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‘There are times that I feel like leaving’ – O’Regan admits that criticism has taken its toll

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5 years ago

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Kerry District League Secretary John O'Regan says that "personal attacks" and media criticism have made him consider his position as the head of soccer in the county.

O'Regan has come under fire this week amidst allegations that the league broke COVID-19 restrictions by allowing spectators to attend a recent league final, and by charging an admission fee of €5 at the gate.

As was reported by the Killarney Advertiser on Tuesday, O'Regan denies that any restrictions were breached.

The FAI have confirmed that they are investigating attendances at fixtures in Kerry.

Social media posts about the match and the alleged breach prompted an article by Champagne Football authors Paul Rowan and Mark Tighe in The Sunday Times, but O’Regan has insisted that the man who was responsible for making the initial comments, a former FAI Referee Observer, has a “vendetta” against him.

The person in question claimed that 180 people were at the league final, and that supporters paid an entry fee, in a post he shared on the ‘Supporters of Junior Soccer Players’ Facebook page on Tuesday, September 8.

“This man wasn’t even there, from what I can gather. It’s all hearsay with him as far as I’m concerned,” O’Regan said.

“It’s a very, very personal vendetta, just because I was a friend of John Delaney’s.”

Last year O’Regan emerged as one of Delaney’s fiercest allies as he stuck with the embattled CEO in the face of a litany of serious allegations, which ultimately forced Delaney to resign. Last October, after the controversial administrator had been forced out of the Association for good, O’Regan said that he couldn’t see what Delaney had done wrong.

“My association with John Delaney goes back years and years, even before he was ever involved with the FAI. He was a friend of mine. He’s still a friend of mine.

I don’t condone everything he did, alright? All I’m saying is what he did for Kerry. That’s what I’m saying, and I can only judge him by what he did for us.

“He (the person who made the comments) is on that drum the whole time. All I do is ignore whatever he puts up online.

“Himself and the other gentleman say that I’m being kept in my job by the hurling clubs in North Kerry.

“There are eight hurling clubs in North Kerry. That’s all that’s there. That small little pocket.

“The Kenmares and the Dingles and the Mastergeehas and the Asdees, they’re all the people who vote for me. They’re the people I represent.

“When they don’t want me, they’ll tell me.”

CRITICISM

O’Regan, who has presided over Kerry soccer for the better part of half a century, has faced stern criticism in recent times, both for supporting Delaney and for other matters relating to league governance.

He says he takes comfort from phone calls he receives from friends and allies whenever something negative is written about him, but, in light of the latest controversy, he admits that the media attention and online comments have taken their toll on him personally.

“I’m there at Mounthawk Park 24/7. I was so exhausted yesterday evening (after the Greyhound Bar KO Cup final, which was won by Killarney Celtic), I went home and went to bed at nine o’clock. I didn’t get up ‘til half nine this morning. And I said to myself, it’d be a lot easier for me to just turn the key on the place and leave it closed down.

"That’s what will happen I’d say shortly because I can’t keep going.

“All I’m trying to do is provide an outlet for people to play football. If this is going to be the result, that I’m being personally attacked…”

He trails off. Does this mean that he has considered stepping down?

“Well, I’ll tell you the honest truth: there are times that I feel like leaving. I’m too long in the game and I wish some other fella would take it over. I’m secretary of the Kerry District League 46 years now. And in all that time, nobody seems to want it. If somebody wants it, I’ve no problem with that.

“I’m getting tired of it anyway, Adam. I’ll tell you the truth boy.”

 

Pics: Sportsfile.

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Home cup tie for St Paul’s could be epic

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2 weeks ago

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7 November 2025

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Paudie O’Connor National Cup (Round 1)

Utility Trust St Paul’s v GCU Brunell

Saturday 7.30pm

Killarney Sports and Leisure Centre

The St Paul’s women’s team will be hoping to get their National Cup adventure off the ground on Saturday when they welcome 2024 champions Brunell to Killarney. Tip-off in the Killarney Sports and Leisure Centre is at 7.30pm.

Paul’s have displayed some fine early season form, although their unbeaten start in the Super League came to an abrupt end last weekend when they lost to the Trinity Meteors in Dublin. James Fleming’s side weren’t at their best on the day but they were well in contention heading into the final quarter with the scores at 47-45 in favour of the hosts. The Meteors pushed on in the fourth, however, eventually running out 63-53 winners.

St Paul’s scorers on the night were Maisie Burnham (13), Tara Cousins (12), Lorraine Scanlon (12), Lovisa Hevinder (9), Denise Dunlea (5) and Leah McMahon (2).

The Killarney club are now joint second in the table alongside the Meteors with both teams holding a 4-1 record. Killester are top having won each of their first five games.

Paul’s opponents on Saturday, Brunell, have won three out of five league matches so far.

LAKERS

The Utility Trust St Paul’s Lakers have now won three of their last four games in Division 1 of the Men’s National League following an impressive home victory over Moycullen in Killarney.

Eoin Carroll and Jack O’Sullivan made significant contributions of the Boys in Black; Carroll hit 17 points and collected 13 rebounds while O’Sullivan had 14 points, 12 rebounds and some spectacular blocks.

Steve Kelly posted 30 points and the durable Sam Grant played every second, adding 21 points along the way.

The Lakers started well before the visitors found their footing and the sides went in level at the half-time break after scores by home captain Carroll. There was still nothing to separate the teams entering the fourth quarter (68-65) but buckets by Carroll, Pablo Murcia and Grant opened up a nine-point lead. Moycullen fought back admirably, however, cutting the deficit to just four, but Luke O’Hea’s charges held firm to prevail by eight (88-80).

Next up is a cup tie against the Tipperary Talons, a side they defeated by 30 points just a couple of weeks ago. The cup can be very different to the league, though, and they will need another solid performance to advance to the next round. Tip-off in in Killenaule is at 6.30pm on Saturday.

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Chances of Kerry v Cork Munster final in 2026 decrease as Munster GAA delay seeding plan

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2 weeks ago

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7 November 2025

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After facing a backlash from Limerick, Clare, Waterford and Tipperary players, Munster GAA have postponed their plan to keep Cork and Kerry separate in the 2026 Munster Football Championship.

The new seeding system – which gives the two highest ranked Munster teams in the National League byes to separate semi-finals – will now come into play in 2027, twelve months later than initially planned.

This will give Clare and Limerick a chance to earn promotion to Division 2 of the league, potentially overtaking Cork if the Rebels were to get relegated to Division 3.

Despite traditionally being the two main contenders for Munster football honours, Kerry and Cork haven’t met in a provincial decider since 2021. The Kingdom have won each of the finals since then (one versus Limerick and three versus Clare) by an average margin of 15.75 points.

More high-profile Kerry v Cork finals might be desirable for fans of those teams, businesses in Killarney and Cork, and neutrals alike but Munster GAA’s plans to effectively keep the great rivals on opposite sides of the draw understandably drew criticism from the other participating counties. A statement by the GPA confirmed that players from Limerick, Clare, Waterford and Tipp had met via Zoom to discuss the matter. They were said to be “deeply disappointed and concerned” by the decision.

The 12-month delay will at least give two of those disaffected teams an opportunity to benefit from the new seeding process.

The draw for the 2026 Munster Football Championship will take place on November 27 under the old rules. As 2025 finalists, Kerry and Clare will get byes to the last four (but they will not necessarily be kept apart).

Nine members of Kerry’s squad are up for All-Stars at tonight’s awards ceremony in Dublin with Joe O’Connor and David Clifford also in contention for the prestigious Footballer of the Year award.

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