'Native game': Hope builds in Kerry ahead of All-Ireland

RTÉ News​

24-07-2025

Ahead of the All-Ireland SFC final between Kerry and Donegal on Sunday, Paschal Sheehy examines the building anticipation and trepidation that's manifesting across the kingdom.
The centuries-old Puck Fair takes place in Killorglin, Co Kerry, every year on 10, 11 and 12 August.
The first day of the fair is known, for obvious reasons, as 'The Gathering'.
This year, though, 'The Gathering' has begun early.
In Falvey's Bar on Lower Bridge Street in Killorglin, poets, punters and philosophers have been gathering this week ahead of Sunday's All-Ireland football final.
There is a tradition here: before every All-Ireland final that Kerry contests, local GAA supporter Barry Harmon writes a song to get behind the team.
The 2025 offering has arrived.
Mr Harmon gives his audience a teaser with the first verse and chorus: "Down here in the Co Kerry, I've often heard it told our love for gaelic football sure it never will go cold.
"We have a great tradition, we love our native game.
"So off to Dublin we will go, proud of our Kerry name.
"So put on your Kerry colours and your hats of green and gold, and off to Croker we will go, let's hope the Sam to hold."
They like their traditional music in Killorglin, but they much prefer the football.
And they are good practitioners too here: the local Laune Rangers club has tasted success at county, Munster and All-Ireland level.
Heading into Sunday's All-Ireland final against Donegal, there was an almost worrying bullishness among the crowd in Falvey's Bar.
"I think the team are great - they're energetic and they're hungry. They really want it," Geraldine O'Sullivan declared.
"We've been knocked down so many times since the start of this championship and we've proved we can do it, and we will do it on Sunday," she added.
Declan Falvey agreed, adding: "I think we'll manage it again this time."
Mr Falvey said: "Although I'm sure Jimmy's winning matches will have a trick up his sleeve.
"But the new rules suit Kerry and I think David [Clifford] and Seanie [O'Shea] will have the freedom of the park and no matter what scheme Donegal come up with, we'll master it.
"I think Kerry are going to win it by about three points."
The cheering had just about abated and the foundations of the bar had re-settled when Breeda Falvey chimed in.
"I feel very confident," Ms Falvey proclaimed.
""There's a new energy to the Kerry team, there's a hunger and there's a beautiful, free-flowing style of football. It's brilliant to see," she added.
Ms Falvey said: "I'm delighted with the new rules, as Declan says, because there's no mucking around anymore.
"They're like gazelles and once the boys get on a roll, it's very hard to stop them."
Hold on a minute - free-flowing football?
Does nobody in Falvey's remember Jim McGuinness's tactical takedown of raging hot favourites Dublin in that now-famous All-Ireland semi-final of 2014 or how Donegal - literally - put a stop to the gallop of the Dublin runners, thereby dismantling their gameplan?
All this was McGuinness at his most strategic.
Kerry beware!
Some 50km west of Killorglin, Cumann Peile Daingean Uí Chúis has become one of Kerry's key nurseries, developing talented underage footballers who go on to play senior for the county.
At the club's pitch, Páirc An Ághasaigh, Johnny B Brosnan is putting the under-12 boys and girls through their paces.
Among these players, there is a healthy respect for All-Ireland opponents Donegal and a welcome for the new rules, which have allowed Kerry's footballers to express themselves again.
"I think Kerry have a great chance on Sunday - they've been playing great with these new rules. I think they suit them very well," goalkeeper Cian Murphy said.
"They could beat Donegal if they're on a great day, but if they're on a bad day it'll be a close game," the 11-year-old added.
Ten-year old Fiadh Ní Chárthaigh is not short of an opinion - or confidence - either.
"I think they've got a really good chance," she said.
"They've got some really good players and if they keep Michael Murphy quiet they'll be doing well, I'd say," she added.
Shane O'Connor, 12, said he gives Kerry a very good chance.
"They've a strong team. They're playing very well this year, gelling well, playing good," he said, adding: "So, you'd have to favour them."
On the sideline furthest from the town, a cluster of adults monitor progress.
An unprecedented six footballers from Cumann Peile Daingean Uí Chúis have made the Kerry team and extended panel for Sunday's All-Ireland final - three O'Sullivans, Tom, Barry Dan and Tom Leo O'Sullivan, and three Geaneys Paul, Conor and Dylan Geaney.
Sean O'Sullivan is father of Kerry defender Tom O'Sullivan. He is also Chair of Cumann Peile Daingean Uí Chúis - Dingle GAA Club.
"It's historic really. I don't think it ever happened in the club," Mr O'Sullivan said.
He added: "We can go back to the 40s when there was four, but there's six now on the panel and it's just incredible for a small club.
"We're a very small club - maybe 120 members here - and it's just incredible really."
Kay Uí Shúilleabháin is Tom Leo O'Sullivan's mother. Tom Leo joined the extended Kerry training panel this year.
"We feel very proud to have six players from our small club going to Croke Park on Sunday," Uí Shúilleabháin said, adding that "hopefully, the day will go their way".
"We'll call it a special day, a good day out," she said.
Publican Paul Geaney shares his name with his Kerry footballer son.
"The GAA is our life. Everything stops when we get to a final - it's number one, and that's it," Mr Geaney said.
Further west on the Corca Dhuibhne peninsula, the under 14s of Cumann Caide na Gaeltachta prepared to take on Glenbeigh in Gallarus, their home pitch.
The width of the pitch is restricted by the proximity of the wild Atlantic on one side and the swirling south westerly winds that blow in from it create a challenge that few visiting teams seem to be able to master.
The dimensions of the pitch might make point taking look relatively easy, but scores are hard-earned in Gallarus.
Like all other GAA clubs, underage players at the club have been shown the way forward by the generation that went before them like Kerry player and Gaeltacht club member, Brian Ó Beaglaoich.
As they prepared for their match with Glenbeigh, the Gaeltacht under 14s were confident of Kerry victory on Sunday.
Muiris Ó'Suilleabháin, 13, said he thought Kerry "will win because they have greater squad depth and experience".
"I don't think Donegal have anyone to stop David Clifford," Mr Ó'Suilleabháin said.
Seamus Ó'Suilleabháin, 11, admires Brian Ó'Beaglaoich as a role model.
"I think it's very special that Brian Ó'Beaglaoich is playing with Kerry because he has to be one of the best and worked very hard to get up to that top level," he said.
Club Chair Dara Ó'Cinnéide, who has won and lost All-Ireland finals, is wary of the threats posed by Donegal.
Mr Ó'Cinnéide, forensic in his analysis of football, said: "It's probably a clash of two different traditions, two different philosophies, two different ways at looking at football, and not as dissimilar as they might believe themselves to be.
"I'd give [Kerry] a good 50/50 chance, whatever that means.
"It's impossible really to call. Obviously, my heart says Kerry, but there are so many fires to be put out from a Donegal point of view as well.
"They have speed all over the pitch, they have threats all over the pitch.
"But I trust our boys to come up with the solutions."
Back at Falvey's Bar in Killorglin, it was the turn of the poets.
Edso Crowley - a part local businessman, part raconteur and part philosopher – read his poem 'The Game Is Not O'er Till It's Won' aloud.
"There's a county that's known as the kingdom for reasons apparent to all.
"It's magical mystical beauty, the world and all else does enthrall."
But then Mr Crowley sprinkled the crowd with a dash of caution, to dampen their enthusiasm.
"So Kerry, great kingdom of Kerry.
"Be thankful for all your great sons.
"Be sure not to take them for granted.
"For the game is not o'er till its won."
Surely, Kerry have been in too many All-Ireland finals to allow themselves to be sucker-punched.