry, and Gerard Phelan (38), of Eirke, Crosspatrick, Co Kilkenny. Tadgh Kelly (19), Augheracureen, Killarney, was seriously injured, but was said to be in a stable condition at Nenagh General Hospital. Both Martin Beckett and Sean O'Connor were members of Killarney Athletic soccer club, and Martin was also a talented gaelic footballer, having been a member of this year's Kerry Under-21 All-Ireland winning side. Vincent Casey, treasurer with Killarney Athletic, said the deceased were cornerstones of the club and would be a tremendous loss. Sean had just completed his Leaving Cert and accepted a degree course in UCC and was looking forward to moving to Cork. One of a family of four, he was the son of building contractor Pat O'Connor and Mary O'Connor. Martin Beckett, was the eldest of a family of four. A member of the Dr Crokes' club, Killarney, he played with the Kerry minors in 1996 and 97. Dr Crokes' chairman Donie O'Leary described Martin, who worked with the Bank of Ireland in Killorglin, as a nice, unassuming young lad. Tadhg Kelly is an employee at the Liebherr crane factory, Killarney. There was no further details of Mr Phelan last night.

The three Kerry teenagers were travelling home from Dublin Airport in a white Dahaitsu car which was involved in a head-on collision with a blue Toyota Carina car. Mr Phelan was the sole occupant of the other car. The accident occurred on a straight stretch of road at Clonalee, about a mile on the Nenagh side of Toomevara at 11am. It was raining at the time. Nenagh gardaí have appealed for witnesses