East Kerry’s strength is fast becoming a weakness of Minor Championship

COUNTY MINOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 1 East Kerry 5-23 Kenmare District 0-8

THE size of East Kerry’s pick, with so many clubs on board, has seen them totally dominate the minor championship in recent years and the few of us able to watch this game in Glenflesk saw ample, and frankly worrying, proof that the problem is increasing.

This was a mismatch right from the throw-in. Kenmare have some very good players – Mark Casey was simply brilliant, while Hugh Granville, Caleb Brosnan, Mark Torpey, and Corey Murphy all caught the eye. But such is East Kerry’s strength in depth that Kenmare didn’t raise a single flag in the first half and trailed by 18 points at the interval.

East Kerry had a lot of The Sem team that reached this year’s cancelled All-Ireland U-16.5 Final. Not just the winners of last year’s U-16 County Championship Eoghan Ruadh, but also their semi-final opponents (less the Dr Crokes, Legion, and Firies players).

East Kerry were so good around the field that it is pointless to single out individuals players. Cian Foley had scored 2-2 by then, Tommy Bowler had 0-4 on board, and so had Killian O’Sullivan from midfield. Full credit to the East Kerry management, who took off three of their best players early in Dylan Roche, Darren Cronin, and Tommy Bowler. But their replacements were Luke Crowley, Kevin Bowler, and Jack Clifford – these lads would be definite starters on any other team in the championship.

Mark Casey did get Kenmare on the scoreboard early in the second half but it was to be their only score from play. East Kerry continued working the scoreboard, Tommy Bowler (a clever lob of the hapless keeper), Luke Crowley, and Aaron O’Shea with the goals.

Those who argue that juvenile divisional team Eoghan Ruadh should be introduced at senior grades received convincing evidence here.

EAST KERRY: William Casey, Padraic Talbot, Dara O’Callaghan, Cian Lynch, Rian Colleran, Andrew Moynihan, Michael Mullane, Paudie O’Leary (0-3), Killian O’Sullivan (0-4), Darren Cronin(0-1) Cian Foley (2-4, 1f), Micheál Keane, Tommy Bowler (1-4, 1f), Aaron O’Shea (1-3, 3f), Dylan Roche (0-1). Subs: Luke Crowley 1-1 for D Roche (h-t), Kevin Bowler 0-2 for D Cronin (h-t), Jack Clifford for T Bowler (37), Colm Kelliher for M Mullane (44), Donncha Grealy for C Lynch (47)

KENMARE DISTRICT: Daniel Gaine, Liam Palmer, Pearse O’Brien, Jamie O’Regan, Eoin O’Shea, Mark Casey (0-3, 2f), Caleb Brosnan, Hugh Granville,

John McCarthy, Jimmy Lehane, Mark Torpey (0-4, 4f), Tadhg O’Donoghue, Tommy O’Sullivan, Corey Murphy (0-1, 1f), Aidan Crowley. Subs: Adem Gul for EO’Shea(15),KevinO’SheaforJLehane(35),Dylan Wallace for T O’Donoghue (35), Darren Allman for C Brosnan (44), Darragh O’Connor for H Granville (44), Aodhán MacGearailt for L Palmer (53)

REFEREE: Daniel Clifford (Laune Rgrs)

Photo by Declan Malone Joanne O’Riordan, who travelled from Millstreet to support Legion in their Senior Club Football Championship Round 2 match in Páirc an Ághasaigh on Saturday got a warm welcome from the Dingle GAA crew of Derry Ó Murchú, John Foley, Murt Moriarty and Paul Geaney.