The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
A message from the South Kerry PRO
SINCE South Kerry made the long awaited breakthrough in 2004 and brought the Bishop Moynihan Cup down south it has heralded a wonderful era in the fortunes of South Kerry GAA. Three Bishop Moynihan’s in a row was achieved leading to Declan O’Sullivan bringing Sam back to the Kingdom in ‘06 and ‘07. Losing to Feale Rangers in ‘07 was a minor setback but back again to take ‘09 title was particularly sweet over arch rivals Dr Crokes.
A barren spell had to be endured until 2015 when we achieved a massive triumph over Killarney Legion after a replay that needed extra time. Unfortunately, we failed to beat Dr Crokes in 2017, a final we could have sneaked. All this success started back in 1999 against Austin Stacks, ‘00 Mid Kerry, ‘01 Rathmore/Glenflesk, when the South Kerry minors won 3-in-a-row, a superb U21 3-ina-row was to follow in ‘03 against Austin Stacks, in ‘04 against Mid Kerry, in ‘05 against East Kerry. Back in business again in ‘07 against St Kieran’s and in ‘10 against West Kerry and ‘16 v Dingle.
Success soon spread to club level where we had Skellig Rangers and St Michael’s Foilmore making it all the way through Junior and Intermediate to lift All-Ireland titles in February 2009. St Mary’s made it all the way capturing both Junior 2011 and Intermediate 2016 club titles. All the finals were won in Croke Park. Dromid lost to Derrytresk of Tyrone 2012 in an All-Ireland semi-final on a most forgettable day for football, and as late as 2017 losing to Knocknagree in the Munster Junior Final with Knocknagree taking the All-Ireland title at their ease after.
Renard had a great victory over Tousist in Beaufort in 2001 the same day St Marys took the intermediate title. Valentia Young Islanders in 2015 and Sneem Derrynane in 2016 both had the honour of winning the Munster Junior B title hosted by the Knockaderry Club in Limerick.
Another holy grail was reached with Coláiste na Sceilge winning the Hogan Cup 2009 after a few agonisingly close efforts. One would think after 3 Corn Ui Mhuires in a row (’01 to ’03) that wouldn’t take until 2009, but as we all know sport works in mysterious ways. I think it is fair to say South Kerry clubs have been very much to the fore with all clubs playing a superb brand of attacking football.
In our domestic championship we saw a 3-in-a-row for St Marys (01 to ’03), while Dromid and Skellig Rangers made long awaited breakthroughs by winning titles in ‘04 and ‘06 respectively. Valentia slipped in under the radar to take the ‘05 title, while the next major honour fell to St Michaels Foilmore with a 2 in a row in ’07 and ‘08, and again in ’12 and ’13.
St Marys were also back in the big time with 3-in-a-row in ’09 to ‘11 and then a 4-in-a-row from 2014 to 2017. The unluckiest team of all would have to go down as Waterville missing out on a number of titles after replays by the minimum on a lot of occasions with their last South Kerry title coming in 1999.
So, all in all it’s been a very entertaining few decades with lots of wonderful memories and long may it continue for many decades to come. With lots of great people working in every club and all the district age groups from U14 upwards being well catered for, hopefully many more titles will come south.