O’Sullivan presents Munster grants to clubs
MUNSTER Council Chairman Jerry O’Sullivan was present at Convention on Monday night to present a number of Kerry Clubs with grants from the Munster Council.
The following are the recipient clubs – Austin Stacks, Abbeydorney, An Ghaeltacht, Brosna, Beale, Crotta O’Neills, Castleisland Desmonds, Lixnaw, Lispole, Killarney Legion, Spa Killarney, St Senans, St Marys, St Pat’s Blennerville and Scartaglin.
The grants awarded totalled in the region of €75,000 with an additional €7,000 awarded as legal grants. Mr O’Sullivan paid tribute to Joe Crowley and Christy Killeen who were vacating their roles as Munster Delegates.
He thanked Development Officer Eamon Whelan for his work with the grant application process. Kerry County Committee Chairman Tim Murphy thanked Jerry O’Sullivan and commented that Munster was one of the few provinces where these type of grants were awarded.
Awards
THE 2017 Munster GAA Awards Evening took place last Saturday, December 9 in the Fota Island Resort Hotel in Cork.
Kerry’s James O’Donoghue secured the Senior Footballer accolade in the 2017 Munster GAA Awards. Speaking on the announcement of the awards Jerry O’Sullivan, Chairman of Munster GAA said “James O’Donoghue contributed hugely to his team’s performances this year and is a deserving winner of the top playing award in Gaelic Football”.
Other winners on the night were David Clifford (Minor Football) Killian Spillane (U-21 Football) and Patrice Diggin (Camogie).
Cromane
THE Munster GAA Junior B Semi-final was fixed for last Sunday at 2pm in Knockaderry, Co. Limerick.
Unfortunately, the fixture fell foul of the weather and the fixture has been postponed until 2018. Cromane beat Banner GAA, Ennis in the quarter final 0-10 to 0-5 to set up their meeting with Tipperary Champions Cashel King Cormacs in the semi-final. KERRY County Convention took place in the Gleneagle Hotel last Monday.
Seven roles were officially filled on the night, six of the positions were uncontested and the only election was for the role of LeasCisteoir (Assistant Treasurer). Joe Crowley was elected to the position, defeating Pat McAuliffe 150 to 77 votes.
There is one new face at the executive table for the year ahead as Fionnán Fitzgerald (Ballymacelligott) takes over from Stephen O’Sullivan as Leas-Runaí (Assistant Secretary).
The full list of officers is: Chairman Tim Murphy, Vice-Chairman Diarmuid Ó Sé, Secretary Peter Twiss, Treasurer Dermot Lynch, Central Council Delegate John Joe Carroll, Development Officer Eamonn Whelan, Coaching Officer Terence Houlihan, PRO Leona Twiss, Hurling Officer Paudie Dineen, Assistant Secretary Fionnán Fitzgerald, Cultural Officer Christy Killeen, Munster Council (2 Delegates) Ger McCarthy and John O’Leary, Assistant Treasurer Joe Crowley and Children’s Officer Bernie Reen.
Three motions were on the Clár, two of which were enabling motions and both were passed. The third motion was from the Valentia Club regarding the age eligibility for playing senior football and hurling.
This motion drew a lot of discussion from the floor. It was decided in the end to refer the motion to Central Council.
In the Chairman’s address, Tim Murphy spoke about the streamlined approach to strength and conditioning for all teams, the new additions to the backroom team (Joe O’Connor, Niall O’Mahony and James Weldon) and the establishment of a Voluntary Commercial Body by the end of 2018 to assist with our commercial strategy and to maximise our brand. The Chairman thanked Kerry Group and in particular Frank Hayes, Director of Corporate Affairs for their continued support.
Annual Raffle and Lotto
THE raffle was drawn at the end of Convention on Monday night.
The car was won by the Spa GAA club. Tom Houlihan, Ballyferriter, won the seven nights’ sun holiday and Tríona O’Sullivan, Duagh, won the European city break. The West Kerry Board won the voucher for Garvey’s Supervalu, Kathleen Foley, Lixnaw, won a weekend for two in the Brehon Hotel.
Vouchers for the Kerry GAA store were won by Ballydonoghue GAA club and Terence Houlihan, Killorglin. Margaret Kelly won membership to the Kerry Lotto. Tadhg Fleming won the signed Kerry jersey and football, and Lorraine Scanlon won the Kerry GAA annual pass.
The lotto draw was also made at convention and Andrew McCarthy won the personalised Kerry Jersey and membership to the Ticket Scheme. Next week’s lucky dip prizes are membership to the Ticket Scheme and a personalised Kerry jersey, and two nights B&B in the Woodlands Hotel, Adare.
Play online on www.kerrygaa.ie or in the Kerry GAA Store, Killarney.
Garda Vetting
AS we begin another year on the playing field, the Children’s Officer Bernie Reen has issued a timely reminder to all clubs to ensure that all our coaches working with players under the age of 18 are Garda vetted.
‘Back to Gold’ Ticket Scheme
THIS is proving to be a very popular Christmas present.
Membership can be purchased from the Office in Austin Stack Park. The cost is €600 per unit and comes with a free personalised and autographed Kerry Jersey. Members can purchase tickets for five championship years 2018 to 2022.