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WEEKLY
NEWS
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Weekly Kerry GAA Scene
by
Co. PRO Willie O'Connor
31st March 2005
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DRAMA, SUSPENSE AND TENSION THIS SUNDAY... The last round in Division 1A of the Allianz National Football League on this Sunday will see all the drama, suspense and tension of this very competitive division take centre stage at Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney at 3.30 p.m. for the top of the table clash of Kerry and Tyrone. The game will be preceded at 1.30 p.m. by the Third Test in the Schoolboy's International Rules Series between Ireland and Australia. Tyrone set the pace at the outset in this division and have maintained their top of the table position despite losing to Mayo in Round 5. Kerry, who faltered twice, against Cork in the first round and against Donegal in the fourth round have since climbed up the table and we are now in contention for a place in the semi-finals, provided of course, we win this very important game on Sunday and that Mayo will not improve significantly on their scoring difference should they beat Westmeath. Mayo and Kerry have eight points each but Kerry have a slightly better scoring difference after last Sunday's victory at McHale Park, Castlebar. This was a superb game of end-to-end football with both teams contributing to a very exciting contest. The win kept Kerry in contention for a semi-final place and what better setting for the big game of the last round on this Sunday than Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney. In last year's corresponding game at Omagh, Kerry lost narrowly and nothing better would satisfy the players and the supporters than to beat Tyrone on Sunday. The rivalry between the two teams is intense and for that reason alone we can expect a cracking game of football on Sunday. Tyrone are the one team that Kerry have not beaten in the last two years in either league or championship. The teams have such differing styles of play that one can only speculate on how significant the respective tactics employed by the teams will be on the eventual outcome. We are guaranteed a very competitive game and I'm sure there will be a big turnout of Kerry supporters to cheer on the team in this vital game, which has taken on the top billing of "The Big Game Of The Day." Let's hope Kerry will get the upper hand over the Red Hand this time round.
The admission prices for the league games are decided by Central Council and for Division 1 entry to the stand is €12 and admission to the terrace is €10. The admission for students and senior citizens is €5 on production of a current and valid identification. Juveniles under the age of sixteen are admitted free.
The match programme for Sunday's game is produced and compiled by the Kerry Handball Committee and will cost €2. All the proceeds from the programme will go towards the costs of promoting handball, especially at under age level in the county. The Kerry Handball Committee has made great strides in recent years in coaching and organising competitions for all age groups, male and female. As a direct result of all the voluntary work being done in coaching and organising competitions Kerry players have won numerous All-Ireland and World titles. Maria Daly from the Ballymacelligott Handball Club won a Senior Ladies All-Ireland tile last year. Your support for their match programme will be of great benefit to them in their work of promoting, expanding and developing the game of handball in Kerry.
Kerry defeated London in a hard fought encounter last Sunday at Austin Stack Park, Tralee in Round 5 of Division 2B of the Allianz National Hurling League. Goals at vital stages in the first half paved the way for Kerry's win. London threatened right up to the end and really put it up to the Kerry team throughout the game. Points were very important in this last round of the league and the victory was crucial for Kerry's progress to Series 2 of the League, which commences on Sunday April 10th. Carlow, Kerry and Meath finished in that order in Division 2B. Kerry will play against Offaly, Westmeath and Derry who finished in the top three in Division 2A in Series 2. The order of the games was not available at the time of writing. The stakes will be much higher at this stage of the League and Kerry will have to improve on their performances if they are to make an impact. It is games such as those we are now about to play in Series 2 that will assess our possibilities for the championship games in The Christy Ring Cup later in the year. The Series 2 games will be part of the team's ongoing preparation for The Christy Ring Cup, which will commence on Saturday June 4th.
In the Munster Minor Hurling Championship, Kerry are at home to Cork at Austin Stack Park, Tralee in the first round on this Friday April 1st at 6.30 p.m. The winners qualify for the semi-final on May 4th and the losing team will have a semi-final qualifier on Wednesday April 20th.
Congratulations to Finuge, the All-Ireland, Munster and County Junior Club Football Champions, on adding to All-Ireland title to their trophy cabinet after beating the Tyrone and Ulster Champions, Stewartstown in the All-Ireland Final played on Easter Monday at O'Moore Park, Port Laoise. Finuge have set the standard for the Junior Championship and now that they have progressed to playing in the Intermediate County Championship this year I'm sure they will make good use of the experience they have gained in their efforts to win that competition this year. The new Provincial and All-Ireland Intermediate and Junior Club Championships have added an exciting new dimension for the county club championship winners in these grades. The county champions in these competitions now have the opportunity to aim for Provincial and All-Ireland honours as well, a privilege that was previously reserved for the County Senior Club Champions. We all know the impact that playing in the All-Ireland Senior Club Championship has on a club and local community and with the Intermediate and Junior All-Ireland Series in their inaugural year it is only a matter of time before they attain the same level of interest as the Senior Club Championship. Finuge's success last Monday will definitely impact on the standard of the County Intermediate and Junior Club Championships from now on.
There was no joy for St. Brendan's College, Killarney who lost by a point to Coláiste An Spioraid Naomh of Cork in the replay of the final of the Munster Colleges Corn Uí Mhuirí on Easter Monday at Carraigadrohid.
In Division 3 Ardfert and Kenmare have set the pace with full points from their two opening rounds. Glenflesk and Castlegregory are just one point behind them. Tousist got their second successive victory in this
round as did Renard to share the top of the table in Division 4. Firies,
Churchill and Brosna are just one point behind the leading pair. Round 3 will be played on the weekend of April 10th with games on both Saturday and Sunday. (A full round-up of league games, including match reports was sent out on thru the Kerry GAA Mailing List)
The first round draw for the 2005 AIB County Senior Football Championship will take place at the Castle St., Tralee AIB Branch on Monday next April 4th at 7.00 p.m.
The next round of the Keane's Super Valu County Minor Football Leagues will be on Friday April 8th with games in all divisions commencing at 6.30 p.m. There is no round this week due to the first round of the Munster Minor Football Championship game between Limerick and Kerry on Wednesday April 6th.
U14 Football Schools of Excellence & U15 Football Development Squad's will have the following sessions in the coming weeks. Times for all squads are from 11.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. each morning. The Under 14's will be on Saturday April 9th, April 23rd, May 7th, May 21st, June 4th and June 18th at Glenbeigh for Mid Kerry and South Kerry, at Lispole for West Kerry, at Caherslee for Tralee, St. Brendan's and Castleisland Districts, at a venue to be arranged for East Kerry and Kenmare and at Beale for North Kerry. The first session for the Under 15's will be on this Thursday March 31st and again on April 6th, April 30th, May 14th, May 28th and June 11th at Caherslee for Tralee, West Kerry, North Kerry, St. Brendan's and Castleisland, at Glenbeigh for South Kerry and Mid Kerry and at Glenflesk for East Kerry and Kenmare. The South Kerry U14 Hurling Schools of Excellence will be on April 2nd, 16th, 30th, May 14th, 28th and June 11th and the South Kerry U15 Hurling Development Squad's will be on April 9th, 23rd, May 7th, 21st, June 4th and 18th. The venue is the Spa Club Grounds, Killarney. The North Kerry Development Squad will take place in May.
Over 160 delegates have been invited to attend a National Youth Forum in Croke Park on this Saturday, April 2nd and each county will have the opportunity of sending four youth delegates and the County Youth Officer to the forum. The forum will be addressed by GAA President Sean Kelly and will cover issues such as Coaching and Games Development, Refereeing and the Code of Ethics and Best Practice. The forum will also include a discussion with intercounty players.
The April Meeting of the County Committee will be on Monday April 11th at 8.00 p.m. at The Pavilion, Austin Stack Park, Tralee.
Munster Championships Code Of Ethics Seminar Match Programme AGM: Irish Handball/Munster Council FBD Irish Junior Nationals The FBD Junior Nationals takes place next week in Kingscourt
Co Cavan. This year the Irish Nationals is being combined with the USHA
Trials. Previous to this the Irish Nationals, and the USHA Trials were
two separate competitions. The winners of the Nationals will represent
Ireland on the Irish Team, in the US Junior Nationals in December 2005.
The competitions will be played down to Semi-Finals this coming week,
with the Finals on April 29-May 2nd. Fitzgerald Jones-Club Tournament The boys Under 16 doubles produced some of the best handball of the day and the standard in this competition certainly showed the great strides made in juvenile handball in Tralee in recent years. In the final Gary Marshall and James O'Donnell were up against James Barrett and John McKenna. These were two very evenly matched pairs and they took it to a tie break with victory going to Gary Marshall and James O'Donnell on the score 11-7. Afterwards all competitors were guests at Supermacs in Tralee where the winners and runners up were presented with their trophies. Once again Supermacs were very generous sponsors of this competition and their continued support for handball in Kerry is greatly appreciated. Feile Na nGael Results : Munster Final-Ladies Minor Singles Fixtures All Ireland Semi-Final: FBD Nationals Fixtures-Kingscourt Girls U15 Girls U17
Munster Juvenile 40x20 Semi-Final
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