Reeling in the GAA years: Waterville parties like it’s 1999

WATERVILLE Frank Caseys is a very prominent GAA club in South Kerry and, indeed, Kerry as a whole.

The home of Mick O’Dwyer, the club won its first South Kerry championship in 1956 with victory over St Marys of Cahersiveen on a score of 2-4 to 1-4.

The pinnacle of the seaside club’s progress came in the years 1968, ‘69 and ‘70 when Waterville, on its own, contested three County Senior Football Championship Finals. They lost all three versus the might of the numerically advantaged East Kerry, which included the whole of Killarney town.

Today, it is difficult to believe that Frank Caseys have never won a South Kerry Championship in the new millennium, their last such win coming in 1999, when victory was achieved over St Marys on a score of 1-12 to 2-7.

Since then, they have contested six finals, losing all of them.

The 1999 starters were: Bernard Murphy, Conan Fenton, Dan Fizgerald, Haulie Courtney, Danny Walsh, Buddy O’Shea, David Daly, Vincent O’Sullivan, Seamus O’Sullivan, Keith Moran, Denis O’Dwyer, Ian Galvin, Martin O’Shea, John D O’Shea and Darby Clifford.

The subs were Michael Keating, John Galvin, Denis Everett, Stevie Huggard, David Galvin, Brian Moran, Niall Moran, Michael O’Shea, Gary Galvin, Owen Moriarty and Denis O’Carroll. The trainers were Buddy O’Shea and Haulie Courtney, and the selectors were Paddy Fogarty and John ‘Super’ O’Sullivan.

The St Marys starters were Seamus Fitzgerald, Haulie Clifford, Mike O’Leary (RIP), Diarmuid O’Sullivan, Gerry Murphy, Bernard O’Connor, John Paul O’Connor, Pa O’Connell, John Quirke, Mark O’Shea, Ray Keane, Austin Constable, James Fitzgerald, Paul O’Connell and Daniel O’Sullivan.

Their subs were Liam Corcoran, Steven Curran, Aidan O’Sullivan, Gearóid O’Driscoll, Niall O’Driscoll, Michael O’Connell, Mike Murt O’Connell, John P Murphy, Connie O’Connor and Gearóid Constable.

Their manager was PJ O’Donovan; Kieran McCarthy was the trainer; and the selectors were Seamus Fitzgerald and John ‘Casúr’ O’Sullivan.

Maurice O’Sullivan of Ballyheigue refereed, with assistance from his umpires, Joseph Higgins, Thomas Higgins, Michael Pierse, and Valentia’s very own Pat O’Connor (Valentia). The linesmen were Paul O’Sullivan and Anthony Keating.

St Marys and Valentia clashed in a very entertaining preliminary-round encounter that year. Valentia led at half time by 1-4 to six points, the goal coming from a penalty in the fourth minute by John Shanahan.

Valentia’s starting team that day was Brendy Murphy; Dan O’Connor (RIP), Patrick O’Connor, PJ O’Sullivan, Michael O’Donoghue, Seamus O’Connor, Mark O’Sullivan, Fionan Murphy (0-1), John Daly, Declan Lynch (0-1), Paul Curran (0-1, RIP), Martin Falvey, Junior Murphy, John Shanahan (1-4) and Richard Quigley. The subs were Brian Murphy for Martin Falvey; and Pat O’Connor for Junior Murphy.

Congratulations to Liam Mac Gabhann (left) representing Valentia, who received a silver medal for in the U-12 Art boys competition at the Kerry Community Games County Finals, held on Saturday, February 23, in Listowel. The Community Games is a great organisation, made possible by a large number of volunteers from every county in Ireland who make it possible for children to get involved and play their part. Children on Valentia are fortunate to have an active Community Games Committee, with a great secretary in Karen O’Connell.