Cork bid to retain Kelleher Cup
CORK teams figure prominently in the Munster Under 15 football competition with exciting talent set to converge on Millstreet, Cullen, Dromtariffe and Knocknagree on Saturday for the Humphrey Kelleher Memorial Under 15 Football Tournament.
The untimely death of the former Cork inter-county star in 2005 cast a gloom all over the GAA world and to acknowledge his pursuits, a splendid trophy was initiated for a special tournament co-ordinated by Cork Rebel Óg and Duhallow Division.
Two teams from Cork County in addition to Kerry South, Kerry North, Waterford, Tipperary, Limerick and Clare will compete in the ninth annual staging. For four consecutive years, victory belonged to accomplished Cork County combinations with Tipperary sampling success in 2010/12 followed by back to back wins for Kerry teams.
Tipp’s well being in underage football is evident on crowned All Ireland minor champions in 2011, proceeding to add back to back provincial honours, while Kerry bridged a 20 year gap last season to secure the Tom Markem Cup.
The tournament remembers a great exponent in Millstreet and Cork football. Humphrey became a celebrated figure on the county senior team during the 1970s and his career highlight surfaced in 1973 as part of a Cork team that captured the All Ireland Senior Football Championship title.
His pursuits were adorned from, the Cork Athletic Grounds, Killarney’s Fitzgerald Stadium to Croke Park in Dublin and London’s Wembley Stadium.
Up to 2011, Cork teams had remained unbeaten in the competition since its inauguration and that’s a tribute to a management casting their net far and wide in search of talent far and wide.
Cork relented their title to Tipp twice with Kerry South grabbing a hold of the silverware for the first time in 2013 while two Cork sides contested last season’s decider.
“These Cork development squads hold the key for success for the future. Some of the Cork side that won the Humphrey Kelleher Cup over the years such as John O’Rourke, Brian Hurley and Kevin Crowley form part of the Cork senior football panel this season,” said Steven Lynch, Vice Chairman Duhallow Junior Board.
The opening series will operate in Knocknagree, Cullen and Dromtariffe from 10.15am with the Cup and Plate Finals scheduled for Millstreet.
The timetable for the opening quarter finals is (a)Kerry North v Clare, Dromtariffe; (b)Cork West v Tipperary, Dromtariffe; (c)Kerry South v Limerick, Knocknagree; (d) Cork East v Waterford, Cullen 10.15am.