2008 County Senior Football Championship Preview
Sylvester Hennessy looks at this year’s County Championship contenders
THE CLUBS
An Ghaeltacht
Manager: Cathal O’Dhubha
Star Players: Darragh, Tomás and Marc O’Sé, Ronan O O’Flaharta
Rising Stars: Tomás Mac an tSaoir, Eoin MacGearailt
Championship Form: 2007: beaten QF, 06: beaten QF, 05: beaten QF
Championship Rating: 6th
The perennial under achievers seem to be in decline this season.
The loss of Aodán MacGearailt and Dara O’Cinneide will seriously affect their chances while the O’Se’s inter county commitments mean that they get to spend little time with their club.
They have lost their last three quarter finals in a row and it is hard to see them repeating their championship wins of 2001 and 03. Good enough once again to reach the quarterfinal but that may be their lot once more this season.
Ardfert
Manager: Pat O’Driscoll
Star Players: John Egan, Stephen and Damien Wallace
Rising Stars: Francis Wallace and Rory Horgan
Championship form: 2007 3rd losers, 06 Intermediate Champions, 05 Junior Champions
Championship Rating: 11th
Ardfert have a difficult opening assignment against Laune Rangers in the 1st round but they may be able to use the familiarity with the pitch in Lerrig to their advantage. A lot of their star players are returning.
Eamon Ferris and Sean Flaherty have both come out of retirement, Stephen Wallace continues to lead the attack in spite of a persistent knee problem.
They will miss corner forward Shane Griffin holidaying in the USA.
But their younger players are stronger and have gained valuable experience in the past year. They may be championship outsiders but that never bothered Ardfert before. A good outside bet.
Austin Stacks
Manager: Jerry Fitzmaurice
Star Players: Kieran Donaghy, Daniel Bohan, Michael Collins
Rising Stars: Wayne Guthrie, Barry Shanahan
Championship form: 2007 3rd round losers, 06: 3rd round losers, 05 Beaten QF
Championship Rating: 8th
The Stacks will fancy their chances against Legion in the opening round and after that it is anyone’s guess as to how they will perform.
Their big dilemma seems to be bringing the best out of their star performer Kieran Donaghy. Donaghy, Michael Collins and Darragh Long should be capable of worrying the best defences while the emergence of a number of good young players is also a boost. Stacks could be a coming force once more but they are unlikely to go further than the quarterfinals this season.
Dingle
Manager: Vincent Flannery
Star Players: Tommy Griffin, Diarmuid Murphy, Eoin Murphy
Rising Stars: Paul and Mikey Geaney
Championship form: 2007: 3rd round losers, 06: 3rd round losers, 05 2nd round losers
Championship rating: 17th
Dingle have struggled to make an impact at county championship level.
They are also now playing Division Two football and they may fail to make an impact once more this season.
Their opening tie against John Mitchels should be a real humdinger and will decide who will have to worry about relegation and who will be safe for another year. Dingle have a good crop of young footballers coming through and if they hang onto their senior status they may yet make a breakthrough at senior level.
Dr Crokes
Manager: John Galvin
Star Players; Colm Cooper, Eoin Brosnan, Kieran Cremin
Rising Stars; Kieran O’Leary and Mike Moloney
Championship form: 2007: Beaten QF, 06: Runners up, 05: Runners up
Championship Rating: 2nd
One title in this decade is a poor return for this highly gifted team.
Fate has dealt them a cruel blow with a first round tangle with Jack O’Connor’s Kerins O’Rahillys.
The two top club sides in Kerry are sure to have a major say in this year’s championship.
The Crokes continue to produce a conveyor belt of talent and their County League form has been superb. With a rub of the green they should be good enough to challenge strongly once more for the title.
John Mitchels
Manager: Fergal O’Sé
Star Players: Paddy Kelly, Paul O’Donoghue, John Fitzgerald
Rising Stars: Alan O’Donoghue, Bryan Costello
Championship form: 2007: 2nd round losers, 06; 2nd round losers, 05: 3rd round losers
Championship rating: 19th
Finally John Mitchels seem to be assembling a team capable of maintaining the club’s proud traditions.
Alan O’Donoghue and Paul O’Donoghue are fine young players while Bryan Costello is another who has inter county experience. Former Kerry player Paddy Kelly is also in fine form. The draw has been kind to John Mitchels and they will certainly give themselves a 50/50 chance against Dingle in the first round.
Kerins O’Rahillys
Manager: Jack O’Connor
Star Players: Declan Quill, Micheál Quirke, Tommy Walsh
Rising Stars: David Moran and Barry John Walsh
Championship form: 2007: Beaten QF, 06: Beaten SF, 05: 3rd Round Losers
Championship Rating: 5th
The arrival of Jack O’Connor has brought with it a level of expectancy. He will attempt to do what John Evans failed to do and bring a County title to Strand Road for the first time in six years.
Certainly the Tralee club has an abundance of talent but the mix of experience and youth may not be quite right just yet.
O’Connor has little to prove yet he will be anxious to cement his reputation with a County Championship title victory at the very least in the next couple of seasons. Anything less would be deemed a failure.
Kilcummin
Manager: Maurice Leahy
Star Players: Mike McCarthy, DJ Fleming, Ronan O’Connor
Rising Stars: Brendan Kealy and Jamie O’Sullivan
Championship form: 2007: Beaten SF, 06: 2nd round losers, 05: 3rd round losers
Championship rating: 14th
2007 saw Kilcummin surprise everyone by going all the way to the County Championship semi-final and thereby qualifying to represent Kerry in the Munster club championship.
The wheels came off slightly however with a poor performance against Ballinacourtney in the Munster club semi-final. They have been without star players Mike McCarthy and DJ Fleming so far this season and their League form has been very poor. Their recent drubbing by Dr Crokes does not augur well for the summer ahead.
Laune Rangers
Manager: Shane O’Sullivan
Star Players: Mike Frank Russell, Jerry Coffey, Seamie Foley
Rising Stars: Kevin Flynn and Peter Crowley
Championship form: 2007: 3rd round losers, 06: 3rd round losers, 05: Beaten SF
Championship Rating: 12th
Their opening tie with Ardfert could very well dictate their season.
They are still over reliant on the ageing Liam Hassett, Mike Frank Russell, Billy O’Shea and Pa O’Sullivan.
Their last county final appearance was back in 2004 and they haven’t won a title since 1996. It is difficult to see them making any sort of real impact this season either. They have some very good young players coming through but the mixture of old and new do not seem to be reaping the rewards of late.
Legion
Manager: Willie O’Sullivan
Star Players: James O’Donoghue, Sean Hegarty, Mike O’Sullivan
Rising Stars: Padge O’Connor and Jonathan Lyne
Championship Form: 2007: 3rd Round losers, 06: 3rd Round losers, 05: Intermediate Champions
Championship Rating: 19th
Legion have been assembling a wonderful group of young players over the past few seasons and they will see it as imperative to retain their senior status till that group reaches the maturity to compete at this level.
Young James O’Donoghue was one of the stars of last year’s championship and he is still a minor again this season. The Legion will hope to catch Austin Stacks on the hop in their first round counter but they are more than likely going to be involved in a relegation battle come the end of the championship.
Rathmore
Manager: Denis Desmond
Star Players: Tom O’Sullivan, Aidan O’Mahony, Michael O’Riordan
Rising Stars: Eoin Lawlor and Kieran O’Sullivan
Championship Form: 2007: 2nd Round Losers, 06: 3rd Round losers, 05: Beaten QF
Championship Rating: 10th
Fought against relegation last season but they are much better than that. Their appearance in last year’s O’Donoghue Cup Final was a fairer reflection of their ability.
They have a very lively and free scoring forward line and have the stability of Aidan O’Mahony and Tom O’Sullivan in defence.
They won’t expect to win the County Championship but a little like Ardfert they have the ability to do well and cause one or two shocks. They face a tough encounter however against either Dr Crokes or Kerins O’Rahillys in the 1st round.
County Senior Football Championship Preview
THE DIVISIONS
East Kerry
Manager: Sean Counihan
Star Players: Seamus Moynihan, Mike O’Donoghue, Liam Murphy
Rising Stars: Jimmy Falvey and Colm O’Shea
Championship Form: 2007 Beaten QF, 06: Beaten QF, 05: Beaten QF
Championship Rating: 7th
East have managed to reach the quarterfinals in the pervious three seasons but have failed to repeat the heroics of the 3-in-a-row team at the end of the ‘90’s. Sean Counihan has a talented bunch of players at his disposal but the Divisional team is weakened by the loss of players from Rathmore, Kilcummin and Legion who are all involved in the championship in their own right.
Cian Tobin, Colm O’Shea, Mike O’Donoghue and Jimmy Falvey are all good young forwards but East Kerry will once again rely on 34-year-old Seamus Moynihan for inspiration.
Feale Rangers
Manager: Johnny Mulvihill
Star Players: Paul Galvin, Eamon Fitzmaurice, Kieran Quirke
Rising Stars: Patrick Curtin and Anthony Maher
Championship form: 2007: Champions, 06: 3rd round losers, 05: 2nd round losers
Championship Rating: 3rd
Feale Rangers surprised everyone last season with their County Championship victory.
It will be interesting to see whether they have the motivation to recreate their 2007 form.
They will need to be on their toes right from the off in the competition because as champions they have received a bye into the third round of the championship.
Paul Galvin’s fitness is a concern.
Eamon Fitzmaurice, Anthony Maher, Kieran Quirke and Pat Corridan will once again provide the inspiration. It is difficult to see them repeating their feat this season but then again they used the fact that the media wrote them off last season as a motivating factor.
Kenmare
Manager: Paul Crowley
Star Players: Paul O’Connor, Flor O’Sullivan, John Joe Brosnan
Rising Stars: Alan O’Sullivan and Mike Tim O’Sullivan
Championship form: 2007: 3rd round losers, 06: 3rd round losers, 05: 3rd round losers
Championship Rating: 9th
Kenmare might surprise one or two people this season.
They are building a very well balanced side and in Paul O’Connor they have a forward capable of exploiting any defensive weaknesses.
Flor O’Sullivan, John Joe Brosnan, Alan O’Sullivan, Marcus McNally and Mike Tim O’Sullivan will form the core of the side.
They face a tough trip Castlegregory where they will play West Kerry in the first round but they will still be hopeful of coming away with a win. Like all Divisional sides they could probably do with a couple of games before they start to gel together as a team.
Mid Kerry
Manager: James Sheehan
Star Players: Darren O’Sullivan, Sean O’Sullivan, Donncha Walsh
Rising Stars: Gary Sayers and Aidan O’Shea
Championship form: 2007: Beaten SF, 06: Beaten SF, 05: 3rd Round losers
Championship rating: 4th
Mid Kerry have been there or thereabouts for the past couple of seasons.
They are furthered strengthened this year by the return of Milltown/Castlemaine to their ranks.
James Sheehan will look once more to the in form Darren O’Sullivan, Donncha Walsh, Sean O’Sullivan, Kerry u21 Gary Sayers, Kieran Foley, Aaron Cahillane, the Kellehers from Milltown/Castlemaine and the O’Connor’s from Glenbeigh.
Mid Kerry should come away from Ballylongford with a first round win against Shannon Rangers and with a favourable draw they are good enough to go one better this season and at the very least reach the final.
Shannon Rangers
Manager: Kevin Mangan
Star Players; Kieran Mulvihill, Shane Enright, Barry O’Grady
Rising Stars; Eoin Kennedy and Colin O’Mahony
Championship form: 2007: 3rd Round losers, 06: 2nd Round Losers, 05: 3rd Round losers
Championship Rating: 20th
Shannon Rangers will no doubt look on in envy at the performance of their fellow North Kerry men Feale Rangers in 2007.
Shannon Rangers have consistently underperformed at this level and there are no obvious signs of any improvement.
Tarbert top Division 2 of the County League while Beale and Ballyduff have some good individual players.
It just seems that collectively Shannon Rangers fail to click. Maybe this season the likes of u21 All Ireland winners Shane Enright and Colin O’Mahony can inspire them. The usual early round exit is the more likely occurrence however.
St Brendan’s
Manager: John Reen
Star Players: Daniel Doyle, Conor Daly, David Culloty
Rising Stars: Liam O’Sullivan and Benny Dillon
Championship form: 2007: 3rd round losers, 06: Beaten QF, 05: 2nd Round losers
Championship rating: 16th
It really was a case of what might have been for St Brendan’s last season. Ardfert’s elevation to senior status probably deprived St Brendan’s of a real chance of doing well in the County Championship.
Their u21 County Final victory of two seasons ago suggests that there may be more to come from them.
Daniel Doyle, Conor Daly, David Culloty, David O’Callaghan, Liam O’Sullivan, Padraig O’Sullivan and Seamus O’Neill were all part of that u21 winning side and they will hope to do well in Lerrig against East Kerry. With nothing to lose they may well be capable of causing one of the shocks of the opening round.
St Kierans
Manager: Charlie Farrelly
Star Players: Seamus Scanlon, Padraig Reidy
Rising Stars: Kieran Brennan and Maurice Hickey
Championship form: 2007: 2nd Round Losers, 06: 3rd Round Losers, 05: 3rd Round Losers
Championship Rating: 13th
On paper St Kieran’s possess one of the strongest Divisional sides in the competition. Division One side Castleisland backbone the starting 15 but they also call on the likes of Seamus Scanlon, Padraig Reidy, John Buckley, Daniel O’Shea and Eamon John O’Donoghue.
Maurice Hickey has been doing well at minor level but if Kieran Brennan is Statesbound he will be missed.
St Kierans will probably face a second game in a week as they are unlikely to defeat South Kerry in Caherciveen. Whether they are good enough to advance to the third round remains to be seen.
South Kerry
Manager: James O’Sullivan
Star Players: Declan O’Sullivan, Bryan Sheehan, Killian Young
Rising Stars: Aidan O’Sullivan and Paddy Curran
Championship form: 2007: Runners Up 06: Champions 05: Champions
Championship rating: 1st
They will start as championship favourites once more.
James O’Sullivan is back in charge while Maurice Fitzgerald is involved as a selector. South Kerry still possess a team of stars.
Declan O’Sullivan, Bryan Sheehan and Killian Young are backed up by the likes of Ronan O’Connor, Ronan Hussey, John Sugrue, Paddy Curran, Aidan O’Sullivan, the ‘Shines’ and Bryan Hickey.
Whether South Kerry have the hunger for battle once more is the only issue. On form they are practically unbeatable and if South Kerry are beaten this year, and that is a big if, then the team that beats them will probably go on to win the championship.
West Kerry
Manager: Johnny Lenihan
Star Players: Niall Sheehy, Declan O’Sullivan, Genie Farrell
Rising Stars: JB Spillane and Stephen Browne
Championship form: 2007: 2nd round losers, 06: 2nd round losers, 05: Beaten SF
Championship Rating: 15th
West Kerry did well three seasons ago under the late Liam Higgins to qualify for the County Championship semi-final.
Their form since then has been poor.
The Annascaul players are coming to the end of their careers while the Castlegregory players are all young and full of potential. They probably need Dingle back in the fold to challenge for honours once more.
A win against Kenmare would be a good boost to morale. If not they will be forced to line out a week later in a do or die play off against another first round loser.
Co Board’s cash windfall from new deal
Kerry County Board looks set for a major financial windfall from the new multi-sponsorship deal, which only allows the championship's main sponsors to display their advertising hoardings at live televised games.
By Sylvester Hennessy
The first live championship broadcast of the summer took place at Pearse Park on Sunday. The build-up to the game had been somewhat overshadowed by the home county's refusal to 'cover up' the existing local sponsors' hoardings to facilitate the new sponsors.
But following a meeting of Central Council on Saturday, at which the levels of compensation to be paid were revealed, the new 'clean stadium' approach will apply for the rest of the summer at grounds hosting live televised games.
Every county board will receive a €30,000 dividend under the new TV rights deal, and €110,000 as their share of the new sponsorship deal.
In addition, a further €20,000 will be paid to every board which signs up to the new deal, and €40,000 will go to any board which hosts a live TV match, starting with the Longford county board on Sunday.
Confident
It's also believed that the €40,000 is for each 'live' game, meaning counties who host a second or third clash stand to make additional money from the arrangement.
The GAA is confident that confirmation of the figures will ensure that there is no repeat of the controversy, which erupted in the midlands last week.
Kerry County Board Chairman Jerome Conway said the Board hasn’t received any details as of yet from the authorities, and will wait till we see what is on offer in black and white.
“It really doesn't apply to us this season as we are unlikely to stage any major televised game, unless the Munster Final goes to a replay,” he said.
“Hopefully the whole issue will be ironed out by next season when we will host the Munster Final in Killarney.”
Biggest purse ever for Kerry dogs event
Greyhound enthusiasts may well witness the most valuable race ever at the Kingdom Greyhound Stadium, on the night of the Lee Strand 550 final on June 6th, when the Paddy O'Sullivan Spring Twilight 550 race will be staged for some of the best open class dogs in the county and beyond.
Tralee racing manager Kieran Casey is looking for six owners who are willing to put €5000 up front for a chance to run and win €25,000 on the night, in a race that will take probably just under thirty seconds to run.
Those finishing second, third and fourth will receive €5000 each so only last two home will lose out.
This is a novel and innovative idea that should attract some of the top dogs to Tralee and if it can be filled then, it should bring extra people to the Stadium on the night.
“Lee Strand boss Bill Kennedy wanted a race that would involve the cream coming to the top and wanted a big race for a big pot,” Kieran Casey said.
“This is the second most valuable race in the country behind the Dundalk Invitational and will be a major coup for Tralee.”
No senior football this summer?
Fixture pile-up as club versus county debate rages
Unless Kerry beat Cork in the Munster Final on July 6th, there is every likelihood that, excepting the first weekend of June, there will be no senior club football championship action in Kerry during the June, July and August.Once again the annual club versus county debate is dominating the GAA scene in Kerry.
Willie O'Connor, chairman of the CCC, informed delegates at Monday night's County Board meeting, that the next three weekends have been allocated for local Championship football.
O'Connor said at the County Board meeting that there may even be the possibility that the county senior football final could come under threat, in what looks like becoming a cluttered fixture list.
“We fixed the preliminary round of the County Senior Championship and the first rounds of the club championship for April 27th, but we reached the NFL final on that day.
“Then our U-21s reached the All-Ireland final on May 3rd, and that brought us up to a round of the County League last weekend.
Action
“We didn't want to be throwing teams into county championship action so soon after players coming back from inter county action.
“If we win the Munster Final, then we will probably play the third round of the County Championship on July 12th which is a county league weekend, but we have moved that to the original date of the Munster Final (June 29th).
“If Kerry lose or draw the Munster Final, God only knows when we will be able to play round three.”
If you also consider the proposed Australian Rules tour, which takes place at the end of October/early November, our county final comes under threat, he warned.
O'Connor also revealed that one team will receive a bye into the quarter final of the County Championship.
“In the third round we will only have 15 teams so one side will get a bye to the quarter finals. Feale Rangers and An Ghaeltacht will not be eligible, as they have already got byes.
“The reason for having one team less is that we lost Milltown/Castlemaine and Annascaul opted to stay at Intermediate level,” he said.
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