Beaufort slightly fancied to defend their Mid Kerry SFC title

MID KERRY SFC FINAL Glenbeigh/Glencar v Beaufort Sunday, November 19 JP O’Sullivan Park, Killorglin at 2pm

THREE weeks later than originally advertised, the 2017 Mid Kerry Senior Football Final will finally be played as defending champions Beaufort and All-Ireland Junior Club champions Glenbeigh/ Glencar do battle in Killorglin this Sunday.

Originally meant to be played on the October Bank Holiday weekend, the CCC of the Mid Kerry Board put the game back to this Sunday despite both clubs being available to play the game both on the original date as well as last Sunday.

The Kerryman understands that the decision was made to try and avoid clashes with other big fixtures around the county but it’s one that has drawn the ire of Beaufort manager Gary McGrath in particular, as the double Hogan Cup winning manager with St Brendans College, Killarney believes the wrong logic was used in how the fixture was changed.

“I think the priorities are all wrong if trying to draw a crowd in this instance is put above the interests of player welfare. We have players involved in big Third Level fixtures this week and asking them to get themselves ready for a Mid Kerry Final only a few days later is not right in my opinion when there were dates there to play this game beforehand.

“We have one of our selectors who has been travelling down from Cork for the last five years flying over to his son’s wedding in Australia who has to miss out on the game because of this,” McGrath said about the delay in playing the game.

Glenbeigh/Glencar manager Aidan O’Shea also expected the game to be played earlier but says regardless of the timing of it, the All-Ireland Junior champions are in the midst of an injury crisis.

“Gavan looks almost certain to be out as he is halfway through recovering from a medial knee ligament tear. Pa Kilkenny and Caoilm Teahan are struggling with hamstring injuries while Jack Brosnan has a neck problem. It’s more about trying to keep the group together and asking them to empty the tank once more before they take a wellearned break after three years on the go. Beaufort beat us fair and square in the semi-final last year and I think they have come on leaps and bounds since and won’t look out of place next year in Division One of the County League,” he said.

This decade has seen Glenbeigh/Glencar win the Michael O’Connor Cup in the odd numbered years (2011, 2013 and 2015) but a fourth success looks a big ask in advance with Beaufort pretty much injury free. Liam Car- ey, Mike Breen and Ronan Murphy will spearhead the defending champions bid to retain the title but with it being five weeks since both sides won their respective semi-finals over Laune Rangers (Beaufort) and Milltown/Castlemaine (Glenbeigh/Glencar), it might even itself out somewhat with the wait.

It has been a memorable year for the All-Ireland champions regardless of how Sunday goes but Beaufort arguably have the fresher legs to succeed should that turn out to be the key factor on the day.

Verdict: Beaufort

Photo by Michelle Cooper Galvin Fossa Under 16 team who were defeated by Kilcummin in the East Kerry Coiste nÓg U16 division 3 championship final sponsored by MD O’Sheas at Fitzgerald Stadium.