Hurlers set for massive game with Westmeath

THE Kerry senior hurlers had a decisive 3-19 to 1-9 win over Meath last Sunday at Austin Stack Park in Round 4 of the Allianz Hurling League Division 2A.

Kerry’s remaining league fixture will be away to Westmeath on this Sunday, March 4. Venue is Cusack Park, Mullingar, where there will be a 1pm throw in.

Westmeath lead the Division 2A table with eight points from four games. Kerry and Carlow are level on six points each but Kerry has a superior point’s difference. Meath remain on four points after four games.

Kildare and London, who meet in the last round are still pointless. The top two teams after this weekend’s series of games will contest the Final on Sunday week, March 11.

Joe McDonagh Cup

FOLLOWING the league, the next competition for the Kerry senior hurlers will be the new Joe McDonagh Cup, a Tier 2 hurling competition.

Six teams will compete – Meath, Carlow, Kerry, Westmeath, Antrim and Laois. Kerry fixtures are: Sunday, May 6 v Carlow (away); Sunday, May 13 v Laois (home); Sunday, May 20 v Westmeath (home); Sunday, June 3 v Meath (away) and Sunday, June 10 Antrim (away). The final is fixed for the weekend of June 30.

Celtic Challenge

THE Bank of Ireland Celtic Challenge is a hurling development competition for 16 and 17-year old hurlers.

Now in its third year, the competition has gone from strength to strength and in 2018 a total of forty one teams from all thirty two counties will take part across eight groups that are determined on a geographical and developmental basis.

There will be 1,250 players involved in a schedule of 135 matches that take place over an eight-week period. After an initial round robin group phase of matches, teams will be graded on their performance and will then be assigned to one of five divisions for the quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals, where again they will compete against teams of a similar level of ability.

Kerry will be playing in Group B together with Clare South / East, West Cork, Limerick Treaty and North Cork. Detailed fixtures will be issued shortly, with games to take place between Wednesday, May 2 and Saturday, June 30.

Coaching

A FOUNDATION Level Coaching Course for club coaches will take place on this Saturday, March 3 at St. Michael’s College, Listowel from 10am to 5pm.

The tutors will be Giles O’Grady and Daniel O’Donoghue and it is aimed towards coaches dealing with players from under 6-12 years of age.

Clubs

TRALEE Parnells hurling Academy for children born from 2005 – 2013 continues on Tuesday next, March 6 from 6pm at Tralee Sports Complex.

As usual, equipment is available to borrow and all boys and girls are welcome. Further details on the Tralee Parnell’s website. The club will also hold an Easter Hurling Camp from Monday, 26 March to Wednesday, 28 March.

To book a place, text 0851355566.

At the Kerry v Galway game at Austin Stack Park, Tralee on Sunday were the Leahy Family from Causeway in north Kerry: Marie, Shane, Pat, Darragh and Stacy