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‘If you’re in the Irish league, it’s for the love of the game’ – Boahen

Published

4 years ago

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24-year-old Canadian guard Godwin Boahen is hoping to lead the Lakers to the playoffs.

Ahead of his home debut for the Lakers, Toronto native Godwin Boahen speaks to Adam Moynihan about moving to Ireland, his goals for the season, and what he’s about to bring to the table.

Godwin, welcome to Killarney. How are you settling in so far? Is it your first time in Ireland?

Yeah, first time. So far, so good. Yes, sir. Yesterday we had that little storm, but it's been good so far.

When did you first arrive?

I've been here for two weeks now.

And what are your first impressions of the town? Have you seen much of it?

Basically, I think I've seen all of it. It's beautiful. Very spacious. And lots of greenery.

Is it much different to where you’re from?

Yeah, definitely. I'm from a city and this is a small town. I remember the first day I coached a couple of kids for the St Paul's U10 team. Later, I went out to get some dinner in town and I saw those same kids with their parents. So it's a very small town!

Can you tell me a bit about where you’re from and your background in basketball?

I grew up in Toronto, Ontario and played with a local team called the YAAACE. We had a really good AAU team and I played with a bunch of players who are in the NBA now: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Thon Maker, Oshae Brissett, Justin Jackson… I always ended up being the smallest one so I was always the point guard.

I ended up going to St Michael's College, which is a private school in Toronto. I left the private school at around 15/16 and went to St Louis Christian Academy (Missouri). That was the year that I kind of garnered a lot of interest. I ended up going to UIC (University of Illinois Chicago), where I actually had an Irish teammate: Jordan Blount. That’s my boy. I had four years at UIC. And then, right after that, COVID took over.

So how did the move to Ireland come about?

It was actually kind of crazy. I signed to go play CBA with the Edmonton Stingers and then I got my first injury of my whole life. I broke my ankle. I realised I might as well make sure I come back more than 100%, and not rush the rehab, because it was actually the best time to get hurt, if you know what I mean. Everything had shut down because of COVID.

I had a bunch of agents hit me up, and a bunch of teams showed interest. But it was like no team was willing to push the button because they didn't know if I could still do what I would have done [without the injury]. My uncle found this camp online that is run by Brad Kanis, and Brad hooked me up with St Paul’s.

You’ve played one game already. What have you made of your new teammates and the setup?

We're young but we have energy and we can use that to our advantage. I know the team is 1-5 but I feel like we could have won against Portlaoise, we just made a couple of mistakes. So based on that one game that I’ve played, I feel like we have a chance in this league. But I also understand that a lot of these players are young, and it's gonna take more than just faith to get it done.

Can you describe yourself as a player? What are you going to bring to the team?

I describe myself as “do whatever”. I’ll do whatever the coach wants me to do. I’ve played at so many different levels, and my game has had to change through all those levels. Coming here, the emphasis is on scoring. Because the team is very young, sometimes they get into droughts or it’s just not going through the hoop, so they need someone who can score. And I can do that. I see myself as someone who makes plays.

What are your personal goals for the season?

I want to win. I want to win this league. I know we’re 1-5 but I think there are 12 games left, and the top four teams go to the playoffs. Once you're in the playoffs, it's free game. My goal is to make it to the playoffs and win this league. I know this is not going to be easy. But it's not 30 games. We have 12 games. Just lock in and focus. We can do it.

And finally, just on a personal level, how happy are you to be here?

I mean, to be honest, I'm just very grateful to be in this position. Especially because of where I was last year after I graduated. If you asked me at the time, I never thought I'd be here. Because right after college, I had a deal, I had somewhere to go. But then the injury happens and then I had nowhere to go. And you're just sitting at home and you're actually thinking, am I gonna be able to play again? Am I even going to get a chance?

So I'm just grateful to be here, doing the thing that I love. I guess the injury and me taking the time away made me realise how much I really love the game. It's not like this league pays you millions of dollars or even pays you at all. Really, if you come to this league, it’s for the love of the game.

I'm excited. I'm happy. I'm grateful to be in this league and in this country. I just can't wait to get started.

National League Division 1

Scotts Lakers v Limerick Sport Eagles

Saturday at 7.30pm

Killarney Sports & Leisure Centre

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Injured Kerry quartet return for do-or-die showdown with Cavan

Published

3 weeks ago

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20 June 2025

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by Adam Moynihan

All-Ireland Preliminary Quarter-Final

Kerry v Cavan

Saturday 3.30pm

Fitzgerald Stadium

Key players Brian Ó Beaglaoich, Diarmuid O’Connor and Seánie O’Shea are back in Kerry’s starting 15 for tomorrow’s All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final against Cavan, with playmaker Paudie Clifford also returning to the 26.

All four were sorely missed in last Saturday’s jarring nine-point defeat to Meath in Tullamore, a result which unexpectedly left Jack O’Connor’s men in second place in Group 2. They must now earn the right to play in next weekend’s quarters by defeating the Breffni County in a straight knockout tie at Killarney’s Fitzgerald Stadium.

The return of O’Connor in particular has lifted the spirits of Kerry supporters. The highly-rated midfielder has only played once since injuring his shoulder against Armagh in the league almost 100 days ago. He did feature in the Roscommon match on the opening weekend of the group phase – playing all 70 minutes – but he was a notable absentee in the subsequent fixtures against Cork and Meath.

With little to no information emanating from the camp about his status, rumours claiming that his season was over had swirled. That gossip was wide of the mark going by the Kerry line-up that was unveiled on Thursday night as the man from Na Gaeil has been selected at right half forward.

O’Shea, who was not risked against Meath due to a tight hamstring, will line out alongside O’Connor on the 40. Ó Beaglaoich reclaims his number five jersey having missed the last outing, presumably due to injury or illness.

Tadhg Morley, Micheál Burns and Tony Brosnan make way for the returning trio. It is believed that Brosnan has sustained a hamstring injury.

Three-time All-Star Paudie Clifford is fit enough for a place amongst the substitutes after sitting out the Meath defeat with a hamstring issue.

Kerry’s other changes see Seán O’Brien replacing Mark O’Shea, and Conor Geaney coming in for Killian Spillane.

Paul Geaney (shoulder) is not included in the match day squad but it is hoped that he will be back in the mix for the quarter-final if Kerry progress.

KERRY TEAM TO PLAY CAVAN:

1. Shane Ryan

2. Paul Murphy

3. Jason Foley

4. Tom O’Sullivan

5. Brian Ó Beaglaoich

6. Mike Breen

7. Gavin White (c)

8. Joe O’Connor

9. Seán O’Brien

10. Diarmuid O’Connor

11. Seánie O’Shea

12. Graham O’Sullivan

13. David Clifford

14. Conor Geaney

15. Dylan Geaney

SUBS: Shane Murphy, Dylan Casey, Killian Spillane, Tadhg Morley, Armin Heinrich, Micheál Burns, Evan Looney, Tom Leo O’Sullivan, Mark O’Shea, Paudie Clifford, Dara Moynihan.

Meanwhile, Cavan manager Raymond Galligan has made one change to his starting line-up for the trip south as midfielder Ryan Donohoe replaces Oisín Kiernan.

Gearóid McKiernan, the 34-year-old forward who has scored over 400 points for his county, is named amongst the 26 having recuperated from injury.

CAVAN TEAM TO PLAY KERRY:

1. Liam Brady

2. Niall Carolan

3. Killian Brady

4. Cian Reilly

5. Brían O’Connell

6. Ciarán Brady

7. Pádraig Faulkner

8. Ryan Donohoe

9. Evan Crowe

10. Gerard Smith

11. Dara McVeety

12. Oisín Brady

13. Cormac O’Reilly

14. Paddy Lynch

15. Cian Madden

SUBS: Gary O’Rourke, Luke Fortune, Killian Clarke, Oisín Kiernan, Jason McLoughlin, Ruairí Curran, Luke Molloy, Gearóid McKiernan, Thomas Edward Donohoe, Ryan O’Neill, Seán McEvoy.

Cavan caused an upset in Round 1 of the round robin by turning over Mayo in Castlebar. They subsequently found the going tough against Donegal (19-point defeat) and Tyrone (13-point defeat), but they scraped through to the last 12 thanks to Donegal’s dramatic late winner against Mayo on Sunday.

In the other preliminary quarter-finals, all of which take place this weekend, Dublin host Cork at Croke Park (Saturday 6.15pm), Down play Galway at Páirc Esler (Sunday 1.45pm), and Donegal welcome Louth to Ballybofey (Sunday 4pm). All four preliminaries are being streamed live on GAA+.

The four group winners – Armagh, Tyrone, Monaghan and Meath – await the winners in the quarters, which will take place the following week at Croke Park.

If Kerry manage to beat Cavan, and the other favourites also advance (i.e. Donegal beat Louth, Dublin beat Cork, and Galway beat Down), the only team Armagh can draw in the last eight is Kerry. The reigning champions would not be able to face any of the other challengers as they have already crossed paths in either the provincial final (Donegal) or the group stage (Dublin and Galway).

Of course, none of that is set in stone yet. Far from it. For now, Kerry’s full focus will be on beating Cavan – ideally without suffering further injury setbacks in the process.

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Kerry’s All-Ireland heroes launch new football camp for girls

Published

1 month ago

on

31 May 2025

By

Legendary Kerry ladies’ player Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh will be inspiring the next generation of superstars at the new Laochra football camp, which takes place in Killarney in August.

Aimed at girls aged 12 to 16, the camp is being run by three leaders who were central to Kerry’s magnificent All-Ireland triumph in 2024: Darragh Long (joint manager), Declan Quill (joint manager) and Anna Maria O’Donoghue (selector).

Camp ambassador Louise will be on hand to offer guidance in a coaching capacity, as will some members of the current Kerry team.

“We want you to train with your heroes so you can be the next hero,” explains Darragh Long.

“We feel very strongly about ladies’ football. It has been brilliant to myself and Declan over the last five or six years, and it has been brilliant to Anna Maria and Louise over their full careers, so we just see it as an opportunity to give something back to a sport that gave an awful lot to us.

“We’re aiming at an age group of 12 to 16, girls who will hopefully be starting on their intercounty journey. We will be able to give them a skillset they will be able to use as their steps to success. To try and be the next Louise or the next Síofra O’Shea.

“We have three workshops planned. One with Eric McDonnell, who was our strength and conditioning coach when we won the All-Ireland. One with Michelle O’Connor, an All-Ireland winning performance coach. And one with Claire O’Sullivan, our nutritionist when we won the All-Ireland.

“It’s all about giving the girls the skills and the bits and pieces they’ll need if they want to make it to the top. We really think we can give them a good grounding. We’ll also be providing a huge amount of coaching throughout the week.”

Many teenage girls give up on sport around the ages of 15 or 16. Long and his fellow camp founders are hopeful that attending Laochra might encourage girls to stick with it that bit longer.

“We would see it as a huge success if 10, 15, or 20 of the girls who come to the camp continue to play football after the camp because they got a bit of a buzz or a bit of energy from us during the week.”

The Laochra camp will run from August 12-15 at Dr Crokes GAA grounds in Killarney. You can register here.

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