Deenihan in call for North Kerry team Former minister on board as Feale Rangers selector
THE remaining appointments for the divisional sides in this year’s County Senior Football Championship sees one very notable inclusion in the Feale Rangers set-up with former government minister Jimmy Deenihan confirmed as a selector alongside Breandán Whelan (trainer), Johnny Mulvihill, Tom O’Connell and another selector to be confirmed.
Deenihan is already involved with his club Finuge’s minor team this year alongside Johnny Joy as he resumes his involvement in local sport following his retirement from politics.
A two time County Championship winner with the team back in 1978 and 1980, Deenihan says that while he would like to see Feale Rangers get back to their old success and invoke their old spirit, his long-term preference would be for only one North Kerry team to be operating at County Championship level in the county.
“I played in seven County Championships with Feale Rangers and won two which I am proud of, but it is a challenge for both Shannon Rangers and ourselves to compete at that level now.
“I think it would be better for the development of football in North Kerry if there was only one team representing the area down the line as it could be properly resourced and supported by the North Kerry Board.
“If a good strong management structure could be put into such a team I think it would be a great success,” Deenihan told The Kerryman.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of Feale Rangers’ surprise 2007 County Championship win and, while the team aren’t entertaining any grand ambitions of success this year, Deenihan feels overcoming the early rounds could be very beneficial for all concerned in the set-up.
“I do feel the longer teams like Feale Rangers go in the competition the more competitive they get and I still think County Championship level is a great benefit to intermediate and junior clubs in terms of bringing their younger footballers on, particularly those at minor level.”
Some of the other new appointments this year see former All-Ireland Intermediate Club winning manager with Milltown / Castlemaine John Fintan Daly from Cork take charge of Mid Kerry succeeding James Sheehan.
Sheehan himself has moved on to St Kierans in place of Kieran Scanlon with the two sides involved in this Saturday night’s County Championship Qualifier, Shannon Rangers and St Brendans under new management as well in Denis Lynch for the North Kerry side and Seamus Murphy for St Brendans.
In East Kerry Firies manager Jerry O’Sullivan replaces Davey O’Donoghue while Pól Ó Cuinn of An Gaeltacht is in charge of West Kerry this year.
South Kerry manager William Harmon stays on for a second year with the 2015 winners. Kenmare District were the last of the divisional teams to officially confirm their management team. Shane Cremin (Templenoe) was confirmed as the manager on Tuesday afternoon.
Pat Twomey (Kilgarvan) and Cian Sugrue (Tuosist) are expected to join him as selectors, but this had not been confirmed at the time of going to press.