The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Christmas comes early for Senans
Timmy Sheehan was in Moyvane on Sunday to see St Senans make history with a first ever North Kerry Championship title
IT’S December and people’s thoughts are turning towards the festive break, but in North Kerry there’s the matter of the Championship title to be decided. Apart from East Kerry, which is still ongoing due to Dr Crokes continuing success, all of the other Divisional competitions have already been completed.
But, as always, at this time of the year the focus of most people in this particular part of the county turns to football. It’s a unique competition in many respects, given that none of the teams participating play in Division One of the County League. Compare it to East Kerry which will have four teams playing in next season’s county senior football championship, and, the gulf in terms of quality is significant. But, such statistics count for very little,if anything, when the spotlight, almost inevitably, falls on the northern half of the county at this time of the year.
For the two finalists last weekend, the incentives for both were equally as significant. St Senans had never won the title before, and, in situations such as this, desire and motivation are never going to be in short supply.
Ballydonoghue, who were coming into the game having completed back to back title wins, have endured prolonged periods without a title win, winning just once in 1992, over a 47-year period from 1959 up until 2016. So, when success ultimately comes your way one wants to maximise the opportunity to the full, given that the club had never before completed a three in a row.
So, the prize for both, as it always is, in this particular competition was always going to be quite special.
In terms of who might ultimately prevail the question being posed
was whether St Senans would be fresher given the break they had from their semi-final win over Finuge, or would it impact on their match sharpness.
For Ballydonoghue the situation for them was quite different. Given that they had to replay their semi-final against Ballyduff, was that going to make them battle hardened, and give them an extra edge in terms of match fitness, or would the exertions on heavy pitches at this time of the year take its toll. They certainly had the experience of winning the competition before, but would it be sufficient to offset the hunger of St Senans who had already beaten them twice in league competition to date this season.
One can over-think and analyse such factors in terms of how they might impact on proceedings given that finals bring with them that bit of added pressure, and as such it can all boil down to how many players can cope with the occasion, along with which players can provide the necessary leadership and the individual spark to influence the eventual outcome.
As events transpired St Senans ticked all of the boxes, getting to grips with the situation from an early stage, and generally dictating the trend of proceedings thereafter.
Three games in as many weeks certainly impacted on Ballydonoghue’s performance, and despite a lively start they struggled thereafter to match St Senans greater intensity. One expected goals, given that both sides had been pretty prolific in this respect on route to the final, and Sean Weir’s major coming as it did, late in the first half, when the encounter was deadlocked proved to be a significant strike.
It afforded St Senans a lead they subsequently never surrendered and, indeed, they went from strength to strength throughout all of the second half to complete a win that owed much to their admirable endeavour, both individually and collectively.
A famous victory indeed, played in front of a large and hugely enthusiastic attendance, and, celebrated in style at the final whistle. Having been beaten so comprehensively in the final two years ago by the same opposition it was always going to be difficult for St Senans to reverse that particular result. But on this occasion their mindset was spot on, being fully focused from the start, with a level of fitness fully capable of coping with the conditions at this time of the year.
The occasion and the match presentation provided all of the ingredients one associates with North Kerry deciders. It’s certainly a competition that stands alone in terms of its appeal to the sporting community in the region.
So much effort being put in by all of the teams in terms of their preparation with the trophy being one of the most coveted, prizes in Gaelic football in the county.
As an observer, one couldn’t help wondering why it isn’t being transferred into the two successful Divisional combinations - Feale Rangers and Shannon Rangers - in the County Senior Football Championship.
Quite a few of last weekend’s participants would have played with Kerry at different levels, so in terms of individual quality the region has sufficient talent, but for whatever reason it’s not being reflected in the top flight.
However, for the moment it won’t exercise the minds of the history makers who made the short trip in heavy traffic back to Mountcoal with the words of “When the Saints go marching in” ringing loud in their ears. Happy days indeed, and one to savour for a lifetime.