Tough trip to Galway is next on the cards

PETER Keane will welcome a two-week break before Kerry are back in National League action, but he will keep an anxious watch on this weekend’s Sigerson Cup semi-finals in the hope that Kerry panellists Sean O’Shea, Graham O’Sullivan and Killian Spillane come through unscathed. However, Spillane must be a doubt to play with UCC on Sunday after being left out of Kerry’s squad last Saturday because of an injury picked up in the win over Cavan.

Kerry made it three wins from three under Keane last Saturday against Dublin, and the fortnight break will give Keane an opportunity to work more closely with the panel for the first time since the League started.

They will be back in action on Sunday week when they travel to Galway to face the team that scuppered Kerry’s Super 8 debut last July. The game is expected to talk place in Pearse Stadium in Salthill (2pm) although there is some speculation that it could be fixed for Tuam.

Kerry sit just behind Mayo on scoring difference, with James Horan’s team scheduled to go to Croke Park on Saturday week to play Dublin, who are in sixth place in the division and already under pressure to mount a successful defence of their League title.

Kerry could have Kevin McCarthy back for the trip to Galway now that Kilcummin have finished with the All-Ireland Club Championship, while James O’Donoghue will be assessed ahead of that trip.

David Clifford and Killian Young are understood to be still a few weeks away off full fitness and it will probably be March before either man is under consideration for a match day squad.

NFL Division 1

P W DLDiff Pts Mayo 3 3 0 0 15 6 Kerry 3 3 0 0 86 Galway 3 2 0 1 -8 4 Roscommon 3 111 1 3 Monaghan 3 102 0 2 Dublin 3 1 0 2 7 2 Tyrone 3 0 1 2 -13 1 Cavan 3 0 0 3 -10 0 Saturday, February 23 Dublin v Mayo, 7pm Tyrone v Monaghan, 7pm Sunday, February 24 Galway v Kerry, 2pm Cavan v Roscommon, 2pm

MMeanwhile,hil ththose SiSigerson CCup semi-finals take place this weekend with UCD taking on St Marys Belfast on Saturday in Mallow while UCC play NUI Galway on Sunday in Mallow.

This game has been rescheduled from the Saturday and means David Shaw will be able to play with Dr Crokes in their All-Ireland Club semi-final on Saturday and be available for UCC 24 hours later.

WHAT a fantastic Saturday it was for Kerry football! Beaufort got the ball rolling with an emphatic win over Easkey in the All-Ireland Club Junior final in Croke Park. The Sligo outfit were no match for Eanna O’Malley’s slick, well-drilled side that was battle hardened after some tough games on the way to the final. This Beaufort side has been building over the past three to four seasons and have huge potential. tepotential. I was particularly delighted fofor their goalkeeper Mike ‘Taylor’ Moriarty who has been a stalwart of the team for over twenty years. Iff that was his last game between the sticks for his beloved Beaufort then it was fitting that it should end with him climbing the steps of the Hogan Stand. Well done Taylor. WWell done Beaufort.

Next up were Kilcummin in the IIntermediate final. They faced NNaomh Éanna of Antrim whose history as a club had been well documented in the lead up to the game. I am often in the north of Ireland due to my wife being from Antrim and regularly train with the local side St Pats of Lisburn. On my last trip I had a great chat with their president Mick Lynch. He told me of harrowing stories of being a member of the GAA in Northern Ireland during the 60s and 70s. Similarly to Naomh Eanna, they had their clubhouse burnt down on several occasions. Opposition teams refused to travel to play in Lisburn for fear of attack. The club had to move location several times due to attacks on players and their families. Thankfully for clubs like St Pats and Naomh Eanna that is now all in the past and Gaelic football and hurling is thriving in areas of the North where it was once forbidden.

So Kilcummin faced a side whom all neutrals were backing but it didn’t faze Willie Maher and his men. After a tight enough first half they showed their class in the second period and ran out comfortable winners in the end. On the big day of course you look to your big players and in Kevin McCarthy the East Kerry side have a match winner. He was sensational, having one of those days that everything he did came off. A haul of 3-7 from play tells its own story, and when you consider that he is carrying a persistent wrist injury it makes it all the more impressive. We will all be hoping that Kevin can bring that form into the county set-up.

The proudest man in Croke Park Saturday was without doubt former GAA President Sean Kelly. The brainchild behind these Club Championship finals being played