The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Promoted Templenoe drawn alongside Kenmare Shamrocks
WITH still just the eight teams in the Senior Club Championship the possibility of more than one - perhaps two - really intriguing and highly anticipated ties is all we can reasonably expect, and even then a meeting of Killarney neighbours Dr Crokes and Legion, or Tralee rivals Austin Stacks and Kerins O’Rahillys don’t really capture the imagination as they ought to; certainly not in what is roundly regarded as the secondary championship for the most senior clubs in the county.
Nevertheless, Monday’s draw has produced one quite interesting head-to-head with newly promoted Intermediate champion Templenoe drawn in the same group as their neighbours, Kenmare Shamrocks.
The prospect of erstwhile Kenmare District team mates Gavin Crowley and Sean O’Shea marking each other, or Tadhg Morley going mano a mano on Killian Spillane, might just be enough to keep interest high in Group 1, which also houses the aforementioned Dr Crokes and O’Rahillys.
It will be round 2, at least, before Templenoe take on Kenmare, however, as the newly promoted club must first face Dr Crokes, with the Shamrocks set to meet O’Rahillys in their opening match.
In the other group the defending champions Austin Stacks will start their title defence against Dingle, a team they lost to in the County Senior Football Championship last September.
Kilcummin and Killarney Legion will come together in an East Kerry derby in the other first round fixture in Group 2.
As has been the case for a last few years, the County Senior Club champions will be Kerry’s representative in the Munster Club SFC in the event of a divisional team lifting the Bishop Moynihan Cup. And with East Kerry seen as a good bet to defend that title, the Senior Club Championship should be a keenly fought for and highly coveted title this year.
The prospect of a back-door ticket into the Munster Club Championship is a very attractive carrot for the senior clubs, although Stacks experience against Nemo Rangers, after
they were fast-tracked into the Munster competition after East Kerry’s county final win in November.
Nevertheless, this is a senior championship that all eight clubs will be keen to win, while the possibility of the competition being used to relegate one of the eight form the county senior championship should also ensure its competitiveness.