FINAL CIARRAÍ THOIR CÉIRÍN UÍ RATHAILLE THE ACORN LIFE UNDER 21 FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

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1 THE ACORN LIFE UNDER 21 FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL CIARRAÍ THOIR v CÉIRÍN UÍ RATHAILLE Castleisland Dé Máirt 11ú Lúnasa i.n. Réiteoir: Jonathan Griffin (Glenbeigh-Glencar) Luach

2 The ACORN LIFE Under 21 County Football Championship 2015 PATHS TO THE FINAL PRELIMINARY ROUND John Mitchels 1-13 Laune Rangers 0-11 ROUND 1 Kenmare 2-16 St Kierans 1-11 Kilcummin/Rathmore 3-13 Feale Rangers 1-9 Dingle 3-17 Shannon Rangers 2-5 Kerins O Rahillys 2-12 Dr Crokes 1-8 An Ghaeltacht 2-16 Mid Kerry 1-10 Austin Stacks 1-9 St Brendans 2-5 East Kerry 2-12 South Kerry 1-9 West Kerry 0-7 John Mitchels 2-9 ROUND 2 Kenmare 0-8 East Kerry 4-19 An Ghaeltacht 2-9 Dingle 1-10 Kerins O Rahillys 1-11 Kilcummin/Rathmore 0-10 John Mitchels 0-16 Austin Stacks 0-13 SEMI FINALS Kerins O Rahillys 1-16 John Mitchels 0-6 East Kerry 2-17 An Ghaeltacht 0-12 FINAL East Kerry Kerins O Rahillys 2

3 FÁILTIÚ AN CHATHAOIRLIGH Is cúis áthais dom fíor fáilte a fhearadh romhaimh anocht. Is oíche speisialta í dos na h-imreoirí, na h-oifigigh, lucht leanúna agus an réiteoir. Tá súil agam go mbeidh sár chluiche spoirtiúil againn. I welcome the teams from Kerins O Rahillys and East Kerry, their mentors and supporters to this evening s final. Welcome also to the referee, his umpires and linesmen. This evening s Acorn Life U21 County Football Championship Final is an important sporting occasion for the players who are representing their districts and their clubs. It is also a proud occasion for their families. The Under 21 County Championship is a means of giving young and upcoming players the opportunity of playing at the highest possible level. There is no ideal time slot for this competition and playing the competition with midweek fixtures during the summer is at present the preferred time slot. Even though some players in this age grade are on overseas sanctions during summer, it is felt that providing meaningful games for the players who opt to stay at home for the summer is more important. Hopefully tonight s game will be an entertaining, hard fought and closely contested final right up to the full time whistle and played in the true spirit of sportsmanship. The CCC has to be commended for its implementation of the club fixtures programme agreed at the beginning of the year. All leagues and championships are progressing as planned and providing games for all age grades throughout the summer. The club fixtures programme is being implemented side by side with the Kerry Intercounty teams in Football and Hurling advancing to the concluding stages of their championships. SPONSORS I take this opportunity to thank our sponsors, Acorn Life, for their continued sponsorship of the Under 21 Football Championship, we are very grateful for their genuine interest and generous support of our Under 21 players. Padraig Ó Súilleabháin, Cathaoirleach, Coiste Chontae Chiarraí CLG. SPONSORS MESSAGE On behalf of Acorn Life, I extend a warm welcome to all patrons here this evening in the Castleisland Desmonds GAA grounds to the Acorn Life County Under 21 Championship Final. I wish both teams and their officials the very best of luck and I thank them for their entertainment in the competition thus far. I am sure that this evening s game will live up to all pre match expectations. We are delighted to be associated with Kerry GAA, their players and supporters in the sponsorship of the Acorn Life Under 21 Football and Hurling competitions. Pius Horgan, Acorn Life The U21 Championship Cup being presented to winning Kenmare District captain Kieran Fitzgibbon by the Chairman of the County Committee Patrick O Sullivan 3

4 ACORN LIFE COUNTY UNDER 21 CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL PREVIEW By Jason O Connor WITH the inter-county season very much at the business end, it can be easy to forget about what s happening within the local scene. Tonight, however, the first major trophy of the year will be presented with the U-21 Championship concluding with a club vs. district encounter in Castleisland. East Kerry face Kerins O Rahillys with the district side showing a nice continuation from the County Minor Championship winning side of two years ago. Along with All-Ireland Minor winners last year Liam Kearney and Dan O Donoghue (both Spa), they also have Killarney Legion players to pick from this year with Conor Keane a notable add on from the side of two years ago as Glenflesk s Kieran Murphy and Listry s Gary O Sullivan are others to have worn the county colours in recent times. James Fleming is over this side like he was the Minor winning one two years ago and the manner in GARY O SULLIVAN which they have booked their place in the decider has been quite impressive. They started off with a six point victory over South Kerry in the First Round but thereafter really caught fire. To beat the defending champions Kenmare District by 23 points was a major statement of intent while they defeated the side they beat to win the Minor title back in 2013 An Gaeltacht (at the same venue, JP O Sullivan Park, to boot) by 11 points in the semi-final. Their combined total for the three games that they have played so far is 8-48 making them arguably the favourites in advance of tonight s encounter. Kerins O Rahillys have made it here maybe without the same degree of fanfare but they have shown a good degree of conviction and purpose in their three games. They started off with a five point victory away from home against Dr Crokes in Lewis Road before beating another East Kerry side in the Kilcummin/Rathmore combination on home turf by four points. A Tralee derby with John Mitchels was won maybe by a more comfortable margin (1-16 to 0-6) than was expected in advance but it was certainly an occasion where O Rahillys made themselves stand out. Jack Savage is the stand-out forward in the Strand Road line-up with Cormac Coffey a member of last year s All-Ireland winning Kerry Minor team. Martin Tierney, Cian Sayers, Diarmuid O Sullivan and Mitchell Donnelly are other key figures in the Strand Road lineup with a 2013 Club Championship title, the Tralee club s most recent success at U-21 level. All of the sides that they have faced in advanced have been club based with East Kerry the first district side they will encounter. It will be a step up in class with the district side s all round strength but O Rahillys might take comfort from the fact the last time we had a club vs. district County U-21 Final back in 2011, Dr Crokes got the better of St Kierans with a dramatic late JACK SAVAGE win. As always with an underage competition it will be a last chance at a great memory for those in their final year as an U-21 while those experiencing this stage for the first time will either rise or freeze to the occasion. Provided East Kerry s Kerry Junior contingent come through last Saturday s All-Ireland Final in Croke Park unscathed then it is hard not to see East Kerry following on from their previous Minor success with a good share of those players featuring tonight. East Kerry s last U-21 title in 1999 featured Rathmore s Tom O Sullivan as one of the mainstays. Kerins O Rahillys won t mind being the underdogs but it will take something extra from their performances so far to win the club s first ever U-21 County title as a single entity although there was a strong connection within the club to the 2001 winning Tralee combination with Micheal Quirke the team captain back then. 4

5 Player Profile Name: Liam Kearney Date of Birth: 23/7/1996 Occupation: Student Club: Spa Height: 6 2 Weight: 90kg Childhood GAA Heroes: Darragh Ó Sé When and where did you first play Football? As a 5 year old in Spa Inter County Experience: Minor 2014, Junior Sporting Achievements to date: Padraic Collins, Clare, in action against Seanie Buckley, Limerick in the 2015 Allianz Football League Division 3 game played at Newcastlewest 2013 Minor Co. Championship title (East Kerry), 2013 Minor Co League Division 3 title, 2013 Kerry Colleges (O Sullivan Cup) title, 2014 Kerry Colleges (O Sullivan Cup) title. Munster Minor and Junior medals and All Ireland Minor and Junior medals with Kerry. Any Superstitions before a match? Always pack the bag the night before! Favourite Venue: Fitzgerald Stadium Biggest influence on your sporting career to date: Parents Most memorable sporting moment as a player? Captaining Kerry to All Ireland Minor Championship success in Biggest Sporting Disappointment: Not winning the Corn Uí Mhuirí In ten years time I hope to be... Fully qualified, in a stable job and still playing football. If there was a transfer market in GAA who would you buy? Michael Murphy (Donegal) The best invention ever: The I Phone What skill do you think is the most important in Football? Kick passing Advice for young players: Listen to your coaches, they know what s best for you. Favourite sport other than Football? Hurling What do you like most about the GAA? The comradery and the feeling of winning with a team. How would you improve the GAA? Give players more chance to rest by spreading games out more. There are too many games close together. Name 2 Sports People you would invite to Dinner? Roy Keane & Jim McGuinness Hobbies: Gym & Golf Favourite Food? Steak Favourite Music: Anything; Listen to whatever is in at the moment. Favourite Film: ShawShank Redemption Facebook or Twitter? Twitter 5

6 CIARRAÍ THOIR FIR IONAD: (16) Jerry Cronin Gneeveguilla (17) Padraig O Sullivan Gneeveguilla (18) Matthew Rennie Fossa (19) Tadhg O Shea Fossa (20) James McCarrick Glenflesk (21) Jack O Neill Bantry Blues (22) Paddy Kelly Legion (23) Gavin Kelly Glenflesk (1) Aaron Farrell Spa (2) (3) (4) Shane Courtney D.J. Murphy Cathal Sheahan Glenflesk Gneeveguilla Legion (5) (6) (7) Dan O Donoghue Shane Cronin James O Donoghue Spa Spa Firies (8) (9) Liam Kearney (c) Kieran Murphy Spa Glenflesk (10) (11) (12) Padraig de Brún Paudie Clifford Gary O Sullivan Firies Fossa Listry (13) (14) (15) Lee O Donoghue Craig Hickey Conor Keane Glenflesk Spa Legion (24) Dara Rice Fossa (25) Donal Lyne Legion (26) Conor Herlihy Gneeveguilla (27) Josh Flynn Firies (28) Paudie Healy Glenflesk (29) William Courtney Firies (30) Peter McCarthy Legion Bainisteoir: James Fleming Roghnóirí: John Keane, Dermot O Mahony, James Cahillane, Denny Buckley EAST KERRY Cúil Cúilíní Seachaí 45m Saor Ciceanna 1 adh leath 2 adh leath IOMLÁN 6

7 CÉIRÍN UÍ RATHAILLE (1) Robert O Connor (2) (3) (4) David Murphy Martin Yierney (c) Tommy Begley (5) (6) (7) Karl Mullins Cormac Coffey Mitchell Donnelly (8) (9) Diarmuid O Sullivan Cian Sayers (10) (11) (12) Gavin O Brien Jack Savage Brian Scannell (13) (14) (15) Gearoid Savage Padraig Griffin Ronan Quill FIR IONAD: (16) Shane Foley (17) Derek Horgan (18) Shane O Sullivan (19) Gavin Ryan (20) Daniel Nix (22) Eoin Carroll (23) Ryan Carroll (24) Dylan Ronan (25) Gary Nolan (26) Ben O Neill (27) Jack Shortt (28) James O Connor (29) Donagh Buckley (30) P. Sheehy-Cunnigham Bainisteoir: Ray Walsh Roghnóirí: Shane Ronan, Morgan Nix, Dave Keane. KERINS O RAHILLYS Cúil Cúilíní Seachaí 45m Saor Ciceanna 1 adh leath 2 adh leath IOMLÁN 7

8 Player Profile Name: Jason Foley Date of Birth: 28/04/1994 Occupation: Depositary Receipts Settlements Administrator in BNY Mellon Club: Kerins O Rahillys Height: 6 2 Weight: 87kg Inter County Experience: Under 14, Under 15, Under 16, Minor When and where did you first play Football? Strand Road, Under 6s Childhood GAA Heroes: Tomás Ó Sé, Declan Quill, Colm Cooper, Micheál Quirke Sporting Achievements to date: Kerins O Rahillys Young Footballer of the Year 2013 Padraic Collins, Clare, in action against Seanie Buckley, Limerick in the 2015 Allianz Football League Division 3 game played at Newcastlewest Under 21 Club Championship 2013, County League 2013, Various Town Leagues and Town Championships Favourite Venue: Strand Road Biggest influence on your sporting career to date: My Club Most memorable sporting moment as a player? Beating South Kerry in the 2013 Senior County Championship in Caherciveen. Biggest Sporting Disappointment: Losing 2013 County Championship semi-final to Dr. Crokes In ten years time I hope to be... Still playing football and in a good job. If there was a transfer market in GAA who would you buy? Rory O'Carroll (Dublin) Who is the best player you ve played with? Micheál Quirke The best invention ever: The GAA! What skill do you think is the most important in Football? Correct Tackling Advice for young players: Listen to your coaches, play as many sports as possible and enjoy it. Favourite sport other than Football? Soccer What do you like most about the GAA? Keeps you in contact with your friends How would you improve the GAA? Fixed schedule for clubs independent of inter-county games. Name 2 Sports People you would invite to Dinner? Roy Keane and Sir Alex Ferguson Hobbies: Running, going to the gym and exercising. Favourite Food? Taco Chips Favourite Film: The Social Network Facebook or Twitter? Facebook Favourite Music: U2 8

9 Powerful Tralee side claim 2001 Under 21 Football title A fitter, stronger and more clinical Tralee side emerged victorious in the unique final of this year s revamped county Under 21 Championship played in Fitzgerald Stadium. The Kerryman reporter, J.P. McCarthy gave the following synopsis of the game: While the final score points to a comfortable day s football for the Tralee lads, the truth is that they were pushed all the way for 53 minutes of this final by an eager East Kerry side, which for the most part showed they were worthy finalists. A Damien Diggins goal seven minutes from time robbed the game of its competitiveness as it gave Tralee an unassailable seven point lead (1-15 to 1-8) which they were never likely to lose, especially with the towering midfield duo of Micheál Quirke and Mike Finn in total control. Five minutes after Diggin s strike Tralee sealed the issue with the best score of the game. The score which ended with Darragh Long blasting past the helpless Mark Terry in the East Kerry Goal began with Tralee corner back Timmy Lynch. People have questioned the new format which has seen some unusual amalgamated sides. Tralee were comprised of Under 21 players from the three town clubs, John Mitchels, Austin Stacks and Kerins O Rahillys. East Kerry were made up of Fossa, Listry, Spa, Gneeveguilla and Firies. East Kerry got off to the better start with Ross O Donovan and Dermie Foley to the fore and led by 5 points to 3 after fifteen minutes with Foley accounting for three of those East Kerry scores. Tralee responded however and had four unanswered points to lead by 7 points to 6 by the 21st minute and also finished the half the stronger with two pointed frees from John O Connor and another point from Darragh Long to see the winners lead by 10 points to 7 at the break. Mikey Collins increased that lead on the resumption but a goal and a point from the increasingly influential Domhnall O Sullivan had East Kerry right back in the game by the 41st minute at which stage the sides were level 0-11 to 1-8. However, East Kerry were to go another 18 minutes without a score as Finn and Quirke took over at midfield for Tralee and after the winners hit four points, including two from Darragh Long, then came those two goals from Diggins and Long to seal the issue in favour of the Tralee outfit. SCORERS: Tralee: D. Long 1-5 (0-1 free), J. O Connor 0-6, 0-5 frees), D. Diggins 1-1, M. Collins 0-3, E. McGrath 0-1. East Kerry: D. O Sulliven 1-3 (0-1 free), D. Foley 0-3, R. O Donovan 0-2, K. Myers 0-1. TEAMS Tralee: D. Hennebry (A. Stacks), T. Lynch (Do.), S. McMahon (J. Mitchels), B. Dennehy (A. Stacks), T.J. Hogan (Do.), G. Walsh (K. O Rahillys), R. Houlihan (Do.), M. Quirke (Do.), M. Finn (A. Stacks), F. Smith (Do.), J. O Connor (K. O Rahillys), M. Collins (A. Stacks), D. Long (Do.), J.P. O Neill (A. Stacks), D. Diggins (K. O Rahillys). Subs: E McGrath (K. O Rahillys), G. Molloy (K. O Rahillys), G. Molloy (Do.), D. Flahive (J. Mitchels), P. Locke (J. Mitchels). East Kerry: M. Terry (Fossa), A. O Sullivan (Listry), O. Lawlor (G. Guilla), G. Sheehan (Do.), P.J. Murphy (Do.), J. Casey (Firies), D. Spring (Do.), I. Flynn (Spa), C. Cronin (Do.), F. McAuliffe (G. Guilla), R. O Donovan (Spa), B. Gleeson (Do.), K. Myers (Fossa), D. Foley (Firies), D. O Sullivan (Fossa). Subs: M. Kennedy (Listry), A. Fitzgerald (Spa). Referee: Danny Enright (Tarbert). 9

10 East Kerry Complete Under 21 and Senior Double in 1999 When East Kerry overcame West Kerry in the Under 21 Championship final on the last day of October 1999, they thus completed a Senior/Under 21 Championship double with Tom O Sullivan, Michael D. Cahill and Liam Murphy on the starting fifteen of both games. The Kerryman reporter, Eamonn Horan, summed up the game as follows: Greater all-round teamwork and superior forward finish were the key factors in the richly-merited victory of East Kerry over their West Kerry opponents in the County Under 21 Championship Final at Austin Stack Park, Tralee. At the end of it all, West Kerry had good reason to look back in anguish at their missed chances over the 60 minutes. In the first half they frittered away a hatful of scoreable chances and the malaise continued to bedevil them in the second half. East Kerry, in contrast, were far more expeditious and economic in everything they endeavoured. They held the balance of power at midfield and, as a result, their forwards enjoyed a plentiful supply of good ball which they used to very good advantage. In addition, their backline was rock solid and resilient under pressure and the losers forwards found it extremely difficult to penetrate their lines. West Kerry it was who got the brighter start and they led by 3 points to 1 after just eight minutes thanks to points from Jamie Driscoll, Liam Óg Higgins and Aidan O Connor with John Paul Brosnan replying for the men from the East. Alan Lynch flicked just wide from a 45 as West Kerry continued to apply the pressure but after Sean Casey pointed, the winners struck for an all important goal with Donie O Connor finishing off a sweeping move from the back. It was a lead that East Kerry were not to lose but West Kerry continued to attack and Colm Counihan saved well from Annascaul s Aidan O Connor with Alan Lynch pointing the rebound. Liam Murphy s pointed free sent East Kerry to the dressing rooms 1-3 to 0-4 ahead. Sean Casey and the excellent Liam Murphy (2)pointed East Kerry further in front on the restart but there was drama at the three quarter stage when first East Kerry goalkeeper Colm Counihan saved well from John Dowd but the referee awarded a penalty which Aidan O Connor expertly converted - not before Liam Óg Higgins was sent to the line for a second bookable offence however to leave West Kerry with fourteen men. With just a two points lead, East Kerry were in a precarious position but they finished stronger with points from Liam Murphy, Michael D. Cahill (2) and Sean Casey to two in reply from Alan Lynch and David Devane. SCORERS: East Kerry: Liam Murphy 0-4 (2 frees), Donie O Connor 1-0, Sean Casey 0-3, Michael D. Cahill 0-2, John Paul Brosnan 0-1. West Kerry; Aidan O Connor 1-1, frees, Alan Lynch 0-2, Jamie Driscoll, Liam Óg Higgins and David Devane 0-1 each. West Kerry: Aidan O Connor 1-1, frees, Alan Lynch 0-2, Jamie Driscoll, Liam Óg Higgins and David Devane 0-1 each. TEAMS East Kerry: Colm Counihan (Listry), Aidan O Mahony (Rathmore), Tom O Sullivan (Do.), Niall Corbett (Firies), Mark Nagle (Rathmore), Tim Cronin (Do.), John C. O Donoghue (Glenflesk), Paul Kennedy (Fossa), John Paul Brosnan (Gneeveguilla), Michael D. Cahill (Rathmore), Liam Murpy (Gneeveguilla), Killian Lynch (Fossa), Sean Casey (Spa), Kenneth O Keeffe (Rathmore), Donie O Connor (Gneeveguilla). West Kerry: Mark Manning (Dingle), Seamus O Connor (Castlegregory), Keith Moynihan (Annascaul), Ronan O Carroll (Lispole), Stephen Brosnan (Do.), Tommy Griffin (Dingle), Emmett Kennedy (Annascaul), Padraig Curran (Dingle), Michael O Shea (Castlegregory), Liam Óg Higgins (Dingle), Jamie Driscoll (Annascaul), Ian Brosnan (Lispole), Aidan O Connor (Annascaul), Alan Lynch (Castlegregory), Breandán Dorgan (Lispole). Subs: John Dowd (Dingle), David Devane (Dingle). Referee: Tom Lynch (Kerins O Rahillys). 10

11 Under 21 Football Final Results West Kerry 2-7 South Kerry Killarney 2-9 Eoghan Ruadh Killarney 4-4 West Kerry Killarney 1-12 Spa/Glenflesk Mid Kerry 2-14 Kenmare Castleisland 0-8 Kenmare John Mitchels 1-8 Spa/Glenflesk South Kerry 1-10 Kenmare Kenmare 1-10 John Mitchels Dr Crokes 1-11 Castleisland Rangers South Kerry 0-11 Castleisland South Kerry 2-9 Laune Rangers West Kerry 2-6 Shannon Rangers Laune Rangers 0-8 St Brendans South Kerry 0-17 West Kerry South Kerry 2-14 Laune Rangers South Kerry 0-12 Shannon Rangers Laune Rangers 1-13 John Mitchels West Kerry 1-12 St Kierans Feale Rangers 5-8 Laune Rangers Feale Rangers 2-7 South Kerry East Kerry 1-10 West Kerry Mid Kerry 0-12 East Kerry Tralee 2-16 East Kerry Austin Stacks 0-13 Mid Kerry South Kerry 1-12 Austin Stacks South Kerry 1-9 Mid Kerry South Kerry 0-18 East Kerry St Brendans 1-11 East Kerry South Kerry 1-13 St Kierans St Brendans 0-11 South Kerry West Kerry 2-14 East Kerry South Kerry 1-13 West Kerry Dr Crokes 2-9 St Kierans Kilcummin/R more 1-14 Legion Mid Kerry 0-14 St Kierans Kenmare District 3-11 St Kierans

12 Proud Sponsors of the 2015 Kerry Under 21 Football Championship