The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
The options are limited for colleges season to be played to completion
KERRY colleges have batted well above their weight in GAA competitions over the past decade. Famously, Kerry more than doubled their haul of Hogan Cups with four in a row and have won 13 of the last 15 Corn Uí Mhuirí titles. But that’s the flagship – the fleet is an awful lot bigger and colleges GAA is as important in schools with fewer numbers and less resources.
Tralee CBS under Mike Tim O’Sullivan, Tim McMahon, and Neilie O’Sullivan and their players deserve every plaudit they get after ending that long wait for a coveted Munster title. And let’s face it; beating old rivals the Sem in the final isn’t exactly going to temper any celebrations! The two traditional superpowers contested Munster U19, U16.5, and U15 finals this year.
Castlegregory and brought boys and girls teams to the latter stages of Munster competitions. Colaiste na Sceilge did likewise and won two Munster titles.
Presentation Milltown surprised everybody except themselves by knocking out holders Inbhearr Sceine and then St. Brendans to lift the Dunloe Cup.
St. Ide agus Iosef Abbeyfeale reached two finals and won their first Munster title – and Paul Walsh may be the talisman, but it’s very far from a one-man show. In schools all over the county, there is unheralded talent being encouraged to blossom.
Just as importantly, there are young players who may never stand on grass in Croke Park but who are learning to take pride in themselves, their school, and ultimately their communities through the playing fields. At the end of the day, that far outweighs any medal.
None of this happens without a colossal amount of work. Kerry owes a big debt to committee members like Fergus Clifford, Christy Killeen, Micheál Ó Sé, George Dennis, Paul Barden,Patrick O’Sullivan, Dermot Lynch, and Donnacha Hickey, as well as all the teachers who give freely of their time and effort to make it happen.