Kerry GAA Online

HISTORIC & GROUNDBREAKING MILESTONE FOR CLUB FOOTBALL IN KERRY...

Congratulations to Dr. Crokes on reaching the final of the AIB Senior Club Football Championship after an exceptional display of teamwork, particularly in the second half of last Saturday’s replayed semi-final against Leinster Champions, Moorefield from Kildare at McDonagh Park, Nenagh. Ulster Champions, Crossmaglen Rangers will be their opponents in the final at Croke Park on St. Patrick’s Day.

Dr. Crokes have joined Ardfert and Duagh in their respective All-Ireland Senior, Intermediate and Junior Club Football Championship Finals. This is an historic and groundbreaking milestone for club football in the county. It represents a vindication of the standard and quality of club football played in the county. Several Kerry clubs at their respective senior, intermediate and junior levels would consider themselves equal in standard to the three clubs that are at present riding the crest of the wave of national exposure and recognition.

It is certainly well within the compass of Kerry clubs to emulate the success of Dr. Crokes, Ardfert and Duagh in the 2007 County Club Championships. Little did any of the three clubs realise even six months ago that they would be running out onto Croke Park to play in an All-Ireland Club Final.

It is worth acknowledging at this juncture the amount of work that is done at club level in the county to see it being rewarded with this success in the Club Championships and in the quality and dedication of the players that are on our intercounty panels. Dr. Crokes, Ardfert and Duagh players would readily concede that it is just as difficult to win a championship in Kerry as it is in the provincial and All-Ireland series.

Working diligently year after year there are team coaches and mentors in the clubs continually raising the bar in terms of coaching methods and motivating players at all levels to perform to a very high standard and as well as that to really enjoy the games and training sessions.

It is easy to say it is a cliché that the club is backbone of the GAA. Without the club structures and inter club leagues and championships we would not have our intercounty players coming through and it is well to remember that. The clubs are maintained by the voluntary people in their communities, who devote their time, energy and often their money to further the aims of the GAA in providing an amenity for young and old to play and enjoy the games.

Dr. Crokes, Ardfert and Duagh represent that philosophy and who knows at the end of this year’s club championships in the county, perhaps it will fall on another three Kerry clubs to set out on that road to Munster and All-Ireland glory.

FIXTURES PILEUP

The success of Dr. Crokes, Ardfert and Duagh in the All-Ireland Club Championships has created a fixtures headache for the Kerry Senior and Under 21 Football Team managements.

Ardfert and Duagh play their All-Ireland Club Finals at Croke Park on Saturday March 10th, the same day the Kerry Under 21 Footballers play Clare in the first round of the Cadbury Munster Under 21 Football Championship at Kilmihil, Co. Clare. On the same night the Kerry Senior Football team are playing Limerick in Round 4 of the Allianz National Football League at Austin Stack Park.

The problem is that in the Munster Under 21 Football Championship semi-final Tipperary are scheduled to play the winners of Kerry and Clare on St. Patrick’s Day or on Bank Holiday Monday March 19th. Should Kerry qualify that semi-final coincides with Dr. Crokes playing their AIB Club Football Championship Final at Croke Park. The Under 21 Munster Final is scheduled for Saturday April 7th to allow the winners two weeks to prepare for the All-Ireland Semi-final on Saturday April 21st.

There appears little room for manoeuvre when one closely examines the schedule of games. Taking into consideration that we are relying on our opponents Clare and Limerick to rearrange their schedules to accommodate us in these extenuating circumstances. Efforts are being made to rearrange the National League game against Limerick for Sunday March 11th but there seems little chance of moving the Under 21 game given the tight schedule of the championship.

KERRY V FERMANAGH

Our Senior Footballers had a comprehensive win against Fermanagh in their Round 3 game of the Allianz National Football League at Breffni Park, Cavan last Sunday.

The victory has put us into second place on the table on score difference behind Donegal, who have full points from their three games. Also on four points are Tyrone and Mayo.

There is a break this weekend due to the playing of the Sigerson Cup and on Saturday March 10th at Austin Stack Park we are at home to Limerick in Round 4. We are away to Donegal in Round 5 on Sunday March 25th, at home to Tyrone in Round 6 on Saturday March 31st and away to Dublin in Round 7 on either Saturday or Sunday April 7th or 8th.

This division of the league is very evenly contested at present with three rounds played and as the remaining rounds progress it is going to get even more competitive. We are now in a strong position and we must continue to maintain the momentum especially in the circumstances that will prevail at the end of the competition with only the top four teams will retain Division 1 status for next year.

Inter-County Scene

NATIONAL HURLING LEAGUE

Kerry are away to Mayo in Round 2 of the Allianz National Hurling League on this Sunday at 2.30 p.m. at Castlebar. After a tough and challenging game against London in Round 1 the team should be well tuned in for their second game of the competition. A victory here would put us in a very strong position ahead of our Round 3 game against Westmeath.

The team played a challenge game against Newtownshandrum on Sunday last at Ballyheigue.

COUNTY LEAGUE

St. Michael’s/Foilmore have retained their Division 2 status in the Credit Union County Senior Football League with their victory over Skellig Rangers in last Sunday’s relegation playoff played at Valentia. Skellig Rangers are relegated to Division 3.

The Credit Union County Senior Football League for all clubs will commence on Sunday March 18th and the Keanes Super Valu County Minor Football Leagues will commence on Monday March 19th. Division 1 of the Credit Union County Senior Hurling League will commence on Sunday March 11th.

CLUB PRO’s

It is the time of year for the club PROs to get ready for a season of phoning in match results and writing short reports of their home games in the county league. 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.

Short match reports can be faxed to the County PRO fax number (066) 7181040 or e-mailed to prokygaa@gofree.indigo.ie

Publicity of our league games is essential for maintaining interest in the County League and for giving the club players the profile they deserve. It is part of the job description of the club PRO to facilitate this in co-operation with the county PRO. We look forward to a big improvement on last year because some club PROs, particularly from many of the Division 1 and Division 2 teams did not submit match reports.

CORN UÍ MHUIRÍ

Congratulations to St. Brendan’s College, Killarney and Tralee CBS on their victories in semi-finals of the Credit Union, Corn Uí Mhuirí, Munster Colleges Senior “A” Football played as double bill at Knocknagree last Sunday. In the first semi-final St. Brendan’s College, Killarney easily defeated the holders, De La Salle, Macroom and in the second semi-final Tralee CBS had an equally comfortable victory against Coláiste An Spioraid Naomh, Bishopstown.

We are now guaranteed an all Kerry final in this very prestigious competition with the clash of Tralee CBS and St. Brendan’s College, Killarney and what a mouth-watering prospect that is. The date of the final is not yet decided but it is expected to be played sometime during the St. Patrick’s Day weekend.

SCÓR SINSEAR

The County Finals of Scór Sinsear will be held on this Friday March 2nd at Aras Phadraig Killarney commencing at 7.30 p.m.

The Munster Semi Finals are at Millstreet on Saturday March 10th at 7.30 p.m. and the Munster Finals will be at The Gleneagle Hotel, Killarney March 31st at 6.00 p.m.
The All Ireland Finals will also be held in Killarney on Saturday April 28th.

SPEED DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP

The Kerry Coaching and Games Development Committee are organising a workshop “Speed As A Skill” on Monday 5th March at 8.00 p.m. (registration 7.45 p.m.) in the CBS Secondary School, Tralee. Former Kerry Senior Trainer Pat Flanagan will give the workshop, which will cover all aspects of Speed Development.

Speed Development is an area of huge importance when preparing teams. All coaches and managers are looking to help their players become quicker. The workshop will involve a practical session and will look at the following areas in Speed Development: Running Technique; Speed Development Techniques and Drills as well as Speed and Strength training.

The cost of the workshop is €15 per person. Coaches interested in attending the workshop can register by contacting Kerry County Board at Austin Stack Park, Tralee (066) 7122061.

MUNSTER COUNCIL CONVENTION

Kerry Chairman, Sean Walsh is one of four candidates contesting the vacancy for the office of Vice Chairman of the Munster Council with Donal Fitzgibbon, Limerick, Jim Forbes, Cork and Robert Frost, Clare at the Annual Convention of Comhairle Na Mumhan, which will be held at Ballyrafter Country House Hotel, Lismore, Co. Waterford at 8.15 p.m. on this Friday March 2nd.

The convention will mark the end of Sean Fogarty’s three-year term as Chairman. As Council Chairman, Tipperary man, Sean Fogarty paid many visits to Kerry during his term of office and he was particularly welcome at the annual presentation of Munster Council Development Grants to the clubs. Sean and Vice Chairman, Jimmy O’Gorman attended the recent Club Information Night at The Gleneagle Hotel Killarney at which the 2006 grants were presented to the clubs.

Vice Chairman, Jimmy O’Gorman from Lismore, Co. Waterford will be the new chairman. It fitting that Jimmy will begin his term of office in the home of his club and we wish him well in his leadership of the GAA in Munster during his three year term of office.

MUNSTER COUNCIL PRESENTATION

Muiris O’Sullivan’s contribution to the Munster Council as the Secretary of its Coaching and Games Development Committee for the past 18 years was suitably acknowledged at The Woodlands House Hotel, Adare last week with a presentation made by the Council Chairman, Sean Fogarty in recognition of his unselfish and efficient work for the committee.

Sean Fogarty and Council Vice-Chairman, Jimmy O’Gorman, who was the committee’s chairman for the past three years, thanked Muiris for his dedication and exceptional efficiency over those years. Both men stressed the efficient manner in which he carried out his duties and they also acknowledged the assistance he received from his wife, Mary, who also received a special presentation from the Council.

In his reply Muiris outlined the central role of coaching in the GAA and he urged the Coaching Officers from the counties to constantly promote the important role of the volunteers in each club and school.

Muiris is a native of Ballyheigue and is a primary teacher in Listellick National School, Tralee. He will continue to serve the Munster Council in its refereeing initiatives.

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