There’s a great spread of All-Ireland Junior Football medals in this and neighbouring parishes after Saturday’s clinical display by Kerry in sweeping Mayo out the gate of Croke Park on a score of: 2-18 to 0-10.
In bagging a second title in a few years, and making up for last year’s disappointment, Kerry turned on the style on a stage made for such powerful performances.
Desmonds GAA Club will celebrate Thomas Hickey’s leading role in the win; Cordal GAA Club will delight at Philip O’Connor’s part in the season-long campaign – and he contributed a point on that great stage yesterday. James Walsh added to a proud footballing tradition in The Mall and just in time for The Pattern.
Brosna Town too will be adding the names of Adam Barry and Eamon Kiely to the remarkable roll of honour which 2015 has brought out through the Black Banks.
Apart from the understandable, local pride in the achievements of the natives, Thomas Hickey’s 2-4 tally and his exploits on the day have been plucked from parish punditry and placed under closer scrutiny on a county-wide stage – at least.
On my way down from Galway late last night my phone was blinking with messages from delighted Kerry supporters.
There is also a unifying beauty to yesterday’s wonderful win in that the Brosna, Cordal, Desmonds and Knocknagoshel players all
wear the verdant, green shirt of St. Kieran’s in Co. Senior Football Championship campaigns. There is strength in unity or Ni neart go cur le chéile.
After what these wonderful young men have achieved this season on a stage and under such prerssure, how long can it be before the Saints Go Marching In. Again – I might add – as nobody here fears to speak of ’88 when the occasion arises.
Kerry’s scores came from: Thomas Hickey 2-4; Alan O’Donoghue 0-4; Conor Cox, 0-2 frees; Brian Crowley 0-2; Shane Murphy, James Walsh, Tadhg Morley, Jeff O’Donoghue, Philip O’Connor and Killian Spillane scored a point each.
The Kerry Junior All-Ireland Football Championship winning team:
1. Shane Murphy, Kilcummin; 2. Dan O’Donoghue, Spa; 3. Jack McGuire, Listowel Emmets; 4. David Culhane, Ballylongford; 5. James Walsh, Knocknagoshel; 6. Tadhg Morley, Templenoe; 7. Gavin Crowley, Templenoe; 8. Brendan O’Sullivan, Valentia; 9. Liam Kearney, Spa; 10. Brian Crowley, Templenoe; 11. Jeff O’Donoghue, Glenflesk; 12. Philip O’Connor, Cordal; 13. Thomas Hickey, Castleisland Desmonds; 14. Conor Cox, Listowel Emmetts; 15. Alan O’Donoghue, (C) John Mitchels.
Subs: 16. Darragh O’Shea, Ballydonoghue; 17. Eamon Kiely, Brosna; 18. Brian Sugrue, Renard; 19. Michael Brennan, Churchill; 20. Gary O’Sullivan, Listry; 21. Jordan Kiely, Dr Crokes; 22. Adam Barry, Brosna; 23. David Griffin, Ardfert and 24. Killian Spillane, Templenoe.
