The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Three in-arowisan historic achievement says Killeen
CHRISTY Killeen is one of the good guys.
You won’t meet a nicer, more courteous individual than the Finuge man. For the past three years he’s acted as the County Board’s liaison officer to the minor football team, enjoying a level of success that at the time he took on the role scarcely seemed possible.
It’s hard to measure this three-ina-row run against the situation five years ago when a Kerry Minor team was unceremoniously dumped out of the Munster Championship at the semi-final stage by eventual All-Ireland winners Tipperary in May 2011.
The work to address Kerry’s two decade wait for an All-Ireland Minor title had begun down the line, however, according to the team liaison officer and Munster Council delegate.
“There was great work being done by the Development Squads even if the results weren’t quite showing it for a while,” he said.
“Progress was still being made with the set-up and Eamon Whelan and the Games Development Administrators in the county deserve immense credit for the work they have put in to bring us to the point we are at now,” he said.
Allied to this has been three Hogan Cup successes and Killeen believes both the Schools and inter-county set-ups are of mutually benefit to each other.
“A lot of our teams are playing at a higher standard of grade in Munster Colleges which is bringing the standards up in those schools and leading to the development of better players for all concerned as well.”
Killeen, of course, had success as a selector with Feale Rangers in 2007. This is a man who knows his football. This is a man who recognises the value of what’s been achieved. The historical aspect of the three-ina-row element to last Sunday’s win is only beginning to dawn now for all concerned Killeen suggests.
“This year was never viewed as a quest for a three-in-a-row by either the management or players, but when you it hasn’t been done by the county since the 1930s it does add an extra layer onto everything that has been achieved by those involved over the last few years.”