Miscellaneous

Young Captains Fantastic

March 29th, 2011
by Weeshie Fogarty

It's unbelievably really to recall that only a few years ago a motion was before GAA congress to get rid of the under 21 competition. It got a quick shift and rightly so as this is for me is one of the glamour competitions on the calendar and gives an opportunity for followers to see the best young talent of their counties in action. It certainly has been a great grounding area for Kerry players since the competition first began away back in 1962. That year Kerry beat Cork in the Munster final in Kenmare. There was no All Ireland series back then. Kerry has won twenty five Munster Championships and Cork is next with twenty one. Tipperary, Limerick and Waterford have one title each. The trophy up for grabs next Wednesday is the Corn na Cásca presented by the Munster Council in 1966 to commemorate the jubilee of the 1916 Rising.

So before I go any further and give my opinion on next Wednesdays upcoming Munster final when the two age old rivals meet in Pairc Ui Rian here is a little food for thought for our readers. Always entertaining to recall great names, great games and great teams, so here are fifteen names from the past and each one has captained Kerry at under twenty one level to either a Munster or All Ireland title. Lets refer to them as "Young Captains Fantastic".

Kevin Moran (Waterville), Kevin o Donoghue (Glenflesk), Killian Young (Renard), Pat Ahern (Ballymacigillot), Ogie Moran (Beale), Vincent Knightly (Aunascaul), Sean o Mahoney (Castlegregory) Noel Kennelly (Listowel Emmet's), Denis Dwyer (Waterville), Mickey "Ned" O Sullivan (Kenmare), Jackie Walsh, ( Ballylongford), Liam Hassett (Laune Rangers), Ger Murphy (Castlegregory), Dom o Donnell (John Mitchels), Brian Scanlon Listowel Emmet's).
As expected a stroll in the park in Limerick last Wednesday evening as John Kennedy's men advanced to the final. The winning margin of seventeen points tells the whole story. The first outing for minors or under 21s in the championship is always fraught with danger and if the men in charge don't have the young men's minds focused entirely on the job in hands then life can be extremely difficult. Take the opposition for granted, give away a soft goal, miss a penalty, a few dicey referring decisions, then the opposition gets the whiff of blood and before you know it you are swimming against the tide. Not so last Wednesday and despite a very patchy opening half when incidentally Barry John Walsh saw his penalty come back off the woodwork (or should I say the ironwork), the lads came out in the second half, literally took the game by the scruff of the neck and romped home in great style. 

All in all a competent display but Limerick were very disappointing, nevertheless while they never gave up the Kerry defense coped admirably with their short passing and the penetrating runs of outstanding center fordward James Kelly and corner forward Eoghan o Connor. Two points ahead at the short whistle Kerry improved immeasurably on the re start and simply ran the home side ragged. Dahi Casey spend the entire hour well out the field and far from his full forward slot leaving lots of room at times for James o Donoghue, Paul Geaney and Barry John Walsh who scored at will. Kenmare's Steven o Brien might not be as prolific as a scorer as some of his team mates nevertheless I was impressed by his ball winning abilities and the lad won practically ever ball that he contested. Barry John Keane is to return and he will probably displace one of the six lads who did duty in Limerick.
 
So what did the selectors learn in the run up the Cork game? No much really except the lads now have a big game under the so called proverbial belts. You can have all the training and challenge matches in the world but one championship outing despite the weakness of the opposition is invaluable. As under age football goes this is a very promising panel of young men. They have the experience, class and football ability, no doubt about that, now all that remains to be answered is, have they the all round physical strength to compete flat out with Cork for the full sixty minutes. At minor and under twenty one level in recent years I believe we have been found wanting in this respect.

The Rebels had a comfortable win over Tipperary in the other semi final. Mark Collins on the forty, Ciaran Sheehan and Aidan Walsh are three of their big men and curtailing these three could decide the out come. The battle of the Walsh's in the middle of the field will be fascinating. All eyes will be on Corks Aidan Walsh as he faces up Edmond Walsh grand son of the legendary Kerry star Eddie. Edmond had a great outing in the semi-final. The Cork man is a current All Star a glowing tribute to the Kanturk mans ability gaining this recognition at just twenty years of age. Maurice Fitzgerald in 1988 and Colm Cooper 2002 as under twenty ones also achieved this distinction. There are probably more.

Cork are also playing at home which will be of an added advantage. The smart money will be on them and this will suit Kerry. Our lads are loaded with some of the most promising young footballers to come through for a long time. The forwards are quite capable of notching up the scores necessary to win the championship as they are all natural born scorers.  Kerry will rise to the challenge as they did last year against the same opposition so if they at least break even at mid field, curtail Sheehan then the cup could come back to Kerry. Under age football is very unpredictable, especially between these two age old rivals. It's a real mouth watering clash and there is nothing more satisfying and pleasing than to see young men reaching for the stars as they play in such a prestigious competitive fixture. Get there early. 

Fogra: The death has occurred of Thomas Murphy one of that great Kerry football family from Camp. Brother of Padraig, Sean and the late Seamus Thomas died in Cork last Thursday. He starred at wing back when Kerry beat Wexford in the 1950 All Ireland minor final. His legendary brother Sean was centerfield. Thomas won a Munster Colleges medal as captain with Colaiste Iosagain and Sigerson Cups medals with UCC.  He played one National League game with Kerry as they beat Cork away in 1953. In his work as an engineer he served in Leitrim and later Cork. To his wife Margret, and children Sean, Deirdre, Emer, Niall, Cathal, Niamh, Jane and extended family we off our deepest sympathies.



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