July Dates Fixed for KDYS/An Garda Síochána Soccer Blitz

Shane Coffey, Leo O'Connor, Páraic O'Connor and Georgie O'Callaghan collecting the flags after the 2015 Castleisland KDYS / Garda Soccer League. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Shane Coffey, Leo O’Connor, Páraic O’Connor and Georgie O’Callaghan collecting the flags after the 2015 Castleisland KDYS / Garda Soccer League. ©Photograph: John Reidy

There have been years when the annual, Castleisland based KDYS / An Garda Síochána Soccer League coincided with a major tournament of European or worldwide status.

On these occasions the local tournament is elevated to whole new heights. Dreams of stardom are dreamt by day and night. It’s in these dreams that humanly impossible goals are the norm. There are balletic leaps in the air to meet a ball floating into the square and of rain-drops being flung from idle nets at the end of that winning-goal sequence.

Influence of Euro 2016

Next month’s tournament will dwell under the influence of Euro 2016 – a force more potent than any full moon at any time of the year. Each year the colour range of boots gets more psychedelic and the gear, in general, more in line with what the starts on the big stages wear.

Dreams do come true however, and you can see proof positive at the presentation ceremony after the annual tournament each year.

Seven-a-Side

Helena Falvey has just sent a note to remind us that the Kerry Diocesan Youth Service (KDYS) in partnership with An Garda Síochána is running its annual Seven-a-side Soccer Blitz on Wednesday 6th and Thursday 7th of July 2016. The event will be held in the Castleisland AFC grounds on Limerick Road and across the road from Castleisland Desmonds GAA Club. Applications are invited from teams from the Castleisland area interested in taking part.

The tournament will take place over the two nights mentioned and action will get underway at 6pm. There are three age categories: Primary School involving 4th, 5th and 6th classes U-15s and U-18s.

Contact KDYS

The event will be supported once again by local businesses and tournament founder, Sgt. John O’Mahony will be on hand as well as other volunteers to help co-ordinate the event.

Teams comprise of seven to 10 players, Any teams interested are asked to contact Helena Falvey at KDYS Castleisland or phone 085 78 78 039 for an application form. There is a small charge of €2 per player. Applications must be received by Friday 1st July by 5pm.