News
Kerry showing Middle Eastern promise
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The fledgling Kerry team is alive and growing in the Dubai region and tournaments are a huge attraction there with up to 1,000 players participating.
The Kerry Club was founded by members of the Middle East Kerry Society (MEKS) in May 2018. There are six players from Killarney: David Leacy, Jamie Wrenn, Galen Carroll, Billy Goulding, Frank McCarthy and Seán Corbett.
The club was affiliated to the Middle East GAA board as the 15th club in the region in August 2018 and it is the third club based in Dubai. Kerry are the first county club in the Middle East and 2018/2019 will be their first season. The inaugural training session was held on August 29 and 32 players showed up on the first night.
The club say their main aims are as follows: it is a welcoming and inclusive club for people of all backgrounds and skill levels and the focus is on the social aspect and enjoyment. They train and play “the Kerry way” with an emphasis on skill development and kicking. Players are asked to arrive 15 minutes before training to work on their kicking.
Since its inception, the club has worked tirelessly to stick to these ideals, promoting a low commitment of one night per week training policy. A “total football” approach is adopted to training. No exercises or drill is carried out without a ball, and there is supplementing training with plenty of challenge games against neighbouring clubs. In short, no laps, no wire to wires, just all ball work.
The club has been very successful at recruiting players who have not played Gaelic football for many years or those who had fallen out of love with the game due to the huge commitment involved back home. They have players from all four provinces, not just from Kerry. However, there is still a large Kerry presence, with approximately 20 players coming from the Kingdom. Peter Keane, the new Kerry boss, may be looking to this diaspora for players to be included in his panel. Three players in the club are novices to the game (one individual from Texas, USA and two Welsh lads).
Club Committee
Chairman: Jamie Wrenn (Killarney)
Vice Chairman: Seán Corbett (Ballyfinnane)
Secretary: Tim Sheahan (Glenbeigh)
PRO: Galen Carroll (Killarney)
Treasurer: Fergal Murphy (Castlegregory)
It is a very young committee and all committee members are players also. The head coach is Dean Cassidy, a PE teacher from Kenmare who is only 23 years of age. He also juggles playing senior football in the Middle East with Dubai Celts.
2018/19 Season So Far
The club has three adult men’s teams with over 60 registered players in total. Since it’s a new club, they had to start at the lowest grade – Junior B. The A and B team play in the Junior B league, and the 3rd team (Social) play in dedicated social competitions. Social level is not part of a league structure.
The A team is currently top of the Junior B league after two tournaments. With one more tournament to go in February, they are on track for promotion to Junior A next season. The B team is mid-table in the Junior B league, but they won the plate competition at the Dubai games in October. They are hoping to finish as high up the table as possible by the end of the season. The Social team won the Bahrain tournament competition in November.
Future Plans
Looking to the future, the club has ambitions for its teams to move up the grades, with the ultimate goal of competing at senior level in the Middle East GAA Leagues.
Next year, the club will launch its five-year plan in an effort to achieve both its on-field and off-field goals, ensuring a strong footing for the organisation in the years ahead. The initial successes of the club could not have been achieved without the support of the Kerry County Board (Tim Murphy and Maurice O’Meara) - who met with founding members of the club during the summer at the Centre of Excellence in Currans - the Middle East County Board and also sponsors, Kibsons International and Premier Brands International.
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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