Keane's SuperValu County Minor Football Championship 2022

[diego]

County minor championship group stages got underway this week.

Clubs making up the different divisional teams listed in brackets.

With Kenmare Shamrocks fielding their own team i'm not sure where the other Kenmare district clubs have gone - i think someone on another thread mentioned South Kerry and East Kerry.


Group 1 - www.kerrygaa.ie/fixtures-results/?compID=181337&leagueTable=y

East Kerry   (Firies, Fossa, Glenflesk, Gneeveguilla, Kilcummin, Legion, Listry, Spa)
North Kerry (Asdee, Ballydonoghue, Ballyduff, Ballylongford, Beale, Duagh, Finuge, Listowel Emmets, Moyvane, St Senan's, Tarbert)
Rathmore
St Brendan's (Ardfert, Churchill, Kerins O'Rahilly's, John Mitchels, Na Gaeil, St Pat's)

Opening group game results -

Monday, July 18th - North Kerry 3-21 Rathmore 1-6
Tuesday, July 19th - East Kerry 1-12 St Brendan's 0-8


Group 2 - www.kerrygaa.ie/fixtures-results/?compID=181339&leagueTable=y

Laune Rangers
Mid Kerry (Beaufort, Cromane, Glenbeigh/Glencar, Keel, Milltown/Castlemaine)
South Kerry (Dromid Pearses, Renard, Skellig Rangers, Sneem/Derrynane, St Mary's, St Michael's/Foilmore, Templenoe, Tousist, Valentia, Waterville)
West Kerry (An Ghaeltacht, Annascaul, Castlegregory, Dingle, Lispole)


Opening group game results -

Monday, July 18th - Mid Kerry 5-10 West Kerry 0-8 (Played in Stand Road)
Monday, July 18th - Laune Rangers 1-9 South Kerry 3-15 (Played in Glenbeigh)



Group 3 - www.kerrygaa.ie/fixtures-results/?compID=181341&leagueTable=y

Austin Stacks
Dr Crokes
Kenmare Shamrocks (feat. Kilgarvan)
St Kieran's (Ballymac, Brosna, Castleisland Desmonds, Cordal, Currow, Knocknagoshel, Scartaglin)


Opening group game results -

Monday, July 18th - Austin Stacks 0-12 Kenmare Shamrocks 0-13 (Played in Spa, Killarney)
Monday, July 18th - Dr Crokes 1-8 St Kieran's 4-12 (Played in Firies)

[kerryboyo]

I went to kenmare stacks v good game , kenmare came back from four points down due to an unbelievable individual preformance from darragh o connor as he carried the storm at the end catching the mark for the win and winning 3 frees for Darren alman to tap over kenmare are a very good club side they will be hard to beat they’re very well set up

Stacks on the other side are good but too reliant on paddy lane in the forwards

I’d predict Kieran’s and Kenmare to get out of that group north kerry east kerry out of the group 1 and south kerry and mid Kerry out of group 2 …

Cathal o Donoghue was meant to have being magical last night for east Kerry kicking 6 points from play in the first half agsisnt brendans and he was on the Extened panel for the minors …

[mack21]

How are Kierans looking this year? Had a few decent players last year and were unlucky not to make the final. Are South kerry favourites or will North Kerry s County minors make the difference?

[mg72]

So, there's now 6 teams left in the minor championship.
After this evenings final round of group matches, North Kerry, Mid Kerry and Kenmare topped their respective groups.
There'll be a draw out of the hat to see which 2 of these 3 teams go straight through to the semi-finals.
The team unlucky not to get drawn out will join South Kerry, East Kerry and Austin Stacks in the quarter finals.
The winners of the 2 quarter finals will progress to play in the semi finals against the 2 teams which got lucky in the draw from the hat between the 3 group winners.
North Kerry beat East Kerry in Fossa in a tight game this evening, so on the back of that, they'll probably be favourites to win it out.
East Kerry conceded a big score to Rathmore last week, but they're into the quarter finals so they might make it to the final yet with a bit of luck.
Mid Kerry won a tight match in Caherciveen this evening, but I think that they're over reliant on Darragh O'Connor to do the bulk of their scoring. I think that this will come against them yet.
South Kerry can't be ruled out yet despite this evenings poor result for them. They have a lot of experienced players on their team which I reckon will stand to them, so I'd expect a couple of big results from them yet.
Kenmare and Austin Stacks emerged from a group with 3 club teams.
Stacks drew with a mediocre Crokes this evening, so this doesn't auger well for them. They've a strong team on paper, but if Paddy Lane is held, they'll struggle for scores in the next round.
Kenmare did well to top the group, and they've already won division 1 of the county minor league, but I can’t see them having enough quality players to trouble the bigger divisional sides.
So, it's North Kerry to win it out for me, with anyone of South Kerry, East Kerry and Mid Kerry playing them in the final.

[horsebox77]

Ya, agree with your take on it, I was at the NK and EK game, I think at stages tonight NK were sloppy, I also think Brian Scanlon doesn’t know his best XV yet, he is still chopping and changing, I think he is actually basing his XV on the players he knows from last years under 15 squad and back filling with the key players on the age,

It was the both Healy’s were good tonight Eddie very strong and comfortable at 6 and Oisin scored a cracking goal from outside the twenty one. Darragh Keeffe also was v outstanding with three cracking points from play, Dillon is still the main man but he needs to add more to his general play to bring his colleagues into play, NK are far from a one Man team, but at times they need to be more cohesive, the big key for me is that they still at times play like a divisional side and to prevail they have to gel better, in this regard actually missing out in the direct route and getting an additional game in a quarter final may be a blessing in disguise.

[mack21]

Agree that divisional teams could benefit from an extra game in a quarter final. But the game in Fossa would indicate neither wanted it....Both sides fought very hard for the win. North ky were delighted afterwards.

[kerrysouth]

Was at the South Kerry v Mid Kerry game last night and South Kerry very poor will have to really up their performance if they are to be contenders. Many so called big players indeed on both teams were disappointing on the night .Interesting that all the clubs have performed reasonably well to date with 2 clubs through while traditional strong divisions West Kerry St Kieran’s and St Brendan’s very disappointing and are out .

[mg72]

Aug 2, 2022 8:12:51 GMT kerrysouth said:

Was at the South Kerry v Mid Kerry game last night and South Kerry very poor will have to really up their performance if they are to be contenders. Many so called big players indeed on both teams were disappointing on the night .Interesting that all the clubs have performed reasonably well to date with 2 clubs through while traditional strong divisions West Kerry St Kieran’s and St Brendan’s very disappointing and are out .

I wouldn’t say that the club teams performed reasonably well in the championship overall.
Statistics tell a different story.

Rathmore lost all 3 of their matches.
Laune Rangers lost 2 and drew 1.
In the group which included 3 club teams alongside St Kierans, Kenmare won all 3, Stacks won 1, lost 1 and drew 1, while Crokes lost 2 and drew 1.

You'd want to have a really exceptional club side to be able to challenge the bigger divisional sides these days.

[mack21]

Don't Kenmare have a few useful kilgarvan players with them..so effectively not a club team. Nit-picking I know...Saw Stacks against Kierans. Thought they looked decent. They are no pushover.

[mg72]

Aug 2, 2022 9:02:22 GMT mack21 said:

Don't Kenmare have a few useful kilgarvan players with them..so effectively not a club team. Nit-picking I know...Saw Stacks against Kierans. Thought they looked decent. They are no pushover.

You're not nit picking at all Mack, you're dead right, Kenmare have a few Kilgarvan lads with them.
I thought before the championship began that Kenmare Shamrocks were going alone as a club side and that Kilgarvan were going with East Kerry.
Do Kenmare count as a divisional side for this championship now?
If they are counted as a divisional side, then Stacks are the only 1 of the club teams that performed reasonably well with 1 win, 1 draw and 1 loss..
It's kinda strange that the full Kenmare District clubs weren't kept together, instead of letting Tousist and Templenoe join South Kerry. I suppose Kenmare Shamrocks wanted to have a cut out at it themselves after winning division 1 of the county league.
On their day, Stacks are a decent side alright. On paper they're easily the best of the club sides. A decent draw in the quarter finals and they could make the semis.

[mack21]

Interesting draw for quarter finals lads. North Kerry handy run to the final??

[mg72]

Aug 2, 2022 18:55:00 GMT mack21 said:

Interesting draw for quarter finals lads. North Kerry handy run to the final??

I just saw the draw for the quarter finals, haven't seen the semi-finals draw yet.
The 2 quarter finals could be 2 close matches.
If Stacks can get it together, they might put it up to North Kerry. They've some solid players....Michael Tansley, Ben Murphy, Luke Casey, David, Daniel Kirby, Colm Browne, Thomas Deregee, Ronan Carroll, Noah Townsend and Paddy Lane. After these, they might struggle for strength in dept though.

[Moderator]

Quarter-finals: North Kerry v Austin Stacks, East Kerry v South Kerry - both games Monday 8 Aug, time/venue TBC


Semi-finals: Kenmare v North Kerry or Austin Stacks, Mid Kerry v East Kerry or South Kerry

[kerrysouth]

Following the draw the Feale /shannon rangers amalgamation just need to beat two club teams to reach the final.The other side of the draw too close to call and anyone of east south and mid could be the likely finalists .

[mack21]

It has worked out nicely for the North alright. It's their championship to lose. Whoever gets through the other side will have put a very tough schedule behind them..

[kingdomsparks]

Thanks to the forum for the only upto date info on the Co. Minor championship, i have been searching the local media recently for any reports etc. but unfortunately they have decided that it doesent merit coverage. Sad reflection on what the media and GAA heirarcy think of our possible future heroes.

[Moderator]

Quarter-final results: South Kerry 0-17 East Kerry 1-12; North Kerry 0-12 Austin Stacks 0-11

Semi-final pairings: South Kerry v Mid Kerry, Kenmare Shamrocks v North Kerry - both games 15 Aug, 6:30pm, venues TBC

[kerryman90]

Report by Jack Hennessy

Keane's SuperValu Minor Football Championship.
Quarter Final
North Kerry 0-12 Austin Stacks 0-11
This was certainly not a game for the faint-hearted as this highly enjoyable contest went down to the wire before North Kerrys Evan Boyle became the hero of the hour and after the sides were all square with a minute to go Boyle kicked over the winning point amid great jubilation from the huge North Kerry supporters. No question about it Austin Stacks who only led by the first minute of the game proved tough opponents and even though there was never more that a kick of a ball between the sides all through North Kerry just about deserved to march into a quarter finals where they will battle it out with Kenmare Shamrocks. Played in perfect underfoot conditions at Castleisland Desmonds G A A pitch on Monday evening August 10th it was the Tralee boys who registered the opening score of the match when Paddy Lane got the first of his two first half points in the 5th minute. However 5mts later Jamie Moloney had the sides all square at 1pt a piece. This was the the way that first half went with the game ebbing and flowing. Jack Enright, Cormac Dillon, (2f) and Oisin Healy with Daniel Kirby replying for Stacks leaving the half time score reading; North Kerry 0-5 Austin Stacks 0-3.On the change-over it was still nip and tuck and by the three quarter stage North Kerry had opened up a 4pt lead 0-9 to 0-5. Cormac Dillon 2pts, Oisin Healy and Evan Boyle recording scores but Stacks kept plugging away with Daniel Kirby, 2pts. Within 2mts Stacks had cut the deficit to just 3pts, as Ronan O Carroll and Ryan Driscol split the uprights. The Tralee boys were now really giving it a go and some neat points coming from Damian Hogan,and Daniel Kirby to cut the deficit now to a single point; 0-10 to 0-9. Oisin Healy steadied the ship when he put a bit of daylight between the sides after 22mts.North Kerry defence were now under severe pressure and loosing a player to a black card as Stacks came forward in droves looking for those vital scores that would put them over the line and when Paddy Leane kicked over 2pts as we approached the final whistle; extra time now looked a possibility but in one last ditch effort Evan Boyle kicked over the winner. Overall a superb game of fast open football and once again credit both teams for their great football skills that were enjoyed by all.

[horsebox77]

Very fair assessment, very enjoyable game. Stacks played really defensive but their club mentality as opposed to a divisional side was one of the primary reasons this was so close.

NK just about deserved but they need to improve as a unit and gel if they want to progress to the finishing line

[mg72]

I caught the 2nd half of the South Kerry v East Kerry quarter final in Killorglin this evening. East Kerry's long reign as minor champions is over, but they didn't give up their crown without giving it everything.
Like i said, I missed the 1st half, but South were deserving winners from what I saw. They took most of the chances that fell their way and were very dangerous on the break. Galvin in goals was very solid, with Donagh Shine and Ian O’Sullivan dangerous from midfield up. Donagh was like a magician the way he was able to weave his way out of trouble at times. Ben Egan also impressed as a substitute with 15 minutes left. East Kerry will rue some missed chances in period that i saw. I thought that the referee Gary Kissane was very good in a match that there was nothing held back in.
It looks like there's a cracking semi final in the making as South clash with Mid in a rematch of their group match which was won by Mid Kerry.
It'll be a South v North final I reckon.

[diego]

Have updated the original post to give recognition to the Templenoe/Tousist element of the South Kerry panel. A good share of them listed in the match programme put up online by Jason O'Connor.

[kerrysouth]

South Kerry just about edged a mediocre east Kerry team in an error strewn game in Killorglin tonight.The east Kerry goalkeeper kept them in the game with a few good saves allied to poor finishes .Again some of the south Kerry main players very subdued until late in the game when their opponents tired .However this game should stand to them and I would fancy them to progress to the final as from what I saw in the previous encounter this is a very beatable and ordinary mid Kerry team and as the club teams have shown unlike previous years the gap between a lot of the teams is very marginal so South Kerry have finally broken the monopoly that east Kerry have had in this competition for a number of years and a new name will take their mantle .

[horsebox77]

I was at the NK vs Eat Kerry games last weekend and EK were very impressive, is this considered a bit of a shock roar are South Kerry serious contenders.

Mid Kerry had a very impressive U15 team last year and I would see both them and NK as serious contenders for both this year and next.

[mg72]

Aug 10, 2022 8:59:09 GMT horsebox77 said:

I was at the NK vs Eat Kerry games last weekend and EK were very impressive, is this considered a bit of a shock roar are South Kerry serious contenders.

Mid Kerry had a very impressive U15 team last year and I would see both them and NK as serious contenders for both this year and next.

The Mid Kerry U-15's last year contained a lot of strong Laune Rangers players. They have some of that team playing minor this year, but I'd have South Kerry ahead of them. South beating East wasn't a surprise to me. They looked the better team by far.
I think they'll come out on top against Mid Kerry.
Next year Mid Kerry will be very weak without the players from Laune Rangers.
If North Kerry do the business this year, they could do a two in a row in '23

[horsebox77]

Was in Fitzgerald’s Stadium it witness a 2-13 to 0-06 win for NK Rangers tonight in Killarney against Kenmare distinct. Poor fair and poor value for the few shillings dished on such a wet night - This was a non event with the NK side having the upper hand in most sectors.

Evan Boyle and Sean McElligott controlled the mid field area and as a result their forwards had a plentiful supply of ball. Oisin Healy was impressive again netting twice in the first half.

NK now go into the final next Monday against a Mid Kerry team that got the better of South Kerry by two points tonight. NK may be favorites, but only marginally. There is still uncertainty on their best starting XV with changes on the same positions, wing back, wing forward and corner forward. Their main failing however is the failure to acknowledge that the team has six quality forwards and not just one focal point, this predictability and tunnel vision may need to be addressed not encouraged, if they want to solidify their grip on this minor trophy,

[mg72]

I was in Tralee at the Mid Kerry v South Kerry semi final. The heavy rain stopped at around 7.15. The match was delayed by 15 minutes as the teams couldn't get out early enough to do a proper warm up, so a 7.45 throw in it was. It stayed dry for the match, but the ball was slippy and there was a slight breeze blowing towards the Horan end.
SK, who played against the breeze, were on top for most of the 1st half. Jack Clifford who played at full forward was a big threat, kicking some fine points from play off both feet. MK didn't have their shooting boots on, with a lot of chances dropping short and they also hit the post a couple of times. Their 1st score was after 25 minutes, when a Darragh O'Connor shot which dropped short, was fisted to the net by Jack McGrath.
SK went in at halftime a point up, and with them having the advantage of the breeze and with Clifford playing well at 14, they were expected to push on for the win by most of the crowd.
MK got a great start to the 2nd half. Tony Óg Duffy was doing well sweeping in front of Clifford, with Josh Coffey doing well when he was marking either Ian O’Sullivan or Donagh Shine.
Darragh Hogan also found form, and finished the match with i think 1-5 to his name. He'll need to carry this form through to the final for the full match though, if Mid Kerry are to go all the way.
Clifford, who was now clearly suffering from an arm injury was doing well and scored a few more nice points, but he couldn't get past Liam O'Neill to get the goal that SK needed. Ben Egan scored a nice point when he was introduced, but there were few other threats on the SK side, for whom Zak Fagan had a great game in their half back line. When Mid Kerry were reduced to 14 for 10 minutes in the middle of the 2nd half, South Kerry never took advantage.
Darragh O'Connor scored a nice point near the end for Mid Kerry, but he'll have been disappointed not to have scored more this evening.
Going by their 2nd half performance, Mid Kerry just about deserved to win this poor match which was well refereed by Peter Curtin by 2-7 to 0-11.
I'm sticking with my prediction of North Kerry being the county minor champions for 2022.

[kerrysouth]

After a lovely sunny week the real Irish weather was back as I made my way to Tralee last night.South Kerry with Jack Clifford in fine form put themselves in a great position at half time but never kicked on in the second half and in reality this team who we had great expectations down south never reached their potential in this competition and were beaten for a second time by a resilient mid Kerry team .Whie you would expect North Kerry to win the final they have blown hot and cold in the competition too and another below par performance in the final could allow mid Kerry to take advantage and go a step further than last year.

[mack21]

Conditions suited Mid Kerry. I thought South would win by about 6 but they never kicked on after dominating early on. First half was very poor fare from Mid...went totally defensive. Dara Hogan was excellent in the second half and made the difference. Not sure they would have knocked the South out on a dry sod...but this South team have blown hot and cold. At their best they were the best team in the competition. Can only blame themselves for not putting this game to bed early.

[bigshoe]

Well done to our u16 team that beat mayo on saturday. That was mayo's full team so it looks promising for us next year. I wasnt at it but i heard that a few of our lads shot the lights out on what was a scorcher of a day. Well done again

[mg72]

County minor final in Tralee this evening.

I think that Mid Kerry will struggle. They're missing a couple of backs to handle North Kerry's forwards, they'll come out second best in Midfield, and they don't have enough scrores in their forwards.
If North Kerry stop Mid Kerry from scoring goals, I'd expect them to win comfortably.