Deenihan’s comments spark debate on districts

In the wake of Jimmy Deenihan’s comments last week Timmy Sheehan takes a look at the history of divisiional sides

D IVISIONAL sides don’t have the fear of relegation hanging over them and their success rate in the competition has been better than clubs in the recent past. From 1970 to 1979 five divisional combinations, East Kerry, Mid Kerry, Shannon Rangers, Kenmare and Feale Rangers won six titles between them, with Austin Stacks winning the other four.

In the 1980s the divisions dominated, winning eight titles with Stacks and Laune Rangers winning the other two.

The 1990s was an even divide, five apiece, with Laune Rangers and East Kerry each winning three.

The noughties saw the re emergence of South Kerry, winning four of the six titles won by divisions, with Dr Crokes, Kerins O Rahillys, and An Ghaeltacht with two winning the remaining four.

Since 2010 Crokes have been the dominant force, winning five in a seven year span, with Stacks winning in 2014 and South Kerry being the sole divisional winners in 2015.

So in a countback of fifty years divisional sides come out on top with nine different combinations, which includes Killarney in 1983, winning twenty nine titles and, five different clubs winning twenty one championships.

However, statistics such as these won’t influence the outcome of this year’s championship, but divisional sides, properly organised and motivated, with a sufficient level of preparation have the player resources to make a big impact.

Preparation, however, is not always easy, or feasible with all of the clubs being involved in their own respective Championships, a fortnight before the start of the County Senior Football Championship.

The opinion expressed in The Kerryman last week, by the former All Ireland winning captain Jimmy Deenihan that the two North Kerry sides should amalgamate, is a suggestion, I think would not be met with universal approval.

It would mean that they would have the pick of eleven different clubs, which is more than the Kerry hurlers have at their disposal when they embark on their league and championship campaign.

Success, requires a lot of effort and patience and if one wants to succeed the template provided by Templenoe is one which should be borrowed by any other similar type club wishing to make progress and prosper.

Their success story stands alone as the ultimate in any sport in terms of how to build a monument, beginning with just the bare ingredients and essentials when the foundations are being laid.

There’s no reason why clubs of a similar size can’t follow a similar type of route. Feale Rangers and Shannon Rangers have between them won eight championship titles with Feale Rangers being successful just ten years ago.

History tells us that their time will come again, but it requires a collective commitment from the clubs in the respective divisions.