GAA, Sport

PREVIEW: A Look At The Contenders For The Bishop Moynihan Cup

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Pictured at Austin Park Tralee for the launch of Garveys Supervalu sponsorship of the 2016 Kerry GAA Senior Football and Hurling County Championships were in centre Jim Garvey with club players from left, Padraig Reidy (St Kieran's), Dara Roche (East Kerry), Paul McMahon (St Brendan's) Danny O'Sullivan (Kerins O'Rahillys), Wayne Guthrie (Austin Stacks) , George O'Keeffe (Rathmore), David Roche (Milltown-Castlemaine), Cathal Bambury (Dingle) , Johnny Buckley (Dr Crokes) and Donnchadh Walsh (Mid Kerry). This is the fifth year of the sponsorship of both the senior football and hurling championships. Commenting on the sponsorship Tomas Garvey owner of Garveys Supervalu felt it was a fantastic partnership for both Garveys and the Kerry County Board. “ Being a Kerry company we have always been passionate about Kerry GAA, we have had a long association with GAA clubs in the county and it’s an extremely important part of life in Kerry and that of our customers. We are delighted to be involved and we feel that under the new format it will an exciting and competitive championship. We have always been involved in all aspects of our local communities and there is no better local community group within the country than the GAA. For us we really enjoy the sponsorship, we feel are true supporters of GAA and in particular Kerry GAA and there is no better way of giving something back to our local community. Photo: Don MacMonagle Repro free photo from Garveys Garveys Supermarkets were established in 1935 and they have 9 stores, 4 of which are in Kerry. Their store in Dingle is currently Supervalu store of the year in Ireland. They are currently revamping their Tralee store at a cost of €2m. The group also owns 2 Hotels The Dingle Skelligs Hotel and Dingle Benners Hotel. The Dingle Skelligs Hotel is currently Family Friendly hotel of the year.
Pictured at Austin Park Tralee last Friday for the launch of Garveys Supervalu sponsorship of the 2016 Kerry GAA Senior Football and Hurling County Championships were in centre Jim Garvey with club players from left, Padraig Reidy (St Kieran’s), Dara Roche (East Kerry), Paul McMahon (St Brendan’s) Danny O’Sullivan (Kerins O’Rahillys), Wayne Guthrie (Austin Stacks) , George O’Keeffe (Rathmore), David Roche (Milltown-Castlemaine), Cathal Bambury (Dingle) , Johnny Buckley (Dr Crokes) and Donnchadh Walsh (Mid Kerry). Photo by Don MacMonagle

WITH the 2016 Garvey’s Supervalu Senior Football Championship getting underway this weekend, Gavin O’Connor gives a team by team look at who will be vying to capture the Bishop Moynihan Cup.

This year there are 16 teams in the competition made up of eight clubs and eight divisional sides.

Clubs: Austin Stacks, Kerins O’Rahilly’s, Dr Crokes, Rathmore, Legion, Kilcummin, Miltown/Castlemaine, Dingle

Divisional Teams:  East Kerry, West Kerry, South Kerry, Mid Kerry, St Brendans, Feale Rangers, Kenmare District, St Kieran’s,

Austin Stacks 

Last title – 2014  (12 overall)

Last year – Round 3

Manager – Stephen Stack

Captain – Kieran Donaghy

Key players – Kieran Donaghy, Wayne Guthrie, Shane O’Callaghan

The Rock are aiming to prove their 2014 triumph was not just a flash in the pan. This is Stephen Stack’s fourth year in charge and to freshen up things he has brought in ex Kerry trainer Pat Flanagan.

Kieran Donaghy talks to teammates before the Austin Stacks v Dingle match in the club championship this year. Photo by Dermot Crean
Kieran Donaghy talks to teammates before the Austin Stacks v Dingle match in the club championship this year. Photo by Dermot Crean

Continued below…

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Dr Crokes 

Last Title – 2013 (10)

Last year – Quarter-final

Manager – Pat O’Shea

Captain – Dathi Casey

Key players – Colm Cooper, Johnny Buckley, Jordan Conway

The team to beat in the competition who, up until the summer of 2014, seemed like they were unbeatable. Hoping to bring back that air of invincibility is Kerry All-Ireland winning manager, Pat O’Shea. Chances are if you’re going to win the Championship you’ll have to go through the Crokes first.

Colm Cooper in action for Dr Crokes
Colm Cooper in action for Dr Crokes.

Dingle

Last Title  – 1948 (6)

Last year – Round 3

Manager – Paul Fitzmaurice

Captain – Mikey Geaney

Key players – Paul and Mikey Geaney, Marc O’Connor, Matthew Flaherty

A sleeping giant in the west could about to be reawakened thanks to an abundance of young talent that could be the envy of any club in the country. Add seasoned campaigners Paul and Mikey Geaney into the mix it looks like a matter of when rather than if they can win a championship.

Barra O Suilleabhain lays off a pass during the Austin Stacks v Dingle match in Annascaul on Saturday evening. Photo by Dermot Crean
Barra O Suilleabháin lays off a pass during the Austin Stacks v Dingle match in Annascaul last month. Photo by Dermot Crean

Continued below…

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East Kerry

Last title – 1999 (7)

Last year – Round 3

Manager – Davey O’Donoghue

Captain – Jack Sherwood

Key players – Jack Sherwood,  Jeff O’Donoghue, Evan Cronin

Kerins O’Rahillys beat East Kerry last year by 17 points to send the divisional side crashing out of the championship. Injuries have hampered their preparation this year with 2014 Kerry minor captain, Liam Kearney, one of those sidelined.

Feale Rangers

Last title – (2007)

Last year – Round 3

Manager – Johnny Mulvihill

Captain – Jack McGuire

Key players – Conor Cox, Jack McGuire, Padraig Quille

Injury to Anthony Maher may have set back Feale Rangers as they aim to be become a formidable outfit once more. Conor Cox is a man who has been in and out of the Kerry senior panel over the last couple of years. On his day he can tear any defence asunder.

Kenmare District

Last title – 1987 (2)

Last year – Semi-final

Manager – John Galvin

Captain – To be confirmed

Key players – Stephen O’Brien, Killian Spillane, Gavin Crowley

One of last year’s surprise packages will be once again looking to upset the odds. Stephen O’Brien is the most prominent player in the side but they also possess, Killian Spillane, who is one of the county’s most promising forwards.

Kerins O’Rahillys

Last title – 2002  (6)

Last year – Quarter-final

Manager – Mike Quirke and Morgan Nix

Captain – Danny O’Sullivan

Key players – David Moran, Barry John Walsh, Tommy Walsh

The Strand Road club is once again ably stocked with inter-county talent with Kerry U21’s Jack Savage and Cormac Coffey adding to Barry John Keane and David Moran. The management team of Mike Quirke and Morgan Nix are well placed to bring The Blues to the next level.

Kerins O'Rahilly's, Jack Savage, looks for an opening. Photo by Gavin O'Connor.
Kerins O’Rahilly’s, Jack Savage, is a key player for Strand Road. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.

Kilcummin 

Last title – None

Last year – Quarter-final

Manager – Donal O’Dwyer and James Weldon

Captain – Daniel O’Leary

Key players – Brendan Kealy, Phillip Casey, Kevin McCarthy

It’s not looking good for Kilcummin who lost their previous manager, Martin Horgan, only in the last week. The East Kerry side will perhaps see their club championship relegation match against Milltown/Castlemaine as more inportant.

Legion

Last title – 1946 (1)

Last year – Runners-up

Manager – Kieran Cronin

Captain – Shune Keane

Key men – Jonathan Lyne, James O’Donoghue, Conor Keane

Last year’s beaten finalists will be looking to back up a season that almost saw them crowned county champions for only the second time in the Killarney club’s history. Injury to talisman James O’Donoghue remains a worry and it’s difficult to see them make inroads without him.

Legions, Jonathan Lyne. Photo by Gavin O'Connor
Legions, Jonathan Lyne. Photo by Gavin O’Connor

Mid Kerry

Last title – 2008 (4)

Last year – Round 2

Manager – James Sheehan

Captain – Darran O’Sullivan

Key players – Gavin O’Grady, Donnachdh Walsh, Darren O’Sullivan

Beaten finalists in 2014 after a replay, Mid Kerry, welcome on board Laune Rangers players for the first time since 1969. Plenty of talent within the ranks also means they could be dark horses to go all the way.

Milltown/Castlemaine

Last title – None

Last year – Round 2

Manager – Mike Hickey

Captain – Donal Kelliher

Key players – Pa Wrenn, Jonathon O’Sullivan, Damian Murphy

The only Mid Kerry club left in the competition following the relegation of Laune Rangers to intermediate may not have the most talented panel, but they would give any side a hard day of it as Austin Stacks well know.

Rathmore

Last title – None

Last year – Semi-final

Manager – Denis Moynihan

Captain – Brendan O’Keeffe

Key players – Paul Murphy, Aidan O’Mahony, Mark Reen

Last year Rathmore came so close to defeating Legion in a semi-final that would have given them a shot of winning their first title. The experiment, if you can call it that now, of playing Paul Murphy in the forward line continues with his club.

St Brendans

Last title – None

Last year – Round 2

Manager – Richard Barrett

Captain – Paul McMahon (St Pats)

Key players – Andrew and Jack Barry, Alan O’Donoghue, Mike Griffin

Quietly, St Brendans have been building a team with some impressive young talent. In recent years emigration during the Summer months has hampered their chances. If they can keep the bulk of the side at home they could spring an upset or two.

Ivan Parker for St Brendan's. Photo by Dermot Crean
Ivan Parker and Brendan Poff of St Brendans. Photo by Dermot Crean

St Kierans

Last title – 1988 (1)

Last year – Round 3

Manager – Kieran Scanlon

Captain – Sean Óg Ó Ciardubhain

Key players – Thomas Hickey, Seamus Scanlon, Padraig Reidy

The side have seven clubs to chose from so are in a good place in regards sourcing talent. If they manage to build a cohesive unit and get off the ground running they could prove a handful.

South Kerry

Last title – 2015 (10)

Last year – Champions

Manager – William Harmon

Captain – Denis Daly

Key players – Brian Sheehan, Mark Griffin, Killian Young

South Kerry came from nowhere last year to win and were a prime example of a divisional team getting a few wins under the belt and becoming difficult to beat. The surprise factor is gone this year however. The opening round game against O’Rahillys should be a cracker.

West Kerry

Last title – 1990 (3)

Last year – Quarter-final

Manager – Francis Dorgan

Captain – Tomás Mac An tSaoir

Key players – Brian Rayel, Marc Ó Sé, Tomas Ó Sé (2014 Minor)

Alan Fitzgerald and Brian Begley have been ruled out their Round 1 game against Dr Crokes, dealing a big blow to the side. With a host of gifted young talent sprouting across the peninsula, success could be in the pipeline, but maybe not this year.

Prediction… 

Champions – Dingle