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Cokes win: The five biggest talking points

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1. Crokes’ attacking efficiency the difference

It’s no secret that the Crokes have an abundance of talent in their forward division but Sunday’s exhibition in point-kicking was a joy to behold. Incredibly, they managed 17 scores from just 20 shots on goal, and one of those missed opportunities was Shane Murphy’s 45 that struck the post.

Captain Daithí Casey kicked some lovely points, including one exceptional strike off his left and a raking 45-metre effort with the outside of the right, and Kieran O’Leary and Micheál Burns also chipped in with some impressive scores of their own.

South Kerry, on the other hand, had ten wides in total and ultimately that profligacy cost them.

2. Star turns from Kerry hopefuls

In 2017, their success at club level actually worked against some of the Crokes players who would have been hoping to break into the Kerry set-up.

They were occupied with the All-Ireland series at the beginning of the year and it seemed as though Eamonn Fitzmaurice wasn’t too keen on introducing certain players to the fold when he wasn’t able to blood them first in the league.

Crokes will be favourites to win Munster again this time out and could well be busy throughout the spring but Fitzmaurice is unlikely to overlook Crokes’ young stars for another year.

Gavin White in particular has a lot of people talking. He was outstanding again on Sunday, breaking forward at will from defence and deservedly picking up the man-of-the-match award.

3. History makers

Following Sunday’s triumph, Crokes are now tied with Austin Stacks and Laune Rangers as the most successful team in the history of the County Championship (twelve titles).

For many players involved, it was their sixth final win in eight years and veterans Colm Cooper and Eoin Brosnan, who both made cameo appearances against South Kerry, lifted the Bishop Moynihan Cup for a record seventh time.

4. No rest for the winners

They’ve hardly had a break in the past 18 months and there’s no sign of any respite just yet for the reigning All-Ireland champions. On Sunday they travel to Tipperary to face Clonmel Commercials in the Munster quarter final and, should they win, the semi-final is scheduled for two weeks later against the Clare champions (Clondegad or Kilmurry-Ibrickane).

In between, they’ll take on Kilcummin in the O’Donoghue Cup. It has been a gruelling run but, at times like these, I’m sure the players don’t mind too much.

5. Gooch’s injury

Cooper was Crokes’ top scorer in the Championship heading into the final but a hamstring injury meant he was unable to start last weekend. He did manage the last 15 minutes, however, so he could feature in the big Munster Championship games over the next couple of weeks.

In truth, they realistically might not need him against Clonmel, who will be big underdogs on Sunday, and Kilcummin so it’s possible that he might be kept in cotton wool until the semi-final.
 


 
Above: Dr Crokes captain Daithi Casey and teammates celebrate with the Bishop Moynihan Cup after the Kerry Senior County Championship Football Final at Austin Stack Park, Tralee on Sunday. Picture: Eamonn Keogh (macmonagle.com)

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Con O’Leary: Killarney loses a vibrant and popular personality

Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce has led the tributes to the late Con O’Leary, an extremely popular and very successful businessman in the town, who passed away in the […]

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Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce has led the tributes to the late Con O’Leary, an extremely popular and very successful businessman in the town, who passed away in the early hours of Sunday.

Con was a vibrant and popular personality in Killarney where he operated The Laurels on Main Street, a thriving bar and restaurant, which he inherited following the passing of his father, Thado.
The business organisation said from a social perspective, The Laurels became the beating heart of the town and it was a landmark at the Market Cross in the same way as Clery’s clock was in the capital city.
Chamber said Con’s passing really marks the end of an era as he was one of a golden age of inspirational local business people who developed and built Killarney, through hard work, bravery and great commercial flair, and helped create the wonderful tourist attraction and holiday destination it is today.
“Con was very proud of Killarney and he played a very active part in progressing the town at many levels.
“He was a man that was never short of great ideas and his contribution to the business life of the town and as a director of Killarney Race Company was immense,” Chamber said.
“He was ahead of his time in many respects with the introduction by what became known as “the singing lounge” many years ago and The Laurels always led by example through its successes in the annual Killarney Looking Good competition”.
The business representative organisation noted that the O’Leary family has always been very supporting of the town and Con’s daughter, Kate, was a very dynamic Chamber President and is still a very valued member of the executive.
Chamber expressed deep sympathy to Con’s wife, Anne, children Kate, Niall, Tara and Lorna, sons-in-law, grandchildren, sisters, relatives and friends as well as the dedicated staff in The Laurels, past and present, who Con always had great time for and a great rapport with.

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All Roads Lead To Kerry For National Road Safety Conference

Kerry County Council is to host a two-day road safety conference at the INEC Killarney on May 28 and 29. The ‘Safer Roads’ road safety conference is an inter-agency event […]

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Kerry County Council is to host a two-day road safety conference at the INEC Killarney on May 28 and 29.

The ‘Safer Roads’ road safety conference is an inter-agency event focused on improving road safety, reducing traffic-related incidents, and sharing knowledge and best practices for safer road use. It encompasses various strategies and efforts across multiple domains, including road design, engineering, enforcement, forensic collision investigation, technology, education, collision trends, occupational driving, cycling and scooting, e-mobility, active & sustainable travel and on-road events.

In addition to this, AI, Virtual Reality and Driver Simulation will play a significant role at the conference, in improving safety by predicting and preventing accidents, optimizing traffic, and aiding the development of autonomous vehicles.

This ‘Safer Roads’ conference is a non-public event where road safety professionals, speakers and service providers from across Ireland, other EU countries and the UK will attend, including transportation experts, government and local authority officials, roads policing and vehicle inspection agencies, road safety advocates, educators and promoters, collision responders, cycling bodies and community safety networks.

Kerry County Council’s Road Safety Officer Declan Keogh said:
“Road safety has evolved over the years to a much broader scope, in terms of e-mobility, sustainability, technology and engineering for instance. It’s not just about the road or the vehicle anymore, but also about how technology, human behaviour, enforcement, and education intersect to reduce risks and prevent collisions. The ‘Safer Roads’ conference will involve and include every branch of the road safety tree, right across the board, and in doing so, we aim to increase road safety awareness, improve road user behaviour and decrease the collisions and carnage we see on our roads every day,”

The two-day conference also provides an opportunity for exhibitors to attend, and interested state bodies, businesses and service providers are invited to exhibit at the event to showcase their products and services and engage with delegates and officials at the conference.

Further information about the conference and how to register or exhibit can be found here. https://www.kerrycoco.ie/safer-roads-road-safety-conference/

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