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WEEKLY
NEWS
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Weekly Kerry GAA Scene
by
Co. PRO Willie O'Connor
21st July 2005
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CO. CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND-UP... It’s hard to beat championship action for its intensity, passion and entertainment value and after last weekend’s action packed Round 3 games of the AIB County Senior Football Championship Rathmore, East Kerry, An Ghaeltacht, South Kerry, Laune Rangers and Dr. Crokes are through to the quarterfinals and there will be two replays to decide whether Austin Stacks or Kerins O’Rahillys and Kilcummin or West Kerry will make it to the last eight of the competition. The weekend got off to a magnificent start with the local Tralee derby at Austin Stack Park on Friday night between Kerins O’Rahillys and Austin Stacks. The game lived up to all expectations with the local rivalry at its highest and the rival supporters and neutrals alike being treated to an exciting and thrilling game that ebbed and flowed right up to the full time whistle. At Fitzgerald Stadium on Saturday night, Rathmore were impressive in their victory over St. Kierans while in the second game in the double bill East Kerry easily disposed of John Mitchels challenge. At J. P. O’Sullivan Park in Killorglin the reigning champions, South Kerry had a tough challenge from an understrength Mid Kerry team and in the second game in the double bill Laune Rangers were put to the pin of their collars to hold out at the finish for a one-point victory against Kenmare District. Out in Ballybunion, Shannon Rangers could very well have put an end to An Ghaeltacht’s championship aspirations when the visitors just pulled away at the finish after a fine performance by the local team. On Sunday afternoon Kilcummin had to settle in the end for a replay with West Kerry in a game, which was a thrilling encounter and on Sunday evening at Killorglin, Dr. Crokes had plenty to spare in their game against Milltown/Castlemaine. The most likely date for the two replays is during the week following the All-Ireland quarterfinal. In the championship relegation playoff, Dingle rallied in the second half to beat Listowel Emmets. Emmets must play the 2005 County Intermediate Champions to retain their Senior Championship status next year. The draw for the quarterfinals in both the football and hurling championships will be made on Ciarraí Abú on Radio Kerry this Wednesday night at 9.00 p.m. TICKET SCHEME Members of the Kerry County Board 2003-2008 Ticket
Purchase Scheme are reminded that Friday July 29th is the closing date
for receipt of their application for tickets under this scheme for the
Bank Of Ireland Quarterfinal at Croke Park on Sunday August 7th. Tickets allocated to the scheme will be reallocated to the clubs and other units after the closing date. Scheme Tickets not collected by Friday July 29th will also be reallocated. CHRISTY RING CUP Kerry defeated Carlow with a fine display of hurling and team play in their last game of Christy Ring Cup at Austin Stack Park on Saturday last. Had the team performed to this standard in the games against Kildare and Wicklow we would almost certainly be preparing now for the knockout stages of the competition. The team’s defeat to Kildare and the draw with Wicklow meant that the result of last Saturday’s game would not topple either Carlow or Kildare from the top of the table and the two semi-final places in the Christy Ring Cup. On a positive note last Saturday’s victory ended the team’s season on a high note as well as providing some positives for beginning of the 2006 season. Last year when we failed to field in the All-Ireland qualifiers after being beaten by Cork in the Munster Championship left an air despondency and pessimism for the future. At least this year, although the objective of reaching the semi-finals and final of the Christy Ring Cup was not achieved, the team went out on a high note. The Christy Ring Cup is a competition ideally suited to Kerry’s position in intercounty hurling and the promotional value of playing in the semi-final and final, which will be played in Croke Park, can be put to positive effect in upholding and improving on the quality of hurling being played in the county. Such promotional opportunities have to be seized in order to capture the interest of under age players in the clubs. Next year we will be expecting the senior players to make that extra effort to reach the knockout stages. ALL-IRELAND U21 B & U16B HURLING On this Saturday at Nenagh, the Kerry Under 21 Hurling team play Roscommon in the All-Ireland Under 21 B Hurling Semi-final at 5.00 p.m. and the Under 16 Kerry Hurling Team play Westmeath in Round 3 of the All-Ireland Championship at 3.30 p.m. at the same venue. COUNTY LEAGUE Round 9 of the Credit Union County Senior Football League in Divisions 1 to 4 and Round 12 in Division 5 will be played this weekend with most games on Saturday at 8.00 p.m. and a small number of games on Sunday at 2.30 p.m. The League Table positions at the top and bottom ends of each of the divisions indicate that the games involving the leading teams and those in danger of relegation will be very closely watched with just three rounds left to be played. Austin Stacks have closed the gap to one point behind the leaders, Dr. Crokes after they defeated them in their top of the table clash in Round 8. Milltown/Castlemaine have jumped into third place after their victory over Annascaul. Despite winning their game against Castleisland Desmonds, An Ghaeltacht are still not out of relegation danger because of St. Mary’s win against Laune Rangers and Dingle’s victory over Listowel Emmets. In this round Dr. Crokes play St. Mary’s and Austin Stacks play Dingle. Both these games have a major bearing on the top and bottom ends of the table. An Ghaeltacht are away to Kerins O’Rahillys and this game is on Friday night at 8.00 p.m. In Division 2 the leading teams Gneeveguilla and Dromid Pearses had mixed fortunes in the last round. Gneeveguilla consolidated their top position in their win over Sneem while second placed Dromid Pearses were defeated by Spa. Gneeveguilla have now opened up a four gap on top of the table. At the bottom of the table Ballymac have gone deeper into the relegation area and Skellig Rangers are one point ahead of them with four points. Sneem, Currow, St. Pat’s and Beaufort are also in danger of relegation with five points each. In this round Gneeveguilla are away to Ballymac in a very important game for both teams. A win for Gneeveguilla would virtually assure them of promotion and could also see Ballymac being relegated. Dromid Pearses are at home to Skellig Rangers and Dromid need to win to stay in contention for promotion and Skellig Rangers need to win to avoid relegation. These two games are on Sunday at 2.30 p.m. In Division 3 there was a top of the table clash in the last round between Fingue and Ardfert and Finuge’s victory opened a three-point gap for them over Ardfert. Kenmare have gone into third place. Valentia, Keel and Duagh are the teams in most danger of relegation in this division. Finuge are at home to Castlegragory in this round and the game between Ardfert and Kenmare is postponed. In Division 4, the leaders Renard are away to Cromane and second placed Tarbert are at home to Firies. Duagh’s home game against Lispole is on at Lyre and the game between St.Senan’s and Churchill is postponed. The leading teams in Division 5 are Ballydonoghue who have a bye in this round Second placed, Ballyduff are away to third placed, Listry on Firday night at 8.00 p.m. while Scartaglin who are in joint third place are at home to Fossa on Saturday. RESULTS: Short match reports can be faxed to the above fax number or e-mailed to prokygaa@gofree.indigo.ie at any time on Saturday night or on Sunday. These reports need only be sixty or seventy words long and should include the half-time score and the important scores and scorers of each half as well as any incident that was of significance in the game, such as a penalty or an important save by the goalkeeper. The full-time score, however, should be phoned immediately after the game in order to meet the deadlines for the national papers and radio. The return of match reports has decreased considerably for the two previous rounds and we expect the club PROs to ensure that there is a match report sent in. After all they are only asked to do this six or seven times in the course of the playing season. It is essential to have reports from league games to give a proper profile to the club players. It would be desirable to have more reports from divisions 3, 4 and 5 as well all the games played in divisions 1 and 2. INTERMEDIATE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP The quarterfinal between Currow and Finuge will be played at Currow on this Wednesday July 20th at 7.30 p.m. Extra time will be played if necessary. The winners will meet Ballymacelligott in the semi-final. Legion await the winners of St. Mary’s and Spa in the other semi-final. SUMMER CAMPS Large numbers continue to participate in this years Garvey’s Super Valu Football and Hurling Summer Camps. Next week starting Monday July 25th the Football venues are Kilcummin, Killorglin, Knocknagoshel and Sneem while the Hurling venues will be Ardfert and Glenflesk. The camps will commence at 10.00 a.m. and conclude at 2.30 p.m. in the afternoon. If you have not registered for the camps but would still like to be part of fun filled week of GAA Activities then it is still not too late to join as registration will be taken the morning of the camps. The following are the players of the week & winners
of the Signed Kerry Jersey’s from week 2 of the camps: Ballybunion
Football Camp Gearoid Kissane was Player of the Week and David Quaid
from Cork won the Signed Kerry Jersey. HURLING CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE This week the Kerry County Board Hurling Centre of Excellence based in IT Tralee continues. Various underage hurling clubs and coaches in the county are continuing to experience this new Summer Hurling initiative, which is in its fourth week. Ardfert, Kilmoyley and Duagh are the local clubs that are visiting the Hurling Centre of Excellence this week. Each club will receive top quality coaching sessions from Eddie Murphy and Shane Brick with guest speakers giving advice to the underage players. The day will begin at 10.30 in the morning right through to 4.00 p.m. in the afternoon. This new Hurling initiative is in co-operation with IT Tralee and the Irish Sports Council. In the coming weeks Local Clubs will be invited to take advantage on what the Hurling Centre of Excellence has to offer. The clubs will set the agenda and Eddie and Shane will implement that agenda. Whatever ideas the clubs have will be accommodated. This new exciting initiative is open to all clubs in the county who wish to promote hurling and not just the established clubs. ABBEYDORNEY ELEVENS TOURNAMENT Abbeydorney GAA Club are hosting the Lee Strand Elevens of Kerry Festival of Hurling from this Thursday July 21st to Sunday July 24th. On Thursday and Friday the games commence at 7.00 p.m. and on Saturday at 6.00 p.m. On Sunday the semi-finals commence at 1.00 p.m. and the finals are at 3.00 p.m. and 4.00 p.m. This year's tournament features 7 senior teams and 6 junior teams. Match draws were made at the official launch held on July 8th at the GAA complex Abbeydorney. County Committee Vice-chairman, Gerald Whyte made the draws. Also in attendance was Liam Cotter representing Lee Strand. FOOTBALL DEVELOPMENT SQUADS On this Saturday July 23rd the under 15 Football Development Squads will travel to Cork and Limerick where they will take part in a Munster Football Cluster Blitz. The Kerry teams will play their counterparts from other counties in Munster. SYMPATHY We extend our deepest sympathy to the Daly Family, Valentia Island on the sudden death of Joe Daly. The family have very strong connections with the Valentia Young Islanders Club.
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