Sport
Three on the bounce for resurgent Lakers
National League: Division 1
Scotts Lakers 80 Fr Mathews 72
Killarney Sports & Leisure Centre
The Lakers’ mid-season revival continue apace. Last Saturday night, before a healthy home crowd, the Killarney side brushed off the cobwebs to overcome a strong Fr Mathews challenge and pick up their third victory on the bounce. The result leaves them just two wins off the playoff spots with seven games still to play.
Due to COVID-related postponements, the Lakers had to wait four weeks for their first game of 2022 and star player Godwin Boahen admitted that the layoff had an effect. “We were a little rusty,” the Canadian told club PRO Enda Walshe. “I missed a few lay-ups that I'd usually get, but I'm really happy with the boys. Once we got playing, we really clicked.”
The 5’11” guard was the Lakers’ top scorer on the night with 32 and he revealed that picking up his first home win in St Paul’s colours was a major motivation. “I lost my first home game in a Lakers vest against the Limerick Eagles, even though that was a game we could have won. I just want to keep playing and keep winning.”
SLOW START
Boahen and his teammates started slowly and allowed Mathews to race into a 7-0 lead. This forced Lakers coach Jarlath Lee to call a timeout and make some adjustments, and his alterations appeared to do the trick. Mark O’Shea and David Gleeson found their range, and Boahen and the returning Marco Benčić hit big threes to give the hosts a 24-22 first-quarter lead.
Emilian Grudov and Boahen kept tagging on points in the second but Mathews, led by the impressive Jonathan Garcia, were putting up a strong fight. By the time the half-time buzzer sounded, the Lakers had increased their lead to seven (42-35).
Baskets by Rui Saravia, Boahen, Gleeson and Grudov stretched that advantage out to 17 in the third. Garcia responded in kind, however, and with Deividas Brazas offering good support off the bench, Mathews went on a 15-3 scoring run. The game was in the melting pot going into the final quarter with Lakers leading by just five (64-59).
The Lakers re-established their dominance in the fourth by opening up a 13-point lead, but some lax free-throw shooting left the door open. With Diego O’Herlihy to the fore, the Cork men managed to cut the gap to four.
It was to be the Lakers’ day, though, and buoyed by their enthusiastic home fans, they steadied the ship to eventually win by eight.
Speaking after the game, Jarlath Lee said he was delighted with the contribution made by the home supporters. "First of all, I want to thank all the fans that were there. Next week we want ye back and even louder.”
Like Boahen, Lee also felt the team were a little rough around the edges early on - and he didn't exclude himself from that assessment. "We were very rusty. In the dressing room at half-time, the team themselves were disappointed about the way they were playing, even though we were up by double figures.
“But we never felt at ease against this [Fr Mathews] team and they proved it by coming back at us twice. My own coaching was poor; I didn't get the rotations right. The big positive is we've won three in a row now. We have a great atmosphere around the squad and that’s a big factor in why we are winning."
The Lakers are at home again this Saturday as they welcome the WIT Vikings to the Killarney Sports & Leisure Centre. Tip-off is at 7.30pm.
LAKERS: Godwin Boahen (32), Emilian Grudov (24), Rui Saravia (11), David Gleeson (4), Mark O'Shea (4), Marko Benčić (3), Jamie O’Sullivan (2), Daniel Carroll, Paul Clarke, Lorcan Keane.
FR MATHEWS: Jonathan Garcia (29), Diego O’Herlihy (15), Darko Bucan (11), David Murray (8), Deividas Brazas (6), Brian O’Neill (3).
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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