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Post by Mickmack on Oct 17, 2015 11:00:00 GMT
Breaking barriers a matter of point for Kerry hurling
Kingdom coming as Leinster hurling has new and unlikely contestants for 2016
Sat, Oct 17, 2015, 01:00
The most novel part of the championship draw on Thursday night didn’t involve a single ball nor a single bowl. The round-robin section of the Leinster hurling championship was pre-determined but even allowing for prior knowledge, it was still something notable to see Kerry in there along with Offaly, Westmeath and Carlow.
The winner of the group will play Galway in a Leinster quarter-final, the runner-up will play Laois. Come what may, Kerry are back in the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship for the first time in 16 years.
Heady times Coupled with this weekend’s expected appointment of Ciarán Carey as their new manager, it makes for heady times down around north Kerry. There’s a team holiday to Florida on the horizon as a reward for winning the Christy Ring Cup and a spring campaign in Division 1B playing against Clare, Wexford, Laois, Limerick and Offaly.
There will be sinking and there will be swimming and if they can get through the first year with their chins above the surf, they’ll go into the championship buzzing.
“There’s more buzz about playing in Division 1B than the Leinster Championship, to be honest about it,” says county chairman Patrick O’Sullivan. “We have to take it one step at a time and that’s the first step. It’s about getting games at our level, games that we’re going to be able to compete in.
“For us to get anywhere, it’s no good getting 20-point hammerings in the championship. To get meaningful games, you have to go to where the games are and whatever has to be done will be done.
“Our minors played in the Leinster league last year and hopefully soon the under-21 structure gets sorted out. There was supposed to be a second tier under-21 competition with groups of six but it has sort of fallen apart over the last number of years. If we can get that going properly and provide a stepping stone from minor to senior, then the efforts that are going into Kerry hurling will be more meaningful.”
That those efforts will always run into a good thick glass ceiling in the most football of football counties only makes them more commendable. Kerry beat Westmeath and Carlow last year and the year before and will spend the spring playing a division higher than both of them. A Leinster quarter-final is a thoroughly achievable goal.
And goals matter. Kerry GAA is a place where success is the greatest fuel for improvement. O’Sullivan knows he will live his whole life in a football county but he knows too that every step along the way comes spring-loaded.
“I come from a football part of the county in Killarney. The credit goes to the hurling officer and the work that’s being done under him. They are putting in huge work to try and be competitive and the county board is there to support them. We need to get high-calibre coaches into the county to work with the development squads and bring a bit more profile to it.
“I see young lads in Kerry at 12 years of age and they’re just as good as 12-year-olds in Kilkenny. But the problem is that as they get older, the hurling gets faster in hurling counties and we’re left behind. You can see it when you take those same groups to play at under-14 or under-16 tournaments: the players from the hurling counties have sped up their hurling to a huge extent and we’re playing catch-up straight away.”
Another hurdle Just as Galway and Antrim have had to do, Kerry will travel to all their games in Leinster. Not that O’Sullivan has any issue with that – it’s just another hurdle to hop.
“We have a long road and it’s not going to happen overnight. It could take us another four or five years just to get to another level. But the hurling officer is making great strides and everyone is very committed. The players are buying in and the county is backing them. I can’t see us changing the whole thing overnight but as a county we’re very positive towards it.”
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Post by Deleted on Oct 17, 2015 15:07:04 GMT
Lixnaw are County Minor Champions beating St Brendan's 3-19 to 1-10
Shane Conway and Colin Sheehy caused the Ardfert lads a lot of trouble for the whole game,John Buckley had a great game at midfield,while at the back Liam Mullins and David Siles were solid,some very good hurlers coming up for Lixnaw
St Brendans's struggled to get scores from play with Eric Leen getting most of the scores from frees and Fionan Mackessey getting the goal from a 21 yard free,he had another 21 yard free but the Lixnaw lads managed to stop it and get it away, a lot of that team are underage again next year and some are under age for the next two years so Im sure they will be there or there abouts next year
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mossie
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Post by mossie on Oct 17, 2015 20:40:07 GMT
Daniel Collins was outstanding for Kilmoyley yesterday. They really do produce some great skilful hurlers. He has taking up the scoring mantle after Shane Brick left the club. I'd say An Tochar Ban pub in Kilmoyley will be packed to the rafters all week! Kilmoyley are now on 23 SHC titles, just 1 behind Ballyduff who currently lead with 24. Ardfert just couldn't get firing on all cylinders yesterday but like Kilmoyley have a young squad and will be back again to challenge for the Neilus Flynn. funny thing is Daniel Collins plays football with the Ardfert hurlers he demolished in the hurling final!! Kilmoyley breathing down Ballyduff's neck now alrite on the roll of honour. John Meyler has a serious record with Kilmoyley
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mossie
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Post by mossie on Oct 17, 2015 20:41:09 GMT
Lixnaw are County Minor Champions beating St Brendan's 3-19 to 1-10 Shane Conway and Colin Sheehy caused the Ardfert lads a lot of trouble for the whole game,John Buckley had a great game at midfield,while at the back Liam Mullins and David Siles were solid,some very good hurlers coming up for Lixnaw St Brendans's struggled to get scores from play with Eric Leen getting most of the scores from frees and Fionan Mackessey getting the goal from a 21 yard free,he had another 21 yard free but the Lixnaw lads managed to stop it and get it away, a lot of that team are underage again next year and some are under age for the next two years so Im sure they will be there or there abouts next year serious young talent in Lixnaw. That's a 3rd minor title is the last 4 or 5 years.
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mossie
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Post by mossie on Oct 17, 2015 20:45:13 GMT
The number 11 for Causeway/Ballyduff Brandon Barrett was at 12 for the Kerry minor footballers in 2015. I think Jack Goulding was on the panel too but not sure. There was a time that a SK selection would be all from Kenmare and KIlgarvan. Great to see so many Killarney players on it now. Iarla Courtney at 6 for Ardfert is a first cousin of Billy the minor football keeper in 2015. Iarla is a great prospect at football too. Gearoid Savage is a brother of Jacks. I think Jack McCarthy at 15 is related to Pat McCarthy, Kerrys star man in the 1975 final v Dublin. Shane Conway of Lixnaw is a brother of Mike and son of Johnny who was in goals for Kerry hurlers for about 15 years. plenty of juvenile hurling in Killarney in that Crokes have had an active juvenile hurling section the last 10 years or so. Their adult team not as dependent on lads from outside counties now. Rathmore have good u12 and u14 teams this year as well. Surprised John Mark Foley, Kerry minor footballer is not on that SK team sheet, Super hurler
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Post by Deleted on Oct 18, 2015 9:22:47 GMT
I think they said last week that John Mark Foley is injured and is going for an operation
South Kerry won the U16 County Championship yesterday beating Crotta in the replay 4-13 to 2-13
Timmy Sheehan did say last week on the radio that the South Kerry minor team was very young this year with a lot underage for minors next year so maybe next year they might be a team to watch.
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mossie
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Post by mossie on Oct 18, 2015 12:13:53 GMT
I think they said last week that John Mark Foley is injured and is going for an operation South Kerry won the U16 County Championship yesterday beating Crotta in the replay 4-13 to 2-13 Timmy Sheehan did say last week on the radio that the South Kerry minor team was very young this year with a lot underage for minors next year so maybe next year they might be a team to watch. South Kerry have a a serious under 16 team as have Crotta. Both played superb hurling in the under 16 draw and replay. South Kerry were in the minor hurling final last year and won it a few years back playing under Kenmare. Plenty hurling talent in south Kerry. so many are dual though its hard to see it through to senior
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Post by givehimaball on Oct 20, 2015 15:28:55 GMT
plenty of juvenile hurling in Killarney in that Crokes have had an active juvenile hurling section the last 10 years or so. Their adult team not as dependent on lads from outside counties now. Rathmore have good u12 and u14 teams this year as well. Definitely see a lot more young lads with hurls around the place in Killarney the last few years than you would when I was growing up (it's not Kilkenny like but there has definitely been a marked increase) - I had to stop the car going through an estate outside Killarney just this weekend as some young lads were pucking around.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 21, 2015 13:56:49 GMT
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Post by hurlingman on Oct 21, 2015 14:16:40 GMT
Was at the Junior final at the weekend/ Stacks ran out easy winners in the end. Few good players on show for both teams
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mossie
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Post by mossie on Oct 21, 2015 19:14:50 GMT
bad news. so much hurling activity in south Kerry up to and including under 16 and fine hurlers. After that so hard to keep teams together with football. south Kerry were in the minor final last year so disappointing they cant field at 21s this year
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Post by Deleted on Oct 24, 2015 15:56:27 GMT
Ballyheigue/Abbeydorney beat St Brendan's 2-13 to 1-10 in the U21 County Championship semi final
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Post by Deleted on Oct 24, 2015 16:21:15 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Oct 31, 2015 17:52:29 GMT
Result from today's County League Semi Finals
Kilmoyley 1-12
St Brendan's 1-13
The two teams will meet again in the North Kerry Championship Final which will probably be played during Xmas
Causeway and O Dorney play in the other Semi Final tomorrow.
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Post by hurlingman on Nov 2, 2015 19:37:37 GMT
Another bad result for a Kerry side in the Munster championship. Crokes hammered at the weekend
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Post by Mickmack on Nov 2, 2015 20:31:18 GMT
Another bad result for a Kerry side in the Munster championship. Crokes hammered at the weekend why is it always about winning. Isnt it a beautiful thing that Crokes were good enough to represent Kerry in a hurling competition in Munster. Munster is a hurling province afterall.
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Post by hurlingman on Nov 2, 2015 22:10:53 GMT
Another bad result for a Kerry side in the Munster championship. Crokes hammered at the weekend why is it always about winning. Isnt it a beautiful thing that Crokes were good enough to represent Kerry in a hurling competition in Munster. Munster is a hurling province afterall. Well no not really. The supposed to be strongest Intermediate team in Kerry losing by 20 points isn't good for anyone.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 4, 2015 13:28:11 GMT
Unfortunately wasn't a great year for Kerry hurling teams in both the Munster junior and Intermediate campaigns. Back 2001 to 2004 when Kilmoyley were at their peak, they were competing in the Munster SHC!!
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Post by Deleted on Nov 4, 2015 14:02:33 GMT
I wonder has Ciaran Carey got the panel together for gym training yet? Will need a huge push to compete in 1b next year.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2015 12:22:25 GMT
Result yesterday from the U21 Final,
Causeway/Ballyduff 2-17
Ballyheigue/Abbeydorney 3-8
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