|
|||||
 |
|
||||
Páirc Aibhistin
De Staic |
|||||
|
The co-operation and support of GAA clubs, officials and supporters was invaluable in what was a satisfying but difficult year for officers of the County Board. Despite a reputation for 'media shyness' it would appear that Kerry GAA constantly made more headlines than most - from the early days of January right through to the last day of November. While the GAA stories covered success and failure, controversy and sadness, it is important that we can reflect on the many positives that made up the Kerry GAA scene in 2003.
* Munster Football Champions at Senior, Minor, Junior and U16 levels. * Gaeltacht victory - first Munster Club Title since 1996. * Kilmoyley Munster Senior League victory - a major hurling breakthrough. * Sean Kelly - Kerry's first ever President of the GAA. * Finuge and Milltown/Castlemaine win Munster Junior Championship and Munster Intermediate League titles respectively. * Kerry Ladies footballers reach All-Ireland semi-final. * Causeway Comprehensive School win All-Ireland Senior Title in football. * All-Ireland Senior Scór success for Spa, Kilcummin and Glenflesk. * World and National Handball Titles for Kerry's representatives. * Kerry Senior Hurlers play record number of games reaching National League Final and All-Ireland Qualifier. * Kerry U14 Hurlers win Tony Forrestal national Competition. * Kerry GAA supporters contribute three-quarters of a million Euros to fund purchase of new GAA facilities! * 'Masters' Hurling Team reach All-Ireland final.
The Senior's failure
to Tyrone in the All-Ireland semi-final has been well documented and
analysed. For Kerry followers everywhere it was a major disappointment
and one, which has left the need for a probable new approach to the
Inter-County scene. We congratulate Tyrone on a deserved first All-Ireland
Title - built on success at Minor and U21 levels in recent years. The Minor footballers
played 10 games before a heartbreaking defeat to All-Ireland Champions
Laois in the semi-final. The Junior footballers
won back-to-back Munster titles with victories over Tipperary and Cork.
Meath - eventual winners - proved too strong in a close contest in the
All-Ireland Semi-final. Manager Connie Murphy has given this junior
side plenty of confidence during his term. The U21 footballers lost to a more committed Waterford side in the Munster Final on a night when Kerry never played to their potential. The drawn-out schedule for this age group and the involvement of five senior panellists did not help preparations. In reaching the final Kerry had victories over Limerick and Tipperary.
The Senior Inter-County Hurlers provided the success story of the year - even if no titles were won. This was added to by Kilmoyley's magnificent Munster Senior League title and should be the spur to even greater achievements in 2004. Great credit is
due to Maurice Leahy and Eddie Murphy and to their fellow selectors
Cormac Bonner and Joe Walsh. The Minor Hurlers
had two games in the Munster Championship and one in the All-Ireland
'B'. The management had a difficult time in preparation, contending
with dual players at minor football and the involvement of Causeway
in the All-Ireland semi-finals of both hurling and football. The U21 Hurlers, who contained a number of the senior panel, lost their only game to Clare in Munster.
A new report on overall fixtures at National level will be discussed at next year's GAA Congress. It will impact on Kerry Hurling with the proposal to include the county in the 'Tier 2' cup competition and not the Munster Championship. It will mean extra inter-county games in June in addition to National League. The need to look
after inter-county players has been well highlighted over the past number
of years. There is no doubt that they and the management teams make
enormous sacrifices in pursuit of success. Kerry have never been found
wanting in providing this back-up.
On behalf of the Board I would like to thank all team managers and selectors for the time, commitment and dedication they displayed during the year. Senior Football: Páidí Ó Sé, John O'Keeffe, Eddie O'Sullivan, Eamon Walsh and John O'Dwyer. U21 Football: Jack O'Connor, Pat Brosnan, Ger O'Keeffe, Mossie Spillane and Ambrose O'Donovan. Minor Football: Pat O'Shea, Mike Houlihan, Tomás Hanafin, Tim Coffey and John Galvin. Junior Football: Connie Murphy, Jim Foley, Tom Brennan, Donie O'Leary and Gerard Savage. Senior & U21
Hurling: Maurice Leahy, Eddie Murphy, Cormac Bonner and Minor Hurling: PJ Houlihan, Paudie Dineen and John Hennessy.
Congratulations to An Ghaeltacht and Kilmoyley on AIB County Championships successes, which were justly deserved, and which have subsequently been built on with Munster glory. An Ghaeltacht continue
the remarkable strides made by the club and can now look forward to
an All-Ireland campaign which may bring them all the way to Croke Park
on 17th March next. The victory in Munster Club final was the first
by Kerry club since 1996. All Kerry Gaels wish them every success in
their quest in All-Ireland honours. Both clubs have built success on a progressive under-age policy and great credit is due to the officers and coaches for their commitment over the years. Both Co. Championships had losers rounds incorporated but the value of such competition needs to be reviewed. It is doubtful if it achieved the aim of improving overall standard.
The various club championship winners emerged from a Centenary Cup type competition during 2003. However it did not generate the same level of excitement as the Millennium Cup of 2000. We may have to revert to a straight knock-out at Intermediate, Junior etc due to a lack of available dates. The introduction of Provincial and All-Ireland Club championships at Intermediate and Junior level from next year on should also improve the competitions and interest at county level. The Senior Club Championship remains unfinished - with the closing stages of only academic interest after a club team won the senior championship. This competition has great potential but we now need to review how it can be accommodated in the best interest of the clubs participating. The Credit Union County Leagues in Hurling and Football serve the clubs and county well. They provide a regular series of games throughout the year with the schedule as agreed generally adhered to. However the availability and participation of county players is vital to clubs and is an area where improvement can be made. Bord na nÓg continue to promote an exciting range of games and competitions but the ability of clubs - especially in rural areas - to participate at all levels is now under threat. The Minor Review Competitions Workgroup in conjunction with Bord na nÓg and the Divisional boards will have to monitor problems on an ongoing basis to ensure survival for clubs and suitable participation at an achievable level. The Divisional Boards have provided great service in the promotion of games. However, the unequal size of boards makes it difficult to accommodate all fixtures in an overall programme. Clubs may have to prioritise their competitions to ensure they get the best return from their teams. Overall, over 3,000 games are played in the county each year. This is a great reflection on the work done within clubs. Also, tribute must be paid to the referees in the county - without whose assistance the above games programme would not be possible.
* The elevation
of Kilcummin's Seán Kelly as President of the GAA was a very
proud moment for Kerry people everywhere and especially for those of
us who had the privilege of working with him at county and club level.
Taking over at a time of huge change in the Association, Seán
is the ideal person to initiate and accommodate new ideas in taking
the Association forward. * The winning of 3 national Titles at All-Ireland Finals of Senior Scór reflects well on those who have continually promoted this aspect of the GAA in Kerry and East Kerry in particular. * The same weekend saw National Handball Titles come to Kerry, which was followed in the Autumn with world Handball success. * Causeway Comprehensive
School finally achieved All-Ireland success with victory in Senior Football
- the same players were involved in a semi-final defeat in hurling. * Congratulation to Gillian O'Sullivan on her magnificent Silver Medal achievement at the World Championships. * Austin Stacks, Tralee won the County Club of the Year Award in January with Kerry Clubs being complimented on the quality and quantity of entries. * Minor Football Manager Pat O'Shea who had done trojan work as G.P.O. in the County was promoted to Coaching Administrator for the Munster Council. Kerry's loss is Munster's gain and we wish Pat the very best in his new position.
The purchase of
land by the Co. Board for Kerry GAA facilities was widely welcomed as
a very progressive step. The funding of this project was made possible
by the five-year ticket scheme, which proved to be an outstanding success.
The GPC report
will show the discipline record of on-field activities in 2003. With
the number of games played in the county at an all-time high, the general
level of discipline was pretty good. One of the most
time-consuming problems over the past year has been the issue of 'Parish
Rule'. One would like to think that the rulebook would make life easy
on this particular issue but experience has shown that it will remain
ongoing for some time to come.
Most organisations
are finding it more and more difficult to recruit volunteers to carry
out the many varied duties required. This is also true of the GAA with
officers, coaches and team mentors less willing to give the time and
commitment required.
In the absence
of a proper survey, it is impossible to estimate the correct value of
GAA property in this county. There is no doubt however, that it runs
into millions of euros.
Kerry Co. Board receives exceptional support from its sponsors at all levels. We thank them all sincerely. * Kerry Group continue its long-standing association with all Kerry teams and with the Board itself. This support is essential in maintaining a high standard for our teams. * AIB's association with the Senior Football and Hurling Championships has added greatly to the status of these Championships. The 'Man of the Match Function' has now become a vital part of the Co. Final weekend, and is much appreciated by both teams. * This year the Kerry League of Credit Unions took up sponsorship of the Co. Leagues. This was a very welcome boost and once again enables the Board to allocate sets of jerseys to the winning teams of the senior divisions. A special Credit Union medal has been designed and will also be presented. * A special Cup was presented to the winners of the Centenary Cup competition, which was donated by Castleisland Co-op Mart. Having initially been interested in the Centenary Cup, the Mart has also agreed to sponsor the Intermediate, Junior and Novice Championships for the next three years. * Garveys continue its association with the GAA Summer Camps which this year were an outstanding success - with a big increase in participation. * We are also indebted to O'Neills sportswear for their continued support in relation to the supply and sale of team gear and jerseys. Successful Kerry
teams at both Hurling and Football will be the best 'Thank You' to all
of the above.
We are well served
by the Media in this County. The GAA has a very high profile and publicity
for our games and activities is mostly positive.
While the parting was not of his choosing and the controversy which followed was not of ours, the impact of Páidí Ó Sé on the life and times of Kerry football has been immense. He has given a lifetime of service to Kerry, West Kerry and An Ghaeltacht. His legacy to the present generation of Kerry followers was the winning of All-Ireland titles in 1997 and 2000 and the general success of Kerry football over the past seven years. We wish him every success in his tenure with Westmeath. Jimmy Coffey
bows out of Co. Board involvement after 30 years of excellent service
to the GAA in the county. Jimmy's company will be missed especially
on the long car journeys to Congress and matches. This year also sees the retirement of Donie Nealon as secretary of the Munster Council. Donie has been an excellent administrator and has always been available for support and advice to the many officers from Kerry who served with him over the years. Páidí, Jimmy and Donie and their families have made great sacrifices in serving the GAA. - We extend our sincere thanks.
Sincere sympathy is expressed to all who suffered bereavements during 2003. It was a year which saw the passing away of All-Ireland medal holders Batt Garvey and Tim O'Donnell; the untimely death of Mike O'Leary of St. Mary's Cahersiveen, a former Kerry Junior and U21 player; the tragic death of Ger O'Shea, St. Michaels/Foilmore, a former Kerry minor; and the death of Dingle player John Sheehy who died after getting ill while playing a minor game with his club. Sympathy is also expressed to the members of the County Board and their families on recent bereavements.
The administration
of Kerry Co. Board is a team effort involving officers, staff and the
co-operation of all the units in the county. I wish to sincerely
thank Breda, Kate and Catherine for their excellent work, their ever-pleasant
manner and their commitment above and beyond the call of duty.
The work of Runaí
would not have been possible but for the support of my fellow officers.
A recent newspaper article stated it was 'Time to consider what exactly
County Officers do'. - I hope a reading of the reports from the sub-committees
gives the answer! In particular I
wish to pay tribute to Chairman Sean Walsh for the manner in which he
officiated in difficult times throughout the year. A special thanks to Peter Twiss and Willie O'Connor for the progress of the fixture programme. It could not have been completed without their input. We thank John Foley who steps down from Chairman of Board na nÓg after six years. I wish to express my thanks to the staff in Croke Park for their assistance. Also to the Officers of the Munster Council, especially Christy Cooney who completes his term of office as Chairman in February. On a personal note I wish to express my appreciation to my family, and my colleagues at Castleisland Community College, for their understanding of the commitments involved as Runaí of Coiste Chondae Chiarraí. I wish all the managers and selectors every success and look forward to a rewarding, successful but controversy-free 2004.
|
|||
