COACHING CONFERENCE: There was a big turn-out of Club Coaches and others at the Coaching Conference held at the Meadowlands Hotel last Saturday morning (16th Jan).
Speakers included Joe O’Connor, a Fitness Consultant with his own Company – NISUS – as well as featuring in RTE’s ‘Fittest Family’ Show; Eoin Burns, a Breathing Coach, who has worked with The Galway Hurlers and the Kerry Ladies Footballers; Roy Guerin (Paralympics Coach), who shot to fame in 1985 when winning the Dublin City Marathon and who won bronze at the 2005 World Championships; Dr. James Ryan (Specialist in Endocrinology at the Bon Secours in Tralee) who spoke on injury prevention; Pat Flanagan (who worked for many years as Fitness Coach with the Kerry SF team); and finally our own Kieran Donaghy who gave a very interesting key-note speech.
Club Chairman, Liam Lynch, thanked everyone and made presentations to the speakers as well thanking all our Sponsors including Kevin Barry’s Shop; Barry’s Bakery; Terry Healy Butchers; Officeandink; Cleary’s Photography; Des Griffin and his staff in the Clubhouse; The Bon Secours Health System; and the Meadowlands Hotel.
Our thanks to all who were involved in organizing this unique Conference including Liam Lynch, Lorraine & Dave Scanlon, Eamonn O’Reilly, David Corkery, Mary McQuinn, Elma Nix and the main organizer, Gene O’Donnell.
A special thanks to Adrienne McLoughlin for her photographic coverage of the event and to Club Hurler and Radio Kerry Broadcaster, Andrew Morrissey who, as usual, did an excellent job as MC.
THE YEAR PAST – SENIOR HURLING: Mike O’Halloran (former Club player) and Michael O’Leary (brother of current player, Kevin) took charge of the team in 2015 and, as usual, got a great response from the 28 man squad who lined-out at one time or another during the year..
It has to be regarded as a very successful season when you win the premier competition of your grade. And that’s what our Hurlers did in winning the Co. Championship (at JH level) for the 2nd time in four seasons. In addition they also won the South Kerry JH League and took part in the Munster JH ‘B’ Championship for the first time. They were also runners-up in the Co’ League (Div 3) going down to a strong Ballyheigue team in the final.
We played 12 games in total (including one walk-over which we received), winning 7, drawing one and losing 4. Paul Daly and Michael O’Leary registered the most appearances with 10 each, followed closely with nine games played by Andrew Morrissey and Danny Maguire.
One of the season’s new-comers, Colm Ó Giollagáin was chief scorer with a whopping 12-40 to his credit. Next in line were Ronan Gilsenan (3-19), Danny Maguire (3-12) and Michael O’Leary (0-17).
THE YEAR PAST – U21 FOOTBALL: Like our Minors, our U21s also had to witness an unfinished season. We reached the Club Championship Final (Shield Section) but this game (against Templenoe) had not been played by year’s end. Of the 4 games played during the season we won 2 and lost 2. A total of 33 players lined out in those 4 games, with five players lining out in all four games – Patrick Fitzgibbon, Colin Griffin, Barry Walsh, Alan Duggan and Seán Dukes. Alan (the team captain) was also top scorer, followed closely by Ferdia O’Brien and Greg Horan. Greg and Conor Jordan were also part of the Kerry U21 team earlier in the year.
2015 – OVERALL SUMMARY: In the five grades covered (SF, SH, JFB, U21 and MF) a total of 127 players lined out during the course of the season. The player with the most appearances was Seán Dukes (32) followed closely by Jack O’Shea (31) and Barry Walsh (30). We had only two dual players (those who played hurling and football) – Andrew Morrissey and Breandán Caball, Four players played with four of the five teams under review – Calvin Foley, Colin Griffin, Michael O’Donnell and Seán Dukes – all four played at one time or another with the A team, the B team, the U21s and the Minors.
And if there was a Player of the Year Award it would be hard to overlook Seán Dukes as, in addition to the above achievements, he also broke that all-time record for the most appearances at Minor level, (38 appearances over his Minor career, since making his Minor debut on the 2nd February 2013).
Matters run so smoothly on match days that the work of the people who make it happen can be easily overlooked. But the contribution made by people like John Breen, Noel O’Connell, Kevin O’Leary and Denis O’Connor is invaluable.
CLUB SOCIAL: The Club Social is moving closer now. It takes place on Saturday week (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 Anne O’Connor and Pat Joyce on the death of their sister, Mary Bennett in Claremorris (see sympathy)
LOTTO: Last Night’s (18th Jan) Jackpot, worth €5,000, was not won. The numbers drawn were 7, 9, 14 and 29.
The €20 Winners were: Nuala Foley, c/o The Bingo; Lorraine Healy & John Tobin, c/o Richard Healy; Fionn O’Regan, c/o Brendan O’Regan; Jack McKivergan, c/o John Breen; and Tony Fleming, c/o Club Rockies.
SYMPATHY: Sincere sympathy is offered to the families of the following who died recently – Seán O’Donnell, Blennerville; Mary Dwyer (nee O’Brien), St. John’s Park and late of Doon, Listellick; Mary Bennett (nee Joyce), Claremorris (see Cards); Joe Flynn, Rahoonane; Seamus Dowling, Stack’s Villas (father of former Club Hurler, Pat); and Catherine Irwin (nee Keane), Basin View.