The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Minor hurlers on the trail of a record-breaking six in-a-row
ALL IRELAND MINOR B HC QUARTER-FINAL Kerry v Kildare Saturday, August 12 Dr Hyde Park, 2pm
THERE seems to be a little bit of disappointment in the Kingdom surrounding the venue for this game.
This weekend’s game with Kildare was originally meant to have been played in Tralee, but instead ended up as part of a double-header with the Under 21 hurlers in Roscommon’s Dr Hyde Park.
The decision to play the game in Roscommon has clearly irked Kerry minor boss John Hennessy.
“We’d a home drawn in Tralee and don’t ask me what happened between Croke Park and the County Board,” the Ballyduff man told The Kerryman on Tuesday afternoon.
“I don’t really want to say too much about it, but overall I am disappointed by it. The girls [Kerry camogie team] are playing in the Gaelic Grounds at 4 o’clock. I don’t see why we couldn’t play there too. It’s disappointing, but we have to get on with it that’s all.
“At this stage now it’s all in Roscommon so from tonight on now it’s all focus on that. We’re hoping for the best again this year.”
All in all it’s an unfortunate way to begin a campaign that could end with the Kingdom claiming an unprecedented six All Ireland titles in-a-row in the grade and, despite not knowing too much the relative strengths of their opposition, you’d have to imagine there’s a strong chance the Kingdom can deliver the goods.
Why? Well because Kerry will have largely the same bunch of players to draw upon as they did last season. Lixnaw trio Shane Conway, Colin Sheehy and Liam Mullins are over age, while Barry O’Mahony, Michael Slattery and Donal O’Sullivan are involved with the minor footballers. Other than that, however, Kerry are as strong as ever.
“We’re really looking forward to it now,” Hennessy enthuses
“But the footballers are an awful loss to us. Other than that most of them have played senior county championship and that will stand to them. We have most of last year’s panel and we have Gavin Dooley not as well, John Mike’s son, and he’s going to be a big asset to us we’re hoping. We’ve a nice bit of work done with them.”
The sheer weight of history would suggest that Kerry will have a job on their hands to get over the line this season. Having not been defeated in the grade in five years means that, sooner rather than later, a defeat just has to be winging its way to the Kingdom.
“They are hard won and it’ll be hard call again,” Hennessy admits.
“We believe Kildare are very good again this year. They’d a right good Leinster campaign, they’re clocking up big scores in their division. We were lucky now in Tralee last year, but I’d be hoping that we’d be evenly matched and that we’d have the edge a bit too this year.
“Everybody turned out at the weekend for training and we’re playing a challenge match tonight against Douglas in Cork. We’ve a good few challenge matches and a good bit of work done.
“If we’re not good enough we won’t win it’s as simple as that.”
Hennessy and his management team have proven themselves over the last couple of seasons having stepped into the boots vacated by Ian Brick and before him Pat Ryan.
They should be more than capable of focussing minds on the task at hand this weekend. They’re unlikely to fall at the first hurdle.
Verdict: Kerry