Thomas to captain Kerry Today

Desmonds GAA Club player, Thomas Hickey (left) takes on the role of captain of the Kerry Junior Football team in their Munster JFC game in Ennis today. Thomas will be joined, on the forward lines by Cordal's Philip O'Connor and the man-in-the-middle, Seán Óg Ó Ciardubháin fills the role of sub goal-keeper. ©Photographs: John Reidy — Desmonds GAA Club player, Thomas Hickey (left) takes on the role of captain of the Kerry Junior Football team in their Munster JFC game in Ennis today. Thomas will be joined, on the forward lines by Cordal’s Philip O’Connor and the man-in-the-middle, Seán Óg Ó Ciardubháin fills the role of sub goal-keeper. ©Photographs: John Reidy

LOCAL historians and stats men are racking their old brains now that the honour of captaining a Kerry junior football team has fallen on the shoulders of a local player. Thomas Hickey will lead his Kerry team that will take on Clare in the Munster Junior Championship semi-final in Ennis in a couple of hour’s time. The question being posed is: Is Thomas Hickey the first Desmonds man to captain a Kerry junior football team ?

The highly-rated Hickey will skipper the side from the left corner forward berth. he will be joined by St. Kieran’s club team-mates and neighbours, Cordal’s Philip O’Connor – who with play outside him on the half-forward line and Sean Óg Ó Ciardubháin also from Cordal, is the substitute goalkeeper.

The curtain raiser to the senior clash between the two counties will commence at 1.30pm and the Kerry team contains just four of the side stunned by Tipperary in the quarter final last year.

Castleisland Desmonds GAA Club U-12 team and mentors who won the 2004 Castleisland District League. Today's Kerry Junior Football team captain, Thomas Hickey is on the back row - third form the right. Front, from left: Graham O'Connor, Eoin Murphy, Niall Lombard and Colm O'Connor. Seated, from left: Edward Costello, Mentor; Eamon McLoughlin, Tommy McCarthy, Timothy Walsh, Liam Lyons, Captain; Stephen Cahill, Hugh Herlihy, Francis McAuliffe and James Lyons, Mentor. Back row, from left: Gearóid Leonard, William Stack, Declan Cahill, Tadhg O'Connell, Donagh O'Connell, John O'Connor, Mentor; Jack Kirwan, Denis O'Connor, JJ Casey, Thomas Hickey, Maurice Lynch and Billy Shanahan. Team members, Michael Horan and Gearóid McCarthy were not available when the photograph was taken. ©Photograph: John Reidy 9-10-2004 — Castleisland Desmonds GAA Club U-12 team and mentors who won the 2004 Castleisland District League. Today’s Kerry Junior Football team captain, Thomas Hickey is on the back row – third form the right. Front, from left: Graham O’Connor, Eoin Murphy, Niall Lombard and Colm O’Connor. Seated, from left: Edward Costello, Mentor; Eamon McLoughlin, Tommy McCarthy, Timothy Walsh, Liam Lyons, Captain; Stephen Cahill, Hugh Herlihy, Francis McAuliffe and James Lyons, Mentor. Back row, from left: Gearóid Leonard, William Stack, Declan Cahill, Tadhg O’Connell, Donagh O’Connell, John O’Connor, Mentor; Jack Kirwan, Denis O’Connor, JJ Casey, Thomas Hickey, Maurice Lynch and Billy Shanahan. Team members, Michael Horan and Gearóid McCarthy were not available when the photograph was taken. ©Photograph: John Reidy 9-10-2004

The four to survive are: midfielder, Brendan O’Sullivan from Valentia and the forward line trio of: Ciarán Keating from Skellig Rangers, Philip O’Connor of Cordal and Glenbeigh-Glencar’s Gavan O’Grady.
The full team is: Shane Murphy, Kilcummin; Shane Lynch Spa; Kevin O’Dwyer, Waterville; Danny Wrenn, Tarbert; Greg Gibson, Waterville; Denis Daly, St Marys; Gavin Crowley, Templenoe; Andrew Garnett, Spa; Brendan O’Sullivan, Valentia; Brian Crowley, Templenoe; Ciaran Keating, Skellig Rangers; Philip O’Connor, Cordal; Gavan O’Grady, Glenbeigh-Glencar; Paul Kennelly, Ballydonoghue; Thomas Hickey, Castleisland Desmonds.
Substitutes: Sean Óg Ó Ciardubháin, Cordal; Alan O’Donoghue, John Mitchels; Rory Horgan, Ardfert; Michael Brennan, Churchill; Cian Horan, Glenflesk; Paidraig Ó Sé, An Ghaeltacht; Gary Sayers, Keel; Kieran Hurley, St Pats; Sean Moloney, John Mitchels.
The Kerry team is trained by Ardfert’s Stephen Wallace and his selectors are Fergus Clifford of Listry, Timmy O’Sullivan from the Kerins O’Rahilly’s club and Denis O’Sullivan of Dromid Pearses.

Good luck to Thomas in his new role and to Philip and Seán Og and, indeed, to both Kerry teams in action in Ennis today.