Honoured and Proud at Club Appointments
Castleisland Desmonds GAA Club members are honored and proud that Dr. Dave Geaney has taken up the role of club president.
Dr. Dave is a proud Desmonds member and an icon and legend in Desmonds and Kerry GAA circles and we are beyond honored to have him as our new club president,” said club spokesman, David Nelligan in the course of the following run down on club and field development news.
“At the recent Desmonds GAA Club Social a number of awards were handed out. These included special presentations to the newly appointed vice-presidents of the club. Each a proud Desmonds member with a long and dedicated history of service to the club and the town.
Awards were presented by club chairman, Kevin Lynch to: vice-presidents: Jimmy O’Connell, Kevin Dillon, John Pender, Donal ‘Duke’ O’Connor, Michael John Kearney and Jack Nolan. Congratulations to our new club president and VPs, for their incredibly deserved accolades.
New Season Already Under Way
A brand new season is already underway with training across the age grades and levels back up and running and some senior pre-season and under-age county league games underway.
A reminder that Desmonds GAA Club membership is available and due now for all members for the 2024 season.
It’s easier than ever to sign up. You can join by Revolut – by transferring to the username @mchelccv
Please provide your name as the reference when paying the membership. Membership can also be paid by bank transfer to: BIC AIBKIE2D IBAN IE05AIBK93625109555039 or it can be paid in cash to the club treasurers, Mícheál Walsh and Maurice Hickey.
The 2024 Desmonds Membership rates are as follows: Adult €120; Adult and gym €240; Student €70; Student and gym €140. Gym membership is open and available to fully paid club members.
We thank our members for your continued support of the club. All players who intend on playing this season, membership is due ASAP.
On The Field of Play
Desmonds senior men’s team rounded off their North Kerry League campaign last weekend with a trip to recently crowned North Kerry champions, Ballydonoghue.
In a game played in wintery conditions in Coolard, the first half was tit for tat, with Desmonds reduced to 14 men on the quarter hour mark after picking up a red card. An Adam Donoghue goal gave Desmonds a two point lead at the interval. Half time score: 1-4 to 0-5
End to End Second Half
An end to end second half followed with 14 man Desmonds coming away with the points at the full time whistle by the minimum.
Final score:Desmonds: 1-8 to Ballydonoghue: 0-10.
Desmonds: Steven Bartlett, Luke Curtin, Brian Leonard, Dominick Finnegan, Denis O’Connor, Luka Brosnan (0-2), Maurice Hickey (0-2), Colm Roche, Seán Prendiville, Micheál Walsh, Adam Donoghue (1-0), Thomas Conway (0-1), Cian H O’Connor (0-1), Pat Fitzgerald (0-1), Chris Devane (0-1) Subs: Paráic O’Connor, Mint O’Connor, Shea Lawless, Seán Kelly, Patrick O’Shea and Ben O’Donoghue.
Congrats to Debutants
Huge congratulations to Mint O’Connor who made his senior debut for Desmonds and put in a fine display.
That brings the total number of Desmonds debutants to eight during the North Kerry League: Mint O’Connor, Shea Lawless, Seán Kelly, Ben O’Donoghue, Larry Nolan, Kian Downey, Chris Devane and Evan Brennan. It’s fantastic to see so many brilliant players getting their first runs out in the blue and white. That wraps this season’s North Kerry League and all focus now turning to the County League.
County League Campaign
Desmonds get their County League Division 2 campaign up and running with a home game against Listowel Emmets in Round 1 on the weekend of March 24th.
Desmonds will face Listowel Emmets, Beaufort, Gneeveguilla, Na Gaeil, Fossa, Ardfert, John Mitchels, Kenmare Shamrocks, Austin Stacks, Glenbeigh/Glencar, and Templenoe in the County League Division 2 this season.
Meanwhile, Desmonds B team will compete in Division 6 of the County Senior football league again this season.
League and Shield Honours
Division 6 this year consists of 16 clubs, and is broken into Division 6A and Division 6B, before progressing to the next stage of the league, where the top four in each group and bottom four in each will contest for league and shield honours.
Desmonds B’s have this season been drawn in Division 6A, alongside Legion B, Ballylongford, Kerins O’Rahilly’s B, Kilcummin B, Fossa B, An Ghaeltacht B, Keel B.Desmonds Bs host Legion B in Round 1 in Moanmore on the weekend of March 23/24 – fixtures are subject to change.
Lookout for New Players
Desmonds B team management and mentors are always on the lookout for new players.
Whether you’ve never kicked a ball before, or haven’t kicked a ball in 10 years, or if you play regularly and want to get involved, we’d love for you to come onboard. If you’re interested send us a message, we’d love to hear from you.
Intermediate Club Championship
The draw for the Kerry Petroleum Intermediate Club Championship was made recently and looks set to be an intriguing competition again this season.
Sixteen teams will contest the Intermediate championship this season, including: Desmonds; Austin Stacks; Kerins O’Rahillys; An Ghaeltacht; Kilcummin; Legion; Laune Rangers; Fossa; John Mitchels; Beaufort; Glenflesk; Glenbeigh/Glencar; St. Mary’s; Gneeveguilla; Ballydonoghue and Listowel Emmets. Desmonds have been drawn in Group 3 of the championship with Fossa, Ballydonoghue and Beaufort.
Desmonds face Ballydonoghue in round 1 of the county championship in a neutral venue, fixture details tbc.
Congrats and Well Done Doc
Massive congratulations to Desmonds clubman Eamonn O’Sullivan who in December was named as the new President of Kerry GAA.
Doc is a proud member of Desmonds GAA Club who has served the club and county in many roles over the years including as Kerry County Board PRO in which he revolutionised the role and standards of office.
He has also served as secretary of Kerry County Board and as Kerry’s Munster Council delegate; chairman of the games and administration committee and Croke Park management committee amongst many other roles and is currently chairman of the Austin Stack Park committee.
Eamonn O’Sullivan was ratified as President of Kerry GAA at the county convention in December. A huge congratulations to Eamonn and his family on this fantastic and incredibly deserved honour. A tremendous achievement for him and an incredibly proud day for Castleisland Desmonds GAA Club.
Pitch Progress at Moanmore
The board and everyone at the club are looking forward to building on the progress made this past year at Castleisland Desmonds GAA Club.
None of these developments and progress would have been possible without the help of our incredible sponsors.
To date: we have realigned the pitch, moving it 15 yards closer to the road; this allowed us to add a second full size pitch at the bottom of the field; we have moved the four existing floodlights onto this pitch and added two new lights which will allowing us to train and play all year round and we have built and fitted out a new 150 sq. metre gym for our members.
While we are delighted with the progress to date, we have ambitious plans for 2024 and beyond.
If you would like to help us through sponsorship please don’t hesitate to contact us either through our instagram/ facebook/twitter pages or you can contact Mícheál Walsh directly on 087-9416464 for more information.
Congrats to Paul, Niall and Ger
Congratulations to three Desmonds members who carried out absolutely incredible fundraising work.
Paul Carmody, Niall Mitchell and Ger Reidy completed their The Jack and Jill Children foundation ’12 Hills Fundraiser’ and exceeded their target of €40,000.
All funds raised are vital for the services of Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation.
Huge congratulations to Paul, Niall and Ger for their phenomenal work for such a worthy cause. The lads have confirmed that four hikes will take place to continue the fundraising this year.
For more information or to donate and support follow the link here: https://www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/JackandJill12HillsTeam
An Eye Out for Volunteers
To build and progress on the plans to date, the club is always on the lookout for volunteers, who are the backbone of the club.
Castleisland Desmonds GAA Club is looking for new volunteers to help re-energise and drive our club into the future.
Our recruitment drive begins with the most basic unit of voluntary commitment, which is an hour. While it might appear a small amount, one person volunteering just one hour per week can make a massive difference.
One Desmonds Plan
Desmonds GAA Club would love you to get involved.
So why not give becoming a custodian of the club a go? If interested, please contact our club chairman Kevin Lynch at: chairperson.castleislanddesmonds.kerry@gaa.ie or secretary John Kelly at: secretary.castleislanddesmonds.kerry@gaa.ie to see what area of the club you might like to get involved in, in the One Desmonds Plan.
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.
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.
