 |
WEEKLY
NEWS
|
|
|
articles online |
Weekly Kerry GAA Scene
by
Co. PRO Willie O'Connor
8th June 2006
|
|
|||||
|
|
|
||||
|
|||||
|
A WHOLEHEARTED PERFORMANCE WILL BE NEEDED.... Our Munster Senior and Junior Football Championship campaigns resume on this Sunday at Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney when our teams play Tipperary in the semi-finals of Munster Senior and Junior Football Championships. The Senior game is at 3.30 p.m. The afternoon’s programme will commence at 1.45 p.m. when Tipperary play Kerry in the Munster Junior Football Championship. We had a constructive and encouraging win over Waterford in the quarterfinal three weeks ago with some very accomplished performances by the players. They were well motivated and their spirited display earned them favourable and deserved plaudits. The Primary School Selections from Kerry and Tipperary will take centre stage at half time in the senior game in what promises to be a very big occasion for the young players from the national schools of the two counties. We urge the Kerry supporters to come early on Sunday and give their support to the Kerry Juniors. Tipperary always put up a strong challenge when they play Kerry and we can expect the same on Sunday. There are no certainties in the championship and nothing can be taken for granted. Nothing less than a wholehearted performance from each and every player will be required if we are to progress to the Munster Final. Hopefully we have learned from our less than inspirational display against Waterford in the quarterfinal. Tipperary will be relying on their superb All-Star forward, Declan Browne to deliver a big performance and when he has possession in the scoring area he is as effective and accurate as our own All-Star forward, Colm Cooper. In this year’s Munster Hurling Championship the marksmanship of Tipperary’s hurling corner forward, Eoin Kelly, has been superb and his football counterpart, Declan Browne can do likewise if given only half a chance. We wish all the players and the team management the very best of luck in the championship campaign and the dearest wish of everybody who supports the Kerry team is that it will ultimately lead us to winning the All-Ireland Final. But we must take every game as it comes and on Sunday all of our attention and focus will be on winning a place in the Munster Final against the winners of the Limerick and Cork semi-final, which is also on this Sunday at The Gaelic Grounds, Limerick. ADMISSION PRICES No tickets will be issued in advance. Cash will be taken at the stiles for both Stand & Terrace. Seats in the stands will be on a first come first served basis, so people are advised to come early for the better seats. The admission prices are as follows – Covered Stand - €20, Terrace - €15. Students and OAP’s concessions are €10 for the stand and for the terraces on production of a current and valid identification. Under 16’s will be admitted free of charge to the stand & terrace. CHRISTY RING CUP The absence of the free taking accuracy of Shane Brick, who missed last Saturday’s game against Kildare through injury, was probably one of the major factors in our defeat. Without the services of an established free taker and missing four other players through injury, the team was obviously downbeat, especially when so many scoring chances from placed balls went wide of the target. The Kerry Hurling Team can ill-afford the loss of a player of Shane’s calibre in a championship game. Imagine the consternation if the Kerry Senior Football team had to play without Colm Cooper in an important championship game. The team would probably cope because of the strength in depth of the panel but it would still be a serious body blow. Kildare were the better team on the day, there is no doubting that and although their winning margin was just a single point we were outplayed in most areas of the field. Can lessons be learned from the defeat? Hopefully they can and in our next game against Wicklow on Saturday June 24th we would expect that the players will do their utmost to put Kerry back in contention for the knockout stages of the competition. By and large our intercounty hurling fortunes are a series of disappointments. We need to recover quickly from last Saturday’s disappointment and from the disappointment of losing the League Final Division 2 Final. The Christy Ring Cup is a championship that is ideally structured for our level and standard. A successful campaign in the Christy Ring Cup is essential for hurling to progress and expand at under age level. It will give young players the desire and ambition to represent their county from under 14 right up to senior. The coaching structures are in place and grant aided by Munster Council, Central Council and the Irish Sports Council. There has to be a positive return from this investment. Kerry have a bye in Round 2 on June 10th and are away to Wicklow in Round 3 on Saturday June 24th. In Round 4 we at home to Mayo on Saturday July 8th and away to Carlow on Saturday July15th. The top two teams from the group will qualify for the semi-finals against the two top teams from Group A on July 22nd and the final will be played at Croke Park on Sunday August 6th as a curtain raiser to the All-Ireland semi-final. AIB COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP John Mitchels play Milltown/Castlemaine in their Round 2 replay of the 2006 AIB County Senior Football Championship on this Friday at 7.30 p.m. at Austin Stack Park, Tralee. Extra time will be played if necessary. The replay between Laune Rangers and Kilcummin will be played on Saturday June 17th, which means that the Round 3 game between the winners and East Kerry will have to be rescheduled. The Round 3 games will be played on that weekend. CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS In the Castleisland Co-Op Mart County Intermediate Championship first round replay Castleisland Desmonds had a narrow one-point win against Gneeveguilla, at last Saturday. COUNTY FOOTBALL LEAGUE Kerins O’Rahillys are top of the Division 1 table of the Credit Union County Senior Football League after their victory against Kilcummin last Saturday. Laune Rangers who had a good win over St. Mary’s are in second place while Rathmore have dropped to share third place after their defeat by Listowel Emmets. Dr. Crokes are in joint third after they shared the points with Austin Stacks. The games involving An Ghaeltacht, Gneeveuillla, Milltown/Castlemaine and Desmonds were postponed. In Division 2 there were victories for Dingle and Annascaul to consolidate their joint leadership and Waterville’s victory over Beaufort puts them into joint third place with Finuge who defeated St. Michael’s/Foilmore. In Division 3 Tarbert, whose game with Beale was postponed are still top of the table and Legion are now sharing second place with Castlegregory and John Mitchels. Keel lost their first game of the league on Saturday night they travelled to play Brosna. Na Gaeil had a big win against Tousist to share the top of the table with Keel. In Division 5 Ballylongford and Knocknagoshel are still unbeaten at the top of the table but Cordal’s draw with Listry sees them drop to third on the table. Annascaul play Finuge and Sneem play Beaufort in Division 2 back games on this Friday night at 8.00 p.m. and on Sunday at 12 noon Kilgarvan are at home to St. Senan’s in their Division 5 back game. Round 6 will be played on the weekend of July 2nd. COUNTY HURLING LEAGUES Kilmoyley defeated St. Brendan’s in Division 2A and Kenmare defeated Causeway in Division 2B of the Credit Union County Hurling Junior League last week. These results clarified the top of the table positions in the two groups. The top team in each group Kilmoyley and Kilgarvan have qualified for the semi-finals and the second and third placed teams Ballyheigue, Lady’s Walk, Dr. Crokes and Kenmare will cross over to play in two quarterfinals on this Thursday at 8.00 p.m. Ballyheigue are at home Kenmare and Dr. Crokes are at home to Lady’s Walk. Extra time will be played if necessary. Results should be phoned in to the County PRO (066) 71 24754 or faxed to (066) 71 81040 immediately after the game finishes. JUNIOR FOOTBALL LEAGUES The Round 4 games of the Credit Union County Junior Football Leagues will be played at 8.00 p.m. on this Friday June 9th. Results should be phoned in to the County PRO (066) 71 24754 or faxed to (066) 71 81040 immediately after the game finishes. COUNTY COMMITTEE MEETING The June meeting of the County Committee will take place on Monday June 12th at the Meadowlands Hotel, Tralee commencing at 8.00 p.m. There will be a presentation of a survey conducted by the IT Tralee and Sean Kelly will also attend. PRESENTATION TO SEAN KELLY A presentation on behalf of the County Committee will be made to Sean Kelly at The Meadowlands Hotel, Tralee on this Friday night to mark the end of Sean’s successful three-year term as Uachtarán of Cumann Lúthchleas Gael. VHI CÚL CAMPS The “VHI Cúl Camps”, will run throughout July and August from Monday to Friday, 9.30 am to 2.30 pm, each day. Camps will be held at different venues throughout Kerry each week. In addition to learning the skills of Gaelic games under the tutelage of qualified GAA coaches, participating children will receive a full set of playing gear (jersey, togs and socks) and a knapsack. From July 31st to August 4th the Football Camps will be at Castlegregory, Farranfore, Tarbert and Portmagee while the Hurling Camps move to Dr. Crokes and Killorglin. From August 7th to 11th Kenmare, Milltown, Glenbeigh and Annascaul will host the football camps and Cahersiveen hosts the hurling camp with an additional two-day camp at Austin Stack Park. The final week of the Cúl Camps from August 14th to 18th sees the football camps at Austin Stack Park, Fitzgerald Stadium, Mountcoal and Renard. The camps will include a wide range of football, hurling and camogie activities, providing children with learning experiences in an environment of fun and enjoyment. All ranges of football and camogie skills will be taught. Children will take part in mini leagues, fun games and a variety of skill-based activities. Vhi Cúl Camps are open to primary school children between the ages of 7 and 13. Additional details are available from Camp Coordinator Bernie Reen (087) 2020143 or Kerry County Board (066) 7122061. Application forms are available from Kerry County Board, schools. Clubs and Games Promotion Officers or log onto www.gaa.ie RAIDIO NA GAELTACHTA Saturday June 17th sees the start of the fourth season of RTE Raidio na Gaeltachta’s evening sports programme Reacaireacht an Tráthnóna. This programme is presented and produced by the the RnaG team in Baile na nGall, West Kerry. The programme will be broadcast live from the Raidio na Gaeltachta studios in Baile na nGall between 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. every Saturday evening until early September and will feature live commentary and analysis of all games on the GAA Summer calendar at a local and national level. There will be in depth interviews with central figures in all the week’s sports news as well as a results slot covering all Saturday evening sports throughout the Summer months. Live action, match reports, critical analysis, comprehensive results and so much more from RTE Raidio na Gaeltachta this Summer! CLUB PRO TRAINING COURSE Radio Kerry will give specialised training to all GAA PROs that do Radio reports on Ciarraí Abú and other Sports programmes. The training will take place on Monday June 19th and Thursday June 29th. PROs need only attend one session. The training will start at 6.45 p.m. and will last one hour. All District and sub committee PROs are welcome to attend as well as any Club PRO that wishes to do so. Numbers will be limited each night. Contact Maureen O'Shea at 087/9795220 with your preferred date. HANDBALL World Handball Championships There will be a mini emigration of handball players from the County next August, as eight players are winging their way across the Atlantic to take part in the World Championships in Edmonton. All winners of the FBD National Finals, which were held earlier this year were automatic qualifiers for the Irish Team. Ashley Prendeville [Ballymac] won the U19 Section, so she will be the Irish Team representative in the U19 Singles Section. Maria Daly [Ballymac] will also be on the Irish Panel:The Ballymac girl was beaten in the Ladies Open Final by Fiona Shannon [Antrim], but will still be part of the Irish Team as Fiona won both the Singles and Doubles FBD Titles. It was agreed that where the Winner of the Open Singles also won the Doubles Trials, the beaten Finalist in the Singles [Maria] would qualify automatically for the Irish Team. While Maria and Ashley are part of the Irish contingent, six more players from the County have thrown their hat into the ring. Sharon Daly [Ballymac] joins her sister Maria, as she bids to for glory in the Ladies A section. Karen Lawlor [Tralee] and Catriona Casey [Ballymac] will be taking part in the U19 Section. Daragh O Suilleabhain [Lispole] and Colm O Luing [Ghaeltacht] will play in the boys U15 Sections. Aine Casey [Ballymac]-Catrionas sister, will be the youngest player from the County taking part in the U13 Grouping. Games take place over period of August 6-13, and everyone is reminded that Entry Deadline for competition is June 20th. Details are available at the following locations: Website-www.2006-worlds.ca, Mailing List-info@2006-worlds.ca, Telephone- [780] 990-1375. All players taking part are asked to let their Clubs know who is going, and to pass on information to the County PRO. Players should also keep in mind that they can enter more than one event at these Championships if they so wish Player Profiles It is intended to build a database of all Adult and Juvenile players within the County .To this end a Player Profile Form is being sent to all Clubs, requesting information and pictures of each player to be submitted. This is an important undertaking, in compiling player information, and building a future Library Of Information for Clubs and the County. Forms will be sent to all Clubs shortly- each Club is asked to compile this information and return it to the County PRO. This is a big undertaking and will require a lot of work and cooperation, between Clubs and Players. Club are asked to compile the information on a CD or DVD if possible-our young players are well capable of doing a lot of the computer work if they have the information. Clubs should use their juveniles to help out in this undertaking, as they are very willing to help out in any way they can. This will be a big help to Club and County PRO in the future, it will also be very beneficial to the Print and Radio media in giving them a formatted history of the players in the County. Elite Player Coaching The National Coaching Task Committee, are initiating an Elite Player Coaching Series of events later this year. Applications have been requested from County Boards, for a list of names in the relevant age groups: The Elite Squad will consist of U-15/17/19 players-names to be submitted to Headquarters through County Boards by the end of June. Details will be sent to all Clubs this week; all Clubs are requested to return information to the Secretary of the County Board as soon as possible Handball Summer Camps The Final Outline of Handball Summer Camps for 2006 is listed below. Please note the change in date for Brandon and Cloghane. Cost will be E10 per day. Forms will be posted as soon as possible-entries to be returned to local Club. Enrollment will take place at all venues half an hour before the stated starting time. As Ballymacelligott has the only 60x30 Alley in the County, applications are invited from players with experience from other Clubs to join the morning sessions on 18th and 19th July in Ballymac. Feile Na Gael-Cork Venues: Saturday 17 June
: : Back to Top : : : Full list of Articles : :
|