Miscellaneous

A Year that unveiled the Secret of Kerry Football

December 27th, 2005
by Weeshie Fogarty

 It goes without saying that any review of a sporting year from a Kerry perspective should begin with the performance of our senior footballers and this column sees no reason to change that trend.

Kerry in football, Cork and Kilkenny in hurling must be unique on the GAA scene because not winning an All-Ireland title in the year under review is generally regarded as a failure.

The great successes and traditions of these counties continue to set the highest standards and the people behind the teams and indeed the players themselves are constantly under the harsh glare of the media. And the pressures they face before big championship matches can in many ways be akin to the premiership managers in England.

So, as the reviews get under way by the hurlers on the ditch, Kerry's failure to beat Tyrone will, as expected be top, of the agenda. That is the way of things in this county. Let's state the obvious from the start – Tyrone were fully deserved of their September victory over Kerry.

Indeed, it is my opinion that we were lucky we did not suffer a heavier defeat as Tyrone were the better side on the day and while it is galling to lose any All- Ireland we must hold our hands up and say well done to Mickey Hart and his men.

The northern sides always seem to be playing for some cause, and this year it was stated, and probably rightly so, that the death of Cormac McAnallen would drive them on to victory.

Nevertheless, while many pointed to the lack scores by our half forward line, no way will you win any game, big or small, if this line are out of the game, but the one defining factor which we had no control over was match practice. And this I firmly believe was the one single factor, which cost us dearly.

When push came to shove we could not match the frightening intensity of Tyrone on the day that mattered above all others. And why this? Well Kerry was had just one tough game – against Limerick – and two easy training matches against Cork and Mayo – these probably did more harm than good.

Peter Canavan's goal and the inspirational point from him when he came back on were the deciding scores. How many counties would have taken off one of their top men, hold him in reserve and then introduce him when the need was most? Only Mickey Harte.

We were beaten by a better side on the day, and now we must unearth fresh legs, toughen up a bit more, hope for a far harder passage and I believe we still have the panel to reclaim the top spot in gaelic football.

On the local scene South Kerry swept the boards, winning minor, under-21, and senior championships – a magnificent achievement. Once again we were privileged to see Maurice Fitzgerald turn on the magic and in that final against Dr Crokes, he literally treated the crowd to all that is best in the game.

Skill, class, style, balance, pin point passing, superb scores, he literally entertained the crowd as would a professional paid artist – it was a display that will live long in the memory. South Kerry now rule. For me, the highlight of my sporting year was in rowing when the Irish lightweight men's four rowed supremely to win silver in the World Rowing Championships final in Japan.

Throughout the championships, the quartet of our own great Paul Griffin, who rows out of the local Muckross club, Richard Archibald of Queens University, Eugene Coakley and Timmy Harnedy, both from Skibberen, put in a great performance.

Winning their semi-final, they were joined in the semi final by strong crews from France, Italy and Poland. In a thrilling race, France got off to a strong start finishing in a world record time to win gold. But a magnificent battling performance from Ireland stroked by Paul ensured they won the silver holding off strong challenges from the Germans, Australians and the highly rated Italians to finish just 1.35 seconds down on France.

On the world stage this was a memorable performance, and to have a man from Kerry leading the crew made it very special indeed. Paul Griffin has devoted his life to his sport and now a worldrenowned figure from the parish of Fossa, he has one burning ambition, and that is to win a medal, whatever the colour in the next Olympics. Paul and his team mates will not be found wanting when the big stage is reached. His feat in winning silver for his country was historic and we follow his career with great pride. As always so much to review but impossible to include all.

Finuge winning the All-Ireland junior championship was very special. This small little club from north Kerry reaching the dizzy heights of glory, well done to Seán Kelly for spearheading this championship, yes indeed the small club is the foundation stone of a vast organisation.

Lixnaw coming back and wining the hurling county championship and for me the display of 16-year old James Flaherty was something very special. Abrakebabra Tigers bringing another basketball All- Ireland to Kerry revived memories of the Kerry team of 1957 who won The Kingdom's first ever basketball title.
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Maria Daly, that wonderful handballer from Ballymacelligott, won her first All-Ireland and represented her country with great distinction in America. She did her parish and county very proud.

Another young man specialising in a more or less little publicised sport was Derry McCarthy of Killarney who achieved the ultimate honour that of captaining his country in pitch and putt in the European championships in Arnhem last August. And the Kerry man starred as he led Ireland to victory. I always suspect that with the high profile of Gaelic games in this county many great and dedicated sportsmen and women are literally forgotten about.

Two of our young cyclists, Paul Griffin of Tralee and Eugene Moriarty from Listowel, participated in races all over the world and matched the very best they came up against. I am regularly in touch with these two exemplary young men and they are shinning ambassadors for Kerry and Ireland.

And of course another wonderful memory of 2005 was Tadhg Kennelly winning an AFL Premiership title in Australia. The first Irishman to achieve this he is another magnificent ambassador for our county and country. He has well and truly written himself into the pages of sporting history in Ireland and Australia.

The Abbeydorney ladies added yet another All- Ireland title to the list here in Kerry with that runaway win last month. National titles back-to-back is a magnificent achievement especially when our senior ladies football team are struggling so much. And what about the ladies of Killorglin Rowing Club? They literally took the world by storm in Italy when they won Ireland's first ever world coastal championship. They received a hero's welcome when they returned to the Kingdom and rightly so.

Mick Fleming and Mary B Teahan are great friends of mine and they with others are reaping the rich benefits of years of back-breaking efforts. They deserve all the accolades bestowed on them. Their clubhouse on the banks of the Laune would rival any such building through the world. Killorglin, world champions – it rolls beautifully off the tongue. David Gillick winning the gold medal in the 400m at the European indoor championships in Madrid was very special and he did the country proud. The 21-year-old Dundrum man became the first Irish sprinter to win gold at a major championship since Bon Tidsell's Olympic victory in 1932.

Other highlights include Chelsea winning the premiership in such style, the twins, Ben and Jerry O'Connor, magical displays as Cork won the hurling All-Ireland, and Owen Mulligan's wonder goal against Dublin when he was selling dummies for fun to friend and foe.

The All Blacks recent visit to these islands when they turned in stunning displays was thrilling to watch, and our own Jim Culloty retiring – now a legend in the steeplechase world. Memories etched in the mind.

On a personal basis watching my own little club, Killarney Legion winning their first ever Kerry intermediate football title. A great boost to everyone, I had played for years in this competition and later trained my club as we endeavoured to win this elusive championship without success. It was unexpected, it was sweet, and it was our little All-Ireland. This is what memories are all about, the big and the small, local and national.

And finally, while of course we are not covering everything, an abiding memory was the death of Tim Kennelly. His funeral was one fit for a king, and of course 'The Horse' was a king. King of the Kingdom in his playing days, he has now passed into the realms of the legends.

In death, Tim will inspire younger generations of Kerry footballers. In 1979 I watched in awe as he was shouldered height across the green sward of Croke Park to accept the Sam Maguire cup.

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