COACHING CONFERENCE: There was a big turn-out of Club Coaches and others at the Coaching Conference held at the Meadowlands Hotel last Saturday week (16th Jan).
Speakers included Joe O’Connor, a Fitness Consultant with his own Company – NISUS – as well as featuring in RTE’s ‘Fittest Family’ Show; Eoin Burns, a Breathing Coach, who has worked with The Galway Hurlers and the Kerry Ladies Footballers; Roy Guerin (Paralympics Coach), who shot to fame in 1985 when winning the Dublin City Marathon and who won bronze at the 2005 World Championships; Dr. James Ryan (Specialist in Endocrinology at the Bon Secours in Tralee) who spoke on injury prevention; Pat Flanagan (who worked for many years as Fitness Coach with the Kerry SF team); and finally our own Kieran Donaghy who gave a very interesting key-note speech.
Club Chairman, Liam Lynch, thanked everyone and made presentations to the speakers as well thanking all our Sponsors including Kevin Barry’s Shop; Barry’s Bakery; Terry Healy Butchers; Officeandink; Cleary’s Photography; Des Griffin and his staff in the Clubhouse; The Bon Secours Health System; and the Meadowlands Hotel.
Our thanks to all who were involved in organizing this unique Conference including Liam Lynch, Lorraine & Dave Scanlon, Eamonn O’Reilly, David Corkery, Mary McQuinn, Elma Nix and the main organizer, Gene O’Donnell.
A special thanks to Adrienne McLoughlin for her photographic coverage of the event and to Club Hurler and Radio Kerry Broadcaster, Andrew Morrissey who, as usual, did an excellent job as MC.
CLUB SOCIAL: The Ballyroe Heights Hotel is the only place to be on next Saturday night (30th Jan) for the staging of our annual Club Social. Before festivities get underway you will have an opportunity to watch the Kerry .v. Dublin NFL game live in the hotel bar. The match will then be followed by dinner, band & disco ’til late. Some Tickets at €30 may still be available from the Club Bar or by texting 087 0559455 or 087 2461732.
One of the highlights of the night will be the Medals Presentation Ceremony to our Senior Footballers (winners of three competitions – SF Co. League 2014 and the 2015 Town League and Town Championship) and our Hurlers (winners of the Co. JH Championship and the South Kerry League).
MINOR FOOTBALL: Our Minors get the current season underway when they line out against Kerins O’Rahillys in round 1 (of 3) of the Town League. At the moment the game is fixed for next Saturday afternoon (30th Jan) in Connolly Park with a 3.30pm start. Check Website in case of any changes.
In the remaining two rounds we are away to Na Gaeil (6th Feb) and at home to Ballymac (13th Feb). The top two teams qualify for the Final, the date for which has yet to be fixed.
SENIOR FOOTBALL: Our Seniors begin their season a fortnight later – also in the Town League. Five teams will play four games each – with each team playing two games at home and two away.
Our first two rounds are at home – against John Mitchels (14th Feb) and Na Gaeil (21st Feb). Our two away games are against Ballymac (28th Feb) and Kerins O’Rahillys (13th March). The top two teams qualify for the Final, on a date to be confirmed.
The Co. League fixtures have also come to hand. Round 1 gets underway on Sunday, 20th March and that involves a trip to Lewis Road for us for the round 1 clash which will also double up as last season’s League Final. In this season’s League we have six home games and five away.
Provisional weekend dates for our home games are – R2 .v. Glenbeigh/Glencar (27th March); R3 .v. Kenmare (10th April); R5 .v. Kerins O’Rahillys (12th June); R7 .v. Milltown/Castlemaine (Sat 2ndJuly – the Munster SF Final is scheduled for the day after); R8 .v. Castleisland Desmonds (17th July); and R10 .v. Kilcummin (14th Aug).
Our five away games are fixed for – R1 .v. Dr. Crokes (20th March); R4 .v. Killarney Legion (5th June); R6 .v. Dingle (19th June); R9 .v. John Mitchels (24th July); and the last round (R11) .v. Templenoe (4th Sept or 25th Sept).
WELL DONE: to neighbours John Mitchels who won their play-off game yesterday, thus qualifying for Division 1 of the Co. League for the coming season. Congrats also to both St. Marys and Templenoe who had comprehensive wins in their respective All Ireland semi finals yesterday and will now contest the All Ireland Intermediate and Junior Finals on the weekend after next in Croke Park.
BINGO: continues in our Clubhouse on this and every Saturday night commencing at 8.30pm.
CLUBHOUSE: As always the Clubhouse is available for all types of Parties. For Bookings phone Des Griffin at 086 402 0808.
CARDS: The 45 Card Sessions continue in the Clubhouse on every Monday and Thursday nights, commencing at 9.30pm each night.
At the Cards last week a record was set which will be hard to equal or surpass. Jim O’Sullivan and his playing partner, Christy Murphy, won 14 games in succession and were just short of making it 15 out of 15 in the very last game. Well done Jim and Christy.
LOTTO: Last week’s (18th Jan) Jackpot, worth €5,000, was not won. The numbers drawn were 7, 9, 14 and 29.
The €20 Winners were: Nuala Foley, c/o The Bingo; Lorraine Healy & John Tobin, c/o Richard Healy; Fionn O’Regan, c/o Brendan O’Regan; Jack McKivergan, c/o John Breen; and Tony Fleming, c/o Club Rockies.
SYMPATHY: Sincere sympathy is offered to the families of the following who died recently – Michael O’Connor, Lissanearla and late of Brewery Road; Michael O’Brien, St. John’s Park and late of Strand Street; and Hellen O’Connor Roche, Killeen Heights and late of Rathkenny, Abbeydorney.