Wednesday evening was a memorable one for five Desmonds players who wore the Green and Gold with distinction and pride.
Thomas Hickey captained the Kerry Junior team that won the Munster championship by defeating Cork by 3-14 to 0-13 in Austin Stack Park.
While neighbouring, Cordal GAA Club members, Philip O’Connor and Seán Óg Ó Ciardubháin will also have cause to celebrate as they collected their Munster Junior Football Championship medals in that great win over Cork.
A Desmonds spokesman said that Hickey really played the captain’s part. He was in superb form and uncontainable. He was instrumental in securing Kerry’s first goal – a penalty converted by Gavin O Grady. He scored the second goal and tormented the Cork defence every time the ball came his way. He finished with a personal tally of 1-4 but it was his inspirational example that drove Kerry to victory.
Other Castleisland Desmond’s players, Con Geaney and Tomo Burke – to name but two have also won the coveted Munster Junior medal.
However, club historians are said to be ‘fairly sure’ this the first time that the team was lead by a Castleisland club player. Thomas also won a Sigerson Cup colleges medal this year with UCC and this must create its own unique piece of club history.
Meanwhile, the Kerry Ladies Senior team travelled to Clare on Wednesday evening and defeated the home side there by 2-13 to 0-3. They now play Cork in the Munster final in Rathmore next week. Desmonds players: Aoife Lyons, Aisling Leonard, Cait Lynch and Lorraine Scanlon are central to the Kerry team. The panel will train in the Desmond’s pitch this Friday evening at 7pm. Local ladies club officials are inviting their young players and their parents along to support the county team as the count-down begins to that all important game against Cork in Rathmore.
