Minor Magic
As the Kerry minor footballers prepare to face Clare on Thursday evening in Austin Stack Park with a Munster Minor Football Final place on the line, Kerry chief Tim Murphy admits that Kerry’s sixteen point win over Cork at Páirc Uí Rinn just blew him away. Kerry are on a 31-game unbeaten run at this level that stretches back to August 2013. “I was blown away by Kerry’s performance on that night,” Murphy said.
“I have rarely if ever left a game with the feeling of euphoria having seen a footballing masterclass by such a young side. I was overwhelmed with delight having watched how those players gave an exhibition of point kicking and they displayed a skill set in that second half that is rarely seen. Last year was good and now this year I think we can be very optimistic going forward though we are not guaranteed anything yet. Hopefully, we will win on Thursday night and then it’s another Munster Final meeting with Cork. I think we have found the missing link and that is a combination of age appropriate strength and conditioning and coaching which resulted in producing a team who were S&C age appropriate and a skill set that was so exciting to watch. It is an endorsement of the three-year plan we put in place and with Jason McGahan on board now as head of athletic development, the future of Kerry football appears to be very bright.”
Glory days for Kerry Basketball
In an unprecedented era for Kerry basketball, 8 young Kerry Basketball stars have all made the final cut of 12 for the Irish International basketball squads in their respective age groups.
The Tralee trio of Dáire Kennelly (Tralee Imperials/Garvey’s Tralee Warriors, Mounthawk), Leeroy Odiahi (Tralee Imperials/Garvey’s Tralee Warriors, Mounthawk) and Rapolas Buivydas (St. Brendan’s/Garvey’s Tralee Warriors, CBS The Green) have all made the panel of 12 to represent Ireland at this year’s FIBA U18 Men’s European Championship Division B in Romania. The team will tip off the European Championships in Oradea, Romania, from July 26th to August 4th.
St Mary’s/Coláiste Na Sceilige’s Síofra O’Shea will be one of the final 12 players who will represent Ireland at this summer’s FIBA U18 Women’s Championship in Skopje.
Keane plots Kerry’s championship odyssey
When Peter Keane walks through the gates of Cusack Park in Ennis on Saturday week he will begin his maiden championship voyage as Kerry senior manager. Keane will know better than anyone it is only in the summer that supporters and the media seriously judge a Kerry manager.
There is no doubt that anyone taking the Kerry senior manager job has to have thick skin. Keane has endeared himself to Kerry supporters thus far and he has the supporters in his corner right now. The Killorglin based business man is an astute judge of people but he is also clever enough to know that ultimately only win thing will satisfy the Kerry public.
Keane could drive a herd of elephants through Killarney and get away with it if he wins an All-Ireland title this year and stops Dublin completing a five-in-a-row.
If we look at recent history the Kerry football managerial portfolio is not without its obvious pitfalls.