Crokes face Stacks in knockout SFC first round fixture

Chairman asks people to embrace prospect of games decided on penalties

EAST Kerry will start their County SFC title defence against Feale Rangers, but the stand-out fixture in what will be a straight knock-out county senior football championship is the meeting of Dr Crokes and Austin Stacks.

Dr Crokes, the 2018 county champions, will renew rivalry with 2014 county champions, Austin Stacks, in what will be a huge fixture in which the loser will be out of the running for the Bishop Moynihan Cup.

There is another Killarney versus Tralee first round contest with the meeting of Legion and Kerins

O’Rahillys, while the other all-club tie sees Dingle take on Templenoe.

Elsewhere, St Kierans take on South Kerry, Kenmare Shamrocks face Shannon Rangers, St Brendans play West Kerry, and newly promoted Kilcummin will face Mid Kerry.

The Round 1 games will take place on the weekend of August 22/23 with the CCC to arrange venues and times in due course.

The games will be ‘winner on the day’ and will include extra-time and then a penalty kicks if required.

Meanwhile, in the County Senior Hurling Championship, defending champions Causeway will start their title defence against Crotta O’Neills, while 2019 beaten finalists Lixnaw take on Abbeydorney. There is an intriguing derby between St Brendans and Kilmoyley, while the Round 1 fixtures are completed by the meeting of Ballyheigue and Ballyduff.

With regard to dates for the finals of the blue ribbon competitions, Kerry GAA has settled on late September dates for the County Senior Football and Hurling Championship finals in a revised club fixtures calendar that sees clubs back in action from July 18 until the weekend of October 10 and 11. That 13-week window will bring to a conclusion most of the football and hurling competitions, with the exception of the football Club Championship (senior, intermediate, premier junior, junior and novice) and the latter stages of the District Board Football Championships.

The County SHC Final will be played on the weekend of September 19/20, with the SFC final taking place a week later. Both championships will be run on a knock-out basis with no back-door or second chance. The date for the first round of the hurling championship is the weekend of August 15 and 16, with the football championship starting the following weekend. The football quarter-finals come

the next weekend, with the hurling semi-finals scheduled for the weekend of September 5/6.

The last four left in the SFC will go head to head on the weekend of September 12 and 13. Both sets of county finalists will have a fortnight between their semi-final wins and the county finals, which will have to produce a winner on the day. In the event of a draw after 60 minutes, extra-time and the a penalty shoot-out will determine the winner.

County Committee chairman Tim Murphy said while a penalty shoot-out won’t be to everyone’s liking, people should embrace it for what it is.

“No one likes to see a game won or lost on penalties but we’ve had no choice but to produce winners on the day under the circumstances. It will certainly add a new dimension to our games, and I’ve no doubt the situation will most likely arise somewhere along the line. All I’d say is that I’d hope people embrace it for what it is. I think it will inform people about what a penalty shoot-out can bring to a game. I’d ask people to welcome it and embrace it and accept the result come what may.”

With regard to the overall fixtures plan for the clubs, Mr Murphy said he was satisfied that there was adequate games for all clubs and players, under the circumstances.

“Over the last few months the CCC considered all options and there was a lot of preparatory work done well in advance of last week’s final plans.

“We engaged extensively with all the clubs, and we invited every club to make submissions, and the CC was very much informed by those, “the chairman told The Kerryman. “The big change is the two to qualify from the groups in the club championship, which is want the clubs really wanted.

“Overall, I’d say the vast majority buy into the plan and we’re just looking forward to playing games now.”