Championship kicks off with intriguing contests

COUNTY UNDER 21 FC FIRST ROUND

Wednesday, June21 (all games 19:30)

An Ghaeltacht v Mid Kerry

THIS game could be a real cracker.

Both combinations have provided a number of very good players to the successful Kerry minor teams over the past three seasons. Added to that An Ghaeltacht’s handsome contribution to Pobalscoil Chorcha Dhuibhne’s Corn Uí Mhuirí and Hogan Cup successes and you’ve got the ingredients for a great game of football.

Mid Kerry too have some really good young players – think Beaufort’s Mike Breen or Caolim Teahan from Glenbeigh / Glencar – and contested last year’s County Minor football final.

The fact the game is due to be playing in Gallarus might just edge this one the West Kerry side’s way.

An Ghaeltacht

Verdict: Austin Stacks v South Kerry

ANOTHER game that has the potential to really entertain anybody who pays the entrance fee at Connolly Park this evening [Wednesday].

South Kerry as the reigning champions will probably go in as a lot of people’s favourites and you can certainly see the attraction. Of all the district sides they’re the most consistent at all levels. There are, however, a few question marks over the availability of Kerry Under 21 captain Brian Sugrue due to fitness worries.

Stacks, meanwhile, have begun to motor at senior level and it’s their younger players who seem to be picking up a lot of the slack – guys like Michael O’Donnell, Jack Morgan and young Jack O’Shea.

Home advantage might prove telling, but you’d be in no way surprised if South Kerry took the spoils. Verdict: Austin Stacks

East Kerry v Feale Rangers

THE reigning Minor champions will be fancying their chances of going a long way in this year’s Under 21 campaign.

A run to the final wouldn’t be beyond them one suspects, but by the same token there’s a big step up between minor and Under 21 levels – something Kerry have discovered to their cost this past two seasons.

All the same with the amount of talent they have at their disposal one would have to imagine they’ll have the measure of Feale Rangers, who to give them their dues have also been producing some fine footballers of late (Niall Collins from Emmets has the potential to be a real gem).

Will the north Kerry combination have enough to see off the might of East Kerry in Rathmore on Wednesday evening? Probably not. Verdict: East Kerry

St Brendans v Dingle

WHAT a terribly tricky draw for St Brendans.

Against a good number of teams in this year’s championship they’d go in as favourites given the players they have at their disposal. The names just trip off the tongue – Steffan Okunbor, Ivan Parker, Andrew Barry, Brandon Barrett – but the trouble for them is that Dingle have more.

Indeed Dingle were in last year’s final and with the amount of talent they have at their disposal must be considered pre-championship favourites. Tom O’Sullivan, Tom Leo O’Sullivan, Matthew Flaherty, Conor Geaney, Cathal Bambury, etc.

Dingle will win but they won’t necessarily win well. St Brendans will at least push them all the way and, who knows, maybe even a little bit more than that.

Verdict: Dingle

St Kierans v Spa

IF we’re to judge this game by marquee names – and at this juncture we probably must to a certain extent – then you’d have to say it’s looking pretty good for Spa.

St Kierans clubs haven’t been to the fore in the Kerry minor revival – although that seems to be changing in 2017 – and therefore they won’t have as much outright talent at their disposal as Spa likely will.

On the flip side St Kierans sides are always well drilled and well prepared and of all the district sides seem to have amongst the best support and passion. Will that be enough against a Spa side with such talent as Daniel O’Donoghue and Dara Moynihan?

Probably not. Still we wouldn’t expect this to be anything other than a full-blooded encounter with no quarter asked or given.

Verdict: Spa

Shannon Rangers v Kenmare District

SHANNON Rangers condeded this game, which was due to be played on Wednesday night. Opponents Kenmare District will advance to the second round.

Thursday, June 22 (19.30) West Kerry v Kerins O`Rahillys

GIVEN the prominence of West Kerry football more generally in the underage Kerry revival should we not expect West Kerry to be a serious force in this year’s Under 21 championship?

Well yes and no. This West Kerry side – unlike the senior side – doesn’t have An Ghaeltacht as a constituent part and while there have been some good players from the remaining clubs percolating up through the ranks that likely won’t be enough against Kerins O’Rahillys. Strand Road have produced a lot of very good players at underage level this past couple of seasons – Cormac Coffey and most prominently – and at senior level Morgan Nix and Micheál Quirke have been doing great work to regenerate the club with younger players. That will stand to them here. Verdict: Kerins O’Rahillys