‘Training regimes can be relaxed’

Kerry GAA vice-chair welcomes clarity on inter-county re-start

KERRY GAA vice-chairman Eamon Whelan believes that inter-county training programmes should be relaxed in the short to medium term in light of the GAA’s recent pronouncement that there will be no inter-county action until the beginning of October at the earliest.

Croke Park released a statement last week saying that while the ‘GAA still firmly hopes to be able to play county and club competitions this year, subject to public health guidance we can confirm that no inter-county games are expected to take place before October’ and further comments by GAA President John Horan on Sunday night suggested that even an October re-start is very optimistic.

Speaking to The Kerryman on Tuesday, Mr Whelan said he was delighted to hear Mr Horan bring “clarity” to what has been a very uncertain and pressurised time for players, especially inter-county players.

Mr Whelan said that now it is clear there will be no inter-county action until October at the earliest, he would be favour of a relaxing of the organised individual training the players are currently engaged in, and that it doesn’t make sense to him for players to be training now “for something that is not going to happen for many months time or maybe not at all.”

Mr Whelan told The Kerryman: “I was delighted to hear [Horan’s] comments in terms of bringing clarity because I think there was a lot of different stories and rumours going around and I just felt that his comments or his answers brought huge clarification to what we needed.

“Any contact I’ve had with players that has been one of the most difficult things – the uncertainty. A lot of them felt ‘oh, we need to keep fit, we need to keep fit because we don’t know when games will re-start, and we don’t what other counties or clubs to have a head-start on us’. I think that’s where the clarity was really required and where you had a lot of, maybe not clubs teams, but certainly inter-county teams all over the country still training and trying to put up so much mileage on GPSs. I think that puts ferocious pressure on those players whereas now at least they know definitely the inter-county scene will not now start before the first of October. It mightn’t even start on the first of October but at least we know what we need to do to have ourselves fit for the first of October, which doesn’t mean we have to be absolutely killing ourselves now.

“Personally I would hope that this would mean the players would just go away and if they want to go for a jog or a run or cycle they can just go away and do that, but certainly not to have the pressures of having to put up such mileage that satisfies a GPS system for some trainer. I think we have to be very cognisant of the fact that players obviously have their own pressures and work commitments and different things, and they certainly don’t need to be clocking up this imaginary figures for something that is not going to happen for many months time or maybe not at all.

“In general I would say that the clarity brought on Sunday night – and, sure, of course we all have to have hope, and we’d all love to see games back soon – but realistically I think the health of our players and their families and the general public is still more important than going back into contact sport for the time being.”

JUST as good wine gets better with age, the same concept also applies to sportsmen and women who are involved in individual sporting activities. Two prime examples of this can be found in athletics and handball. Both sporting disciplines are unique on the Irish sporting scene particularly for their all embracing ethos that includes total inclusiveness and competitions aimed at keeping people active and competitive long into their twilight years.

Over the past twelve months handball in Kerry has seen a noticeable increase in participation by players over the age of 35.

“Prior to the closure of sporting facilities and the cessation of competition due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Kerry handballers were performing very well in various Munster championships,” Jack O’Shea, PRO of Kerry Handball Board, said. “We have some very good over 35 players in Kerry at present and we are very confident that this is one aspect of the sport that is gaining momentum and will continue to grow and develop over the coming few years. We have some top rated Master competitors in Glenbeigh, Killarney, Asdee, Ballymacelligott and Killorglin at the moment.”

One of major titles won last Summer was the phenomenal success of the Spa/Killarney Handball Club at the All Ireland Hardball championships in Mayo. In the Master’s competition Brendan O’Donoghue, the current Munster champion, became the first Spa/ Killarney man to win an All Ireland Handball medal. He achieved this honour in the highly ranked Master’s O-55 B final. O’Donoghue lost to Billy Silcott (Antrim) 18-14 in one of the most competitive and exciting games of the championship but was rewarded with an All Ireland silver medal.

Danny Riordan ( pictured) from Ballymacelligott is another talented and exciting player in the Over-35 category. He reached the Munster 40x20 Over-35 B quarter-final in Cashel last January but lost narrowly to John Walsh (Tipperary).

Along with his club colleague, Clive Counihan, they took part in the Munster 40x20 Over 35 B Doubles semi-final in Mallow before loosing to Ray Griffin and Gary McCarthy (Waterford). Counihan also contested the Munster 40x20 Over 35 B quarter-final. This game was played in Ballymacelligott last January with James Moakley (Cork) running out an impressive winner. Both Ballymacelligott players are extremely talented in the court and can expect success in the coming season.

“The criteria and grades for Masters competition is simple. All Silver competitions are for players over 50 while the Emerald competitions cater for players over 60. So far this season all the Kerry players have done very well reaching the closing stages of all the Munster competitions. Hopefully they will be in action again very soon when the current Covid-19 restrictions are lifted. This is an exciting element of the sport and we are confident more players will become involved.”

Another Ballymacelligott player to advance in Munster competition was Mike Scanlon. He competed in the Munster 40x20 Silver Master B Semi Final in Ballydesmond during February. However he was up against one of the top players in Ireland at present, John Penny from Limerick, and despite a very courageous and spirited performance lost to his more illustrious opponent.

One of the most exciting Masters players is Brian McEvoy from Killorglin. He advanced to the Munster 40x20 Silver Master B semi-final in Broadford where he was defeated by the experienced Adam Moloney from Clare. He also participated in the Munster 40x20 Silver Masters B Doubles semi-final in Boherbuee last February. On this occasion his partner was Brian Clifford (Glenbeigh), an exceptional player with a bright future in the game. Despite a classic performance they were defeated by Mike Lenihan and Enda Ahern (Cork).

Last January Pat Lacey from Asdee in North Kerry showed promise of great things to come on the handball courts of Kerry and beyond. At the Munster 40x20 Emerald Master B semi-final he lost to Stephen McSweeney (Limerick) in what was a close and classic encounter.

“When you factor in players like John Joe Quirke and Dominick Lynch, then the future of Masters handball in Kerry has a very bright future. At the Munster 40x20 Masters A Final last February in Glenbeigh we had an all Kerry final with Dominick having the better of exchanges with John Joe,” Jack

O’Shea added.