The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
SPA
2020 UPDATED CLUB CALENDAR
Kerry Co Board sent a revised fixtures calendar to clubs last Friday, with games starting on July 18th/19th. There have been some changes to procedures, venue planning, timeline for notification, result on the day etc to best proceed with competitions under the ‘new normal’ for the remainder of the year. The revised fixtures schedule is available on the Spa GAA or Kerry GAA website and important information for each competition is outlined there. The main points for Spa in the Intermediate Championship is that Round 1 has been brought forward to July 25th/26th and this year only there will be 2 teams qualifying in each group instead of one. Details of date, venue etc will be confirmed in the coming weeks. Spa are grouped with Currow, Na Gaeil and Glenflesk and our Rd1 game will be against Currow. The draw for this year’s Senior County Championship will be made on Terrace Talk on Radio Kerry this Monday night June 29th.
GOOD LUCK TO ALL BUSINESSES REOPENING THIS WEEK
Good luck to all businesses opening up again this week! The message is clear: SUPPORT LOCAL business, community, suppliers, jobs, economy etc as Ireland begins the road to recovery. This is a ‘new normal’ for many business owners and staff so please be patient and follow the recommended guidelines in social distancing, face coverings etc
CLUB REGISTRATION
Final call for club registration as Spa re-opens. Registration is open on our website spagaa.com or the registrars will also be at the clubhouse this Tuesday June 30th from 7.30--8.30pm for anyone that would prefer to register in person (social distancing guidelines will be in place). Any queries pls contact Ger, Sean, Donagh or Shona. Anyone who has not registered yet is asked to do so as soon as possible. With limited access to GAA grounds going forward, only registered members/players will be allowed to access the walking track, playing pitches etc.
SHARE THE POT
Thank you to everyone who has supported our Spa GAA Share The Pot draw. The second draw took place last Friday and winner Donal Claffey shares the pot of €470 with the Club. If you haven’t already signed up, you can still get your name in before the next draw on Friday July 10th. It is €10 per ticket to be included in next 4 draws (€2.50 into the pot for each draw) and at each draw the Club and winning ticket share the pot 50/50. Visit spagaa.com to play or contact Club Officers to get your name in. **The usual Spa Lotto remains suspended for the foreseeable future and the expiry dates of annual tickets and online tickets will be extended to compensate for weeks when Lotto is not held.
COMPULSORY E-LEARNING MODULE FOR RETURN TO GAA
A reminder about the new eLearning module has been created to inform those involved with the GAA, LGFA and Camogie Clubs on the safe resumption of Gaelic Games activities. The module must be completed by anyone entering club facilities, especially players, team personnel, parents/guardians of underage players, Covid Supervisors and Club Officers. The module takes 20 minutes to complete and can be taken at any time on any laptop or mobile device. Participants will have to declare on their Health Questionnaires that they have completed the module. The module can be accessed at: https:// courses.gaa.ie/Covid19ClubEd The programme aims to protect the health and welfare of all those involved in Gaelic Games and minimise the risk of transmission of Covid-19 in local communities.
GAA ROADMAP FOR RETURN TO PLAY
The GAA announced the new roadmap for a return to play for inter-county teams last week. Full details available online but main points for the Kerry footballers are as follows:
*Football Championship will revert to provincial knock-out format *No qualifiers
*Finish on the day for ALL championship games (extra time if needed of 10 mins per half and then to penalties)
*No Junior Football Championship in 2020
*Rd6 and Rd7 of Allianz National Leagues to be completed in October - top team in each Division to be declared the winner (No Finals to be played)
*U20 Football Semi-Finals and Final to be played
*2020/2021 Provincial and All Ireland Club Championships will NOT take place
*Minor Football Championship will be straight knock-out with no Quarter Finals - and will NOT be played alongside the senior
*Post Primary competitions to run to Provincial Final level only (No All Ireland at any level)
*Munster Senior Football Championship Semi-Final 1: Cork v Kerry and Semi-Final 2: Waterford/Limerick v Clare/Tipperary
CÚL CAMP
The Kerry GAA Cúl Camp in Spa (for children aged 6-13) will take place from August 3rd - 7th 2020. Bookings open on the national website www.kelloggsculcamps.gaa.ie. This year all registrations must be done online and the numbers at camps will be limited. Parents will NOT be able to register on the morning of the camp.
VOLUNTEERS AVAILABLE
Help is still available if anyone needs it. Kerry Community Volunteers (tel 1800 807 009 / text 50555 / email covidsupport@kerrycoco.ie) OR to contact the club directly: Patrick (0876332773), Michael (0858213027), Conor (0872565142) or Deirdre (0851216359).
THE GATES ARE OPEN AGAIN
As the GAA receives the green light to return to activity, Chairman Michael Cronin has re-opened the gates of Spa GAA Club. We are delighted to be able to welcome back our members, but we are advising everyone that there are new procedures in place at the Club in line with national guidelines to help prevent the spread of Covid-19. The first group to return to training were our senior squad, with other groups scheduled for return over the coming weeks. All coaches and management teams will be given allocated times and are asked to advise all players of the new guidelines for a safe return to football for everyone.
SPA ARCHIVES
Thank you to everyone who continues to send in photos, programmes, newspaper clippings etc of Spa over the years! We are going through our history of teams, events and members over the years, and they can be found on our website (spagaa.com) or our social media pages (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram). If you have any old photos, newspaper clippings, programmes etc, please send them on to 0851216359 (text or what’s app), email pro.spa.kerry@gaa.ie or private message our Spa social media pages.
ITEMS FOR NOTES
Any items for the club notes please contact Deirdre at pro.spa. kerry@gaa.ie or 0851216359 before 8pm on Sundays.