Kerry GAA Online

A MUST WIN GAME...

Kerry’s remaining game in the Allianz National Football League against Dublin at Parnell Park in the last round on this Easter Sunday April 8th at 3.30 p.m. is must win game for both teams if they are to remain in the new 8 team Division 1 format for the league next year. This game against Dublin is an All-Ticket game.

Donegal and Mayo are in the semi-finals and are guaranteed Division 1 status next year but below them on the table, Kerry and Tyrone are on seven points each and Dublin have six points. One of the three teams will drop to Division 2. Tyrone play Mayo in the other crucial game in this last round.

Even though there are a number of possible scenarios to the table at the end of the round there is no escaping the fact that in order to stay in the new Division 1 for next year we must go for a win on Sunday and not rely on the result of the Mayo V Tyrone game because Tyrone must also go for a win.

SUPPORTERS CLUB

The Kerry GAA Supporters Club are organising a trip to Dublin for our Round 7 National League game on Sunday. The departure times on Sunday morning are at 7.45 a.m. from Farranfore, 8.00 a.m. from St. Brendan’s Church, Tralee and at 8.30 a.m. from The Square, Listowel. They will return to Kerry after the game. Seats must be booked by this Thursday April 5th.

For further information contact any member of the committee, Martin Leane at (068) 48116, John King at (066) 7124229 or Donie O’Leary at (064) 58099.

ALL-IRELAND SENIOR CLUB FINAL

There was no joy for Dr. Crokes in the replay of the AIB All-Ireland Club Final against Crossmaglen Rangers last Sunday Port Laoise. They battled hard throughout the game and showed their great competitive qualities in what was a very tough and challenging game.

CREDIT UNION COUNTY LEAGUE RD. 3

The Round 3 games of the Credit Union County Senior Football League last weekend were played for the second successive weekend in ideal weather conditions. We had some very competitive fare in all the Divisions and the table is beginning to take shape with last year’s champions, Kerins O’Rahillys back on top of the Division 1 table after a thrilling encounter against Laune Rangers.

Kilcummin, who had wins in the two opening rounds narrowly lost at home to Listowel Emmets. Rathmore defeated Austin Stacks and Gneeveguilla defeated Milltown/Castlwmaine while Dingle and Ardfert drew. The Dr. Crokes V An Ghaeltacht game was postponed.

In Division 2 St. Michael’s/Foilmore’s third successive victory sees them lead in the race for promotion while Waterville’s game against Beale was postponed. Sneem, who were in the top three going into the round suffered a very heavy defeat against Spa to drop to mid table. Wins for Castleisland Desmonds against Dromid Pearses and Currow against Finuge sees both teams jump up the table to finish a point behind second placed Spa.

In Division 3 Tarbert are the only team on full points from the three opening rounds when they made no mistake following their long trip to Tuosist. Na Gaeil, who set the pace with their victories in the opening two rounds, dropped a point last Saturday against Glenflesk to slip to second place with Kenmare who also had to share the points when they drew with Lispole. Skellig Rangers had their first victory in this year’s league when they beat Ballymacelligott at Portmagee.

In Division 4 there is a congested look to the top of the table with no fewer than six teams on four points. Keel, Glenbeigh/Glencar and Firies have four points from three games played and Duagh, Ballyduff and Valentia have four points each from two games played. The appointed referee did not turn up for the game between Valentia and Cordal and Ballyduff had their game against St. Pat’s postponed.

In Division 5 Fossa top the table with full points after their victory in this round against St. Senan’s. Listry have two wins from two games played share the second spot with Moyvane who defeated Knocknagoshel on Saturday. Listry’s game against Laune Rangers B was postponed.

The Easter weekend is given over to Divisional Board competitions and on the weekend of April 15th we have Round 4 of the County League, which is the very popular local derby round.

COUNTY MINOR LEAGUES

The Round 4 games Keane’s Super Valu County Minor Football Leagues will be played on Friday April 13th. Some of the postponed games from Rounds 1 and 3 will be played over the Easter Holidays. The home club is responsible for phoning in the result to the County PRO immediately after the game finishes.

In the minor hurling league the Round 2 games scheduled for Easter Sunday are postponed because of the Munster Under 16 semi-final. The first round games in Division 2 will be played on Sunday April 15th.

NATIONAL HURLING LEAGUE

The Kerry Senior Hurling team had a very comfortable last round victory against Kildare in Division 2B of the Allianz National Hurling League last Sunday at Newbridge. The team needed to win this game to avoid relegation and this win leaves them in third place on the table behind Westmeath and Kildare. Westmeath, who topped the group have qualified for the semi-finals with Kildare and Kerry qualifying for the quarterfinals against the second and third placed teams from Division 2B. That means that Kerry will have a quarterfinal game against Laois this Easter weekend. The details of the fixture were not available at the time of writing.

The circumstances surrounding the selection of the Kerry team for last Sunday’s game at Newbridge are totally unacceptable. The manager, Maurice Leahy had to rely on only 17 players for this very important game. An unacceptable number of players made themselves unavailable to travel for various reasons.

The Kerry Senior Hurling panel of over thirty players enjoy exactly the same conditions and benefits from Kerry County Board as the Senior Football team. Travel expenses, medical expenses, playing and training gear, hurleys, meals after training, gym membership etc, the list goes on are all paid for by the County Board. The end of year accounts testify to this each year.

Regardless of who is the manager of the Kerry Hurling team we always seem to end up in this critical situation each year. How long more can this continue? Clubs officers and players pledge their unqualified support to back the Kerry team management at the beginning of the year and within a few short months some crisis or other emerges to undo all the progress made.

The players who travelled to Newbridge on Sunday last gave a great account of themselves but the Kerry Hurling Team cannot be sustained or survive for the rest of the season, including The Christy Ring Cup, with such a small panel of loyal players willing to give their full commitment to Maurice Leahy.

COUNTY HURLING LEAGUE

Depending on the date of the National Hurling League quarterfinal fixture the Round 2 games in Division 1 of the Credit Union County Senior Hurling League over the Easter weekend.

UNDER 16 HURLING

The Kerry Under 16 Hurling Team having defeated Carbery in the quarterfinal of the Munster Under 16 Interdivisional Championship two weeks ago play Muskerry in the semi-final at Kilmoyley on Bank Holiday Monday at 2.00 p.m.

HOGAN CUP SEMI-FINAL

Congratulations to Tralee CBS on their great win against St. Patrick’s College, Navan at Templemore last Saturday in the semi-final of the Hogan Cup, the All-Ireland Senior Colleges Football Championship. They will meet Omagh CBS in the final on the weekend of April 22nd. Omagh defeated St. Jarlath’s College, Tuam in the other semi-final.

MUNSTER MINOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

The Quarterfinal between Kerry and Tipperary in the ESB Munster Minor Football Championship will be played at The Gaelic Grounds, Limerick on Wednesday April 11th at 6.30 p.m. In the other quarterfinals Clare play Limerick and Cork play Waterford. The winners qualify for the semi-finals on May 9th. The fourth semi-final place will be decided with the losers of the Kerry v Tipperary game playing the losers of the Clare v Limerick game on Wednesday April 18th. The winners of this playoff will meet the losers of the Cork v Waterford quarterfinal in the second playoff game on Wednesday April 25th.

SCÓR SINSEAR MUNSTER FINALS

Congratulations to the Figure Dancing Group and the Set Dancing Group from Spa, the Instrumental Music from Glenflesk and the Rathmore Quiz team on their success at the Munster Finals of Scór Sinsear, which took place last Saturday at the INEC, Gleneagle Hotel, Killarney.

Kerry’s other representatives, Spa’s Ciara O’Donovan in the Solo Singing and their Ballad Group, Brian Caball representing Austin Stacks in the Recitation and Abbeydorney in the Novelty Act also competed with distinction in the finals.

The Munster winners will go on to contest the All-Ireland Finals at the INEC, Killarney on Saturday April 28th.

SYMPATHY

We extend our deepest sympathy to the Kerins O’Rahillys Club on the sudden death last Sunday of their chairman Pat Healy, he will be greatly missed by his wife and family and many friends in the GAA and AIB Bank.

We also extend our sincere sympathy to the Waterville club on the death last week of former player and official James O’Shea.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anamnacha dilse.

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