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"The Aquila Club East Kerry Championship
- O'Donoghue Cup 2004".
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O'Donoghue
Cup 2004
Match Results 2004
Paths
for the Final
Captain’s Corner
Meet the Management Teams
Tom and
Aidan - Good Enough to Realise Their Dreams
EDDIE
BARRY R.I.P. - A Great Croke Clubman
Bill
Dempsey - An Appreciation
Dr. Crokes Come of
Age with 21st Title
Eanna Kavanagh is Man of the Match
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| The
Aquilia Club East Kerry Championship - O'Donoghue Cup 2004 |
New sponsors for O'Donoghue Cup! The Gleneagle Hotel
have been sponsors of the O'Donoghue Cup for the past ten years
or so, and the east Kerry Board is delighted to announce that this
sponsorship linkup will continue for another three years at least,
albeit under a different guise.
Starting this year, the O'Donoghue
Cup competition will be known as "The Aquila Club East Kerry
Championship for the O'Donoghue Cup".
 Managing
Director of the Gleneagle Hotel, Mr. Patrick O'Donoghue, announcing
the sponsorship, said that the hotel was synonymous with sport in
Kerry. "The Aquila Club is a very appropriate sponsor for a
county like ours as it promotes a healthy lifestyle. Our sponsorship
of the East Kerry Championship is one of the ways of helping out
the Clubs in East Kerry" he said.
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O'Donoghue Cup Championship
Match Results 2004 |
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1st Round:
Scartaglen 1-12 Legion 0-10
Spa 5-14 Cordal 0-13
Glenflesk 2-18 Fossa 2-6
Dr. Crokes 4-22 Listry 0-0
Rathmore 2-18 Firies 1-9
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Quarter
Finals:
Kilcummin 0-12 Currow 0-5
Dr. Crokes 2-10 Scartaglin 0-6
Spa 1-14 Glenflesk 0-10
Rathmore 0-8 Gneeveguilla 0-6
Semi
Finals:
Rathmore 1-10 Kilcummin 0-11
Dr. Crokes 4-18 Spa 1-10
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| The
Final |
Dr. Crokes 0-14
Rathmore 0-11 |
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| Paths
to the Final |
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Both Dr. Crokes and Rathmore have played three games each on their
way to today’s Golden Jubilee Final. Dr. Crokes had it all
their own way when defeating a hapless Listry side in the first
round. Eoin Brosnan scored 2-6 as Listry failed to score.
In the quarter finals, Dr. Crokes had a ten point victory over a
plucky Scartaglin side, 2-10 to 0-6. James Jones had a goal to give
Crokes a half time lead of 1-6 to 0-3 and another goal from Andrew
Kennelly sealed victory.
In the semi final, Colm Cooper stole the show when he scored 1-9
against Spa in a 4-18 to 1-10 victory. Cooper helped himself to
1-7 in the opening half and there was no way back for Spa after
Eoin Brosnan, and Mike Crowley added further goals.
| Leading Scorers |
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| Eoin Brosnan |
4-8 |
| Colm Cooper |
1-15 |
Scores for 10-50
Scores Against 1-6
Rathmore had little difficulty in disposing of a youthful Firies side
in their opening game, 2-18 to 1-9. Goals by Ian Kelleher and Declan
O’Keeffe gave Rathmore a 2-10 to 0-5 halftime lead and they
consolidated this lead in the second half. Their quarter final tie
was a local derby game with holders Gneeveguilla. They enjoyed a slender
lead of 4 points to 3 at the break, but the sides were on level terms
entering the final quarter before Michael O’Riordan and John
Buckley pointed to give them victory, 0-8 to 0-6. In the semi final
against Kilcummin, Rathmore seemed to be on their way out of this
year’s competition when the losers went three up early in the
second half, however Rathmore hit back to level the game with ten
minutes remaining and points by Jerry Murphy and Michael O’Riordan
saw them through to their first final since 2002 on a 1-10 to 0-11
scoreline.
| Leading Scorers |
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| Michael O’Riordan |
0-12 |
| Jerry Murphy |
0-10 |
Scores for 3-36
Scores against 1-26 Back
to Top
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| Captain’s
Corner |
Michael O’Riordan ‘ Rathmore
Age ‘ 20
Occupation ‘ Student
Today Michael O’Riordan becomes probably the youngest player
ever to captain his side in an O’Donoghue Cup final. Just
twenty years of age, Michael made his senior debut at the age of
16, and already has a Munster Minor Championship medal, two E.K.
minor championship medals and one Senior County League (Div. 1)
medal to his credit.
He states that his parents (father, Matt, has two O’Donoghue
cup medals), club mentors and Pat O’Shea have been the biggest
influence on his career to date. What he likes most about the GAA
are the friendships you make, and states that Padraig Joyce is a
player he has great admiration for.
He likes hurling and soccer, admires Ronan O’Gara and Gillian
O’Sullivan and states that all opponents are tough!
Michael likes to relax by looking at his favourite film, the Green
Mile, watching the Simpsons or Pat Shortt, and socialising in his
favourite nightspots ‘ Rathmore or The Wash in Cork!
Aidan O’Shea ‘ Dr. Crokes
Age ‘ 34
Occupation ‘ Financial Controller
Today, Aidan hopes to follow in his father’s (Paddy) footsteps
by captaining Dr. Crokes to an O’Donoghue cup title. Should
he do so, Aidan and Paddy (who has 7 O’Donoghue cup medals)
will emulate the feat of Liam and Connie Murphy, their club colleagues
who are the only father and son combination to captain a successful
O’Donoghue Cup side.
The biggest influences on Aidan’s career have been his parents
and coaches at all levels in the Dr. Crokes club. He has one Munster
club, one County Championship, one Club Championship, two Senior
County Leagues and three O’Donoghue Cup medals in an honours
laden career that was cruelly interrupted by injury.
Aidan admires the amateur status of the GAA and lauds the ‘huge’
improvements in coaching standards in recent times.
Peter Canavan is Aidan’s favourite player, and he likes to
relax by watching his favourite film, ‘A Beautiful Mind’,
following golf, soccer, rugby and hurling or listening to U2.
His leisure time is spent with wife, Catherine and daughter Amy.
Back to Top
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| Meet
the Management Teams |
Dr. Crokes
Pat O'Shea
Pat is married to Deborah-Anne and has four children, Gavin, twins
Amy and Leah and Rebecca. He is G.A.A. Coaching Officer in Munster
and he is hugely experienced in the G.A.A. both as a player and
coach. As a player he has won numerous honours including 2 Kerry
Senior Championships, 2 Munster club Championships, 2 Senior County
Leagues, 7 O’Donoghue Cup and pride of all, an All-Ireland
Club Championship in 1992.
Pat has coached Kerry minors to Munster Championships in 2002 and
2003. He was also coach to the Irish U17 Compromise Rules team.
He is responsible for the resurgence of Limerick football after
coaching their minor team for 2 years, the majority now make up
the current senior team. This is Pats first year as a selector of
the Dr. Crokes Senior Team.
Eddie "Tatler" O'Sullivan
Eddie is married to Bridie and father-in-law to Pat and would claim
that he taught Pat everything about football! His son Patrick is
Club Chairman and Development officer of the County Board. His other
son Edmund should be part of the team but injury rules him out.
He has 2 daughters Noreen and Deborah-Anne.
Eddie has been to the forefront of both club and county football
for over 20 years. He was trainer of the Dr. Crokes County Championship
winners in 1991, Munster Club Champions 1991 and 1992, and All Ireland
Club Champions 1992.
He was a selector when Dr. Crokes won the County Championship in
2000. He has been selector with Kerry for many All-Ireland victories
most recently ‘97 and 2000.
Martin Byrnes
Martin is married to Ann and has 2 children, Laurence and Sarah.
Martin is a psychiatric nurse and hails from Dromtarriffe in County
Cork and is very proud of his roots. He played football with Dr.
Crokes and was a member of the All-Ireland club winning team.
Martin is also a keen hurler and played many years with Dr. Crokes
in that code. He is the holder of an Intermediate Hurling Championship
medal and he is also a handy golfer with his handicap in single
figures. This is also Martin’s first year as a selector with
the senior team.
Rathmore
Denis Moynihan
Denis is involved for the first time at Senior level in
the three-man management team. He had an honours laden career as
a player winning 3 County Championships, 2 All Ireland Juniors,
1 County Junior and 1 Itermediate Medals. Denis likes the friendships
made through the GAA and
describes his leisure pastime as ìfootball and more footballî!
A Service Station proprietor, Denis likes Basketball, Swimming and
Soccer, is married to Karina and they have two children, Ruth and
Daniel.
Padraig Murphy
Padraig made his senior debut in 1984 and gave 17 years service
to the senior team winning
an O'Donoghue Cup medal in centenary year, followed by County Intermediate
and Junior
medals. This is also his first year involved in senior management
and he admires the
collective spirit and sense of community created by the GAA. A teacher
based in St. Johns
in Cork, Padraig lives locally, is married to Bernie and they have
two children, Sadha and Dan.
Kieran O'Keeffe
Kieran is a manager with the family oil company and has won East
Kerry League, East Kerry and Duhallow Invitational Under 21 medals.
Like his two colleagues, this is Kieranís first taste of
senior management and he admires the pride the GAA instils in your
local parish and the friendships made through involvement in the
GAA. Kieran, who is married to Kay, was chairman of Rathmore for
three years in the mid-nineties.
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| TOM
AND AIDAN - GOOD ENOUGH TO REALISE THEIR DREAMS |
ON a good day, Aidan O’Mahony could kick a ball from his own
yard in Mounthorgan into Tom O’Sullivan’s haggard in Moulagow.
Neighbour’s children, schoolmates, friends, team-mates and partners
in crime; Tom O’Sullivan and Aidan O’Mahony were lucky
enough ¬ and good enough¬ to realise their childhood dreams.
On close examination, what has happened the two men is extraordinary
for themselves and special for Rathmore. To have two players from
any club wearing the green and gold on All-Ireland final day is, at
least unusual, at best unique. But what came out from under the foot
of the Paps this year was different.
Just a small and broken bridge divides Moulagow and Mounthorgan. As
young lads, they both kicked ball around Shrone School whose entire
pupil roll back then amounted to less than the full Kerry Senior panel.
Through drawn-out warm summer evenings, the two boys shared a common
dream with every other young lad in the county; one day they would
leave
Mounthorgan together, bags over the shoulders, travel to Croke Park,
stand shoulder-to-shoulder in the full-back line and bring Sam back
to the foot of the Paps Mountains. And so they did.
Amidst the wrangle of debate about professionalism within the GAA,
pride of place and jersey can never be sidelined. No money could ever
buy what Tom, Aidan, their families, friends and the entire parish
enjoyed so much this year. Football and club and All Irelands might
not be everything. But it’s very near everything.
Today is a big day for Rathmore. Nobody more than Tom O’Sullivan
and Aidan O’Mahony will feel the sense of weight and eagerness
to win an O’Donoghue Cup medal. It’s said that the hardest
critics of all are those who know you best. Today, the inseparable
pair from Rathmore will want more than any others to show their own
people what Rathmore and the club means to them.
Just like any other club, Rathmore and its players has got its fair
share of criticism. For over a decade, Declan O’Keeffe was the
last in line to defend the Kerry goal. Over the same period, he was
often the first in line to meet the critics. Only great sportspeople
can take all that and retire with dignity in tact. His approach and
example - off the field as much as between the posts - are those that
Tom and Aidan won’t find easy to follow.
Nobody would want to deny the Gooch, Eoin Brosnan or Kieran Cremin
their well-deserved right to decorate the mantelpiece with one more
piece of coveted silver this year. Even for All-stars, East Kerry
medals are hard-earned. They¹re not on general sale at Jimmy
O’Brien’s. For one more time this year, let the fireworks
flame and the tyres burn in Rathmore. In defeat or victory today,
Tom O’Sullivan and Aidan O’Mahony will remain joined at
the hip forever; far too much water has passed under the bridge that
separates their land in Mounthorgan and Moulagow.
*Aidan O¹Connor is from Rathmore and is Chief News Reporter with
The Kerryman.
Back to Top
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| EDDIE
BARRY R.I.P. - A Great Croke Clubman |
'Ask not what your club can do for you,
But what you can do for your club'
President John F Kennedy's address to the USA epitomises Eddie Barry's
mission in life, total dedication to Dr Crokes and all it symbolises
in our lives.
When the' 19 Dangerous Dreamers' got together in College Street on
November 2nd, 1886 to found Dr Crokes, they passed on the torch for
future generations of Crokes.
Eddie was imbued with this spirit when he joined the History Committee
that produced Dr Crokes Gaelic Century in 1986 to mark the centenary
of our revered club.
Since he returned home from Dublin in 1984 he threw his considerable
weight, physically and certainly metaphorically, behind the club,
giving it his heart and soul.
He was corner forward with the' C' team along with Risteárd
Clancy and Donal O Mahony. He was a traditionalist, preferring to
stay inside ,as Dr Eamonn O Sullivan always advised and not adopting
the modern outfield roving style.
Eddie was an officer of the club from day one until The Great Referee
called him home on October 23rd.
Player, selector, secretary, treasurer, umpire, bagman, lotto man
and whatever else needed doing in the club,. He was the smiling face
of Dr Crokes who opened up the clubhouse, the pitches and greeted
all with courtesy and efficiency.
Nothing for the Crokes was a bother for him and 'no' was redundant
in his vocabularly.
It was a labour of love by a man loved by all.
He did his work quietly, no limelight sought, no fanfares; that was
his style.
Before he went to Dublin for the 2004 All Ireland final he made sure
that every person working for Dr Crokes in its so many diverse activities
was 'alright for a ticket to Croker'. Few knew about that but all
who benefitted did appreciate his generosity.
How fitting it was to see him laid out in the 1992 All Ireland club
champions black jacket and the biro in his top pocket, trademark of
his unstinting service to Dr Crokes and Killarney P.O..
They gave him a fitting send off at the removal and burial.
An unbroken guard -of honour stretched all the ways from the funeral
home to the Cathedral as his colleagues from Dr Crokes and Killarney
P.O. felt privileged to shoulder his mortal remains in a coffin draped
in the black and amber of the club he loved so well.
Eddie Barry, an only child had the biggest family of all from his
club and workplace. They honoured the man who gave unselfishly of
his humanity, an unstinting service above and beyond the call of duty.
Dr Crokes is a better place because of people like Eddie, the unsung
heroes.
The founding fathers would have been very proud of Eddie Barry and
people of his ilk.
That's the great tradition of Dr Crokes for the past 118 years.
Go gcúitítear do shaothar leat Eddie.
Suaimhneas na síorraíochta i measc na gCrócaigh
ar Neamh.
Back to Top
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| Bill
Dempsey - An Appreciation |
For most of his life Bill Dempsey lived in Rathmore Townland where
it merges with the West End
of the Village. His mother, Abbey Maria Hickey, was from the immediate
neighbourhood. His father, Jim, was a Dublin man who had taken part
in the Easter Rising and the subsequent conflicts.
Sometimes a field of the Hickey farm was the Rathmore G.A.A. venue
but it was at the Lawn that Rathmore hosted six Kerry S.F. championship
matches in the 1950’s when Bill Dempsey was in
his 20’s. His brother, Seán, was in the G.A.A. Club
as a player and an official.
Bill gravitated towards whatever diversion was provided by the ambitions
and preparations of the local footballers. He enjoyed the kick-around
before training and at half-time. As years went by,
he assumed the airs of a veteran and learned to blame a bad knee
for any perceived imperfections in his performance.
On match days Bill could be conspirational, jovial or censorious.
Everyone did not play well every day. Bill, having put on a show
of gruff dissatisfaction, soon remembered redeeming features,
which dispelled the gloom. He was keen to appear in team photographs
and these provide evidence for posterity that Rathmore teams had
at least one fervent and faithful fan.
Bill Dempsey’s earnest support for Kerry and his disdain for
that other team ‘ the one with the unfortunate habit of playing
in the Rathmore colours ‘ led to an annual coolness, in the
height of summer, when his friendships with Cullen and Knocknagree
folk were put in abeyance. Soon, however, the matter was resolved
for another year and it was kindness and smiling time again.
Although he sometimes feigned or was goaded into rather extreme
attitudes, Bill Dempsey was an influence for moderation and sense
of proportion. Even amidst jousts of banter one was vaguely aware
that Bill was good for Rathmore G.A.A. Club.
Jim Dempsey, Bill’s father, played on the Dublin S.F. team
which foiled Wexford’s 5-in-a-row bid in 1919 at the Leinster
semi-final stage ‘ only to lose to Kildare in the Leinster
final.
Bill’s brothers, Gerard and Seán, preceded him in their
eternal reward. He is survived by his sisters, Betty, Breda, Mamie
and Mona.
Back to Top
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| Dr.
Crokes Come of Age with 21st Title |
Dr Crokes 0 - 14
Rathmore 0 - 11
Dr Crokes deservedly claimed their 21st title after withstanding
a determined second
half comeback by Rathmore in this Aquila Club East Kerry Championship
- O'Donoghue
Cup Final at Fitzgerald Stadium.
Dr Crokes had the better balanced outfit throughout, but Rathmore
will wonder what
might have been had not Kieran Cremin brought off an outstanding
save at the three
quarter stage when Rathmore were beginning to show their true potential.
The losers passed up three good chances of scores in the opening
minutes and
ominously, Dr Crokes had two points from their first two attacks,
with Colm Cooper being
involved in both.
Jerry Murphy opened the Rathmore account in the 7th minute, but
Cooper was causing all
sorts of problems for Kerry colleague, Tom O'Sullivan and four points
in as many minutes
- three from Cooper - stretched Crokes lead to 7 points to 1 by
the end of the first quarter.
Rathmore showed a gradual improvement as the half wore on and after
Michael O'Riordan
and Colm Cooper exchanged points, Murphy, O'Riordan and an excellent
score from Aidan O'Mahony reduced the deficit to three points at
the break, 8 to 5.
Colm Cooper extended that lead from a free on the resumption before
Ambrose O'Donovan
missed a great goal chance when he shot wide across the goal from
a good position. Points
by Roland Neher, who had just replaced O'Donovan, James Fleming
and Aidan O'Shea saw
Crokes enjoy a six point lead at the three quarter stage (0 - 12
to 0 - 6), and the writing was on
the wall for Rathmore.
However, they belatedly sprung to live in the final quarter. Jerry
Murphy missed an easy free
and then Cremin made that blinding save from Tim Cronin at the expense
of a '45'.
Declan O'Keeffe pointed the '45' but Aidan O'Shea quickly replied
for Crokes. However Rathmore
put in a storming finish and three good points from Jerry Murphy
and another from Michael D.
Cahill reduced the margin to two points with two minutes of normal
time remaining. Mike
Crowley had the final say however when he had the insurance score
for Crokes in the 31st
minute.
On the day Crokes had some outstanding performances. Colm Cooper
was on fire in the firs
t half, scoring five points, one from play and four from frees,
two of these following fouls on
himself. However, the Texaco footballer of the year saw little of
the ball in the second period.
The same could be said of young Andrew Kennelly who was winning
his first medal. Eanna Kavanagh was outstanding and in my opinion
was their most consistent player, while
Aidan O'Shea played a captain's part especially in the second half.
For Rathmore, Aidan O'Mahony was outstanding all through while Jerry
Murphy's five points
were a joy to behold.
Tim Cronin played well in the second half as did Michael D. Cahill.
Dr. Crokes:
Kieran Cremin, Keith McMahon, Brian McMahon, Vince Cooper, Batt
Moriarty, Danny Cooper, Eanna Kavanagh, Kieran Brosnan, Eoin Brosnan
(0 - 1), Aidan O'Shea (0 - 3), Andrew Kennelly, James Fleming (0
- 1), Mike Crowley (0 - 2), Ambrose O'Donovan, Colm Cooper (0 -6,
0 - 5fr).
Subs: Roland Neher (0 - 1) for O'Donovan, Luke Quinn for Batt Moriarty,
James Jones for B. McMahon.
Rathmore:
Declan O'Keeffe (0 -1 , '45'), Kieran Cahill, Tom O'Sullivan, Dan
O'Sullivan, Shane O'Neill, Aidan O'Mahony (0 - 1), Owen O'Doherty,
John Buckley, Michael D. Cahill (0 - 1), Ian Kelleher, Tim Cronin,
Dermie Fitzgerald, Michael O'Riordan (0 - 3fr), Brendan Nagle, Jerry
Murphy (0 - 5).
Subs: James O'Sullivan for O'Doherty, Mark Nagle for Ian Kelleher,
Patrick McCarthy for Brendan Nagle.
Referee: Brendan O'Riordan, Scartaglin.
Footnote: By captaining Dr Crokes to victory on
Sunday last, Aidan O'Shea has ensured that he, and his father Paddy,
have emulated the feat of their club colleagues Liam and Connie
Murphy as the second father and son combination to captain a winning
O'Donoghue Cup side.
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| Eanna
Kavanagh is Man of the Match |
At a function in the Gleneagle Hotel on Monday evening, Eanna Kavanagh
of Dr Crokes was named the Man of the Match following his power
packed display in the final of the Aquila Club East Kerry Championship
- O’Donoghue Cup. Few could argue with the choice this time
round. Kavanagh, gave an exhibition of defensive play especially
when his side had their backs to the wall in the final quarter.
He turned defence into attack on numerous occasions with his tigerish
play on his way to winning his third O’Donoghue Cup medal.
There to present the special award to him was his good friend James
O’Brien of Jimmy O’Brien’s of College St. Jimmy
O’Brien has been sponsoring the Man of the Match since its
inception way back in 1979 and this was the silver jubilee of that
first award.
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