Kerry ladies pick up impressive win

The Kerry ladies football team got their All-Ireland Senior Football Championship off to a dream start by defeating Leinster champions Dublin in Parnell Park on Saturday.

Goals by Síofra O’Shea and Player of the Match Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh (1-6) were pivotal as the Division 1 winners ran out 2-8 to 1-9 winners. O’Shea and Ní Mhuircheartaigh have now scored 16 goals (eight each) between them in 2023. Niamh Ní Chonchúir and Hannah O’Donoghue also got their names on the scoresheet for the girls in green and gold.

The result leaves Kerry in pole position to secure top spot in the three-team group. Crucially, doing so would set up a home quarter-final against a second-place team from another pool.

Next up in Group 3, Dublin take on Cavan in Breffni Park this Sunday. Whatever the outcome of that match, Kerry will clinch first place with a win at home to Cavan the following weekend. Elsewhere in the senior championship, Galway beat Cork by two goals, Armagh defeated Laois with seven points to spare, and Donegal had a five-point win over Waterford.

Protest

Meanwhile, intercounty LGFA and camogie players have announced that they will be playing the remainder of the season “under protest”.

In a statement issued via the GPA, the players claimed that the sports’ governing bodies “do not want to hear our real concerns”.

“Our representative body, the Gaelic Players Association, released the State of Play Report two months ago, which shed light on significant issues within our training and playing environments,” the statement read.

“The main request has been well-documented; we asked the LGFA, the Camogie Association, and the GAA to engage in discussions with the GPA to develop a charter designed for female players to be implemented in the 2024 season. This charter would establish minimum standards for our collective welfare…

“Despite initial positive indications, the GAA has since declined our proposal. The Camogie Association, however, did request a presentation to be made to their Ard Chomhairle, which took place last week. Regrettably, the LGFA has not deemed it appropriate to respond.

“Their primary rationale is that they prefer to complete the integration process before initiating a charter for female players. Despite the evidence presented, they expect us to patiently endure the treatment of second-class citizens.

“We are no longer willing to wait. It has been over 18 months since integration was declared a priority and voted in by the membership of the three Associations. While the National Governing Bodies claim to be listening, it is evident that they are not truly hearing us. Urgent issues affecting player welfare have been brought to their attention, yet they refuse to even engage collectively to discuss solutions.

“We as players are not receiving the respect we deserve. Therefore, do not expect business as usual in the upcoming weeks and months. “In recent months Cavan's footballers and Kildare's camogie players have shown us what potentially lies in store for all of us if nothing changes. We are not willing to wait for 56 more individual battles to arise.

“We stand here together, unified. And together, we will remain resolute in our pursuit of a better future.”

Paul’s golf classic to honour Connie Brosnan

St Paul’s will be swapping their basketballs for orbs of a smaller version when they host their Golf Classic in Beaufort Golf Club on Saturday, July 15.

With a thriving academy for both boys and girls, adult teams, and, of course, the National League project to finance, the Classic is a vital fundraiser. This year's event will once again be held in memory of the late Connie Brosnan. Connie, who passed away in March 2020, was a stalwart of St Paul’s National League Men’s teams, serving as Team Manager in the nineties and tending to the squad’s every need. Up to his passing, he was the welcoming and friendly Venue Officer at the Killarney Sports and Leisure Centre. His affable nature led to many friendships and Connie was a keen and avid golfer, so it is apt and fitting that his memory should be associated with the Classic. He was a key figure as chairman of the Kerry Branch of the Irish Kidney Association and having received a kidney donation himself, he also represented Ireland in golf at the World Transplant Games in

2010 and 2017.

The event itself, which takes place at the picturesque and pristine Beaufort course, is open to teams of four for the great value of €300 per team. A much-needed meal will be provided afterwards. Your support would be greatly welcomed and if golf is not your game you can also sponsor a tee box for the day. Joey Sheahan (087 6248383) and Seán Brosnan (087 2065133) are spearheading the Golf Classic and they can be contacted for more details.

There is also a host of sponsorship options packages available for the upcoming National League season. As well as playing in the golf, you can advertise your business at every home game through high quality signage, or become a game sponsor. Special membership cards, which carry free admittance to all the home games, can also be incorporated into your package.

Club committee members will be liasing with business interests and residents in the town in the coming weeks. Information on the different ways you can help the club can also be found on the St Paul’s Killarney Basketball Facebook page.

Another title fight on the cards for hungry Kingdom Warrior

Kevin Cronin is set for a super middleweight title fight following his latest victory over Santos Madreno in Cork.

Cronin stopped Nicaragua native Madreno in the third round on Saturday night after controlling the fight from start to finish. He will now take on BUI Celtic champion Craig McCarthy for a shot at the super middleweight crown, with fight details to be confirmed in the coming weeks. The Kerry man would like to see the fight being staged at Killarney’s INEC. The Milltown fighter is hoping to make strides quickly at the super middleweight division. He was unlucky to come up short in his two previous fights at light heavyweight as Limerick’s Jamie Morrissey received favourable decisions on both occasions.