REIDY WITHDRAWS

By Jim O’Gorman

Kerry keeper Ger Reidy has informed the team management of his withdrawal from this year’s senior inter county panel.

The Castleisland Desmonds’ keeper, who was understudy to Diarmuid Murphy last season and started between the posts in this year’s McGrath Cup, has been forced to this decision because of academic pressures at his college University College, Cork.

Reidy, who is studying for a Masters Degree in Education with the aim of entering the teaching profession, had to postpone taking examinations in the last academic year. 

Inter county training demands necessitated missing afternoon lectures on two days each week, made more difficult by the fact that Reidy does not drive.

The netminder remains fully committed to his club and hopes to be available for selection again to the senior side after he has completed his degree studies.

Reidy becomes the eighth member of the 2009 All Ireland winning panel to become unavailable. And with Kerry manager Jack O’Connor’s admission last weekend that centre back Mike McCarthy may also decide not to return the restructuring of the Kerry side becomes more difficult.

Kerry travel to Galway on Sunday and will have An Ghaeltacht keeper Tomas mac an tSaoir available in reserve as the U21Kerry side play Cork on Saturday.

Managerial merry-go-round

By Sylvester Hennessy

With the battle for the Bishop Moynihan Cup scheduled to commence on the second weekend in June, Divisional sides are already planning ahead with the announcement of three high profile managerial appointments in the past week. Former Kerry minor selector and Beaufort Chairman, Tim Coffey has taken the reins at Mid Kerry. 

Tim has been heavily involved at under age level in recent years with the South Kerry Development squads and succeeds 2008 County Championship winning manager James Sheehan. 

Sheehan in turn has switched allegiances to East Kerry. 

The former Laune Rangers star has the difficult task of galvanising the ailing Divisional side who were on the end of some serious drubbings in the 2009 championship. 

Meanwhile back in West Kerry it was confirmed that 8 time All Ireland medal winner and former Kerry, Clare and Westmeath manager Páidí O’Se will manage the Senior side. 

Last year’s manager Johnny Lenihan will also stay on in the capacity of selector of a side that will of course include An Ghaeltacht this season. 

Former Desmond’s All Ireland club winner Willie Dom O’Connor will co-train the St Kieran’s Divisional side alonside former Kerry minor John Walsh from Scartaglin while Feale Rangers, Shannon Rangers, Kenmare and St Brendan’s have yet to announce their senior management teams for the coming season. 2009 County Championship winning manager John Galvin remains with South Kerry for the coming season.     

Knock back for Killarney Rugby Club

By Gordon Revington

Killarney Rugby Club’s plans to begin next season at new grounds have been dealt a serious setback with the decision by Kerry County Council to refuse the planning application for the proposed development.

The club currently rents its pitch at Direen from the Health Service Executive but has been under pressure to move out for some time as the health authority is anxious that the club does not secure the right to a sporting lease on the land.

The club applied to build an a sports hall, an all-weather pitch, two playing pitches, install floodlights, access road, parking and associated works at Inchycullane, Kilcummin in December.

A prior planning application by Killarney businessman Pat Duggan to build 23 dormer bungalows on the site had been turned down by the county council in July, 2002.

When the local authority gave its decision on the rugby club application, it also refused, providing three reasons for doing so. Concerns exist over the percolation qualities of the site, possible archaeological remnants (there is a ring fort on the adjoining property) and the sight lines along the roadway.

A spokesman for the club said that Killarney is looking at the options that remain but points out that the development draw has given the club a solid basis from which to pursue and expand its range of choices.

Killarney looked at 26 different sites prior to making this planning application and is continuing to investigate possibilities in other locations and the management of the club is also looking at the possibility of lodging an appeal to an Bord Pleanála regarding the Inchycullane site.