The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Underage merger sides dish up a treat
ON Saturday, November 26, the South Kerry under 16 football final, played to an 11-a-side formation, took place between St Michaels/Foilmore and Valentia/Skellig Rangers/Sneem.
This encounter, played on a sunny, wind free day ideal for football, was pulsating and entertaining from start to finish, with a high standard of football, scores aplenty and the result hanging in the balance right to the finish.
Credit to the management and players on both sides. It was also complemented by the fine GAA facilities now in existence in Foilmore with the newly built adjoining community centre also impressive. The final score stood at 2-10 for Valentia/Skellig Rangers/Sneem to 1-11 for St. Michaels /Foilmore.
Sean O’Connor from Sneem, as captain, accepted the trophy from Dan Fitzpatrick, Chairman of Bord Na nÓg in South Kerry, to cheers of jubilation as Cnoc Na dTobar mountain stood sentinel in the background on a calm, sunny and clear day.
Valentia/Skellig Rangers/Sneem/: Dylan Van Dale (Sneem), Mike O’Sullivan (Sneem), Gavin Reardon (Skellig Rangers), Sean O’Connor (Sneem, capt), Fionán Hussey (Skellig Rangers), Kieran O’Sullivan (Sneem), Conor O’Brien (Sneem), Joe Lynch (Valentia), Fionán O’Sullivan (Skellig Rangers), Sonny Curran (Valentia), Tim Murphy (Sneem). Subs: Jamie Houlihan (Valentia), Rory Burns (Sneem), Keith Brennan (Skellig Rangers), Jack Whelan (Valentia), Dylan Sugrue (Sneem), Tadhg Lynch (Valentia), Simon O’Connor (Sneem), Finn Corcoran (Valentia), Colm Van Aashen (Sneem), Denis O’Driscoll (Valentia), Harvey Kavanagh (Valentia), Jack Riney (Sneem). Mentors: Ger O’Shea (Portmagee), Padraig O’Brien (Sneem), Mike ‘Rocky’ O’Shea (Valentia)
St. Michaels/Foilmore: Andy O’Connell (Ballinskelligs), Shane Casey (Ballinskelligs), Michael O’Shea (Foilmore), Jamie Dwyer (Ballinskelligs), Sean Scanlon (Ballinskelligs), Daniel Cronin (Ballinskelligs), Ronan Clifford (Foilmore), Stephen O’Sullivan (Ballinskelligs), John C.O’Connor (Foilmore), Alan Goggin (Ballinskelligs), Daire Holland (Ballinskelligs). Subs: Liam Minihane (Foilmore), Mark King (Ballinskelligs), Kevin Murphy (Foilmore), Liam O’Connor (Foilmore) Mentors: James Mike O’Sullivan (Ballinskelligs), Dessie Cronin (Ballinskelligs), David Cronin (Ballinskelligs), DJ Moran (Foilmore). Referee: Paul O’Sullivan (Dromid).
In recent times the Valentia Young Islanders senior footballers have had a lot of difficulty in fielding teams for County League games etc. There was, at recent club meetings, an overwhelming desire to keep the Young Islanders club on the road, a show which has served the island with great distinction since the club’s foundation in 1905. A club also with the unique distinction in the county of having its boundaries clearly and solely defined by water.
So, with regard to this noble aspiration, it is of interest to note the under-age players and their ages who were available to Valentia for the year 2016. Joe Lynch, Sonny Curran, Jack Whelan, Tadhg Lynch and Harvey Kavanagh of the aforementioned South Kerry championship winning under 16 team were also under 14 players. Jamie Houlihan and Denis O’Driscoll were aged 15, with another panellist, Finn Corcoran, aged 13. Gearoid Healy and Donncha Lyne (not of the under16 panel) were also 13. The Skellig/Valentia minor team of 2016 defeated by Dromid/Waterville in the South Kerry minor championship final, had three minors on that team who were Jim Lynch, Concubhair Guiney and Cathal Curran,V alentia’s only three minors
Valentia at under 12 level had the following players available in 2016. They were: Rian O’Shea, Emmett Daly, Philip Daly, Caoimhe Cournane, Emma O’Connor, Ben Egan, Matthew Daly, Michael O’Sullivan, Junior Kidd, Adam Kidd, Fionn Cusack, Killian Sugrue, Oran McDonagh, Fionán Healy, Jake Curran, Sean Lynch, Micheál Lynch, Dervla Healy, Oisin O’Connell, Kevin O’Connor, Donagh O’Sullivan, Adam Quigley, John O’Driscoll.
All are under-age again for the upcoming year with the exception of Matthew Daly. However, a number of these players would have a few years to spare as players in this grade. Their mentors for 2016 were Alan Egan, John Daly and Conn O’Shea.