COACHING CONFERENCE: Gene O’Donnell has organized a very interesting Coaching Conference which will take place on next Saturday (16th Jan) at the Meadowlands Hotel from 8am to 1pm.
If you go to our website you will get the full details. Spaces are limited, so it is advisable to book early by contacting Geno at 087 9047707or atgenokerry@gmail.com.
Speakers will include Pat Flanagan (former Kerry trainer), Joe O’Connor (Ireland’s Fittest Family), Eoin Burns (Breathing Coach) and Roy Guerin (Paralympian).
SENIOR SCÓR: For full details of Scór Sinsir see Brian Caball’s Juvenile Notes.
THE YEAR PAST – JUNIOR B FOOTBALL: The Team Management of Colm Mangan, Tim McMahon and John Murphy pulled no punches in their Report to AGM – claiming that ‘the Junior season was most unsatisfactory in 2015’. While they fulfilled all 10 Co. League fixtures – through no fault of their own they had to concede against Rathmore in the Molyneau Cup (Co. Championship). They played 15 games in total (getting a walk-over in another) and only 9 players of the 61 who lined out during the season played in 8 games or more. So without a settled team it was understandably that, out of the 15 games played we only won 3, drew 1 and lost 11 (12 if you include the walk-over we gave to Rathmore).
John Murphy had the most appearances with 13, followed by Seán Purcell on 12 and Dale Counihan on 11. Kyle Fitzgibbon was top scorer with 1-20, followed by Darragh Long on 1-18, Seamus Bastible with 3-11, Seán Dukes with 2-9 and Breandán Caball on 0-11.
MINOR FOOTBALL; Gene O’Donnell – together with his fellow management team of John O’Sullivan, Eamonn O’Reilly, Brian Morgan (earlier in the season) and Wayne Quillinan (later in the season), with some invaluable assistance also from William Kirby during the course of the year – can feel well pleased with the progress made, even though results did not always go to plan. They played 16 games, winning 7 and losing 9 – with one of the competitions (the Central League) still unfinished as we enter the new year). The Central League was comprised of six teams – Dingle, Gaeltacht, Kerins O’Rahillys, Laune Rangers, Milltown and ourselves. That meant a 5 round League with a semi final and a final. The opening round was fixed for 22nd June, with R2 on 29th, R3 on 20th July, R4 on 27th July and R5 on 17th Aug. The semi final was fixed for 24th Aug with the final 5 days later on the 29th Aug. We qualified for the semi final which has yet to be played.
Philip Quilter played in all our 16 games, followed by 15 appearances for Calvin Foley and Seán Dukes, and then Danny Kinsella, Brandon Patterson, Louis Ryle and Cian Liston with 14 games each. Calvin was also chief scorer (5-33) followed by Ferdia O’Brien (1-39), Louis Ryle (5-8), Cian Liston (7-3) and Seán Dukes (0-14). Seán, of course, created that all-time Club record of having the most Minor appearance (38), breaking the record held by John Dennis (37) achieved in 2006 and Ciarán Flanagan (37) in 2014.
Jack Morgan and Ferdia O’Brien were involved with the Kerry Minors during the year. Jack won back to back Munster and All Ireland Minor medals – the first Club player to do so in 52 years (Henry McKinney was the last Club player to do that in 1962 and 1963). In next week’s Notes we will conclude our look back at 2015with a summary of the U21Fs and Senior Hurlers
WELL DONE: to Wayne Guthrie, Shane O’Callaghan and Darragh O’Brien who were involved with the Kerry SF team’s McGrath Cup game (against Clare) in Fitzgerald Stadium last Sunday (10th Jan). Wayne had to retire during the second half after picking up an injury which, we understand, isn’t that serious.
Well done also to David Mannix who got favourable mention (with photo) in last Saturday’s Irish Times – mentioning that he is in fine form with DCU as they progress (winning two games out of three – so far) in the O’Byrne Cup.
BEST OF LUCK: to neighbours, John Mitchels, in their Co. League Div. 2 promotion play-off final next Saturday. A win against Spa (Killarney) would see Mitchels back in Division 1 for the first time since 2003.
CLUB SOCIAL: The Club Social takes place on Saturday 30th January at the Ballyroe Heights Hotel. It will include a Champagne Reception and the facility to watch Kerry .v. Dublin NFL game live in the hotel bar. The match will be followed by dinner, band & disco ’til late. Tickets at €30 are available from the Club Bar from this weekend or you may pre-book by texting 087 0559455 or 087 2461732. Always a great night.
BINGO: continues in our Clubhouse on this and every Saturday night commencing at 8.30pm.
CLUBHOUSE: As always the Clubhouse is available for all types of Parties. For Bookings phone Des Griffin at 086 402 0808.
CARDS: The 45 Card Sessions continue in the Clubhouse on every Monday and Thursday nights, commencing at 9.30pm each night.
All at the Cards extend sincere sympathy to Bridget Herbert on the death of her brother, John Hayes (see sympathy)
LOTTO: Last Night’s (11th Jan) Jackpot, worth €5,000, was not won. The numbers drawn were 3, 7, 17 and 23.
The €20 Winners were: Katie Leen, c/o Tom Leen; Josephine Casey and Cathal Healy, both c/o Richard Healy; Jackie Keating, c/o Carmel O’Neill; and Pat Kissane, c/o The Club.
SYMPATHY: Sincere sympathy is offered to the families of the following who died recently – Mary O’Sullivan (nee O’Regan), Gortbrack, Ballyseedy; John Hayes, Rannagh, Tulla (Co. Clare) (see Cards); Catherine (Rosie) Foley (nee St. John), Beaumont (Dublin), Thurles and Tralee; Mary Val O’Shea (nee O’Shea), O’Rahilly’s Villas and late of Val O’Shea’s Bar, Bridge Street and Rossmore, Firies; Patricia Quinlan, Booterstown (Dublin) and late of Tralee; and Denis Hickey, Chutehall.