Kerry Minors Were Told There Was No Official Homecoming Three Weeks Ago

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Kerry Homecoming Pat O'Sullivan

Chairman of the Kerry County Board, Pat O’Sullivan.

THERE was never going to be an official homecoming for the Kerry minor team after their heroics in Dublin and the team was told of this three weeks ago.

Speaking to Radio Kerry’s Fiona Stack, Chairman of the Kerry County Board, Pat O’Sullivan, said the policy of the county board is to only hold official homecomings for the Kerry senior team after All-Ireland finals.

There was anger expressed on social media and the airwaves since Monday evening, when people found out there would not be a homecoming for the minors, who won three titles in a row for the county on Sunday when they beat Galway.

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“The policy of the County Board is that there is a homecoming for the Kerry senior football team and if there’s a minor team involved they’ll row in with it,” said the Chairman.

“This would have been relayed to the manager of the team and through him to the players and the liaison officer Christy Killeen, three weeks prior to the match. They were all aware there was no homecoming and we have followed that policy since before my time, back to 1994 and there was no [official] homecoming at that time. It’s the policy the county board has worked and will continue to work, going forward,” he told Radio Kerry.

“We thought, among the executive, that the best time to honour the players would be half-time at the Kerry county championship match in Killarney [October 2],” he said.

When Fiona Stack suggested there was confusion among the public because of a lack of clarity on whether there was a homecoming or not, Mr O’Sullivan said Radio Kerry announced on Monday morning that there would be a homecoming and that they should have contacted the Kerry County Board PRO.

Ms Stack told Mr O’Sullivan they had done so and the PRO did not have any information on Monday morning. Radio Kerry also denied stating on air that there was an official homecoming.

When asked if the decision not to have a homecoming was justified, considering the achievements of the minors, Mr O’Sullivan pointed to the Kerry Juniors two in a row success and the Kerry minor hurlers winning five in a town B All-Irelands this year.

“We have teams who have played in All-Ireland finals and we don’t have any homecomings for them. So all of a sudden we’re making a distinction between a minor team and a junior team and the minor hurlers? The policy has been there since before my time [as chairman]…We feel our biggest gift to the players is to make sure they have the best chance of winning All-Irelands and the best preparation is put in place. We give every opportunity for every Kerry team that leaves this county that they’re properly prepared to win those matches,” he said.

Mr O’Sullivan said all the clubs who had players represented on the panel will have their own receptions for their players from now until Christmas. The official recognition of the Kerry minor team will take place during the County Senior Football Championship double bill in Fitzgerald Stadium on Sunday, October 2, featuring Mid Kerry v Rathmore and Austin Stacks v Kenmare District.

One Comment

  1. I’m shocked too. expected it.

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