JACK BACK, MURPHY IN
By Sylvester Hennessy
Delegates to the Kerry County Board voted unanimously at Austin Stack Park on Monday evening to extend Jack O’Connor’s term as Kerry Senior Football manager for a further three years.
This will mean that O’Connor, the second longest serving manager in football, will have served 8 years as Kerry manager in total if he remains in his position until 2013.
Ger O’Keeffe will also remain in his role as a senior selector for the next 12 months at the very least while former All Star keeper Diarmuid Murphy replaces departing Kerry senior selector Eamonn Fitzmaurice.
Kerry County Board Chairman Jerome Conway also revealed that Alan O’Sullivan will remain in charge of Kerry’s physical training with Kerry Senior Hurling trainer Joe O’Connor also on board in an advisory capacity.
O’Connor will take over from Pat Flanagan who has been involved with the Kerry team in some capacity throughout Jack O’Connor’s term in charge.
Ger O’Keeffe spoke to Kerry’s Eye on Tuesday morning and gave a clear endorsement of Jack O’Connor’s decision to remain as Kerry Senior Football manager.
“It is an honour to serve alongside someone of Jack O’Connor’s ability. In his time as Kerry manager he has brought tremendous success to this county and he is one of the shrewdest and hardest working people I know.
“While we will miss Eamonn Fitzmaurice’s contribution to the management team we are also fortunate to have someone of Diarmuid Murphy’s ability to step into the breach. Diarmuid is very level headed and calm and he will be a tremendous addition to the backroom team.”
Crokes and West Kerry first into action
By Jim O’Gorman
Dates and venues for three of the AIB Senior Football Championship quarter-finals were announced by the CCC at Monday’s county committee meeting.
First into action will be Dr Crokes and West Kerry, who will meet in Tralee on Saturday September 11 (6.30pm).
Fitzgerald Stadium will host a double-header the following day – Kilcummin v South Kerry (2pm) and Austin Stacks v Rathmore (3.30pm).
The date of the fourth quarter-final between Kerins O’Rahillys and Dingle, has yet to be confirmed – because two Dingle players are members of the Kerry U21 hurling team which will be playing in the All-Ireland ‘B’ final in Thurles on the 12th.
The semi-finals will be played on October 3, with the final a fortnight later.
Co Chairman asked delegates to allow the CCC to make a change to its ruling that extra time had to be played in all games finishing level, up to the final because of fact that Kerry are not involved in the All-Ireland Final.
The change was ratified so that any quarter final or semi final can now go to a replay if necessary with extra time only coming into play on the second day.
The County Intermediate Football Final between Finuge and Gneeveguilla has been fixed for Saturday September 18th at the Austin Stack Park Tralee (6-30) while the County Junior semi final replay between Dromid Pearses and St Pats Blennerville will played on the same evening at the JP O’Sullivan Killorglin with a 6.00pm throw in.
The AIB Co Senior Hurling Championship Final has been fixed for Austin Stack Park Tralee on Sunday October 10th.
Carer’s Association launch second Mini Marathon
By Jimmy Darcy
The Kerry Carer’s Association has been in existence for 14 years and has made an immeasurable difference to countless lives locally.
There are 6,000 carers in Kerry and this is the only organisation that provides them with respite and assistance.
While the HSE provides some support funding, the Kerry Carer’s Association depends mainly on fundraising to keep its doors open.
Last year their biggest fundraiser was the inaugural Mini Marathon, a huge success with 400 entrants raising €10,000.
This year they are hoping for bigger and better.
The Mini Marathon, which starts this year at 12.00 noon on October 17th from the Brandon Hotel, is run along similar lines to the Women’s Mini Marathon in Dublin, with everybody welcome to participate and raise funds for any charity of their choice.
Karen Gueron of the Kerry Carer’s Association says, “The Mini Marathon is a vital fundraiser for us but it also raises awareness of what we do and the need for support for carers. Last year was a big success and we are hoping to build on that this year.”
The Mini Marathon will be officially launched tomorrow in the Chambers of Tralee Town Council by Mayor Arthur J Spring. Entry forms are available from The Carers Association, 4 Clanmore Villas, Ballymullen, Tralee or by ringing 066 7121399.
Moran makes Munster
By Sylvester Hennessy
The continued good work being carried out by Tralee Golf Club at Junior level was reflected in John Moran’s recent selection on the Munster u15 Boys team.
Moran, who took up the game of golf three years ago at the age of 12, has made great strides in the game and is currently playing off a handicap of 7.
This is the first season that the GUI introduced interprovincial matches at u15 level and the Tralee member joined Gabriel Leacy (Dungarvan), Robin Dawson (Faithlegg), Mark McCarthy (Muskerry), and Jamie O'Shea (Shannon) on the team of five that played in Naas Golf Club last week.
Moran will also be part of the Munster panel that will undergo further development and training over the winter.
John lives in the village of Spa just outside of Tralee and is a Junior Certificate student at the Mercy Mounthawk school, Tralee.
He joined Ballyheigue Golf Club initially, buying his first set of clubs out of his confirmation money.
John also attended the Tralee Golf Club summer camps under the guidance of Club Pros David Power and John Sugrue.
It was in this environment that John’s talent was first recognised and he was one of the first young players to take advantage of Tralee Golf Club’s policy of allowing non-member’s offspring to join the club at Junior level.
Tralee have benefited enormously from this decision in recent years and John, alongside the likes of Conor Ringland, Shane Lehane, Ray Kelly and Dylan Fitzgerald were all part of the Tralee side that captured the recent Kerry Junior League.