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WEEKLY
NEWS
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Weekly Kerry GAA Scene
by
Co. PRO Willie O'Connor
20th April 2006
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HIGH INTENSITY FINAL WILL PROVIDE ADDED EXPERIENCE... On this Sunday at 5.30 p.m. Kerry play Galway in the Division 1 Final of the Allianz National Football League at The Gaelic Grounds, Limerick. The game is the second game in a double bill with the All-Ireland Under 21 Football Semi-Final between Cork and Laois commencing at 3.30 p.m. Two years ago we beat Galway in the League Final so we can expect some scores to be settled on Sunday next. It is great to be back again for Sunday’s League Final and with Galway as our opponents it is an even greater treat. Galway have played some very exciting football during this year’s league and their victory over Mayo in last Sunday’s semi-final at Castlebar demonstrated that they are oozing with confidence and are determined to make their mark this year. Kerry have also shown that they are equally confident and determined to succeed this year. Our performance in the league semi-final against Laois last Sunday has given the players themselves and the supporters alike good grounds to be cheerful and upbeat about our prospects. Playing in the latter stages of the league against teams of a very high calibre has come as a tremendous boost to the players and team management as it gives them the opportunity to consolidate and build on the achievements made in the league rounds. Playing in the league final will give the players the added experience of playing and performing on the big stage. This is of the utmost importance in giving the new players on this year’s panel the opportunity to experience the atmosphere of playing at the highest level. It will certainly be a final of very high intensity, one will that will test each and every player. Our recent displays have shown that we are equal to the challenge of playing in high intensity situations. Galway are formidable opponents and they will test our mettle to the utmost. Added to that Kerry and Galway are committed to playing open free flowing football and if this style prevails on Sunday then we are certainly going to enjoy the exchanges. We urge all our supporters to rally behind the team at Fitzgerald Stadium on Sunday. It is a very important game for the team and they will certainly respond to the sounds of the supporters’ cheers of encouragement just as they did last Sunday against Laois. SUPPORTERS CLUB BUS The Kerry Supporters Club are organising a bus to Limerick for Sunday’s Allianz National Football League Final. The departure times on Sunday are 11.45 a.m. from Farranfore, 12.00 noon from St. Brendan’s Church, Tralee and 12.30 p.m. from The Square, Listowel. Contact John King at (066) 7124229 or Donie O’Leary at (064) 58099 by Thursday evening at the latest for further information. MINOR FOOTBALL CHALLENGE Kerry Minors had a one-point victory over Laois minors in an intercounty minor football challenge game last Sunday at Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney as a curtain raiser to the Allianz National Football League semi-final. Their quarterfinal against Tipperary in the ESB Munster Minor Football Championship is at 7.00 p.m. on Wednesday April 26th at Newcastlewest. NATIONAL HURLING LEAGUE SEMI-FINAL In last Sunday’s quarterfinal replay in Division 2 of the Allianz National Hurling League, Mayo defeated Meath and they will play Kerry in the semi-final at Cusack Park, Ennis at 2.30 p.m. on this Sunday April 23rd. Mayo will provide tough opposition and when we played them at Austin Stack Park in Round 2 of the competition everybody was surprised at how much they have progressed as a team in the past year. Last year we easily defeated them in the Christy Ring Cup and in the intervening period they have made fantastic progress to qualify for the league semi-final. It is interesting to note that apart from Dublin, who defeated Westmeath in last Sunday’s semi-final, three of the four semi-finalists came from our group Division 2B. MUNSTER MINOR HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP Kerry were beaten by Clare in the second round of the ESB Munster Minor Hurling Championship at Austin Stack Park, Tralee last Thursday. The two games they played in the Munster Minor Championship were against top quality teams and with the All-Ireland Minor B Championship as their target during the summer, when they will play teams of a standard similar to their own, they should not be too upset by these defeats. The draw for the first round and second round (Losers Round) of the AIB County Senior Football Championship will be made during the Ciarraí Abú programme on Radio Kerry from 9.00 p.m. to 10.00 p.m. on this Wednesday April 19th. South Kerry, Dr. Crokes, An Ghaeltacht and Legion will not be in the draw for Round 1, they have a bye into Round 3. The first round games are scheduled for the weekend of May 7th. COUNTY LEAGUE The Round 4 games of the Credit Union County Senior Football League are being played this Saturday night with games starting at 7.00 p.m. After last Saturday’s Round 3 games Kerins O’Rahillys and Listowel Emmets have overtaken An Ghaeltacht at the top of the Division 1. Many of the games in this round were local derbies and with bragging rights at stake we had some very intensely fought games. Listowel Emmets travel to Laune Rangers in this round while Kerins O’Rahillys play An Ghaeltacht at Gallarus. Tarbert and John Mitchels are both unbeaten at the top of Division 3. Tarbert travel to play Lispole in this round and John Mitchels are at home to Beale. Keel have maximum points and Ballyduff are in second place at the top of Division 4 in spite of the latter’s draw against Brosna. Ballyduff travel to Churchill in this Saturday’s game and Keel are at home to Ballydonoghue. Ballylongford and Knocknagoshel have maintained their unbeaten run to share the top of Division 5 where Cordal, Cromane and Templenoe are in hot pursuit. Ballylongford are at home to Laune Rangers B and Knocknagoshel travel to Cromane on Saturday night. 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. They can also be phoned after 8 o'clock on Sunday night. 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 club PRO’s were superb in their return of results for Round 3. Most of the full time results were phoned in to the County PRO as soon as the games finished. 16 match reports were emailed or faxed. With a different group of home clubs involved for this weekend’s round let’s hope the return is at least equally as good. AERTEL: COUNTY HURLING LEAGUES The first round games in Division 1 of the Credit Union County Senior Hurling League were played at different times last weekend. Kilmoyley defeated Crotta O’Neills, Causeway lost at home to St. Brendan’s, Lixnaw narrowly lost at home to Ballyheigue and Abbeydorney lost to Ballyduff. The first round of games in Division 2 of the Credit Union County Hurling League will be played on Wednesday April 26th at 7.30 p.m. Clubs have given the new league format, which is different to that published in the Eolaire. This year there are two groups in the division and the top team in each group at the end of the league will qualify for the semi-finals. The second and third placed teams from each group will cross over and play in the quarterfinals for the two remaining semi-final places. COUNTY MINOR LEAGUES The Round 4 games in Keane’s Super Valu County Minor Football Leagues were played last Friday and some games that were postponed in the earlier rounds were played on Easter Monday. The last round will be played as scheduled on Friday April 28th. Round 2 in Division 1 and Round 4 in Division 2 of the Keane’s Super Valu County Minor Hurling league will be played on this Sunday at 12 noon. Ballyduff have withdrawn from the minor football and hurling leagues. 2 YEAR SEASON TICKET Club Secretaries have been notified on the renewal of the two year €250 Season Ticket that allows our supporters admission to all non-ticket club games in the county. Applications can also be made at The Pavilion, Austin Stack Park, Tralee. CONGRESS Seán Kelly’s three-year term as the first Kerryman to hold the office of Uachtarán, Cumann Lúthchleas Gael comes to an end at the closing session of this weekend’s Annual Congress at The Great Southern Hotel, Killarney. His term went by very quickly since Sean was installed at The Europa Hotel in Belfast in 2003. It was indeed a very great honour for Seán and his family, for his club, Kilcummin and for Kerry as he finishes a very challenging three-year term of office during which he has kept in very close touch with the ordinary club members, officials and players. His practise of always being close to the club members and players was a very valuable asset. On this Friday and Saturday we welcome the delegates from every county in Ireland and from our overseas units to the Annual Congress, which will commence on Friday afternoon at The Great Southern Hotel, Killarney. It is a great honour for Kerry to host this year’s Congress and with the county’s first ever Uachtarán, Sean Kelly presiding it is a very special occasion for the GAA in Kerry. Congress will consider the Reports and Audited Accounts of the Central Council and subsidiary councils for the previous year up to 31st December 2005. Reports from the Congress Workshops will also be considered. Motions to enact, amend or rescind rules will also be considered and Association policy in broad outline will be determined. Some of the motions that will be debated at Annual Congress were discussed at the April Meeting of the County Committee and there was broad agreement on how the Kerry delegation will vote on the motions. Congress will conclude with the installation of Nickey Brennan as Uachtarán of Cumann Lúthchleas Gael on Saturday afternoon. We wish Nickey well during his term of office and we assure him of our steadfast support as he embarks on what will be a very challenging term of office. On Saturday night a very big attendance is expected for the Congress Gala Banquet at which acclaimed traditional musician, Liam O'Connor and his International Show will provide the entertainment for the guests. The Congress Banquet on Saturday night is sold out. There was a very big demand for tickets on this occasion due to Sean Kelly’s term as Uachtarán coming to a close and the beginning of Nickey Brennan’s term meant that there was a big demand for tickets from Kilkenny. Sean has served the Association with distinction in all the various offices he has held since he was first elected as an administrator. He was Chairman of East Kerry Bord Na nÓg, Chairman of his club, Kilcummin, Chairman of the East Kerry Board, Vice-Chairman and Chairman of Kerry County Board and Chairman of the Munster Council. His dedication, boundless energy combined with his deep love and passion for the games and our Irish culture has been duly acclaimed and recognised. He has been an excellent President. As Kerry people we are all very proud that he was the first Kerryman to hold that office in the Association’s 122-year history. We wish him well for the future and assure him of our support. SCÓR SINSEAR ALL-IRELAND FINALS We wish the very best of luck to the Figure Dancing Group from Glenflesk and the Set Dancing Group from Spa, who will be Kerry’s representatives at the All-Ireland Finals of Scór Sinsear at the INEC, Killarney on this Saturday April 22nd. The competitions commence at 2.00 p.m. and admission is by ticket only. ALL-IRELAND VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS U16 “A” FOOTBALL FINAL Best wishes to Scoil Phobail Sliabh Luachra, Rathmore in the All-Ireland Vocational Schools Under 16 “A” Football Final. Their opponents are Castlewellan (Co. Down) and the game is arranged for 3.00 p.m. this Saturday April 22nd at Dr. Cullen Park, Carlow. In the semi-final played a few weeks ago they defeated Dunboyne from Co. Meath. HANDBALL All Ireland 40x20 Finals Edel Murphy [Glenbeigh] and Louise Ni Mhuircheartaigh [An Ghaeltacht] pulled off more Juvenile success for the County, as they brought home the 40x20 U16 Doubles Title last weekend. Edel and Louise overcame a very strong outfit from Roscommon-Leona Doolin and Hillary Rushe, to complete a clean sweep of the Girls U16 Section after Sharon Twomey’s win last weekend in the U16 Singles. The Roscommon pairing were favourites going into this game, but the Kerry girls stood tall on the Court and recorded a well-merited victory. The first game proved to be crucial; Edel and Louise were 6-0 down before they settled. They brought it back level at 6 all, and it was even stevens for the next ten aces. The Kerry girls went into a 19-17 lead and from here to the finish it was tightrope stuff, before the Kingdom duo hung on for the narrowest of wins at 21-20. Edel and Louise took complete control in the second game, as they romped home 21-8. The Kerry girls are two very good handballers; allied to this they have great character and camaraderie. Any All Ireland Final can generate a pressure cooker of emotion; -these two young women seem to thrive on this aspect of the game. Both girls have put in lot of Court time over the last few weeks, travelling the length and breadth of the County in their training. efforts. Louise has tasted success at All Ireland Level before, but this is Edels first All Ireland Winners Medal. This is the first Girls Juvenile Title for Glenbeigh Handball Club-a testament to Christy Moriarty’s tenure at the helm of the Juveniles in Glenbeigh. A fitting tribute to a man that has given enormous time to the Southern Club over the last fifteen years. An Ghaeltacht have produced many fine young handballers since their foundation a few short years ago-Louise is one of a fine bunch of young handballers carrying the flag for An Ghaeltacht. Ashley Prendeville [Ballymac] and Karen Lawlor [Tralee] relinquished their 40x20 Minor Doubles Title to Roscommon on Saturday last in Cappagh. This was a big upset as the Kerry women were expected to retain their Title-albeit against a very strong Roscommon pairing of Marianna Rushe and Katie Costello. This was a marathon game as it lasted one hour and forty minutes, over the course of three games. Roscommon took the first game by 21-17 in a hard fought battle, the second game proved to be even more intense. It was tit for tat here right up to the finishing line, with Marianna and Katie having the edge nearing the finishing line-serving at 20-17 for the match. Ashley and Karen showed their mettle as they broke Roscommon’s serve, to claw their way back into contention. The Kerry pairing inched their way over the finishing line, as the Roscommon girls went in on two more occasions to serve for game. Karen and Ashley held firm to throw the game wide-open going into the tiebreak. The Kerry women seemed to be heading for victory as they went into 7-2 lead, but from here on they faltered as Marianna and Katie overtook them and went on to win 21-10. There have been many close fought battles between Kerry and Roscommon, in Ladies Handball over the last few years. This is another Chapter in what will no doubt be, an encyclopaedia of encounters between these girls over the coming years. The Gael Linn Mixed Doubles Munster Finals were held in Ballydesmond last Friday night, where Kerry had two double pairings in the running. The Gael Linn Competition comprises of two players from the one Club-U13 boy & girl. Eoin Keane and Nicola Horan represented Ballymac, while Alanna Diggins and Brian Og Caball represented Tralee. Four pairings took part, after a Round Robin series of games the Cork and Limerick pairings took the top two spots. Brian Og/Alanna and Eoin/Nicola took third and fourth place respectively, in a very competitive competition. 40x0 Team Of Six-Munster Championships The County’s U14/15 Team Of Six won the Munster Final on Monday week last in Cappagh. The Kingdom boys beat Clare, on a very convincing scoreline of 68-39. The first Kerry pairing of Rory O Connor and Jason Mc Kenna came out of their two games, leading Clare by 23-20. Rory and Jason won their first game 15-5, and lost their second 8-15 to leave the minimum between the sides. Kerry’s second doubles outfit-Colm O Luing and Fergal Mc Namara, cemented the Kingdoms dominance by increasing the lead to 53-32 with two games to go. They won both their games by 15-4, 15-8. Sean O Se and Gary Marshall went into the Final two games, needing just ten aces to secure victory. They duly obliged as they won their first game by 15-7, thus securing the Kingdoms passage into this Years All Ireland Series for the Team Championships The Kerry Team lined out as follows: Kerry [Colin Mc Gillycuddy, Rory O Connor, Jason Mc Kenna, [Glenbeigh], Sean O Se, Colm O Luing [Ghaeltacht], Fergal Mc Namara, Gary Marshall [Tralee] Results U14/15 40x20 Team Of Six All Ireland 40x20 Finals Monday 17 April
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