County Championship – The Hottest Ticket
It’s festival season across Ireland but the hottest ticket in the country this weekend is to Moanmore on Sunday afternoon at 4pm.
Where, Castleisland Desmonds senior men’s team are at home for the quarter final of the county championship and will face the All Ireland Junior Club Champions, who feature All Stars and the 2022 footballer of the year, the Clifford brothers.
Desmonds Men in Last Eight
Desmonds booked their place in the last eight after defeating John Mitchels and Ballydonoghue in the opening rounds of the Kerry Petroleum Intermediate Club Championship, and faced Austin Stacks in the final round of group 3 last Sunday in a top of the table clash.
Stunned Stack
A huge crowd descended on Moanmore last weekend, where 14 man Desmonds stunned the hotly tipped Tralee outfit to take the points.
The Stacks raced into an early lead, firing off 1-1 in the opening five minutes. But Desmonds patiently fought back to draw level by the 20th minute. The home side was reduced to 14 men minutes later, but it was Desmonds who reacted to the numerical advantage, with Ruairí Bourke rising highest to a dangerous ball from Graham O’Connor, to fist the ball into the Rockies net and give Desmonds a 1-8 to 1-3 lead at the break.
Dogged Desmonds Defence
The Stacks began to take advantage of the extra man during the second half but were left frustrated time and again by the dogged Desmonds defence. The scores were tit for tat throughout the second half, with Desmonds keeping the nose in front, before Luke Curtin fired the ball into the Stacks net in the dying minutes of the match to send to huge home crowd in raptors and Desmonds to the top of the table.
The 2.11 to 1.8 final score line meant Desmonds topped group 4 and would have a home advantage for the quarter final.
On Sunday evening the draw was made and Desmonds and Fossa were paired for the last eight clash.
Club Championship Sunday
The club championship quarter final takes place this Sunday in Moanmore, with the throw in at 4pm.
Looking forward to seeing another big Desmonds support on Sunday to shout on the lads in the county quarter final.
Be sure to call down for the biggest game of the season and give the Desmonds the extra support in this huge match this Sunday.
Big Desmonds Support
Castleisland Desmonds 50/50 buckets and stands will be available at the pitch to enter the next draw, which takes place on Tuesday September 5th.
Desmonds shop will be open during the game for tea and snacks. Programmes will also be available at the grounds.
For Desmonds supporters abroad and at home who can’t make it to the county championship clash, the game will also be streamed live and available to purchase on Clubber.ie
Tickets for Desmonds vs Fossa in the county championship quarter final are available online at: https://universe.com/users/kerry-gaa-VLF1SR or €10 at the gate.
Desmonds Mothers and Others Blitz
A brilliant evening at the first ever Desmonds Mother & Others tournament in Castleisland last Friday evening.
Teams from Desmonds, Ballymac, Milltown/Castlemaine, Dr Crokes, Kilcummin, Currow, Abbeydorney, Legion and John Mitchels took part in a festival of football. Congratulations to all the teams for a fantastic evening of fun and football.
Huge thank you to all the teams that participated and to the organisers for an absolutely brilliant evening and to all the referees, and all the volunteers who made it a possible. Already can’t wait for the next Desmonds Mothers and Others Blitz.
Kevin and the Kerry Masters
Congratulations to Desmonds chairman, Kevin Lynch who is part of the Kerry Masters team who’ve made in to the All Ireland Final.
Kevin played a prominent role for the side in the semi final against Galway last weekend. At the end of an entertaining encounter in Limerick, Kerry made it to the final in a score line of 0-12 to 0-7
They now face Tyrone in the Dr. Mick Loftus Cup final next weekend. The very best of luck to Kevin and the Kerry Masters in the final.
Desmonds Summer Camp
This year’s Desmonds Academy Summer Camp concluded last week. It proved to be a fantastic week overall with fabulous weather, brilliant fun and some special guests.
We were delighted to be joined by some Kerry footballing superstars throughout the week, including Desmonds own, two-time All-Star winner, Cáit Lynch, as well as Seanie O’Shea, Brian Ó Beaglaoich and Graham O’Suillivan, who called by to meet the children, play a few games of football and give them plenty of gifts.
Meeting their Heroes
Those attending were very excited to meet some of their heroes and it topped off a fantastic few days of the Desmonds summer camp
Close to 70 children attended the camp over the three days and thoroughly enjoyed learning new skills, having fun and making friends
We would like to give a special thanks to Podge Murphy for coordinating the camp, to all our coaches and to all the people who helped out behind the scenes.
A special mention to Patrick Hickey who put a massive effort into planning and organising the Desmonds Academy Summer camp, none of it would have been possible without his drive and dedication.
Nutrition and Skills Booklets
Also, a huge thanks to Walsh Colour Print for printing the Nutrition and Skills booklets that the children received in the final day of the camp.
It was Desmonds first Club Summer Camp and it was a great success. Thanks to everyone who attended, and we hope to see you at next year’s Desmonds Academy Summer camp, which promises to be even bigger and better.
County Senior Championship
Desmonds ladies began their campaign in the 2023 Bon Secours Kerry Senior Football Championship on Monday evening.
Desmonds faced Dr. Crokes in Lewis Road in the opening round and went in at the break with a two point lead 0-6 to 0-4 at the interval. An entertaining second half followed but in the end, it was the hosts who left with the victory on the tightest of margins on a final score of: Desmonds 1-9 to Dr. Crokes 2-7. Desmonds face Na Gaeil in Tralee in Round 2 of the Championship.
Desmonds U-13
The very best of luck to Desmonds U-13 boys who are in the final of the Central Region League on Sunday.
Desmonds face St.Mary’s /Reenard in the final in Cromane, throw in is at 1pm.
Desmonds 50/50 Draw
So far almost €8,500 has been won in the Desmonds 50/50 draw. The next draw will take place on Tuesday September 5th. Congratulations to our most recent winners Ivan Stuart and Lily Brady.
Play Desmonds 50/50 by entering in the stands and buckets in businesses across Castleisland, or online via the Clubforce app – link in bio, or with a click on the link here: tinyurl.com/desmonds5050draw
Buckets and stands will also be available on Sunday at the Desmonds v Fossa County Club Championship Quarter Final, which takes place in Moanmore on Sunday and gets underway at 4pm. One entry is €2, Three is €5, with many more options available online.
Buckets and Stands in Pubs and Shops
The draw can be entered via the buckets and stands in: The Forge; Circle K; The Shoemaker’s Bar; Chicken Club; Martin Curtin’s Shop; Whyte’s Centra; Den Joes; Vincent Murphy Sports; Tom McCarthy’s Bar; Tommy Hickey’s; Fagins Bar; Phil Horan’s Petrol Station; Moloney’s Cake Shop; John Brennan’s Barbers; Browne’s Topline Agri, Steel and Builders Merchants; Castlemeats; KPH Construction; The Kingdom House; Browne’s Bar; Benny’s Barbers; Lynch’s Pharmacy, or via the Clubforce app.
The next Desmonds 50/50 draw will take place on September 5th
Massive thanks to all our main and associate sponsors for your continued support of Castleisland Desmonds GAA Club.
You can contact The Maine Valley Post on… Anyone in The Maine Valley Post catchment area who would like to send us news and captioned photographs for inclusion can send them to: jreidy@mainevalleypost.com Queries about advertising and any other matters regarding The Maine Valley Post can also be sent to that address or just ring: 087 23 59 467.
