All-Ireland winning minor team honoured at Council Awards

KERRY’S 2017 All-Ireland winning minor football team was honoured by the Mayor of Kerry, John Sheahan, at the Kerry County Council Awards Night held at County Buildings in Tralee last Friday.

Team manager Peter Keane, captain David Clifford, along with some players and members of the extended management team attended, with some county councillors and Kerry County Council CEO Moira Murrell also in attendance.

Addressing the audience Cathaoirleach of Kerry County Council, John Sheahan, said: “The All-Ireland minor championship ran for 88 years (apart from a few years during “The Emergency”) and in all that time no county had ever managed to string four consecutive successful campaigns together. Until 2017 that is. And so tonight we recognise that unprecedented and historic accomplishment.

“Kerry teams also carry with them a large part of our sporting culture and our deeply ingrained sporting DNA each time they play. While we all like to see Kerry teams win, we also like to see them win in a certain way – we like to see them win skilfully, win fairly and win with style.

“The marvellous achievement of this minor team represents the culmination of four marvellous years at underage level for Kerry. Four different minor teams all achieved the ultimate goal. Over 70 young men tasted All-Ireland success.

“Of course, all of these teams also had a great support team in place. I’d like to acknowledge them some of them, not least manager Peter Keane and his team and the officers of the County Board.

“Recent successes represent a ringing endorsement of Kerry County Board’s underage policy, and reflect the amount of time and resources that the Board has put into their development squads initiative. They also appointed superb management teams and mentors to manage the minor teams.

“I’d like to acknowledge the part that the clubs played in their development. It isn’t by accident that these players made it onto various development squads and the Kerry team. I’m sure that there are many ordinary club members, as well as chairmen and secretaries, and under-8 and under 10 club coaches who take enormous pleasure in the achievements of this team.

“I’d also like to recognise the part that their parents have played in these players’ success stories. I’m certain that there was an awful lot of encouragement and purchase of gear and driving to muddy fields in the middle of winter involved. It’s not always easy but in this case I think it is fair to say that it was worthwhile.”