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WEEKLY
NEWS
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Weekly Kerry GAA Scene
by
Co. PRO Willie O'Connor
02nd February 2006
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LEAGUE 2006 BEGINS... On this Saturday at Austin Stack Park, Tralee our Senior Footballers play Mayo at 7.45 p.m. in Round 1, Division 1A of the Allianz National Football League. This is a very important game for us, because a victory in the first game of the league always sets the tone for the rest of the campaign and would certainly give a boost to the team's confidence after last Sunday's defeat to Cork in the McGrath Cup Final. The selectors correctly availed of the opportunity in the McGrath Cup games to view as many players as possible in a competitive setting and as expected last Sunday's final against Cork provided them with a much stiffer test than heretofore in the competition. It is well to know their options in advance of the start of the National League. Mayo gave us a very competitive game in the league last year at Castlebar and this year, their new manager, Mickey Moran will be equally anxious to get the league campaign started with a victory. We can therefore expect a tough challenge from Mayo on Saturday night. Some of our more experienced players are unlikely to be in contention for starting positions in the earlier league games. The new players, who got starting positions in the McGrath Cup, have learned very valuable lessons from last Sunday's final against Cork. They know what to expect in the league games and that there is a tangible step up in standards from what they experienced in their four games in January. This division of the league is a very challenging one and we have tough away games ahead of us against Cork, Monaghan and Tyrone. It is imperative that we at least win our home games against Mayo, Fermanagh, Offaly and Dublin to be in contention for the semi-finals and to avoid the danger of relegation. The team relies on good home crowd support and we ask our supporters to come to Austin Stack Park on Saturday night in big numbers to get behind the players. ADMISSION PRICES The admission prices for the league games are decided by Central Council and for Division 1 entry to the stand is €12 and this includes the seated area in front of the Pavilion, 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. HEART FOUNDATION COLLECTION Patrons attending Saturday night's game are invited to contribute to the Irish Heart Foundation. The permit for this very worthy cause has been granted Máiréad Moynihan and she has the full support of the Kerry County Committee to collect outside Austin Stack Park. MATCH PROGRAMME The match programme for Saturday'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. 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. LIVE TV Live TV coverage for Saturday night games in this year's National League is only available on the Setanta Sports channel, which is available in Kerry on subscription from Sky Digital satellite channels. Sunday afternoon games will be shown live on TG4. SUPPORTERS CLUB On Saturday February 11th it is back to the regular activities for the Supporters Club with their first trip of the year, when we play Cork in Round 2 of the Allianz National Football League. They are also organising two overnight trips, Monaghan on March 12th and Tyrone on March 25th. Bookings for the overnight trips must be fully paid a week before travelling. For further information contact any member of the committee, Martin Leane at (068) 48116, John King at (066) 7124229, Kit Ryan at (066) 7124966 or Donie O'Leary at (064) 58099. WATERFORD CRYSTAL CUP After a very encouraging start to their playing season against Waterford Institute of Technology in the quarterfinal of the inaugural Waterford Crystal Cup, the Kerry Senior Hurling play University College Cork in the semi-final of the Waterford Crystal Shield at Austin Stack Park, Tralee on this Sunday at 2.00 p.m. Despite losing
to Waterford IT the Kerry players and management were pleased with the
performance and on Sunday last they had a very productive challenge
game against Munster Senior Club Champions, Newtownshandrum. ARDFERT Congratulations to Ardfert on their victory last Sunday in the semi-final of the All-Ireland Junior Club Football Championship against Ulster Champions, Monaghan Harps at O'Moore Park, Port Laoise. They say goals win matches and that is certainly true for Ardfert, who scored five them on this wonderful occasion for the club. The game was a
thrilling and exciting contest with the fortunes of both teams ebbing
and flowing during the game. Ardfert led at half time and at the end
of the second half the teams were level and extra time was played. With
just seconds remaining in extra time, Ardfert, who were trailing by
two points, snatched victory by the narrowest of margins with a magnificent
John Egan goal. This is what the new Provincial and All-Ireland Intermediate and Junior Club Championships is all about. They have added an exciting new dimension for the County Club Championship winners in these grades. The county champions in these competitions have the opportunity now to aim for Provincial and All-Ireland honours as well, a privilege that was previously reserved for the County Senior Club Champions. Ardfert are at present experiencing the impact that playing in the Munster and All-Ireland Club Championships has on their club and local community and we are delighted with the high profile and national exposure they are getting as a result. The Ardfert parish and community have been given a great boost by the success of their football team and in the two weeks leading up to the All-Ireland Final, the team and officials carry the best wishes of everybody in Kerry in their preparations for the biggest day in the history of the club. SCÓR NA nÓG The Munster finals of Scór Na nÓg were held last Sunday at The City Hall, Cork. The standard of competition was very high in all the eight categories and our Kerry competitors can feel very proud of their performances. Glenflesk competed in three of the eight categories, namely, Figure Dancing, Michelle O'Callaghan in Solo Singing and the Ballad Group. They retained their Munster title in Figure Dancing with "Trip to the Cottage" and Michelle O'Callaghan won the solo singing title with a wonderful rendition of "In My Father's House" accompanied on guitar by her mother, Mary. The Glenflesk Ballad Group was runner up in their category. Gneeveguilla won the Quiz with a total score of 56 marks, just missing out on one question, having fought off stiff opposition from Limerick, Cork and Tipperary. The Glenflesk Figure Dancers, Michelle O'Callaghan in Solo Singing and the Gneeveguilla Quiz team will go to represent Kerry in the All-Ireland Finals in Athlone on Saturday February 18th. Admission to the All-Ireland Finals is strictly by ticket only and those who wish to attend should contact Mary Sugrue at (025) 38520 without delay. SCÓR SINSEAR The County Semi-finals of Scór Sinsear will be held on Saturday February 25th at Abbeydorney at 8.00 p.m. for North Kerry Football and Hurling, West Kerry, St. Brendan's and Castleisland Districts and on Sunday February 26th at Gneeveguilla t 8.00 p.m. for South Kerry, East Kerry, Mid Kerry, Kenmare and Tralee Districts. The County Finals will be at The Gleneagle Hotel, Killarney on Sunday March 12th. There was an overwhelming response to Scór na nÓg with great crowds attending the County Semi-finals and Final. It would be very gratifying to have a similar response to Scór Sinsear, particularly an increase in participation by the clubs. The categories are: Figure Dancing, Solo Singing, Instrumental Music, Novelty Act, Question Time, Recitation, Ballad Group and Set Dancing. Clubs should contact the Scór Officer of their District Committee for details of the District competitions. GAC MEETING KERRY COLLEGES A full attendance from all participating schools is requested for the Kerry Colleges meeting on Tuesday February 7th at The Pavilion, Austin Stack Park, Tralee at 8.00 p.m. STRENGTH TRAINING WORKSHOP A Strength Training Workshop will be held at the Institute of Technology Tralee, South Campus on this Friday February 3rd. Current Kerry Senior Football Trainer, Pat Flanagan will cover all areas in relation to weight and strength training for Gaelic Football and Hurling. The course is aimed at Club Coaches and all are welcome. The cost for the course is €15 per person. Registration will commence at 6.45pm in the main Student Canteen in the ITT South Campus. SUPPORTERS CLUB SOCIAL At the 16th Kerry Supporters Club Annual Social held at Ballygarry House Hotel, Tralee last Saturday night, Ballymacelligott and Kerry handballer, Maria Daly was named as the Overall Winner of the monthly awards for 2005. Maria was chosen from the players selected as the award winners for each month of last year's playing season. It was a very popular choice if one was to judge by the tremendous round of applause that greeted the announcement by the Chairmen of the Supporters Club, Donie O'Leary. Each of the monthly award winners, Marie Daly, Colm Cooper, James Costello, Tomás Ó Sé, Marc Ó Sé and Diarmuid Murphy was presented with a crystal glass trophy as Martin Leane the PRO of the Supporters Club read the citations, which outlined the reason they were selected for their monthly award. Donie O'Leary in his address congratulated the Kerry senior, junior and minor teams on their achievements during 2005 and he also complimented the Kerry Senior Hurlers. The highlight of the year for the members was the weekend trip for the National League game against Donegal. He wished the Kerry Senior team and management the best of luck in this year's league and championship campaigns and he expressed the hope that this time next year Kerry Captain, Declan O'Sullivan will have the Sam Maguire Cup at the social. All of Kerry's newly appointed team managements were wished the best of luck and success in their endeavours to bring Munster and All-Ireland titles to the Kingdom. Sean Walsh in his address said that many people got a lot of enjoyment during 2005 and each of the monthly award winners bore testimony to that fact and he thanked the Supporters Club for their support and loyalty during Kerry's League and Championship campaigns during the year. He thanked them for their support for the Kerry Team Holiday Fund Draw and paid special tribute to Leo Griffin who sold a big number of tickets for the draw. After the presentations were made the remainder of the evening was spent dancing the night away to the music provided by Neily O'Connor and his band. Leo Griffin, as usual, had a big quantity of spot prizes. OFFICE HOURS Please note that the office opening hours at The Pavilion, Austin Stack Park will be from 1.30 p.m. to 5.45 p.m. Monday to Friday until March 16th to allow for the preparations for printing the Eolaire 2006 and for other essential administration work. HOPE FOUNDATION Mort O'Shea from Kilgarvan is promoting a Kerry's Best Football 15 from 1997-2005 selection with the proceeds going to benefit the Hope Foundation Charity. Entries cost €3 or two for €5 and they are available in selected shops. Entrants are invited to select their best Kerry 15 from the choices on the entry form. The winners will be announced at a quiz in the Spa GAA Club on Friday February 10th. There is over €500 in prizes. HANDBALL Awards Nights:
Kerry Handball/Kerry Supporters Club/Kerryman Gleneagle Sports Stars Four years ago
Ann Lawlor [Ballyheigue] recognised the need for, a social gathering
of all the handball fraternity in the County. Ann saw that Sport has
to have an element of social interaction, and acknowledgement of its
achievements on a yearly basis. She set in motion a County Handball
Awards night, and set in train a remarkable compendium of various aspects
of the game. She set a great precedent and her successor Eileen Long
has stepped in seamlessly to her shoes. It has worked a treat, as it
is the one chance that adults and children from the different Clubs
can meet and interact. All aspects of the organisation are catered for,
and is really appreciated by everyone in the Handball Community. Kerry V Mayo National
Football League Game Brian Mc Evoy, Noel Raymond and Brendan O Brien kick off their Munster/National Season this weekend. The County's Juveniles are away to Waterford next Saturday, February 4th in the first round of the Munster 40x20 Juvenile Championships. The winners take on Cork in the Munster Semi-Finals in Tralee the following day-Sunday Feb 5th. Fixtures Saturday-February
4th [Kerry Venue]-6 30pm: Munster 40x20 Championships Sunday February
5th [Dungarvan]-1pm: Senior Doubles Championships: Noel Raymond/Brendan
O'Brien (Kerry) V Barry Goff/Gavin Buggy (Wexford)
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