Sport
SmallTalk with Killarney RFC captain Matt McAuliffe
This week Adam Moynihan caught up with Matt McAuliffe to talk rugby, Dire Straits and his dream dinner guests
Hi Matt. Thanks for speaking to me.
No bother, Adam.
How has the season been going so far?
Not too bad. We started off a bit slow but we’re getting going now. We’ve won our last two games so we’re on a bit of a roll.
What are the team’s goals for the rest of the campaign?
Our main goal is to try and get promoted up to Division 2 of the Munster Junior League and if we could pick up a cup along the way that would be a big plus as well.
I have some questions for you about your Killarney RFC teammates… You need one of them to convert a long-range drop-goal to save your life – who are you picking?
I’d have to pick Ciarán O’Brien. He’s a man of many talents.
Which teammate spends the most time in the gym?
Darren Enright.
Who’s the biggest joker in the dressing room?
Either Brendan Fuller or Declan Fuller. It must run in their family.
Which teammate would you want backing you up in a fight?
Alan Mulligan. I’d definitely be confident with him by my side.
Which teammate would you least like to get stuck in an elevator with?
Dion O’Neill. You never know what he’s going to do next.
If you could steal any of your teammates’ attributes, what would it be/from whom?
I’d say Donnchadh Grealy’s speed and his ability to break the line. That would be very useful for me.
Who’s the best player you’ve ever played with?
In Killarney, Dave Howard or Ger Moynihan. I played with UL Bohs in Limerick and I’d have to say Evan O’Connell for them.
And the best player you’ve played against?
When we were under 18 we played Cobh Pirates and Edwin Edogbo of Munster was playing for them. That was not fun.
What was the low point of your sporting life so far?
We had a very good team under 18 but the season was cut short due to Covid. That was disappointing.
What was the highlight?
Any time we’ve won something. The year before Covid the U18s won the West Munster Cup and we have won a couple of Kerry Cups with the seniors as well. With UL Bohs we won the U20 Donal Walsh competition so that was another highlight.
If you had to compare yourself to a current professional rugby player, who would it be?
The Australian loose head prop Angus Bell.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
I think it would be my parents saying, “do whatever makes you happy”.
If you could change one rugby rule, what would it be?
Bring back the croc roll.
Are you interested in other sports besides rugby?
Yeah I try to play golf every now and then, obviously Gaelic football, and I like watching the NBA and the darts around this time of year.
How’s the golf going?
Not good. At all.
Are you watching a series at the moment?
I just started watching Say Nothing on Disney+. It’s about the Troubles.
I heard it was good…
Ah it’s brilliant.
Which actor would play you in a movie about your life?
John Travolta when he was a young fella back in the day.
What’s your go-to pre-game song?
I just throw on a Dire Straits playlist. Anything by them.
What would you sing at karaoke?
Crazy World by Aslan.
Great tune. Favourite meal?
Any sort of Asian food.
And your favourite spot in Killarney to eat?
Khao, definitely.
Shout out to Eddie. Final question: if you could invite three people, living or dead, to a dinner party, who would they be?
I’d invite the comedians Shane Gillis and David McSavage. They’d be very funny together. And then I’d throw in Danny Healy-Rae for the craic.
That would certainly be interesting. Matt, thanks a million. All the best for the rest of the season.
Thanks very much, Adam.
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.
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