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WEEKLY
NEWS
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Weekly Kerry GAA Scene
by
Co. PRO Willie O'Connor
9th March 2006
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IMPORTANT NFL TIES THIS WEEKEND.... The Kerry Senior Football Team share second place on the league table after their victory against Fermanagh in Round 3 of the Allianz National Football League at Fitzgerald Stadium last Sunday. We are ahead of Dublin and Fermanagh on score difference. Mayo are still top of the table with three wins from their three games. On this Sunday we travel to Scotstown to play Monaghan at 2.00 p.m. in Round 4. While it is always difficult to win away games and Monaghan have been playing well in their league games despite losing to Mayo last Sunday. A win against Monaghan would keep us on target for a place in the semi-finals and put us in a strong position for our remaining games against Offaly, Tyrone and Dublin. It is also a very important game for Monaghan, as they also need the points to stay in contention and avoid the relegation zone. We can expect a very committed performance from Monaghan and our players are aware of the challenge that they are facing. The league is still very closely contested league and all the teams are still very much in contention for the two semi-final places. The postponement of the Tyrone v Cork game will give a distorted picture at the bottom end of the table because whoever wins that game could be likely semi-final contenders and the losing team could be in serious danger of relegation. SUPPORTERS CLUB The Kerry Supporters Club are going on weekend away to Monaghan on this Saturday to give their usual full-hearted support to the Kerry team in their game against Monaghan. The bus will leave Farranfore at 9.45 a.m. on Saturday morning, St. Brendan’s Church, Tralee at 10.00 a.m. and The Square, Listowel at 10.30 a.m. For further information contact Martin Leane at (068) 48116. They are also planning a weekend away to Tyrone on Saturday March 25th to coincide with Kerry’s league game against Tyrone on Sunday March 26th. NATIONAL HURLING LEAGUE The Kerry Senior Hurling team are top of the table in Division 2B of the Allianz National Hurling League after their victories over London and Mayo. We are away to Westmeath in Round 3 on this Saturday at 2.30 p.m. at Mullingar. Westmeath had a bye in the first round and they beat Kildare in Round 2. This will be the defining game for us in the league. Facing the 2005 Christy Ring Cup champions in their home ground is not going to be easy. Our players have the ability to cause an upset if they play to their full potential. A few weeks ago it is significant that Kerry ran Waterford IT very close in their Waterford Crystal Cup game and last weekend Waterford IT had a resounding victory against UCD in the final of the Fitzgibbon Cup. Kerry played very well against them that day in Ballyheigue and a committed performance against Westmeath is essential to winning the valuable league points on offer. MUNSTER U21 FOOTBALL Kerry play Cork in the first round of the Cadbury’s Munster Under 21 Football Championship on this Saturday March 11th at 1.30 p.m. at Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney. Kerry’s last Munster Under 21 title was in 2002 and this year Cork are going for three in-a-row provincial titles. For the past two years we have lost to Cork in this competition and hopefully this year we can reverse that trend. This year the new team management of manager, John O’Dwyer and his selectors, Eddie “Tatler” O’Sullivan and Patie O’Mahony have been working hard in preparation for this very tough assignment. For the second successive year we are meeting Cork in the first round of the competition and although the team have played a number of challenge games over the past few weeks, it is no substitute for the real test of a championship encounter. With experienced players such as Padraig Reidy, Darren O’Sullivan, Bryan Sheehan and Killian Young, to mention a few, the selectors are hopeful of a victory. Cork are naturally favourites after their victories against Kerry at this level in the past two years and a number of the Cork players have also featured on the Cork Senior team and panel. We urge all our supporters to rally behind the team at Fitzgerald Stadium on Saturday. It is a very important game for the team and they will certainly respond to the sounds of the supporters’ cheers of encouragement. ALL-VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS FINAL Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí play Boherbee Comprehensive in the All-Ireland Vocational Schools Senior “B” Football Final at Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney on this Sunday at 2.00 p.m. On Saturday last Gaelcholáiste narrowly defeated Carna of Galway in the semi-final. We wish the players and team management the very best of luck as they set out to bring an All-Ireland title to their school and county. LIAM HASSETT RETIRES Liam’s retirement from intercounty football has been marked with well-deserved and fitting tributes from players, officials and commentators. His illustrious playing career with Kerry, his sincerity in his dealings with the press and media, his generosity and courtesy towards his many fans of all ages have rightly portrayed him as an outstanding sportsman and role model. Following on the retirement of Dara Ó Cinnéide, two of the three Kerry captains of the present era have decided to end their intercounty commitments. Liam captained Kerry’s 1997 All-Ireland winning team, bringing to an end Kerry’s eleven-year famine from 1986 to 1997. The 1997 All-Ireland was the start of a period, which saw Kerry win two more senior All-Irelands in 2000 and 2004 and Liam played on all three All-Ireland winning teams. He won an All-Ireland Senior Club medal with Laune Rangers and of course we can look forward to seeing him continue playing with the club to which he has given many years of loyal and committed service. COUNTY MINOR LEAGUES The Keane’s Super Valu County Minor Football Leagues will commence on St. Patrick’s Day, Friday March 17th with games in all divisions commencing at 5.00 p.m. The first round of the Division 2 County Minor Hurling 13 a side League will be played on Sunday March 19th. There are six teams, namely, Ballyduff, Abbeydorney, Lixnaw, Causeway, St. Pat’s and Kenmare/Kilgarvan and five rounds to be played in this division hence the earlier start. The Division 1 League, which has four teams, Kilmoyley, St. Brendan’s, Ballyheigue and Crotta O’Neills will commence on April 16th. 2005 UNDER 21 HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP The two semi-finals of the 2005 County Under 21 Hurling Championship will be played on St. Patrick’s Day and the final will be played on Sunday March 26th. In the semi-finals Lixnaw play Crotta O’Neills and St. Brendan’s play Kilmoyley. SCÓR SINSEAR The County Finals of Scór Sinsear will be held at The Gleneagle Hotel, Killarney at 7.00 p.m. on this Sunday March 12th. The winners of the competitions held by the District Boards have qualified for the county finals this year. A great night’s entertainment is assured with the best the the county can offer in traditional dancing, music and song. MUNSTER COUNCIL CONVENTION The Annual Convention of the Munster Council will take place at the Rochestown Park, Hotel, Cork on this Friday March 10th at 7.00 p.m. ANNUAL CONGRESS Preparations are well under way for the Annual Congress of Cumann Lúthchleas Gael, which will be held at The Great Southern Hotel, Killarney on Friday and Saturday April 21st and 22nd. Congress will mark the end of Sean Kelly’s three term of office as Uachtarán and Kilkenny’s Nickey Brennan will take over the Presidency at the Saturday afternoon session. County Committee Chairman, Sean Walsh expressed the wish that each club in Kerry would be represented at the Congress Banquet on the Saturday night. Two years ago, when Congress was last held in Killarney, Liam O’Connor captivated the gathering with his magnificent traditional music session and Liam will once again be performing at this year’s Congress Banquet. UNDER-AGE FIXTURES MEETING A very constructive meeting was held with the Divisional Coiste Na nÓg officers last week. There was a wide-ranging discussion on the proper co-ordination of fixtures for under age players and on how to avoid having some players actively involved in several different competitions at the same time. There was a general acceptance that some players are playing in too many competitions and fixtures schedules should be co-ordinated to avoid this occurring. SPA OFFICIAL OPENING GAA President, Sean Kelly and Minister Rooms for Arts, Sports and Tourism, John O’Donoghue, will perform the official opening of the recently developed Sports Hall and Dressing Rooms at the Spa Club, Killarney on Sunday afternoon March 26th. The club invites members of the public to the Oficial Opening. SYMPATHY We extend our heartfelt sympathy the family of Mickey Wharton, Kenmare. He played on the Kerry Senior team that won the Munster Junior Hurling Championship in 1956 and the Kerry team that won the All-Ireland Junior Hurling Championship in 1961. He was a minor Hurling selector in the late 1980’s when Kerry won the Leinster “B” minor Hurling Championship in 1988 and 1989. He played with Kenmare in the County Senior Hurling Championship and he was a former hurling referee. We also extend our deepest sympathy to the family of Billy Duggan, former Secretary of Dr. Crokes on his sudden death last week. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anamnacha dílse. HANDBALL Munster 40x20 Championships Munster Juvenile 40x20 Finals AGM Results Munster 40x20 Championships Saturday March 4th Sunday March 5th Munster 40x20 Juvenile Finals Fixtures Munster 40x20 Championships 40x20 County Juvenile B Singles Championships: Tralee @ 12 noon Munster 40x20 Juvenile Championship Final- [Clooney @ 4pm] Cumann Na mBunscoil National Day-Cailini: U 11 Doubles: Brid Ni Chonchuir/Eiblis Ni Chonchuir [Scoil Mhic Easmainn]
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