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Your Kerry County Championship Team of the Decade

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Your votes have been counted (and recounted) and the Killarney Advertiser is delighted to unveil the Kerry Senior Football Championship Team of the Decade.

Unsurprisingly, Dr Crokes players dominate the final selection with 10 players in total making the cut. The Killarney club were by far and away the most successful team of the past 10 years, claiming an unprecedented seven titles between 2010 and 2019.

South Kerry, who were champions in 2015 and runners-up in 2017, have two representatives on the star-studded team while Austin Stacks, Rathmore and Dingle have one apiece.

A number of players were virtually universal picks but the voting was close on other positions. Two were decided by just a single vote.

 

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THE TEAM

Shane Murphy gets the nod between the posts having helped Dr Crokes to titles in 2016, 2017 and 2018. Murphy was won one of four Crokes keepers to win the County Championship in the 2010s. Kieran Cremin, Alan Kelly and David Moloney were the others.

It’s an all-Crokes full back line with seven-time winners John Payne, Mike Moloney and Fionn Fitzgerald all earning their spots at 2, 3 and 4. Payne earned a reputation as being one of the county’s toughest man-markers over the course of the decade and the tenacious defender was the top vote-getter amongst the backs.

Another seven-time champion, Eoin Brosnan, anchors the half-back line with Killian Young of South Kerry and Aidan O’Mahony on the wings.

The midfield pairing was an open and shut case as Johnny Buckley (Dr Crokes) and Bryan Sheehan (South Kerry) raked in the vast majority of the votes for that department.

The accomplished trio of Brian Looney, Colm Cooper and Daithí Casey form an all-Crokes half forward line with teammate Kieran O’Leary, Kieran Donaghy (Austin Stacks) and Paul Geaney (Dingle) rounding off the front six.

Gooch was the most popular selection overall with Looney, O’Leary, Buckley, Sheehan, Brosnan and Payne also accumulating a large percentage of the votes.

SELECTION

The Team of the Decade was voted for by readers of the Killarney Advertiser with sports editor Adam Moynihan also getting a regular, non-weighted vote.

Commenting on the final selection, Adam said he was happy enough with the team, although he felt that a few players could “feel a bit hard done by”.

“Dr Crokes were always going to dominate this team, and rightly so,” he said.

“They won seven out of 10 titles so 10 is probably a fair number; you could probably make an argument for one or two more of their players as well. But it’s important to recognise the other champions too and Bryan Sheehan and Kieran Donaghy in particular simply had to make the team.

“East Kerry are the only winning team not represented and I think that comes down to the fact that they only really came into the picture in the last two years. The future looks bright for them and who knows, they could well have a few players on the Team of the 2020s.”

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New, smash-hit comedy play by Killarney Theatre Company

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A new comedy play by Glengariff playwright Ray O’Sullivan will come to Killarney next month as part of a regional tour.

Robbed! will be staged at the Gleneagle Club on Saturday, February 7, at 8.30pm, presented by the Killarney Theatre Company.

The production is the group’s fifth in a popular series of homegrown plays and follows the success of The Rise and Rise of the Healy-Raes, A Papal Blessing, Weight Watching and Stones.

The play centres on a failed GAA player who finds himself caught in a series of misunderstandings involving relationships, bingo balls and a robbery that quickly spirals out of control.

As events unfold, nothing goes to plan and the situation descends into chaos.

Rehearsals have been ongoing since October and the cast includes Ray O’Sullivan himself alongside Rosie Healy and DB O’Connor. Robbed! is O’Sullivan’s fifth full-length play and is expected to attract strong audiences across the tour.

Tickets cost €15 and are available from Ray O’Sullivan on 087 2279657 or from the Gleneagle on 064 667155.


The tour begins in Scartaglen Hertiage Centre on January 17, The Ivy Leaf Theatre Castleisland, on January 29, The Glen Theatre Banteer on January 31, Foilmore Community Centre Sunday February 1, Killorglin CYMS, February 5, Abbeydorney Community Centre February 12 and Bantry Westlodge Hotel February 21.

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Kerry FC take unusual step with Killarney friendly

By Luke Managan Kerry FC took the unusual step of playing a pre-season friendly in Killarney during the week as they faced local club Killarney Celtic in a match organised […]

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By Luke Managan

Kerry FC took the unusual step of playing a pre-season friendly in Killarney during the week as they faced local club Killarney Celtic in a match organised to raise funds for Palliative Care.

It marked a rare appearance in the town for the county’s League of Ireland side and drew strong local interest.
Kerry started brightly and were ahead within the opening minutes, setting the tone for an open and competitive contest. Their early pressure was rewarded again in the 21st minute when Ballyduff native Sean McGrath doubled the lead. The game was played at a high tempo, with both sides creating chances and enjoying spells of possession.
Luke Doolan was central to Kerry’s play throughout the first half, linking defence and attack and providing energy in midfield. Kerry continued to threaten down both flanks, while Killarney Celtic responded with a series of corners and set pieces, delivered with pace into the penalty area.
Celtic reduced the deficit in the 25th minute with a well-taken free kick from just outside the box, bringing the score back to 2–1 and lifting the home support. Kerry responded in the 36th minute with a powerful strike to restore their two-goal advantage, but Celtic continued to press and were rewarded again shortly after. Debutant goalkeeper Harry Halwax produced an excellent save, with the ball coming back off the crossbar, but the rebound was turned in to make it 3–2.
Kerry looked unsettled for a brief spell as Celtic pushed forward, but just before half-time Doolan struck again with a composed finish to give Kerry a 4–2 lead at the break.
The second half saw Kerry take greater control of the game, keeping possession well and limiting Celtic to crosses from wide areas. While the home side increased their physical approach, the match remained free of disciplinary issues. Kerry made several changes in the 78th minute, including the introduction of Daniel Okwute, who impressed last season.
Halwax was forced off through injury and replaced by Killorglin native Darragh Foley, who settled quickly. Kerry added a fifth goal late on to seal a 5–2 win, though Killarney Celtic continued to compete until the final whistle.
After the match, both Okwute and Foley spoke positively about the season ahead, expressing confidence in the squad and belief that Kerry FC can challenge any opponent.

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