Mayo test crucial for the hurlers’ hopes

Tommy O’Connor

THE 2018 Allianz Hurling League Division 2A series for the Kerry senior hurlers continues on this Sunday, February 17 with a home, round 3 game at Austin Stack Park against Mayo.

Throw in time is 1pm (please note time) and it is hoped that the Kerry hurling public will come out and support the team. Admission tickets cost €10. Juveniles under-16 have free admission.

Remaining fixtures are away to London on Saturday, February 23 at McGovern Park, Ruislip, 1pm.; Meath on Sunday, March 3 at Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney (double bill with the Kerry footballers v Monaghan).

Club fixtures

THE 2019 County senior hurling league Division 1 will commence on the weekend of March 18 while Division 2 gets underway on Wednesday, May 29.

The Kerry Senior Hurling Championship for 2019 will have a later start than last year with Round 1 scheduled for Sunday, July 7. It will be followed by Round 2 on the weekend of 28 July and Round 3 on the weekend of 3 August. The semi-finals are down for Saturday, August 10 with the County Senior Championship Final due to be played on Sunday, 25 August.

The County Intermediate hurling championship will be played mid-week, with the preliminary round on Wednesday, July 10 and games each week until the Final on Wednesday, July 29.

In the County. Minor championship the early rounds will be played on Mondays, commencing on July 29 while the County Under-21 championship will commence on Saturday, August 31 Development Squads 2019

The Management Teams have been finalised for the 2019 Kerry Hurling Development Squads programme was launched at a Press event at the Currans GAA Centre of Excellence last week.

Squads will be in place at Under 14, Under 15, Under 16 and Minor (Under 17) levels. Overall co-ordination will be by Giles O’Grady, Games Development Administrator.

The various management teams are as follows: Under 14 - Kieran Dineen [Abbeydorney], John Fitzgerald [Causeway], Liam O’Connor [St. Brendan’s] and Joe Murphy [Ballyduff]; Under 15 - Joe Walsh [Kilmoyley], John Mike O’Connor [Ballyduff], Tony Goggin [ Ballyheigue] and Flor O’Brien [Kenmare]; Under 16 - Stephen Goggin [Causeway], Aidan Boyle [Ballyduff], Brian Shanahan [Tralee Parnell’s] and Gary O’Brien [Ballyduff]; Under 17 - John Hennessy [Ballyduff], Ollie Broughton [Tralee Parnell’s], John Healy [Ballyheigue], Jerome O’Sullivan [Crotta O’Neill’s] and Anthony Fealy [Causeway]. First of the competitions will be the Todd Nolan Minor Hurling Tournament which will take place on Saturday, March 23 at Dromakee and Abbeydorney.

Clubs

THE Tralee Parnells Spring Hurling Academy will commence on this Friday, February 8 at Tralee Sports Complex. It will cater for Under 6 to 10 hurling and camogie. Equipment will be provided. Details on the Tralee Parnells Facebook page.

In the Munster Under 15 C hurling competition last week, Mercy Mounthawk, Tralee defeated St. Nessan’s, Mungret by 5-11 to 2-9.

The re-scheduled Lixnaw GAA Victory Social has been fixed for this Saturday, February 16 at Ballyroe Heights Hotel.

The 2018 County Senior Championship winning panel will be presented with their medals on the night.