THE YEAR PAST – SENIOR FOOTBALL:
2015 was one of the busiest and the longest years in memory for our footballers. Our first competitive game was on the 24th January and our last one was on the 13th December – that’s a 46 week span. During that period we broke all sorts of records when compared with the last quarter century – for example, the most games played (27), the highest cumulative score (39 gls, 318 pts – compared to the next highest achieved in 2003 – 42 gls and 275 pts), retained both our Town League and Championship titles and reached our 4th Co. League Final in the past 5 seasons.
Pa McCarthy had the most appearances (24) and Mikey Collins reached the magic figure of 50 SF Co. Championship appearances, becoming the 4th Club player to make the half century (along with Ger O’Keeffe, Ger Power and William Kirby).
David Mannix was top scorer, despite missing a number of games through injury (2-72) followed by Shane O’Callaghan (6-44), Darragh O’Brien (10-30) and Shane Carroll (0-44). Wing back, Pa McCarthy, is next in line with 2-18. And of course our continuing participation in the Senior Championship went down to the wire when, with our last game of the season, we maintained our Senior status with our last win of the season.
As in previous years the Co. League Final between ourselves and Dr. Crokes (a repeat of the 2014 final) will go to 2016 and will be played as a double header with that season’s round game.
So many people work behind the scenes with the squad, if we start naming names we are bound to omit some deserving person. Stephen Stack and his fellow selectors from 2014 (John Joe Sugrue, Paul Lucey and Ciarán McCabe) were joined in 2015 by John Walsh and William Kirby, with Timmy Sheehan contributing ‘behind-the-scenes’ advise.
Their backroom team included Ger Mannix and John Tobin (Ger & John have been part of the scene since Adam was a boy and before he ever set eyes on Eve).
Tommy Naughton, Micheál Dillon,Paudie McQiuinn and Fionán Hallinan were also an invaluable part of the set-up, together with Club Secretary, Elma Nix whose sometimes unseen work is vital for the smooth running of events. And Adrienne McLoughlin’s brilliant photography, not alone with the Senior team, but covering all aspects of Club activity, is an added attraction, not alone to those involved, but to all who follow our events.
It was a great year also for Kieran Donaghy. He became the first Club man since Ger Power (in 1980) to captain the Kerry Senior team and, a after a very successful run in the Championship, Kerry just came up short in the final on a very wet September Sunday in Croke Park.
We now look forward to 2016 and wish the whole squad and management the best of luck as they prepare for the new season.
In next week’s Notes we will cover JFB & MF; and then on the following week we will conclude with the U21Fs and Senior Hurlers.
CLUB SOCIAL: This year’s Club Social takes place at Ballyroe Heights Hotel on Saturday, 30th January. More details later.
BINGO: continues in our Clubhouse on this and every Saturday night commencing at 8.30pm.
CONGRATULATIONS: to Danielle Griffin (daughter of Bar Manager, Des) who won the Senior section of The Kerryman’s Christmas Colouring Competition, thereby winning a lovely bicycle sponsored by O’Sullivan Cycles of Killarney.
CLUBHOUSE: As always the Clubhouse is available for all types of Parties. For Bookings phone Des Griffin at 086 402 0808.
A special thanks to Des and his Bar Staff for a very enjoyable night in the Clubhouse on New Year’s Eve to bid farewell to 2015 and welcome in 2016.
CARDS: The 45 Card Sessions continue in the Clubhouse on every Monday and Thursday nights, commencing at 9.30pm each night.
LOTTO: Last week’s (28th Dec) Jackpot, worth €5,000, was not won. The numbers drawn were 9, 15, 22 and 24.
The €20 Winners were: Kiera O’Connor, Con Bailey and Kay Dineen, all c/o Carmel O’Neill; Siobhan Power, c/o The Ladies; and Pa Laide, c/o Club Rockies.
DEATH OF PATRICK CURTIN: Everyone in the Club and in the wider GAA Community were saddened to learn of the death (following an accident) of Kerry and Moyvane footballer, Patrick Curtin. Patrick played with his Club against our B team in Connolly Park in last season’s Div 5 Co. League game (26th July). He played a significant role that day in Moyvane’s 1-14 to 0-5 victory, which eventually saw his Club going on to gain promotion to Div. 4 for the forthcoming season. We extend sincere sympathy to Patrick’s family and friends at this very sad time.
SYMPATHY: Sincere sympathy is also offered to the families of the following who died recently – Helen O’Connell (nee O’Leary), O’Rahilly’s Villas; Der O’Connor, Tarbert (grandfather of current Club Footballers, Lara, Luke and Emily Flynn); Pat (Patrick) O’Donoghue, Clahane, Ballyard; Jack (Jackie) Collins, St. John’s Park and late of Clash; Cecelia Guihan (nee O’Sullivan), Laurel Court and late of Bere Island; and Charlie Cullen, Kerins Park and late of Mitchel’s Road (grandfather of Club U16 footballer, Gearóid Sheehan)..