Kerry soccer still waiting as national title eludes teams

ONCE again Kerry teams fared quite well in national and provincial competitions but that elusive title has not yet come to fruition.

The only Kerry team to win a national title was Tralee Dynamos who won the FAI Youths Cup title back in 1998.

Killarney Celtic got to the last 16 of the FAI Junior Cup but went down to Wexford side North End United who went on to win out the competition.

They got to the semi final of the Munster Junior Cup but lost 3-2 to Limerick side Pike Rovers allowing a 2-0 lead to slip.

Killarney Athletic got to the semi-final of the Champions League Trophy but went down to Limerick side Janesboro who went on to win out the competition.

The Park got to the semi-final of the Munster Youths Cup but lost 4-0 to Kilgarvan.

They also reached the semi-fi- nal of the FAI Youths Cup and were unlucky to go down 1-0 to St Kevins Boys, Dublin at Christy Leahy Park with a late goal winning the game for the visitors.

Tralee Dynamos had a great run in the Munster Under 17 Cup but just came up short at the end.

David Hennessy took over as manager of the Oscar Traynor Cup team and they defeated Limerick in a penalty shoot out but they lost 2-1 to Sligo/Leitrim in the knock out stages.

KDL is well served by standard of refereeing

THE KDL could not function without referees and clubs in general appear to be reasonably happy with the standard of refereeing over the past season.

I must say I would concur with that but perhaps an effort could be made to recruit younger referees and past players to take up the whistle.

It was a big year for the Kerry Referees Society and they held a big function at the Rose Hotel in Tralee to mark their 40th anniversary.

Among the attendance was the FAI CEO John Delaney and presentations were made to Siobhan O’Mahoney and Kevin O’Regan.

A man who has given great service over the years hung up his whistle with the retirement of Referees Observer Jim McCarthy.

Jim has given over half a century of service to the sport and has done a phenomenal amount of work improving the standard of refereeing and recruiting new referees.

Derek O’Shea made the headlines when he was appointed referee of the FAI Junior Cup Final on May 12 between Pike Rovers and North End United and the Tralee man did an excellent job, which won him much acclaim.

Castleisland AFC sign contract for new pitch

CASTLEISLAND AFC have signed the contracts to construct their new full size FAI spec artificial turf playing pitch. This development is a collaboration between Castleisland AFC and Castleisland Community College where Castleisland AFC will build, manage and maintain the facility. It is anticipated that the work will be completed by mid to late October The contractor for the project is Sean Kelly Construction and they will be commencing work within the next few days.

Meanwhile, work at the new all-weather pitch at Mounthawk Park in Tralee has commenced and it is hoped to have the project completed within the next eight weeks.

Death of great soccer men

THE Kerry soccer community lost a few great servants of the sport over the past 12 months with a few untimely deaths.

A veil of sadness greeted the death of Castleisland legend Georgie O’Callaghan who passed away after a short illness. His funeral was one of the biggest ever seem in his native town.

Another great follower of the game John Dowling of St Brendan’s Park also passed on to his eternal reward.

The death also took place of Tralee man Tommy Conroy who had a long association with the famous Low Field in Tralee and Tralee Dynamos.