Sport
Celtic ready for FAI quarter-final despite ‘huge loss’ of Kerry FC trio
by Adam Moynihan
FAI Junior Cup Quarter-Final
Killarney Celtic v Ballynanty Rovers
Saturday at 5pm
Celtic Park
Killarney Celtic will have their sights set on another famous FAI Junior Cup victory when they welcome Limerick side Ballynanty Rovers to Celtic Park on Saturday.
Celtic are no strangers to the latter stages of this competition; they have frequently reached the last eight in the past number of years, advancing as far as the semi-final stage in 2017 when they narrowly missed out at home to Sheriff YC.
Reaching and winning the final has been the ultimate dream for quite some time but, for now, the focus is on Ballynanty.
Losing the attacking trio of Trpimir Vrljicak, Ryan Kelliher and Stephen McCarthy to Kerry FC has naturally weakened their hand but speaking to the Killarney Advertiser this week, manager Neilus Hayes wished his former players well.
“I knew Kerry would be looking at these players,” Hayes said. “I knew it was going to happen. Look, Celtic have been winning leagues so you’d expect there to be interest in some players. And it’s not just Celtic obviously, I know that Kerry FC have been looking at every club in the county for players. I think that’s fabulous.
“Don’t get me wrong, I’d love if the three boys were with me on Saturday. They’re a huge loss. But I’m not going to stop anybody. I’m thrilled for the three boys and I mean that from the bottom of my heart.
“I was actually talking to people involved with Kerry and I told them I’d recommend another three or four of our players to them. I’ve no problem with that.”
As a person who has a long-standing involvement in local soccer, Hayes is enthusiastic about the potentially transformative impact the Kerry FC project can have on the game in this part of the world.
“There was always serious talent around. I think it’s fantastic now that young fellas can see that there’s a League of Ireland club in the county and it might give them a different outlook on the game.
“We know how big Gaelic football is in Kerry - I take my hat off to GAA clubs and how they’re run – and traditionally a lot of guys might have chosen Gaelic football, trying to be a Kerry minor or a Kerry U21. Every fella wants to play at the highest level and Kerry FC will give local soccer players the chance to do that.”
Hayes is expecting to have all his remaining players available for selection ahead of Saturday’s crunch tie.
“Preparations are going well in fairness,” the manager said. “The players have been great this week and we’re just enjoying the build-up. We’ve had a couple of training sessions to get ready for it.
“The lads have been going to Reboot Recovery to mind all these niggles. They’re really coming through strongly. When I first got involved we had a couple of issues but fellas are looking after themselves in their downtime. They’ve really bought into it. All is looking good as of now and I don’t think that will change to be honest about it.”
Celtic have played Ballynanty twice in recent seasons, winning on one occasion and losing the other on penalties. Hayes knows that they will be no pushovers, but he is hopeful that home advantage will work in his team’s favour.
“Limerick sides are always going to be very tough opposition. Limerick is only up the road so they’ll be coming with a bit of a crowd as well. We know what’s ahead of us. It’s about lads stepping up another level, which I know they’re capable of doing. We proved that in the last two games away to Tallaght and Peake Villa. We’re ready for it.
“It was nice to get the home draw and hopefully we’ll get a good following to drive us on.”
Sport
Jack O’Connor’s Kerry squad is looking deeper and stronger (but the proof will be in the eating)
As we reach the midway point of the 2025 season, Adam Moynihan takes a close look at Kerry’s strength in depth
As the Kerry players, management team and backroom staff huddled together for a photo with the Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh Cup in front of the Hogan Stand, one of the photographers raised his fist in the air, trying to illicit something resembling a celebratory scene. No joy.
Victory over Mayo had been secured in convincing enough fashion but winning the league has never been grounds for buoyant celebrations as far as Kerry are concerned. Retaining Division 1 status and unearthing some new talent is generally enough to tick the springtime box ahead of the serious business of the championship. Once that has been achieved, anything else is gravy.
Going by the disappointing loss to Armagh in last year’s All-Ireland semi-final, the need for new blood was especially great heading into the 2025 season. The team faded badly down the stretch and into extra time against the Orchard County with overdependence on core players glaringly obvious. It wasn’t the only reason they lost but Kerry simply didn’t get enough from their supporting cast on the day.
With that in mind, Jack O’Connor knew he had to work on the depth of his squad during this league campaign, and you’d have to say he made a pretty good fist of it.
Starting in goal, the situation here is clear with Shane Murphy providing back-up to Shane Ryan.
Moving out the field, in recent years Kerry have generally gone with Jason Foley at full back, Tom O’Sullivan at left corner back, and one of Paul Murphy or Graham O’Sullivan at right corner back.
After making his debut in the league in 2024, Damien Bourke has emerged as a genuine right corner back alternative with some strong performances that have vastly enhanced his reputation. Not many Kerry players came out of the Dublin defeat with extra credit to their name but Bourke was brave and tenacious, bursting out of defence and using the ball wisely. He was replaced as a starter by the experienced Murphy in later rounds but the Tralee man capped his league with a goal off the bench against Galway in Salthill.
Dylan Casey also got extended game time in the absence of Tom O’Sullivan and he acquitted himself professionally. He has a solid head on his shoulders and you get the impression that Jack O’Connor would now be comfortable throwing him into any given situation without hesitation.
The versatile Graham O’Sullivan is also an option at corner back and it looks like he’ll need to slot in somewhere other than his natural position of half back as Brian Ó Beaglaoich and Gavin White are nailed on starters at 5 and 7. O’Sullivan lined out at half forward against Galway and Mayo, underlining his flexibility and importance to the team.
There could be a changing of the guard taking place at centre back with Mike Breen seemingly shaking off the injury woes that have held back his progress with Kerry to date. With regular number 6 Tadhg Morley unavailable for selection for most of the league, Breen slotted seamlessly into that crucial central role, and he looked really confident against Mayo on Sunday. As things stand, Morley will be doing well to displace Breen but either way Kerry should have two good centre back options heading into the summer months.
Midfield has been a head scratcher for Kerry for a number of years but in Diarmuid O’Connor and Joe O’Connor they appear to have found a winning combination. Diarmuid was playing the best football of his career up to his injury against Armagh in Round 6 so getting his shoulder right for championship is of paramount importance to Kerry’s chances.
Joe is a guaranteed starter too but his assured display at wing forward against Armagh was interesting in that it opens the door for a third midfielder to start. Seán O’Brien and Barry Dan O’Sullivan both applied themselves admirably when called upon in the league and the manager should feel like he can trust them more now than he did 12 months ago.
Joe O’Connor’s arrival as a half forward candidate has improved Kerry’s options to the extent that it’s difficult to predict how they will line out from 10 to 12 in the Munster Championship. Micheál Burns has done quite well upon his reintroduction to the team after being dropped from the panel in 2024, and Paudie Clifford is looking sharp at centre forward. Tony Brosnan and Dylan Geaney are options along this line too, although Dylan has been operating as a withdrawn inside forward to date – a role Tony is also capable of playing.
Of course, Seánie O’Shea will have to fit in somewhere in this department when he fully recuperates from his knee ligament injury, so it will be interesting to see how Jack O’Connor works this conundrum out. File under ‘good problems’.
Dara Moynihan is still recovering from a hip injury and has not yet featured in 2025. He would naturally be an option at 10 if he can get back up to speed. Meanwhile, Darragh Lyne, Ruairí Murphy and Cathal Ó Beaglaoich all featured at half forward in the league.
David Clifford and Paul Geaney will play at 13 and 14 with Dylan Geaney in pole position to start at 15 on the back of a really good run of form, perhaps excepting the league final in which he was relatively quiet. Tony Brosnan is a prime candidate to challenge Dylan for that spot; the Dr Crokes player has kicked some fantastic scores in each of his last three appearances as a substitute.
As for out-and-out inside forwards, Conor Geaney and Killian Spillane are likely to be used as impact subs.
All told Kerry do appear to have better depth than they had last year, particularly with the emergence of second season players like Bourke, O’Brien and Dylan Geaney as legitimate options, and with Breen beginning to fulfil his potential. Burns’ comeback and Joe O’Connor’s newfound ability to play the 12 position also help.
As always, though, the proof will be in the eating. We will have to wait for the suffocating heat of do-or-die championship matches to find out if this squad is as deep and dependable as it looks on paper.
School Dayz St Brendan’s students donate to Kerry Hospice
Students from St Brendan’s College have given €600 to Kerry Hospice. The money was raised from their book, ‘Futures from...
Community College TY students become qualified baristas
School Dayz Transition Year students at Killarney Community College spent last Tuesday learning the skills to become baristas. They completed...
Rising stars Amano and Lillie Foley to share stage in ANAM
Two of Killarney’s rising musical talents, Amano and Lillie Foley, are set to perform their first ever joint headline concert...
Rotary Club’s Wine & Art Night raises €25,000
The Killarney Rotary Club’s annual Wine & Art Night, held before Christmas, was another resounding success, raising a grand total...
Kerry Jobs Fair to connects job seekers and employers
Job seekers and employers in Kerry will have a chance to meet at the Kerry Jobs Fair 2025 on May...
