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put on a great display and kept the large crowd entertained. The game ended in a draw and both sets of players were happy to take shelter, standing side by side in the Brendan ‘Bawnie’ O’Driscoll Stand. Admission was free but donations were accepted for Acquired Brain Injury Charity and Brendan O'Driscoll Scholarship Trust. Sean Barry of the organizing committee introduced Annascaul GAA Club Chairman John Courtney who gave a moving tribute to Brendan ‘Bawnie’ O’Driscoll before Father John Buckley performed the blessing and official naming of the stand. Dingle Goalkeeper Gavin Curran became the first recipient of the Brendan 'Bawnie' O'Driscoll Scholarship earlier in 2013 and we wish him all the best in his studies.
One of the outstanding achievements in Munster Colleges last year was Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne winning back to back Corn Uí Mhuiri titles. They also won the Frewen Cup U/16 ½ A Football Final. With the teams made up of An Ghaeltacht, Dingle and Lispole footballers it’s a great credit to all underage coaches in West Kerry and to all the dedicated teachers in PCD for the time and effort that they give. Let’s hope that 2014 will be just as successful for PCD and they go the extra mile and win the Hogan Cup.
Bhí An Ghaeltacht agus Lios Póil ag imirt i gComórtas Peile na Gaeltachta i rith na bliana i Ghaeltacht na Rinne agus an Seanphobail i bPort Láirge agus cé nach raibh an bua acu rinne siad go han-mhaith ar fád.
An Ghaeltacht reaching the County Minor Football Championship Final and Division 1 Minor Final has to be a very high point of the year in West Kerry Football. In what was a historic and heroic performance by An Ghaeltacht minor footballers against East Kerry in the County Championship, their management team of Liam Ó Rocháin, Brian Ó Moráin, Johnny Ó Sé, Micí Ó Conchúir and Tomás Mac an tSaoir can be very proud of their team. Despite not winning the future looks very bright for this bunch of An Ghaeltacht Footballers. So tough luck and well done to An Ghaeltacht, beidh lá eile agaibh!
At U21 level with Dingle and An Ghaeltacht both suffering defeats in Round 1 it was only West Kerry who progressed to the next round but were beating by a very good St. Kieran’s side. Perhaps a rethink at this level is appropriate in order that our U21 players compete for County U21 Championship Glory again.
At Senior level in the Garveys SuperValu County Senior Football Championship, one day during the summer under the sweltering sun in Dingle’s Páirc an Ághasaigh broke the hearts of both Dingle and West Kerry. The Round 3 defeats by Feale Rangers and St. Kieran’s put paid to Dingle and West Kerry hopes of a County Championship last year. Both sides will have been fairly disappointed at not progressing further as both are capable of so much more.
The County League provided a very mixed year for all West Kerry Clubs in 2013. Lispole winning Division 4 and being the only team unbeaten in all Kerry Football Leagues last year had to be the high point. Dingle maintaining Division 1 status and Castlegregory maintaining Division 4 status were good points but An Ghaeltacht and Annascaul being relegated were low points. All West Kerry teams will be looking forward to County League this year. Winning the first few games is vital to creating momentum for a successful year.
West Kerry was very well represented in Kerry development squads in 2013. On the Kerry North Under 14’s - Mark Ashe, Niall Geaney & Brian O Connor from Dingle, Cathal Ferriter & Brian Kennedy from Annascaul and Nathan O Flanura from An Ghaeltacht. On the Kerry North Under 15’s - Mikey Boyle from Dingle, Fergal Cooney and Sean Long from An Ghaeltacht, Ryan Manning from Lispole and Sean O'Hara from Annascaul. On the Kerry North Under 16’s - Conor Geaney, Aidan O'Connor & Mark O'Connor from Dingle, Sean Bambaire, Martin Gorman & Cian O Mhurchú from An Ghaeltacht, Eoin Curry from Annascaul and Maurice Slattery from Castlegregory. Well done to coaches Tomas Ó Muircheartaigh An Ghaeltacht with the U14’s, Micheal Ó Se Castlegregory with the U15’s and Paul Fitzmaurice Dingle with the U16’s.
A lot of great work is being done at underage level in West Kerry by Tomás Ó Muircheartaigh GDA Chiarraí Thiar. From organizing blitz’s, trainings and courses for our coaches, Tomás is always on the go. To ensure that our young footballers develop to their full potential it is very important that all those coaching them have a very high standard of coaching ability and thanks to Tomás, West Kerry GAA is on the right path going forward.
West Kerry Championship glory in 2013 went to Dingle. With the West Kerry Minor Championship, West Kerry U21 Championship and the West Kerry Senior Championship they’ll have to be very pleased with their haul in 2013. Despite having a difficult year in the County League and an early exit in the County Championship, 2013 must be remembered for all the West Kerry Championship silverware. It’s always very important to win your home competitions as when you don’t you’ll always be reminded by those that do.
West Kerry League glory in 2013 went to Lispole who subsequently added the County League Division 4 title to their haul of silverware. A good year by any standards and a team to watch in the future. An Ghaeltacht won the Paul Geaney West Kerry Junior League.
Special credit to West Kerry Board Chairman Johnny Lenihan for adding an U21 Championship to the West Kerry Calendar and going forward the Den Lenihan U21 Championship will make for a great testing ground for our young footballers.
2013 was a very good year for West Kerry’s Dermot Weeshie Lynch as he became Kerry County Board Treasurer for 2014. It was also a great year for Louise Ni Mhuircheartaigh who was named as the Bord Gáis 2013 Munster Ladies Footballer of the Year and also received an All Star.
With West Kerry players Marc Ó Sé, Tomás Ó Sé, Mikey Geaney, Paul Geaney, Darragh O’Sullivan, Breandán Kelliher, Pádraig Ó Sé, Alan Fitzgerald, Jason Hickson, James Crean, Cathal Ó Luing, Eanna Ó Conchúir, Pádraig Ó Conchúir, Matthew Flaherty, Barry O’Sullivan & Tom O’Sullivan all wearing the Green & Gold of Kerry in 2013, West Kerry was well represented on all our County Teams.
The highlight of 2013 has to go to Tomás Ó Sé not for his retirement last year but on his wonderful service to Kerry Football over the years. Tomás wore the Green & Gold of Kerry in a career that stretched over 15 years. During that time Tomás won 5 All Ireland Senior Football medals, 8 Munster Championships, a number of All Star Awards, and was named Footballer of the Year following his last All Ireland Medal in 2009. Tomás Ó Sé will be forever remembered for his spirit, heart and great runs in a Kerry jersey and we’d like to wish him all the best in 2014.
A big thank you to all PRO’s in West Kerry in 2013 - Eamon Hickson, Annascaul – Brendan Hoare, Castlegregory - Malachai Mac Amhlaoibh, An Ghaeltacht and Fergal Ó Grifin, Lispole.