Minors deliver fantastic fifth
County Board PRO Leona Twiss with all the GAA news
WHAT an achievement! The elusive ‘five in-a-row’ has been achieved.
The foundations have been laid over many years by the various Coaching Officers, GDAs, Donal Daly, Club Coaches and school teachers and now the hard work is coming to fruition.
It was a wonderful occasion in Croke Park last Sunday and we extend our heartiest congratulations to Peter Keane, the Kerry minor panel, the selectors and all involved in the management team. Our thanks as always to our sponsors Kerry Group for looking after the panel so well.
The game itself was the proverbial game of two halves! Kerry had to show character as well as quality throughout the game as they looked in trouble when they trailed by 1-8 to 0-4 after 26 minutes of the first half. Galway had kicked an unanswered 1-7 to roar into that seven-point lead and were playing with great confidence, but a rally just before half-time gave Kerry hope and they were magnificent in the second 30 minutes.
That meant Galway led at halftime by 1-9 to 0-8, which perhaps wasn’t quite as emphatic a reflection of their first-half dominance as they would have hoped for. Kerry moved Paul O’Shea from centre-forward to midfield for the second-half, and the team captain was the chief inspiration of their second-half comeback.
He won a huge amount of ball in the middle third and delivered an array of exquisitely weighted passes into his forwards that brought a whole new dimension to Kerry’s play.
They served notice of their renewed intent when Michael Lenihan scored the first point of the second-half and four more ina-row had them 0-13 to 1-9 ahead by the 43rd minute.
The teams were level at 1-13 to 0-16 on 56 minutes, but it was Kerry who then came with the finishing kick in the final four minutes of normal time plus six of injury-time. They out-scored Galway by 0-5 to 0-1 in that period, with substitute Ruaidhri Ó Beaglaoích particularly impressive as he kicked his second and third points of the match.
It was an emphatic finish from this young Kerry team, who have written their names into the history books in fitting style. The homecoming was a wonderful occasion and thoroughly befitting of their victory.
Well done to the Kilcummin club for their superb organisation of the event. Thank you to all the supporters who attended and all of those who sent messages of congratulations to the panel. It was all very much appreciated.
Child Welfare Meetings
A NUMBER of Child Welfare meetings are organised in the first weeks of September. Club Senior Chairpersons and Child Welfare Officers are required to attend one of these meetings.
Please bring each of the following items to the meeting: 1. Names of coaches and team mentors for all your club teams, from Under 6 to Senior team; 2. Club Risk Assessmentplease bring a printed copy of the Club Risk Assessment which you sent to the County Child Welfare Officer.
Dates and venues: Friday September 7 Fossa CLG; Tuesday September 11 Waterville CLG; Wednesday September 12 Glenbeigh/Glencar CLG; Thursday September 13 Laune Rangers CLG; Friday September 14 Kenmare CLG; Monday September 17 Dingle CLG; Tuesday September 18 Dr Crokes CLG; Wednesday September 19 Ballyduff CLG; Thursday September 20 Castleisland Desmonds CLG; Friday September 21 Listowel Emmets CLG; Monday September 24 Austin Stack Park, Tralee.
Please contact Children’s Officer Bernie Reen for further information.
St Michaels
ST Michael’s College, Listowel and the Kerry County Board are working together to put in place a football programme to assist the development of players and teams in the school. The aim of the programme is to improve the overall development of players and this will benefit the school, clubs and divisional boards in North Kerry.
The programme will be launched by Kerry Senior Footballer Jason Foley on Thursday September 6 in St Michaels College at 7pm.
All clubs in North Kerry are invited to attend this event which will outline details of the programme.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5 County MFC Semi-Finals
Austin Stacks V East Kerry, Castleisland 18:00 St Kierans V St Brendans, Austin Stack Park 18:00
Friday, September 7 McElligott Cup
Rathmore V Austin Stacks 18:45
Molyneaux Cup
Dr Crokes V John Mitchels 18:45
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8 County SFC Round 2
Rathmore V Kenmare Shamrocks, Rathmore 17:30
Shannon Rangers V St Brendans, Ballylongford 17:30
Mid Kerry V Killarney Legion, Killorglin 17:30 An Ghaeltacht V Kenmare District Board, Gallarus 17:30
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 9 County SFC Round 2
East Kerry V Dingle, Fitzgerald Stadium 14:00 South Kerry V Austin Stacks, Cahersiveen 14:30 Feale Rangers V St Kierans, Listowel 14:30 Dr Crokes V Kerins O’Rahillys. Fitzgerald Stadium 15:45