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Kerry v Donegal: 5 things to watch out for

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Sunday, January 28 at 2pm

National League: Division 1

Kerry v Donegal

(Fitzgerald Stadium)

 

  1. Clifford set to make his debut

There has surely never been a more hotly anticipated Kerry debut. David Clifford grabbed national headlines in 2017 with a string of remarkable outings with the Kerry minors, most notably his four-goal masterclass in the All-Ireland Final, and it now appears as though the prodigious youngster is all set to make his first ever appearance for the Kerry seniors. Not for the first time in his fledgling career, all eyes will be on Clifford

  1. New faces

At the end of last season, Kerry manager Eamonn Fitzmaurice was criticised in certain quarters for not introducing enough young talent to the fold. Only he will know if these complaints had any real effect on his thinking but there definitely seems to be a fresher look to the 2018 Kerry panel.

Apart from Clifford, Kenmare forward Seán O’Shea is also expected to feature prominently. A number of other stars from the successful minor and under 21 teams of the last few years are part of the set-up and some are likely to get their chance against Donegal.

With all the new faces in the squad, it’s very difficult to predict how Kerry will line out - and perform - on Sunday.

  1. Can Kerry retain their crown?

Last April’s superb league final victory over Dublin was the highlight of Kerry’s year and players and fans will be hoping for more of the same in 2018. Finally beating the Dubs was a real monkey off the back and, although the defeat to Mayo in the All-Ireland semi-final replay put a huge damper on things, more league success would set Kerry up well for the Championship. 

  1. How many Kerry fans will turn up?

It might sound like an unusual question but selector Mikey Sheehy was vocal in his criticism of Kerry fans in recent weeks, calling their support in last year’s semi-final replay “shocking”.

The spotlight will be on Kerry fans this year and it will be interesting to see how many people travel to games throughout the league campaign. Sunday’s match is at home in Killarney so a decent crowd, by league standards, is expected.

Kerry fans have a well-deserved reputation for only showing up to “big” games, there’s no doubt about that, but there is also an onus on the team to perform and get fans excited.

  1. Donegal hoping for an improved 2018

2017 came to an inauspicious end for Donegal when they crashed out in Round 4 of the qualifiers. The defeat to Galway in Markiewicz Park in July will have left a very sour taste in the mouth as the 2012 champions completely fell apart, eventually losing by a whopping 15-points (0-14 to 4-17).

This certainly seems to be a side in demise: last year was the first time they failed to make at least the Ulster Final and the quarter final of the All-Ireland since 2010.

Their form in last year’s league campaign had been more promising. They recovered from an opening day loss to Kerry in Letterkenny to finish joint second on eight points with Kerry, Monaghan and Mayo, the Kingdom advancing to the final thanks to their superior points difference.

The league will be a good platform to build momentum before the ultra-competitive Ulster Championship.

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Women’s Aid highlights rising femicide figures following Killarney death

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Women’s Aid highlights rising femicide figures following Killarney death

Following the violent death of Jamey Carney in Killarney on Tuesday, national charity Women’s Aid has released a stark update regarding violence against women in Ireland.

According to the Women’s Aid Femicide Watch for the Republic of Ireland, eight women have died in violent circumstances so far this year.

This figure already exceeds the total of seven women recorded during the entirety of 2025.

Sarah Benson, CEO of Women’s Aid, said:

“Violence, abuse, and even at its extremes, death, are still a reality for many women living in Ireland. After the devastating murder of Ashling Murphy in 2022, Ireland said never again. But Ireland has not lived up to that promise.

“Since then, 40 women have died violently in Ireland. That is 40 women with lives, dreams, family, friends and communities.

“Since we started the Women’s Aid Femicide Watch in 1996, 286 women have died violently in Ireland. Every death is an outrage. An absolute tragic loss of life resulting in utter heartache and trauma for those left behind.

“We are thinking today of those who will be deeply impacted by the loss of life in Killarney. Prevention of all domestic, sexual and gender-based violence is crucial and urgent.”

“The Women’s Aid Femicide Watch shows that 87% of women (where the case has been resolved) were killed by a man known to them. We also know that in Ireland, one in three women has been subjected to domestic abuse of some kind.

“Every woman has the right to be safe in her home and in her community, and this is just not the case. We must do the work required to achieve equality and safety for all, to make Ireland a country that truly has zero tolerance for domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.”

Support is available on the Women’s Aid 24-Hour National Freephone Helpline on 1800 341 900, or go to womensaid.ie to use the Instant Message Service or for more information on domestic violence and abuse.”

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Killarney Gardaí await post-mortem results as Muckross Road scene remains cordoned off

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Killarney Gardaí await post-mortem results as Muckross Road scene remains cordoned off

Gardaí investigating the discovery of a woman’s body at a residence on Muckross Road in Killarney are awaiting the results of a post-mortem examination to determine the direction of their inquiries.

It is understood that a full murder investigation is expected to be launched.

The deceased has been named locally as Jamey Carney, an American national in her 40s and the mother of a 13-year-old girl.

The scene at the domestic residence remains cordoned off today for a full technical examination, with a visible Garda presence continuing at the location.

An incident room has been established at Killarney Garda Station under a Senior Investigating Officer. Local businesses in the area have already begun supplying CCTV footage to assisting officers.

Speaking to the Killarney Advertiser, local councillor Martin Grady expressed the deep sense of shock in the area.

“I want to offer my condolences to the family,” Cllr Grady said. “This is an awful shock to the local community. I encourage anyone to come forward with any information they may have to An Garda Síochána. Whoever committed such a crime is a cowardly person and should get the maximum penalty.”

Gardaí continue to appeal to anyone who was in the Muckross Road area between the evening of Monday, July 6 and the afternoon of Tuesday, July 7 to come forward. They are particularly appealing to road users and business owners who may have dashcam or CCTV footage from the area during those times.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Killarney Garda Station on 064 667 1160, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.

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