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Crokes advance but East Kerry and Rathmore crash out

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DR CROKES booked their place in the last four of this year’s County Championship with a fairly comfortable 0-17 to 0-12 win over Kenmare Shamrocks in the Fitzgerald Stadium on Sunday.

Kenmare managed to force extra time when the sides met in the Club Championship final a few weeks back but Crokes were more dominant this time out, youngster Micheál Burns leading the way with four well-taken points from play.

The victory has set up a semi-final date with West Kerry who defeated Austin Stacks on Saturday with six points to spare. With a team made up predominantly of players from An Ghaeltacht (12 of the starting 15 last weekend), West Kerry have recovered well from their opening round defeat to Feale Rangers by beating St Kieran’s, Legion and now Stacks to reach the last four.

Five points (two frees) from Seán Micheál Ó Conchúir and 1-1 from Éanna ó Conchúir helped them to a 1-17 to 0-14 victory over the Stacks who have certainly had a year to forget.

Crokes and West Kerry last met in the first round of the 2016 Championship when 2-7 from Tony Brosnan helped the Killarney side to a 22-point win.

Elsewhere, South Kerry secured their passage to the semis with a 0-15 to 0-12 win over Rathmore. Rathmore started the brighter but were dealt a significant blow when corner forward John Moynihan was forced off through injury early on.

The teams were level at the break but South Kerry really pushed on in the second half, Robert Wharton, Brendan O’Sullivan and Daniel Daly in particular impressing.

Their opponents in the last four will be Kerins O’Rahilly’s who hammered East Kerry on Saturday in a surprisingly one-sided affair. It was expected to be the Battle of the Forwards in Austin Stack Park but, in truth, East Kerry never really got going. They only managed 1-3 from play in the first half (1-4 total) and fared even worse in the second, two David Clifford frees their only scores of the period.

Clifford showed well but struggled to make a real impact in his first senior County Championship start, although it’s difficult to judge his performance when East Kerry as a team were so poor. The minor star cut a frustrated figure towards the end of the game and he was booked for retaliating following a cynical foul by Danny O’Sullivan.

Rahilly’s, meanwhile, amassed 3-12 - an impressive enough tally considering the conditions - and could have scored a lot more. Barry John Keane got 0-6 (four frees) while Tommy Walsh, David Moran and Gavin O’Brien kicked 1-1 apiece.

It’s still difficult to look beyond the Crokes for this year’s Championship although West Kerry are a good, young team and should provide Pat O’Shea’s men with a stern test in the semi-final.

In the other side of the draw, South Kerry will be hoping to avenge their opening round defeat to Kerins O’Rahilly’s but they’ll have to be at their best defensively to deal with the likes of Jack Savage, Tommy Walsh and Barry John Keane.

Both semis will take place on Saturday, October 7, in the Fitzgerald Stadium.

 


 
Above: Micheal Burns, Dr Crokes. Pic: Eamonn Keogh

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Kerry coaches firm honoured with All-Ireland title

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Kerry Coaches named All-Ireland All-Star Bus & Coach Company of the Year 2025

Killarney-based Kerry Coaches has been named All-Ireland All-Star Bus & Coach Company of the Year 2025 by the All-Ireland Business Foundation. This recognition also marks Kerry Coaches’ second Business All-Star Accreditation, having received its first accolade in 2024.

Founded in 1957, Kerry Coaches has established itself as a leader in the Irish transport industry, known for its exceptional service and commitment to quality.  With a fleet of over 100 modern chauffeur vehicles, mini-buses and coaches the company provides a wide range of transport services, including corporate travel, executive golf transportation and bespoke tours throughout Ireland and Scotland.

 Speaking on the achievement, Mike Buckley, Director of Kerry Coaches, said:

“We are incredibly proud to receive this national recognition from the All-Ireland Business Foundation. It’s a true reflection of the dedication, professionalism, and passion shown by every member of our team. Our mission has always been to deliver exceptional travel experiences, and this award reaffirms our position as a leader in the industry.”

Announcing the news of Kerry Coaches’ achievement, Deputy Chair of AIBF’s Adjudication Board, Kieran Ring, said: “It is my pleasure to commend Kerry Coaches for its outstanding performance in achieving the Business All-Star accreditation. After a thorough review, the firm has been honoured with All-Ireland All-Star Bus & Coach Company Of The Year 2025. Kerry Coaches is distinguished not only for its superior fleet but also for its exceptional team, some of whom have been with the company for over 25 years. This seasoned team brings an extraordinary level of knowledge and expertise, ensuring that every client experience is exceptional.”         

Managing   Director   of   the   All-Ireland   Business   Foundation, Kapil   Khanna, said:  “The accreditation, which is now held by over 700 firms, is needed by the thousands of small and medium businesses which operate to their own standards but have nothing to measure them by.”

He   added: “We   evaluate   a   company’s   background, trustworthiness and performance, and we speak to customers, employees and vendors. We also anonymously approach the company as a customer and report back on the experience. The business goes through at least two interviews and is scored on every part of the process against set metrics.”

About The All-Ireland Business Foundation

The All-Ireland Business Foundation is an autonomous national accreditation body tasked with enterprise development and the promotion of Best-in-Class Irish businesses.

As the accreditation body for the Business All-Star mark, the AIBF recognises Best-In-Class Irish 

businesses.   Companies   that   merit   recognition   based   on   an   independent   audit   of   their performance, reputation, and customer-centricity.

Business All-Star Accreditation Is The Nation’s Symbol Of Trust. Currently, there are over 700 

companies that are accredited by AIBF. Since 2014, over 5000 companies have participated in their programmes.

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Trainee Blacksmith forging a career at Muckross Traditional Farms

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Phillip Pestor-Young, a trainee blacksmith from County Kildare, is currently gaining experience under Master Blacksmith Tom Allison at Muckross Traditional Farms.

Pestor-Young is enrolled in the All-Ireland Heritage Skills Programme. This programme is a cross-border educational initiative by the King’s Foundation, The Heritage Council, and the Historic Environment Division in Northern Ireland. 

Prior to moving to Ireland in 2019, Phillip trained as an engineer and fabricator in the UK. He is now developing his blacksmithing skills in Kerry.

For more information on the program, visit https://kings-foundation.org/study/all-ireland-heritage-skills-programme/.

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