PS Chorca Dhuibhne

EAMONN Fitzmaurice remains in charge of the defending champions with new Kerry selector Tommy Griffin also involved in a management that includes Mairtin Ó Frathaille and Tomas Ó Beaglaoich. After losing the Hogan Cup Semi-Final to St Ronans back in March, the West Kerry School have lost some players but still maintain a good core of the side that won the Paul McGirr Cup (U-16 ½) two seasons ago.

Conchúir Ó Flannúra, Tomás Ó Dubháin, Colin and Colm Ó Muircheartaigh, Gearóid Ó Leidhinn, Cillian Ó Fáilbhe, Deividas Uosis, Dylan Ó Géibheannaigh and Ruaidhrí Ó Beaglaoich will be some of the key figures for the West Kerry side this campaign as they face three Cork Schools in the Group Stages with De La Salle Macroom, HHS Bandon and Skibbereen their three opponents. Even though there is no real form for Pobalscoil to go on with not having faced the aforementioned Schools up along the line, Fitzmaurice is still expecting it to be a competitive group.

The decision to move up to U-19 has been criticised by the former Kerry manager in advance of the start of the campaign. “I don’t think it will benefit smaller schools personally and it will favour the bigger schools more. I also don’t see the logic to it overall at a time when the inter-county ages are going one way with bringing Minor down to U-17, the Schools are going another way entirely is moving up to U-19,” he said of the changes.

A victory over Killorglin in the O’Sullivan Cup has been their only competitive fixture so far as they await to play Mercy Mounthawk in their other game in the Kerry competition. Will start as the competition favourites on this side of the border but three opponents outside the county bounds should test them well for the post-Christmas period.