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The first Soccer International played in Kerry

April 8th, 2008
by Weeshie Fogarty

 This Thursday evening April 10th another piece of sporting history will be created in Kerry when the first ever International soccer match is played in the county. The Ireland under -16 soccer team will play Germany in the magnificent Listowel Celtic grounds. And to add luster to the occasion two young men from the home club will pull on the Irish jersey as David Cullinane and Bryan Murphy have ben chosen on the panel by team manager Vincent Butler. Following the FAI Annual general meeting which was held in Killarney last year these two events are proof positive that soccer is flourishing in the Kingdom and when you look at the number of young men who have been signed up by cross channel clubs and clubs in Ireland it is very obvious that we are very close to seeing a Kerry born footballer in the near future playing for some premiership club and pulling on the Irish jersey for the senior International side. Many Kerry players too numerous to mention have already represented their country in the various age groups.

The growth of soccer once commenly referred to as "that foreign game" in Kerry has been phenomenal. I have vivid memories of growing up in the forties and fifties when there was not even one soccer club in this county and if you traveled to Cork or Limerick to watch a League of Ireland game you would if discovered be suspended by the GAA. The obnoxious ban was in full swing and to even attend a dance playing anything but Irish music could bring the wrath of the association down on you. While Gaelic football was my first love basketball also played a huge part in my young life but here also one would run into a kind of unspoken ban. On one occasion in the sixties I was selected to play in Kilkenny on the Kerry junior basketball team in an All Ireland semi final. Kerry legend the great full back Niall Sheehy was one of my team mates. However my club Killarney Legion was also down to play an East Kerry championship game on the same week end. I went to the club secretary, now deceased, and explained my dilemma expecting to get the OK as an All Ireland medal was a distinct possibility. There were no club committees or monthly meeting or officers meetings in those far off days. One man could rule the club. So I was sharply told there and then that if I traveled with the basketball team I need not come back to "this club". I stayed at home, played with The Legion but fortunately I retained my place on the basketball panel and we brought the first junior title to the kingdom. And these long forgotten and I must add unimportant events in an over all context brings me right up recent happings.

Two weeks ago there were some dark mutterings and grumblings when Kerry coach Pat o Shea appeared reluctant to release Michael Quirke for the Tigers final in Limerick. Indeed I was surprised to see the story make so much news in the local and national media both radio and paper. Michael had a difficult decision to make and eventually opted for the basketball. The Tigers won: Kerry won: the O Rahillys man remains on the Kerry panel so all's well that ends well. And rightly so. However things could have turned out very differently if Kieran Cremin had not saved that penalty late in the game against Laois and send Kerry on their winning way under the Portlaoise lights. Kieran Donnaghy our outstanding full forward was suspended for the Laois game. In my estimation Michael Quirke was the obvious replacement for that position. He had played very well at centre field against Mayo but with the return of Dara O Se and Seamus Scanlon now a regular on the first fifteen continuing to need more games at mid field Michael would be the ideal target man on the verge of the square. As soon as he notified Pat o Shea that he was travelling with the Tigers the Kerry manager was in a dilemma. Being a renowned basketball man  himself he would be the very first to release a player whenever possible however there was a lot riding on this game against Laois and tough decisions would have to take priority.

Pat o Shea has made it well known that his big aim in the league is to progress to the final stages and in the process get as many highly competitive games as possible. Being in contention right to the end is the vital ingredient and the Kerry mentors know this better than anyone. It means that the players have something to strive for in the upcoming games. Fringe players getting a run have the opportunity to display their form under these highly competitive conditions. It gives the selectors an opportunity to progress to a settled line up as the championship approaches. Bigger crowds will of course turn out to see must win games and let's not forget that the further the county goes in the league the more money comes into the coffers of the county board and they need all they can get. So Kerry would travel to Laois without forwards Declan o Sullivan, Paul Galvin, Sean o Sullivan, Colm Cooper, and Kieran Donnaghy. All top class inter county forwards. And the selectors now found themselves on the horns of a dilemma and they decided to take a calculated risk. They picked young Tommy Walsh at full forward and what an inspired decision this proved to be. Seanie's son made his inter county debut in this match and in my estimation having seen literally hundreds of young Kerry players wearing the green and gold for the first time this was easily the most outstanding display I have ever seen from a debutant. While Brian Sheehan's ten points were superb I doubt if Kerry would have won without young mister Walsh. A future Kerry star was born that evening in Portlaoise.

So all's well that end's well. Kieran and Michael won their super league title and it must be safe to assume that the Tigers would not be champions without the duo. They are two exemplary Kerry sportsmen and a credit to the county. Luckily for everyone involved in this conflict of interests Tommy Walsh was not injured against Laois. Here was the kernel of the decision the selectors had to take in choosing him for the vacant full forward spot. They needed a natural full forward as the team style of play revolve around a target man. The under twenty one star was the natural choice. The fact the Sean Geaney is the manager of that side and also a senior selector was vital in that decision.

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