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Can anyone stop the Crokes?

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Dr Crokes v St Kieran’s

Saturday, August 25 at 4pm

(Lewis Road)

The above headline is getting a bit repetitive but, unfortunately for 16 of the 17 teams in contention, so too is the Kerry County Championship. Dr Crokes are on the hunt for three-in-a-row and Pat O’Shea’s team are odds-on favourites to prevail once again in 2018.

The Killarney club retained their Club Championship crown with a comprehensive victory over Kenmare in April and they remained unbeaten throughout their County League campaign, winning 10 of their 11 games and drawing one. Untimely injuries to key men Gavin White and Tony Brosnan may open the door for their rivals just a bit but if any squad can absorb the blow of losing such an influential pair, it’s the Crokes’.

St Kieran’s forced a replay with Austin Stacks in Round 1 last year before being eliminated by West Kerry in the loser’s round. They couldn’t have been handed a more difficult opener this time out, but they might take heart from their showing against the same opposition in 2016 when they lost by a single point. Having said that, anything other than a comfortable Crokes victory would be a major shock.

Verdict: Crokes by eleven.

Dr Crokes

Last year: Champions (beat South Kerry)

Winners: 12 times (1901, 1912, 1913, 1914, 1991, 2000, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017)

Current form: WWWWW

Tournament odds: 5/6 

St Kieran’s

Last year: Round 2B (lost to West Kerry)

Winners: Once (1988)

Clubs: Ballymacelligott, Brosna, Castleisland Desmonds, Cordal, Currow, Knocknagoshel, Scartaglin

Tournament odds: 40/1

 

Legion and Rathmore know each other well

Rathmore v Killarney Legion

Saturday, August 25 at 6pm

(Rathbeg)

These two groups of players have met so many times in recent years they must be sick of the sight of each other. The sides are fairly evenly matched but Rathmore have had the upper hand of late, defeating Legion in last year’s O’Donoghue Cup final and also coming out on top when they met in the County League at the end of June.

Led by high calibre players like Paul Murphy, Mark Reen and Shane Ryan, and with two-time All-Star Aidan O’Mahony rumoured to be back and ready for action, Rathmore will be a formidable championship team as always.

As a Legion player it would probably be unwise of me to predict the outcome of this one.

Verdict: Too close to call.

Rathmore

Last year: Quarter-final (lost to South Kerry)

Winners: Never

Current form: WLWLW

Tournament odds: 22/1

Killarney Legion

Last year: Round 2A (lost to Austin Stacks)

Winners: Once (1946)

Current form: LLWWL

Tournament odds: 25/1

 

Can the Shamrocks rock the South?

South Kerry v Kenmare Shamrocks

Saturday, August 25 at 6pm

(Cahersiveen)

Last year’s beaten finalists begin their 2018 campaign with a home fixture against Kenmare Shamrocks in Caherciveen. Having pushed the Crokes reasonably close in 2017, the men from the south will be hoping to go one step further this year and they still have enough talent in their squad to be considered one of the highest ranked contenders.

It has been a mixed year for Kenmare. They reached the final of the Club Championship but lost to the Crokes and last weekend they avoided relegation to Division 3 of the County League with victory on the final day over Kilcummin. With Kerry stars Stephen O’Brien and Seán O’Shea pulling the strings in their forward division, the 2016 Intermediate champs have what it takes to make life difficult for any team in the county.

Verdict: South Kerry by three.

South Kerry

Last year: Runners-up (lost to Dr Crokes)

Winners: 10 times (1955, 1956, 1958, 1981, 1982, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2015)

Clubs: Derrynane, Dromid Pearses, Renard, Skellig Rangers, Sneem, St. Mary's, St. Michael's/Foilmore, Valentia, Waterville

Tournament odds: 9/1

Kenmare Shamrocks

Last year: Quarter-final (lost to Dr Crokes)

Winners: Never

Current form: LLLWW

Tournament odds: 25/1

 

An Ghaeltacht back in the big time

Mid Kerry v An Ghaeltacht

Saturday, August 25 at 6pm

(Beaufort)

The glory days of the early 2000s seem like a lifetime away but, after a spell out of the spotlight, An Ghaeltacht will once again have a chance to prove themselves at the top table of Kerry football. The Intermediate champions brought the Bishop Moynihan Cup back to Gallarus in 2001 and 2003 and starting this weekend they’ll be hoping to get back to winning ways at senior level.

They’ll fancy their chances of getting a positive result in Round 1; opponents Mid Kerry lost both of their ties in last year’s championship and they’ve only won two championship games in the past three years.

Verdict: An Ghaeltacht by one.

Mid Kerry

Last year: Round 2B (lost to East Kerry)

Winners: 4 times (1967, 1971, 1992, 2008)

Clubs: Beaufort, Cromane, Glenbeigh-Glencar, Keel, Laune Rangers, Milltown/Castlemaine

Tournament odds: 16/1

An Ghaeltacht

Last year: Intermediate champions (beat Templenoe)

Winners: 2 times (2001, 2003)

Form: WLLLW

Tournament odds: 16/1

 

St Brendan’s could cause some upsets

Qualification Round

St Brendan’s v West Kerry

Sunday, August 26 at 6.30pm

(Austin Stack Park)

Their record in the County Championship might tell a different tale but St Brendan’s are a team on the up. With up-and-coming talent like Jack Barry, Ivan Parker and Stefan Okunbor in their ranks, the divisional outfit have the potential to cause one or two upsets in this year’s competition.

You would certainly expect them to advance past last year’s semi-finalists West Kerry, who will probably struggle to cope with the loss of their players from An Ghaeltacht.

The winners of this game will play East Kerry in the first round proper next weekend.

Verdict: St Brendan’s by five.

St Brendan’s

Last year: Round 3 (lost to East Kerry)

Winners: Never

Clubs: Ardfert, Churchill, John Mitchels, Na Gaeil, St Pat's Blennerville

Tournament odds: 25/1

West Kerry

Last year: Semi-final (lost to Dr Crokes)

Winners: Three times (1984, 1985, 1990)

Clubs: Annascaul, Castlegregory, Lispole

Tournament odds: 66/1

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Killarney for Palestine film screening

Killarney for Palestine recently held a sold-out screening of the Oscar-winning documentary ‘No Other Land’ at the West End School of Arts, raising €2,100 for Camp Breakerz. The event, which […]

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Killarney for Palestine recently held a sold-out screening of the Oscar-winning documentary ‘No Other Land’ at the West End School of Arts, raising €2,100 for Camp Breakerz.

The event, which took place on July 3, included two screenings, both of which were fully booked. Guests enjoyed cheese and wine before the shows.
‘No Other Land’ depicts the ongoing destruction in Masafer Yatta, a cluster of villages in the Southern West Bank, and shows the experiences of Palestinians under Israeli occupation. The film won in the Best Documentary category at this year’s Academy Awards.
The screenings were organised in association with the West End School of Arts.
All proceeds from the €25 tickets benefited Camp Breakerz Crew, a children’s charity based in Gaza that provides creative outlets through dance and is involved in food distribution programs in Nuseirat Camp and Deir-Al-Balah due to food shortages.
Sally MacMonagle, who recently spent time in Aida Refugee Camp in Bethlehem, also spoke at one of the screenings.

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Bid to host European Presidency summit meetings gathers pace

Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Tourism, Michael Cahill TD, has highlighted Killarney’s suitability to host summit meetings of international Government Ministers during Ireland’s six-month European Presidency tenure in 2026. Deputy Cahill […]

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Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Tourism, Michael Cahill TD, has highlighted Killarney’s suitability to host summit meetings of international Government Ministers during Ireland’s six-month European Presidency tenure in 2026.

Deputy Cahill believes Kerry’s available accommodation, food, and conference facilities are “second to none,” with Killarney as the central location.
“Visitors from every corner of the earth have been coming to Kerry for centuries now, to experience its beauty and serenity and have returned on many occasions because of the fabulous time they have enjoyed during their stay here,” said Deputy Cahill. “Where else would you want to bring the senior Government Ministers of all of our EU counterpart states, to experience Ireland, its customs and heritage?”
The Rossbeigh TD outlined various attractions available for visitors during downtime: “During their downtime, they can visit the Blaskets and Slea Head, Sceilg Mhichíl and the Ring of Kerry, Killarney’s Lakes, Gap of Dunloe, National Park and Sliabh Luachra, all of our glorious beaches from Ballybunion to Rossbeigh, Kells to Ventry, Whitestrand to Inch, Ballinskelligs to Cromane, Waterville to Derrynane.” He also cited Kerry’s golf courses, Listowel Writers Week, the Rose of Tralee, and Puck Fair as potential experiences.
Deputy Cahill confirmed he has raised this matter with An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin; An Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Harris; and Minister of State for European Affairs, Thomas Byrne.
“If Killarney’s bid is successful in bringing the Heads of State to our county for meetings, conferences and functions, it will be a massive boost to the local economy in Killarney and also throughout the county,” added Cahill.”Iwill continue to push in the coming months for Killarney and Kerry to be included as bases for the rounds of meetings that are to take place from July 1 to December 312026.”

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