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WEEKLY
NEWS
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Weekly Kerry GAA Scene
by
Co. PRO Willie O'Connor
1st September 2005
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DEFENSE OF THE TITLE CONTINUES... A brilliant team performance, great individual displays, spectacular scores, and plenty of loud and colourful support from the big number of Kerry supporters at Croke Park last Sunday marked the Kerry Senior team's semi-final victory over Cork to qualify for the defence of their title in the Bank Of Ireland Senior Football Championship Final on Sunday September 25th against the winners of this Sunday's semi-final between Tyrone and Armagh. Hard luck on our minors, they came very close to forcing a replay against Mayo in the All-Ireland Minor semi-final. They battled hard to reduce Mayo's lead in the closing minutes but unfortunately heartbreaking missed chances and the stop-watch put an end to their campaign. We wish Mayo the very best of luck in the All-Ireland Final. We thank the minor players for their hard work and dedication over the past seven months and in particular thanks to Sean Geaney and his selectors, Sean O'Leary, John Galvin, Tim Coffey and Christy Walsh who all put in countless hours prior to the panel selection, attending colleges and club games, followed by regular training sessions and challenge games during the Munster and All-Ireland campaigns. It is always tough to be beaten in the semi-final and worse still to be beaten by a single point. It is tough on the young players who went out to do their best last Sunday and but for some heartbreaking missed chances they would be joining the seniors at Croke Park on All-Ireland Final day. Much as we would like to savour last Sunday's victory for our Seniors we must resist that temptation and focus on the All-Ireland Final. The senior players and selectors were back in Fitzgerald Stadium on Monday evening to begin their build-up to the final. They know only too well that All-Ireland Titles are not won easily. They are assured of our whole-hearted support and that all Kerry people at home and abroad are fully behind them in their preparations for the final. The return of Sam Maguire Cup to Kerry this year would indeed be special. SUPPORTERS COLOUR Seeing all the Green and Gold colours around the county will give our team a great boost. They certainly appreciate the efforts people and indeed whole communities have made for the quarterfinal and semi-final. It is very gratifying to see so many of our younger supporters wearing the Kerry Jersey as their leisure wear. Now that we are in the final we should make every effort to show our support and our appreciation to our team by proudly showing our colours. CHURCH GATE COLLECTION TICKETS Stand Tickets for the All-Ireland Football Finals cost €60 and Terrace Tickets on Hill 16 will cost €30. The allocation of All-Ireland Final Tickets in the participating counties is always going to be difficult. Even though Croke Park can accommodate 80,000 people it must be borne in mind that Premium Level and Corporate Level tickets, which are pre-booked and paid for as long term contributions are included in that figure. There is also a big demand for All-Ireland Final Tickets from all the non-participating counties. Each non-participating county receives an allocation as well as the members of their Senior Football panels. Schools and Colleges units and the overseas units are also given allocations. In Kerry we are committed to allocating tickets to the senior players, the team managements, Clubs, County Committee Delegates, District Boards and other sub committees, Schools Bodies, Senior All-Ireland Medal holders and members of the Ticket Purchase Scheme. There is going to be a big demand for tickets and we know from past experience that some people will be disappointed but our supporters can be assured that the limited number of tickets that are allocated to us will be distributed in the fairest possible way. TICKET SCHEME Members of the Kerry County Board 2003-2008 Ticket Purchase Scheme are reminded that Wednesday September 14th is the closing date for receipt of their application for tickets under this scheme for the Bank Of Ireland All-Ireland Final at Croke Park on Sunday September 25th. Stand Tickets will cost €60. Due to the limited
number of tickets allocated to Kerry for the All-Ireland Finals it is
only possible to allocate one ticket per unit purchased in the Ticket
Scheme. Tickets allocated to the scheme will be reallocated to the clubs and other units after the closing date. FUNDRAISING EVENTS The Kerry Association in London presented the proceeds of their recent Golf Classic for the Kerry Team Training Fund to County Committee Chairman, Sean Walsh at Austin Stack Park last Wednesday afternoon. We thank the Kerry Association, Chairman, Noel O'Sullivan and his organising committee for their time and generosity. Playing in the
All-Ireland Final costs a lot of money and in order to raise funds there
will be a number of fund-raising events organised prior to the All-Ireland
Final and in Dublin during the All-Ireland weekend. AIB COUNTY HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP Causeway are the first team to qualify for the semi-finals of the AIB County Senior Hurling Championship after their victory over Crotta O'Neills in the quarterfinal played last Saturday at Austin Stack Park. On this Friday September 2nd at 6.45 p.m. Ballyduff play Kilmoyley and on this Saturday at 6.45 p.m. Abbeydorney play St. Brendan's. The quarterfinal between Ballyheigue and Lixnaw will be played on this Sunday at 2.30 p.m. All games are at Austin Stack Park. The semi-finals will be played as a double bill at Austin Stack Park on Sunday September 18th and the final is on Sunday October 2nd. AIB COUNTY FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP The quarterfinals will be played on the weekend of October 8th and 9th. There will be a double bill at Fitzgerald Stadium on Saturday October 8th. West Kerry will play Austin Stacks and East Kerry will play the holders, South Kerry. On Sunday October 9th there will be a double bill at Austin Stack Park. Laune Rangers will play Rathmore and An Ghaeltacht will be Dr. Crokes. Extra time will be played if necessary. The semi-finals will be played on October 16th or 23rd. A semi-final pairing that includes a player on the International Rules Panel will be played on October 16th. The final will be played on Sunday November 6th. If a Divisional team progresses to the final there are dates available to complete the Senior Club Championship, which is already at the semi-final stage, in time for Munster Club Championship. The Club Champions will represent Kerry in the Munster Club Championship should a Divisional Team win the AIB County Championship. COUNTY INTERMEDIATE CHAMPIONSHIP St. Mary's are at home to Spa on this Saturday September 3rd at 6.30 p.m. in the quarterfinal of the Castleisland Co-Op Mart County Intermediate Football Championship. Extra time will be played if necessary. Legion play the winners in the semi-final and Finuge are already in the final. COUNTY JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP The quarterfinal between Duagh and Glenbeigh/Glencar and the quarterfinal replay between Ballyduff and Tarbert are both fixed for Saturday September 10th. Both Ardfert and Cordal have already qualified for the semi-finals. COUNTY NOVICE CHAMPIONSHIP The semi-final between Beale and Brosna is fixed for Saturday September 10th. The other semi-final between Tuosist and Fossa will be arranged in consultation with East Kerry Board fixtures. The semi-final of the Novice Shield between Templenoe and Clounmacon will be played on Saturday September 10th. COUNTY MINOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SEMI-FINALS Both semi-finals will be played on the weekend of September 11th. St. Brendan's play Dr. Crokes at Castleisland on Saturday September 10th and on Sunday September 11th East Kerry, the holders, play South Kerry at Killorglin. Both semi-finals are at 5.30 p.m. COUNTY MINOR HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP On Wednesday September 7th at 6.45 p.m. South Kerry play Ballyduff/Causeway at Fitzgerald Stadium and Ballyheigue/O'Dorney play Kilmoyley at Lerrig. The winners will meet St. Brendan's and Lixnaw/Crotta in the semi-finals. COUNTY INTERMEDIATE HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP The replay of the County Intermediate Hurling Championship Final between Kenmare and Kilgarvan will be played as a curtain raiser to the AIB County Senior Hurling Championship Final on Sunday October 2nd. ALL-IRELAND UNDER 21 B HURLING FINAL The Kerry Under 21 Hurling team play Meath in the All-Ireland Under 21 B Hurling Final at Nenagh on Saturday September 10th. JUNIOR CLUB CHAMPIONSIPS The semi-finals of the Molyneaux Cup will be played this Friday at 6.30 p.m. Laune Rangers B play Listowel Emmets B at Strand Road and Rathmore B play Strand Road at Listry. Dromid Pearses play Waterville at Dromid in the semi-final of the McElligott on this Friday at 6.30 p.m. The other semi-final between Spa and Annascaul will be played on Friday September 9th at Ballymacelligott. Austin Stacks C are through to the final of the Barrett Cup. Glenflesk play the winners of Moyvane and Na Gaeil in the other semi-final, which was not arranged at the time of writing. Keel play Listry in the semi-final of the Cahill Cup on this Saturday at 5.00 p.m. at Keel. The winners will play Renard in the final. COUNTY LEAGUE The last round of games in the Credit Union County Senior Football League, with the exception of games that have a bearing on promotion and relegation, involving players on the county senior football panel, will be played on the weekend of September 18th. The replay of the Credit Union County junior Football League Final between Beale and Glenbeigh/Glencar will be played at Na Gaeil Pitch, Tralee on this Saturday at 6.00 p.m. Extra time will be played if necessary. GAA CLUB MANUAL Pat Fitzgerald, Chairman of the National Club Development and Planning Committee said: "While we are delighted with the content of the finished product, this new Club Advisory Book is only worthwhile if Club members use its advice and information to develop and plan for the future in a positive and systematic way thereby ensuring not only the survival of their Club, but its central and key role is the promotion of Gaelic Games and Culture in the Parish and Community to which it belongs." Copies of the manual will be distributed free of charge to every club. NATIONAL CLUB FORUM The National Club forum will represent the largest gathering of club representatives in the history of the Association as two members from each club in the country will be invited to attend the forum in the Gleneagle Hotel, Killarney on November 12th. Among the issues that are expected to be covered at the Forum will be Promotional aspects (including areas such as marketing, sponsorship, public relations, communications and information technology), the necessity for improved Physical Facilities (in terms of field development, floodlighting, all weather pitches, health & safety etc), Insurance, membership issues, Trusteeship, case studies on Games Development, fundraising and financial planning matters among others. CIARRAÍ ABÚ QUIZ Anne Murphy, Ballyheigue was the Ciarraí Abú Quiz winner of two stand tickets and Phyllis McLoughlin, Tralee was the winner of the Family Ticket for last Sunday's All-Ireland Semi-final. Ciarraí Abú is on air on Wednesday nights from 9.00 p.m. to 10.00 p.m. on Radio Kerry. The programme is a must for Kerry GAA followers, especially now that the county is gearing up for the biggest day in the GAA calendar, the All-Ireland Senior Football Final. COUNTY COMMITTEE MEETING The September meeting of the County Committee will be held at The Pavilion, Austin Stack Park on this Monday night September 5th. HANDBALL Munster 60x30 Championships In what was originally a double header fixed for Ballymac on Wednesday August 24, Dennis Walsh [Tralee] received a walkover from Christy Griffin [Tipperary] in a Master B Singles first round game. This meant that Joe Creedon [Lispole] took on Sean Daly from Cork in the only game of the night-First round game in the Silver Master B Singles. At first glance this would seem a typical Kerry V Cork encounter, but truth be told-both players have Cork genes. Sean-playing for Cork comes from Charleville, while Joe-playing for Kerry comes from Macroom. On the night the man wearing the Red Jersey came out on top, on the scoreline 21-17,21-10. The first game was even enough between the two players, up to the three quarters stage. Joe Creedon at 17-20 down missed a kill, which normally he would do with his eyes closed. Sean Daly went into finish the game 21-17, to leave the Lispole man ruing his missed opportunity. Joe came out fighting in the second game, and gave as good as he got here. The score was level on no less than four occasions, at 2-2, 6-6, 9-9 and 10-10. From here on the Cork man stepped on the gas, and even though Joe tried his best he had no answer to his Countryman on the night. On the balance of play Sean was the more consistent player overall. He read the game very well, and always seemed to be in the right place to take a shot. Joe had a great chance to take the first game, but let his chance slip to let the Cork man back in. The game did not go the Lispole mans way; normally he is a great man to kill a ball and to use a hard passing shot. He tried these last night, but as the old saying goes it's all on the day-or night. On the night Daly deserved to win, everything he tried came off on the night. Martin Mc Inerny
and John Mc Quaid of Tipperary beat Brendan O Brien and Noel Raymond
in a first round Junior Singles game on Tuesday last. This was a big
upset as the Tralee pairing, were in great form the previous week against
Waterford. Brendan and Noel had high hopes of going all the way in Munster
this year, but the Tipp pairing put paid their hopes on the night. Ballymac played host to a Junior B Singles game on Friday last, when Danny Riordan [Ballymac] met Jimmy Close [Tuamgraney-Clare]. The Clare man proved to be too strong for Danny, as he went down 21-6,21-9. Close is a very strong physical player, and he showed this the last night in the power of his shots. This is not to say that he is one dimensional player, as his variation of serves and the ability to kill the ball from anywhere in the Court was plain to be seen. Danny did not settle properly until the second game, and when he did he showed some nice touches. He killed a number of sweet balls, and made the Clare man work very hard for his victory. Supermacs 60x30
Juvenile Trials
Radio Kerry/Ciarrai Abu Radio Kerry are running a programme called Ciarrai Abu every Wednesday evening from 9pm-10pm. This programme encompasses all that is happening in the County at GAA level, and is well worth tuning into. It is a very interesting series, and would be of interest to everyone involved with sports in the County. The 9-10 slot is now becoming a weekly appointment for a lot of people, both young and old. Results Munster 60x30 Championships August 23 Tuesday-Ballingarry
August 24 Wednesday-Ballymac
Fixtures Supermacs 60x30
County Championships Munster 60x30 Championships
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