Kerry County Senior Football Championship Launch

The draw for Round 1 of the Garvey’s Supervalu Kerry Senior Football County Championship has been made live in the Radio Kerry studios by Jerome Conway Kerry County Committee Chairman and Kevin McCarthy from Garvey’s Supervalu.

Mid Kerry V Dingle

St. Kieran’s V Kenmare

Feale Rangers V Kilcummin

Gneeveguilla V Dr. Crokes

South Kerry V Shannon Rangers

St. Michaels Foilmore V Kerins O’Rahillys

Rathmore V West Kerry

Laune Rangers V East Kerry

Austin Stacks V Ardfert

Legion V St. Brendans

The games will take place over the weekend of June 11th and 12th.

TIMMY SHEEHAN PREVIEWS THE GARVEYS SUPERVALU KERRY SENIOR COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP

Friday, 08 April 2011 13:25 | from kerrygaa.ie

The draw for the Garveys Supervalu Kerry Senior County Championship takes place tomorrow Saturday 9th April at 2.30pm on Radio Kerry Saturday Sport. Timmy Sheehan previews the game for the Kerry gaa web site: kerrygaa.ie

Preview of The Kerry County Senior Football Championship 2011 by Timmy Sheehan for kerrygaa.ie

“Championships in any code or grade are special – full of expectation and intense rivalries, and loaded with tradition. Club versus Divisional Team – Urban versus Rural. Every gaelic footballer aspires to wear the Green and Gold, with the ultimate ambition being to win an All-Ireland medal, in whatever grade. Just a select few, realise their ambitions, but, for the remainder, there is a medal, which is also coveted and cherished. A County Senior Football Championship medal.

For the winning team, there’s the reward of a place in the record books for all time. Gaelic Football remains, the highest profile sport in Kerry. The honour of playing for one’s County, is matched, by the pride of representing one’s parish. The County Senior Football Championship final, has long established itself as a highlight in the Kingdom’s sporting calendar, and if one recalls, the colour and the atmosphere which prevailed, at last years decider, in the Austin Stack Park, then it is obvious, that such occasions are quite special, not alone, for the participants but, for the many neutrals also in attendance.

The success of Dr. Crokes, in that final, signalled a slight swing in favour of the Clubs, after a period of dominance by the Divisional teams. Indeed, three Clubs featured at the penultimate stage, which may provide an indicator, when assessing this year’s competition and the likely winners. Certainly, such as Austin Stacks and Daingean Uí Chuise, will feel, that they can make further progress, and maybe make the final step onto the winners podium.

As indeed, will Rathmore, who will consider themselves unlucky to have lost out to Stacks at the Quarter Final stage last year, even if, their second half showing in that particular game in Killarney was quite disappointing. Kerins O’Rahilly’s who were surprisingly beaten by Daingean Uí Chuise, last season, have a wealth of individual talent, at their disposal, and are, as always likely contenders. However, the loss of David Moran is a huge blow to their Championship ambitions. Laune Rangers have put together a nice mix of youth and experience with Mike Frank, still very much a key figure, and with a Championship pedigree the Killorglin outfit, will as always be in the shake-up.

Ardfert, Kilcummin, St. Michaels Filemore, Gneeveguilla and Legion will to an extent, be ranked by some in the second tier of the Clubs challenging for honours, but anybody who saw, the recent County League Division One game between, Stacks and Ardfert, will have no doubts, about, the capabilities of these five participants, who may not be on the list of short odds bets to win the competition, but who are well capable of making an impact.

Of the Divisional combinations, of which, there are nine, South Kerry, even if, it’s likely they will have, a slightly changed line-up, this year, will be the front runners, given that, Declan O’Sullivan, Killian Young and Brian Sheehan, are always hugely influential and there is always a flow of emerging young talent from this particular Division.

West Kerry, with An Ghaeltacht in their ranks, were fancied by many last time out, but despite a good showing in their final game, against Crokes, they were largely disappointing. However, like such as St. Kieran’s, Feale Rangers and Mid-Kerry they have a wide pick from some strong clubs, and with the right team selection and commitment all of these four combinations will be competitive.

St. Brendan’s since the elevation of Ardfert to the Senior ranks have struggled in recent years, while East Kerry’s troubles have been well documented. However, with Spa, back in the fold, their progress will be monitored with interest. Shannon Rangers, performed with some distinction last season, especially in their game against West Kerry in Ballylongford, and will attract a lot of support, while Kenmare, despite being over run by Crokes in last years competition, have shown themselves to be quite formidable in recent seasons, and are capable of getting an extended run.

So there are a lot of permutations involved, with injuries and emigration, just two of the factors, which can influence and determine, a team’s prospects and their performances in the Championship. But as things stand at the moment, the favourites tag, remains stitched to the Black and Amber brigade from Lewis Road. Still young in years, but with the experience, now gained of winning The Bishop Moynihan, they look to be suitably equipped to retain the title. That’s at the moment – but – as everybody knows, sport, can be a great leveller, and capable of defying the most logical of predictions. That’s what makes it so interesting and appealing.

Enjoy a special competition, – like its sponsors – it’s all about the local community and the part it plays in both a sporting and social sense.