Miscellaneous

North Kerry Championship Final

December 19th, 2011
by Weeshie Fogarty

 All the divisional football boards in Kerry have their own individual traditions, history, atmosphere, memorable games and legendary players. As a player, referee, spectator and Radio Kerry commentator I have over the last fifty years and more experienced at one time or another all the finals played by the different boards. North, South, East, West, and Mid Kerry, Tralee District board and the Murphy Cup which is the big event of the Kenmare district board. (I played illegally in this competition when I worked in Parknesella Hotel back in the fifties) Each one is unique. The followers express their feelings during the games in all different ways.

The style of football played varies in each district and the approach in relation to referring of the finals by the men in charge also varies. In one district let's say, strict use of the whistle is more or less expected while in other areas good hard, vigorous play is expected and accepted. I find the whole scenario fascinating and when you look closely at the set up one quickly realize that our district boards are one of the unique launching pads for all that is great and good in Kerry football. 

And so it was last Sunday I headed for Ballylongford to the eagerly awaited North Kerry final between Finuge and Beal. And boy were we served up with one of the great Christmas crackers of a final. The approach road from Listowel had cars backed up a mile out the road from the village an hour before the scheduled starting time of two o clock. The tension and excitement was palpable as one approached the field which is situated right in the centre of this beautiful village. Their was a mood was of apprehension and expectation. A group of young ladies were painting faces of any one that agreed to stand for them with the side's respective colors. I politely declined stating my complete neutrality. Like the Kerry hurling county final when it's a North Kerry derby colors, hats and flags abounded and it was wonderful to see the younger generation of followers participating so vigorously.

Knocknagoshel/Brosna and Listowel Emmet's set the scene for what proved to be a dramatic afternoon as they served up a superb hour of under 21 football eventually sharing the honors, 1-10 each. Some of the great Kerry GAA activists were of course present. Alan Kennelly the outstanding Ballylongford servant was manning one of the gates. Life time followers Luke Keane and Gerry Savage who have seen more balls been kicked in anger in Kerry than there are stars in the sky were in the grounds in good time. Both men are the exemplary elders of Kingdom football. North Kerry officers had a busy day directing events. I met Mike Flavin the super efficient secretary and long serving PRO Billy Enright, both men would lean over backwards to be of assistance.

Chairman Liam Dennehy was also as busy as the proverbial bee and we remembered the boards esteemed President that great Polo Grounds survivor Eddie Dowling who listened to the game on Radio Kerry. We wish the great man a belated happy birthday.  The programme for the match or should I say the little book produced by the board of close to 100 pages is a collectors item and if you can lay your hands on one do so now. Billy Enright the genial PRO take a bow. The Ballylongford club did a magnificent job of stewarding and their ladies committee served up steaming mugs of mouth watering soup which stood bubbling in big silver pots backed up with a plentiful supply of a variety of sandwedges. Those ladies were working like troopers in the club kitchen ( after attending a local funeral that morning), and after the game what was laid out the table got a quick death. 

And of course there was the football which you can read about elsewhere in these sports pages. A wonderful full blooded sporting game from start to finish contested with great abandon and skill from both sides. Amhran na Bhian was beautifully sung by Ballylongford's own Saoirse o Connor and within  minutes of the start the experienced Finuge side were four points ahead as the twin strikers in the full fordward line of Paul Galvin and Eamon Fitzmaurice cause all sorts of problems for the Beal men who had not won the title for 22 years. The winners led 0-7 to 0-5 at the short whistle. Ten minutes remaining and the magnificent free kicking of Beale's Ian Blake had the side's level. He with inspirational captain Paul Collins and 20 year old light weight corner forward Tom Joy lit up the dark dreary December afternoon. A shower of bitter sleety rain heralded the winning goal from Eamon Fitzmaurice as he was on hand to rattle the net from close in. That proved to be the deciding score of this absorbing North Kerry final. Paul Galvin was my man of the match but in truth there were many more deserving of the accolade.

After the game superbly referred by Mike Hennessy former Kerry hurling star from the legendary Hennessey family there were mutterings of a square ball for the winning goal, maybe so? There were scenes of great joy and celebrations in the Michael o Rahilly Park, named after a native Ballylongford officer shot in action during the "trouble times" as the Eamon o Donoghue cup was presented to exemplary Finuge captain Eamon Fitzmaurice in the middle of the field. The cup in memory of the blond haired late great wing forward Eamon o Donoghue, Ballylongford and Kerry star whom I played with and against in the sixties. He and his brother Paudie gone to their eternal rewards but never forgotten. The divisional finals are special. If you have not attended a few of them then you will have missed a unique Kerry football experience. 

Fogra; Our sympathies to the family of the late Jerry o Mahony "Mystical Rose" Woodlawn Killarney. One of the towns elder statesmen Jerry was the father of the former star Kerry goalkeeper Paudie o Mahoney. I worked with Jerry for a number of years and got to know him well as a psychiatric nurse in St Finans Hospital before his retirement. Naturally he took great pride in following the fortunes of his three fine sons John. Paudie and Derry on the football field with his club Spa and Kerry. Paudie was one of the best goalkeepers I have seen and won five senior medals with Kerry, National leagues, Railway Cups and county championships. John sadly died at a young age and was also a very accomplished footballer winning an under 21 Munster championship and an All Ireland Inter Firm medal in 1975. The youngest lad Derry also like his brothers won o Donoghue Cup medals with Spa and won All Ireland Hospital Connelly Cup medals a goalkeeper with St Finans in Croke Park. A great family record. All Ireland medals in different grades. To Paudie, Derry, daughters Noreen and Marie and extend family we offer or deepest sympathy's.


Sections

Search Articles



 
Radio Kerry - The Voice of the Kingdom