2016. Well the football season has come to a conclusion as far as St.
Marys, Asdee senior footballers are concerned with the recent Bernard
O Callaghan Memorial Senior Football Championship Round 1 defeat to
Ballydonoghue. So now lets take a brief look back on the season gone
by when there will be no silverware on the trophy cabinet to display.
However it was certainly not all doom and gloom and in fairness it was
without doubt a struggle at times to field reasonably strong teams;
this was due of course due to a number of various reasons; immigration
and in particular a long list of long term injuries. Still credit to
the Management team of John Kennedy, Dan Dalton and Sean Doran who
kept the boat afloat and never failed to field no matter what the
problem was; even former All Ireland senior medal holder himself John
“Skinner” Kennedy had to roll back the years on two occasions which
will really tell you the struggle the club had at times with numbers
really tight.
Certainly the players available always made a huge effort even in difficult circumstances that led from one thing or another. In the Credit Union County Football league Division 5 the team finished mid table while in the McCarthys Insurance Brokers North Kerry Football League Division 2 we failed to reach the final for the third year in a row going down to Ballyduff at the semi final. I
suppose one of the best displays of the year by the team was the clash
with near neighbours Beale in the County Novice Championship quarter
final; defeat was our lot by a 2pt margin in a game that was there for
the taking. The Seasiders went all the way to the final and were
defeated after a replay. This will indicate what the capabilities of a
full outfit could achieve against top opposition. Players from the
club were represented on all Shannon Rangers teams from underage to
senior level and from underage up to under 21 level with the
combination of Bally/Asdee.
During the year we had some fundraising activity; but in particular the “Golden Goal” which took in all televised games in the National League and All Ireland Championship which was a great success. Coming up shortly will be our very popular Annual Christmas Draw with plenty prizes on offer. It would be remiss
of me not to thank a number of people and certainly the names of Maria
and John Hannon deserve special mention who supplied the information
on our Under age games Eoin O Carroll for his Minor football reports
and also to our Club Secretary, Mark O Hanlon for his tremendous work
throughout the year and especially for his handling of match tickets
leaving everybody happy. Next up will be the Club Annual General
Meeting so as usual all positions will be up for grabs so anybody who
may feel they should go forward for any of the positions they are
very welcome; because it is always very important to see new faces
come on the scene to freshen things up, bringing in new ideas and
keeping everybody on their toes.
LOOKING BACK. Back in 1939 Beale started a Junior football team and
had a remarkable run of victories and beat Listowel in the final which
was played on Easter Sunday, 1940. Asdee provided star performers in
Jim O Carroll, Kilcolman, Eddie and Johnny O Hanlon, Asdee East, John
McElligott and Harry Reidy, Craughdarrig. The famous Jack Moriarty,
Littor Road who won a Croke Memorial Medal in 1913 when Kerry defeated
Louth after a replay and he was coaxed out of retirement for this game
and scored the only goal of the game. This was his last game and the
end of a career that began in 1910. Some distinguished career;
1910—1940.
CHAMPIONSHIP. The way is now almost clear for the draw for the Bernard
O Callaghan Memorial Senior Football Championship semi finals 2016
which will take place in the Listowel Emmets Clubhouse on this
Thursday night at 8pm. Already through are Tarbert, Ballydonoghue, St.
Senans and either Listowel Emmets or Ballyduff which will be going
ahead on this Sunday November 27th; E.T. (Check for time venue).
Ballyduff and Listowel Emmets will without doubt bring out not alone
the rivals fans but all North Kerry football followers in what should
be a keenly contested contest to say the least. At the minute
Ballyduff would seem to have the Indian sign over Listowel Emmets so a
battle royal is on the cards. Listowel Emmets went in for the 2005
final hoping to make it 2-in-a-row and were the bookies favourites to
do so but instead it was the Duffers who captured the finals of 2005
and 2006 in epic games defeating Listowel Emmets in both finals.
. FIXTURES. Games involving Bally/Asdee coming
up in the various North Kerry Football Board competitions. In the
Under 21 North Kerry Championship; sponsored by Dennehy Vetenary
Clinic,Duagh; Asdee will be joined by Ballylongford and Beale and they
will take on Knocknagoshel/Brosna in the opening round with the
winners to go through to the Semi Final. In the Sponsored O Connor
Hardware and Farm Suppliers, Duagh; Asdee/Bally will take part in
Division 2 of the North Kerry Minor Championship with the opposition
Ballyduff/Duagh. Sunday November27th. 12 noon. Winners go through to
the final. Dates to be confirmed by C C C of the Board.
WEBSITES. Asdee G A A website is now up and running once again so for
all our activities and match reports; just log on to www.asdeegaa.com.