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History-making minors do it the hard way
K
Kerry created history in Croke Park on Sunday last when they won the All-Ireland minor football title defeating Galway by 0-21 to 1-14. They had to do it the hard way, which made victory all the sweeter for Peter Keane. At one stage Galway were leading by seven points and this looked like a winning margin. However, through this campaign Kerry have had some close calls and these experiences stood to them, as they fought back bravely and ended with a flurry of match-winning points.
No other team in any grade in hurling or in football have won five titles in a row and what’s more this was a brand new team this year with no players available from last year’s crop. What’s remarkable is that Kerry went through a very barren spell until Jack O’Connor managed the winning minor teams in 2004 and 2005. Peter Keane took over and stretched that winning run to three minor titles on the trot. Kerry have now gone 30 games unbeaten at minor level.
David Clifford was the stand out minor last year scoring a massive 4-4 against Derry in the final and he has graduated with ease on to the Kerry senior side. He was the only Kerry player to be named on the RTÉ Sunday Game Team of the Championship. The DNA is good as we witnessed in last Sunday’s minor victory. His first cousin Paul O’Shea did more than anyone to help Kerry’s revival when Galway went seven points ahead and looked to be motoring to an inevitable victory.
It was 1-9 to 0-8 at half-time and it could have an even bigger mountain for Kerry to climb because Galway were very wasteful. O’Shea starred when moved to midfield, an astute move by the Kerry selectors. Paul Walsh led the scoring with four points as Kerry chipped away at Galway’s lead. Dylan Geaney, Darragh O’Reilly and the impressive Ruaidhrí ó Beaglaioch lofted over some great points to turn the table on Galway. He’s a brother of senior Kerry player Brian.
Galway rallied and it was nip and tuck - the sides were level on four occasions as the clock ticked forward to normal full time. In time added on Kerry were magnificent and added four match-winning points for this historic victory.
Congratulations to Peter Keane and his management team. Donal Daly, the former Kerry senior player and Development Officer for underage football in the county who oversees the various development squads, has been doing great work co-ordinating the work of the underage coaches in the county. It proveides a great sense of satisfaction to see such positive results and the same kudos is extended to the club coaches of this record-beating team. Well done to Billy Doolan and his fellow helpers in the Kilcummin club who extended a great welcome home event in the clubhouse on Monday evening last.
Kerry: the history makers.
Kerry: M Kelliher (Glenflesk); C Moriarty (Annascaul), O Fitzgerald (Gneeveguilla), C Flannery (Dingle); D McCarthy (Kenmare), D Murphy (Rathmore), D Mangan (Laune Rangers); D Lyne (Legion), P O’Shea (Kilcummin); D Rahilly (Rathmore), P D’Arcy (Glenflesk), K Falvey (Annascaul); P Walsh (Brosna), M Lenihan (Dr Crokes), D Geaney (Dingle).
Subs: R ó Beaglaoích (An Ghaeltacht) for D’Arcy; K O’Donoghue (Legion) for Mangan; J Kennelly (Ballydonoghue) for Lenihan; J O’Connor (Beaufort) for Walsh.
Scorers: P Walsh (0-4, 1f), K Falvey (0-4), R ó Beaglaoich (0-3), D Rahilly (0-3), P O’Shea (0-2, 1f & 1 ‘45), D Geaney (0-2); J O’Connor (0-1f), D McCarthy (0-1) and M Lenihan (0-1).
A special commemoration took place at Fitzgerald Stadium to mark the 50th anniversary of the sudden passing of former Dr Crokes player, officer, and selector Tim (Timmy) Keogh.
All-Ireland winning Kerry and Dr Crokes manager Pat O’Shea unveiled a memorial plaque in honour of Mr Keogh, who died suddenly at the stadium on 24 May 1976 while watching the East Kerry Under-12 final between Dr Crokes and Legion.
Pat O’Shea, who played in that fixture as a nine-year-old, delivered a moving address reflecting on the tragedy and his memories of Killarney half a century ago. He described Mr Keogh as a dedicated family and community man who led the way for the Dr Crokes club.
O’Shea recalled how the match was halted and the young players were brought into the dressing rooms, leaving an indelible mark on the town. He also paid tribute to Mr Keogh’s late wife, Kathleen, and noted the bittersweet memory of neighbours and Legion icons Weeshie Fogarty and Johnny Culloty rushing to his aid on the sideline.
Speaking on behalf of the family, Eamonn Keogh detailed his father’s extensive contribution to the black and amber. Timmy Keogh served as club treasurer through the 1950s and 1960s alongside Donie Sheahan and Michael O’Connor, and was a selector for the famous Dr Crokes senior team that won seven consecutive O’Donoghue Cups between 1956 and 1962.
Eamonn thanked Fitzgerald Stadium Chairman Der Brosnan and his committee for permission to erect the monument. He welcomed members of the Keogh, Fogarty, Culloty, and Randles families, alongside several players from the 1976 under-12 panel and MC Denis Coleman.
Eamonn paid tribute to Pat O’Shea’s legendary status in the GAA, noting he remains one of only five managers to win both an All-Ireland senior inter-county championship and a senior club title.
Fr Tom Looney spoke of receiving the tragic news via a letter from his mother while serving in Peru 50 years ago, praising Mr Keogh’s legacy with Dr Crokes and local employer Hilliards. Fr Tom performed a blessing alongside Franciscan Friary Guardian Br Pat Lynch and Fr Billy Hoyne.
The commemoration concluded with a musical performance of ‘Buachaill ón Éirne’ and ‘The Parting Glass’ by Timmy’s son, Don Keogh, on concertina, and his cousin, Máire Breathnach, on guitar.
The large attendance included Mayor of Killarney Martin Grady, Kerry GAA Chairman Patrick O’Sullivan, East Kerry Board officials Dermot O’Connor and Noel Kennedy, Dr Crokes President Jackie Looney, Chairman Eoin Brosnan, and Juvenile Chairman David Byrne.
Two young local girls showed great business initiative on Saturday ahead of the Kerry v Donegal match at Fitzgerald Stadium.
Erin McSweeney and Jessie Doolin set up a sweet stall outside a house on Lewis Road, catching the thousands of football fans walking towards the grounds.
The enterprising pair did a busy trade selling soft drinks, sweets, and chocolates to the passing crowds before throw-in.
Their match-day venture also caught the attention of the national sports media, with a photograph of the girls at their stall captured by Sportsfile photographer Stephen McCarthy ahead of the game.
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