The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Goggin optimistic for camogie team in League
NATIONAL CAMOGUE LEAGUE DIVISION 3 Kerry v Tyrone Sunday, February 19 John Mitchels GAA Complex at 2pm THE Kerry Camogie squad begin their Division 3 League campaign on this Sunday against Tyrone and are hoping to put behind them a poor 2016 when they struggled with a young side and absentees but manager Stephen Goggin reckons that the girls are better prepared this season
“We could not be happier with the way preparations have gone and the commitment that the all the squad have given. We felt last year that we were knocked off the ball too often and we needed to strengthen up a bit more so we brought in Anthony Fealy to do strength and conditioning with the girls so as to get their fitness levels up. The girls responded well and we have been putting in a big effort and I reckon they are fitter than this time last year.”
The league format has changed this year but the manager feels Kerry have a great chance of reaching the semi-finals.
“We have just four games this year with five teams in our division and while we would like to have more games we also have the championship to look forward to. We had six games last year with seven teams but Cavan and Limerick withdrew, Armagh went up as winners to Div.2 and Clare being added this year. We have two games at home against Tyrone and Clare and we are away to Roscommon and Dublin. We have mixed results against Roscommon; we have beaten Dublin so we are hoping to make the semi-finals. Most of our squad are young and they are learning the whole time. We want to start with a home win on Sunday and we are hoping to get a good crowd to support the girls. We need it and Pete Young, Gary O’Brien and myself are confident that the girls with a bit of luck will do themselves justice.”
Goggin believes that the squad is stronger and he feels that one of Kerry’s problems last year that possession was not turned into scores so the return of a forward who has played the role of being a target for deliveries from the back should mean more scores We have Olivia Dineen back who missed last year and she will make a big difference I feel. We also have Ann Marie Leen back and she is a very exciting player. We added three or four younger girls to the panel and they should make a big difference to the team. So our panel is stronger this year I would suggest.”
Aoife Behan is the captain this year and is looking forward to the year ahead. “I am honoured to be the captain though I hope I can repay the management for the faith they put on me. I love the game and I love playing wingback. I started playing with Crotta but it was only after being involved in Féile with Cillard that I really got the bug and I have never looked back since. I play wing back and this is my third year playing with the Kerry seniors. It’s the first year I think that everyone appears totally committed and every night we get everyone training. The gym work has been great, girls are doing work on their own so we have prepared well and looking forward to the action starting on Sunday. Last we were never badly beaten but just failed to get over the line so we are hoping to out that right this year. Patrice Diggin is our leader and we all look up to her as our leader. Our main aim is to get to Croke Park in September so we would like more support from the clubs. The Kerry hurlers come to support us when they are not playing but we would like a few more.”
Ashbourne Cup champions
CAUSEWAY club players Patrice Diggin and Sara Murphy were integral members of the UL team that retained the Ashbourne Cup Final last weekend as UL beat UCC 2-8 to 1-7. Diggin is joint-captain and scored three points in the final,