Referees refreshers courses scheduled around the county
ON Sunday week, we will begin our season with a home fixture in the Allianz League against Donegal in Killarney at 2pm.
Fionn Fitzgerald has been nominated captain and there have been changes to the back-room team with the introduction of Joe O’Connor, Niall O’Mahony and James Weldon. It will also be the first time we will see the Senior football panel wearing the new ‘Back to Gold’ jersey.
There will also be changes on the Donegal sideline with manager Declan Bonner taking the reins. Match tickets available to pre purchase online and at the usual outlets.
Draft Fixtures for the 2018 SFL
THE draft fixtures for 2018 Credit Union SFL (Divisions 1 to 4) have been sent out to all clubs.
Round 1 is fixed for the second weekend of March. Division 5 will be finalised as soon as we know the exact number of teams participating this year. It’s important to note that these are Draft Fixtures only and are subject to ratification at a meeting of the Kerry County Committee on Monday, January 22.
GAA Strategic Plan
EVERY GAA member and anyone with an interest in Gaelic Games is being encouraged to help the Association develop its Strategic Plan for the period 2018-2020 by completing an online survey.
Every completed survey will play its part in developing the GAA’s strategies and goals for the next three-year period. If you have strong views on how the GAA should deal with issues such as fixture planning, coaching structures, administration, rules and regulations, recruitment and retention of players, ticketing, the promotion of hurling, and training of referees among many others, this is your opportunity to have your voice heard.
A Steering Group chaired by the Uachtarán-tofa, John Horan, has been put in place to develop the Association’s strategy and this survey is part of phase one of the process. This is the last week that the survey will remain open, after which the second phase will involve the production of a consultation paper based largely on the feedback from the survey.
All clubs are encouraged to ask their members to complete the online survey.
Healthy Club
THE Healthy Club model, aims to embed a healthy philosophy into a club while integrating health into the day-to-day club activities in a sustainable way. It also aims to place the local GAA club at the heart of the community, making it a beacon for health in the locality.
For clubs not currently involved and who would like to participate in Phase 3 of the project, expressions of interest applications close on Friday January 26 at 5pm.
If your club is intending to apply it is recommended to make contact with your County Health & Wellbeing Committee in advance to let them know.
Tralee Parnells’ and Beaufort are already ‘Healthy Clubs’ and were presented with their flags in 2017 under Phase 2 of the project. TRAINING takes place every Wednesday night for referees in the John Mitchels GAA grounds at 6.30pm.
All referees are invited to attend. The Referees’ Refresher Course (In-Service Course) will take place in Christy’s Bar, Listowel Wednesday, January 17 at 8pm; Austin Stack Park, Tralee Friday, January 26 at 8pm; Fossa GAA Grounds, Fossa Friday, February 2 at 8pm.
All referees are requested to attend one of these courses. Please note that these courses are for football referees, there will be Hurling In-Service organised in the near future.
The Referees’ Committee is asking the clubs to keep sending in their nominations of people who will participate in the Referees Foundation course which will take place over two or three Friday nights.
They are looking to recruit a younger referee to officiate the Go Games, underage blitzes and Under 12 and Under 14 games and someone older in years, possibly an ex-player or someone who stopped playing in their 20s, to referee Under 16 and Senior football and hurling games.
Seamus Mulvihill
WELL done to Seamus Mulvihill, St Senans, on refereeing the McGrath Cup Final, between Cork and Clare, last Saturday.
It was Seamus’ second McGrath Cup Final having officiated previously in 2015. Seamus was ably assisted by linesmen Brendan Griffin, Clounmacon, Eamon Moran, Ballydonoghue and fourth Official, Maurice Murphy, St Michael’s Foilmore.