The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Kerry Juniors face Leitrim in the All-Ireland semi-final
County Board PRO John O’Leary with all the GAA news
IN what will be a very rare meeting between the counties in any grade, Kerry will take on Connaught champions Leitrim in the All Ireland Junior football semi final at Limerick’s Gaelic Grounds on Saturday in a game that is a curtain raiser to the Round 4 Qualifier game between Mayo and Cork.
Kerry are of course the reigning All Ireland champions in this grade and are attempting to win 3 All-Irelands on the trot but that will matter little on Saturday as the Kingdom, under the rules of the competition, have a whole new team on duty from the one that joined Cork at the top of the Roll of Honour with seventeen titles last year.
The Kerry team that defeated Cork after a thrilling extra time encounter in Páirc Uí Chaoimh at the end of June, contained seven players who have previously won Junior All Ireland medals; James Walsh and Conor Cox won All-Irelands in 2012 and 2015 while Jack McGuire, Brendan O’Sullivan, Philip O’Connor, Jeff O’Donoghue and Killian Spillane were also on the 2015 winning side. In addition, five players from the starting fifteen, Michael Foley, Daniel O’Brien, Roibeard Ó Sé, Killian Spillane and Tomás Ó Sé have won All-Ireland Minor medals during the last three years. The subs bench on that evening was also strong with the likes of Thomas Hickey, Liam Carey, Evan Cronin, Ivan Parker and Stephen O’Sullivan all anxious to claim a place.
Kerry opened their campaign with a big win over Limerick in a game that was of little or no use to them but they had to call on all of their experience when fighting back from nine points down early in the second half in the final against Cork before eventually winning by seven points after taking complete control in extra time. It will certainly help their cause that nearly all of the side have played together either at Junior or Minor level over the last few years and the experience of the big day before a large crowd should also stand to them.
Leitrim, for their part, have got to the semi-final the hard way defeating Galway in the semi-final and then Mayo in the Connacht final scoring 3-16 and 1-16 respectively in the process. Days like this do not come around too often for Leitrim and no doubt they will be trying tooth and nail to down the Kingdom’s colours.
The Kerry management team of trainer Jimmy Keane (Brosna) and selectors Pól Ó Cúinn (An Ghaeltacht), John O’Connell (Tarbert) and Niall O’Mahony (Spa) will no doubt have warned their team against complacency and they know that only a repeat of their second half display against Cork will suffice. Saturday’s game throws in at 3pm with Barry Tiernan from Dublin the man in the middle. Saturday’s winners will play the winners of the other semi-final between Meath and Kilkenny on Saturday August 5.
Supporters Bus
THE Kerry GAA Supporters Club will take a bus to Limerick on Saturday next for the All-Ireland Junior football semi-final between Kerry and Leitrim which has a 3pm throw-in and is, of course, a very attractive curtain raiser to the Mayo and Cork Round 4 Qualifier. All seats must be booked by this Thursday. For bookings contact; Donal O’Leary or Martin Leane.
The Kerry GAA Supporters Club will also take coaches to Croke Park for the All-Ireland quarter finals on July 30. All seats must be booked by Thursday, July 27. Again, for bookings, contact Donal O’Leary, John King or Martin Leane.