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Clare get burned by stylish Kerry

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It felt a bit like a Munster final in Killarney on Sunday as Kerry turned on the style in a sun-drenched Fitzgerald Stadium. The weather was unreal. Fellas were baking up in the terrace. One of my friends resorted to lining up alongside some random children who were waiting for their father to squirt them with sunscreen. He got burned anyway but (wait for it - this is a good one) not as badly burned as Clare’s six defenders.

The visitors got the first couple of scores but Kerry were rampant thereafter, moving the ball so quickly and so efficiently that the Claremen were effectively chasing shadows for the duration. 32 points is savage kicking irrespective of who the opposition are.

Stephen O’Brien must literally be told to just run his man every single time he gets the ball and Clare couldn’t cope with him the last day. There are probably more natural players in the camp but you have to give him his due. He has been consistently effective throughout his Kerry career.

I have to admit that I was a small bit surprised at how quickly Micheál Burns moved up the pecking order and became a starter but he looks very comfortable inside there. He’s a serious athlete to be fair to him. Someone was telling me that he covered 14km in an A versus B match recently. To put that into context, 8-9km is considered normal. It’s very early in the summer to be getting carried away but he has done well so far.

The star trio of Geaney, James and Clifford weren’t quite as electrifying as we all hoped but they still scored 13 points between them. It was great to see James bouncing around the place for Kerry again and he’ll only improve as the year goes on. Clifford did okay and again, he’ll only get better as he continues to adapt to the senior game.

Shane Murphy wasn’t tested too often but his kick-outs were mostly excellent, and he’ll be pleased to have kept a clean sheet in his first championship outing as Kerry captain.

It seemed like most of the supporters went home happy, although one or two (myself included) were a bit underwhelmed by the substitutions made. Mikey Geaney, BJ Keane, Darran O’Sullivan and Kieran Donaghy all got a run, but Kilcummin’s Kevin McCarthy didn’t. The game was won by half time. What’s the point of bringing on Donaghy or Darran, players who have played a million championship games, and leaving a young, exciting prospect on the bench? It was strange enough I thought.

As good as Kerry were, you’d have to say that Clare, who finished third in Division 2 this year, were disappointing. Some of their basic skills were very poor and in general they looked to be miles off the standard required to challenge at this level.

I noticed in the programme that their only ever championship victory over Kerry (1992) was excluded from a list of past meetings between the sides. It’s bad enough that Kerry have won 79 Munster titles to Clare’s two. If we start taking wins off them retrospectively, they’re rightly screwed.

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Killarney sweeps county selections in national carvery awards

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Killarney has taken seven of the nine Kerry spots named as “Knorr Recommended Roast 2026” venues.

The nationwide programme, now in its third year, evaluates pubs and hotels through independent mystery diners to check carvery and roast dinner quality across the country.

Venues across Munster performed above the national average, with a combined score of 81.5% compared to the country-wide average of 80.5%.


The seven Killarney and surrounding area locations making the list include Hannigan’s at the International Hotel, the Killarney Court Hotel, and the Mill Brasserie at the Killarney Heights Hotel.

The Kerry Way Bar & Restaurant in Glenflesk also earned a recommendation, alongside the Killarney Oaks Hotel.


Two local establishments made the list for the first time this year, with the Kenmare Rooms at the Killarney Avenue Hotel and Scott’s Hotel both listed as new entries for 2026.

The remaining two county spots went to Tralee-based venues, namely the Brogue Inn on Rock Street and Gally’s on the Castlemaine Road.

To achieve inclusion in the 148 venues selected across Ireland, each establishment had to demonstrate consistent quality, portion standard, and execution in their daily roast offerings.

Jim Reeves, Customer Director Ireland at Unilever Food Solutions, noted that the results show an exceptional standard of local food and hospitality, stating that each selected venue has a long-standing reputation for serving top-notch carvery dishes.

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Resurfacing works announced for key sections of N22

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A programme of resurfacing works has been confirmed for several key sections of the N22 in and around Killarney.

The investment will involve replacing the road wearing course under the HD28 road maintenance programme to address areas impacted by high traffic volumes.

The project was confirmed at the June full meeting of Kerry County Council and covers four specific locations along the route.

Works will take place on the N22 from the Killarney Leisure Centre through the SuperValu Roundabout to the Coolcaslagh Junction, including the Lissyviggeen Roundabout.

Upgrades are also scheduled for the N22 Killarney Bypass from east of the Kilcummin Junction to the north of the Cleeny Roundabout.

Additionally, resurfacing will be carried out at Madams Hill from the Viewing Park to the north of BG Motors, as well as another section of the N22 running from approximately 1.8 kilometres south of Lawlor’s Cross up to the cross itself.

The works are currently out to tender, with responses expected back shortly. Construction is anticipated to begin in July, with the majority of the resurfacing scheduled to take place at night to minimise disruption for motorists.

The allocation has been welcomed by Deputy Michael Healy-Rae TD and Councillor Jackie Healy-Rae, who noted the importance of the corridor for commuters, tourism, and local businesses.


Deputy Michael Healy-Rae stated that the N22 is one of the most important transport corridors in Kerry and carries thousands of vehicles every day.

He added that maintaining and improving the condition of the road network is vital for road safety, tourism, local businesses, and commuters, while acknowledging Transport Infrastructure Ireland and Kerry County Council for prioritising the funding.

Councillor Jackie Healy-Rae added that well-maintained infrastructure is a basic expectation for residents and visitors alike.

He said that while road maintenance may not always grab headlines, it is one of the most important investments that can be made to improve driving conditions for residents, visitors, and businesses.

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