Colm Keys: If ever a player has been designated for Kerry bench impact, it's 28-year-old Templenoe man Killian Spillane
Sitting in St Vincent's clubhouse on Dublin's northside in May 2014, where RTÉ was launching its championship coverage for the summer ahead, the eight-time All-Ireland winner and nine-time All-Star made no bones about who he thought the best minor footballer in the country was at that time – his own nephew Killian, son of Tom, who was a four-time All-Ireland winner himself.
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Irish Examiner
an hour ago
- Irish Examiner
Donegal could be punished for breaching match regulations
Donegal are expected to be punished for a breach of match regulations before Sunday's All-Ireland SFC final. Croke Park officials received a number of complaints about their on-field behaviour prior to the game. Donegal were slow to line up for the greeting with President Michael D Higgins and then delayed the parade before breaking from it early. After introducing President Higgins to the 15 starting players, captain Patrick McBrearty, a substitute on the day, led them in the parade meaning they had 16 in the ceremony. The parade was late starting as Donegal retreated towards the middle of the field for a warm-up. According to 1.7 of the GAA's match regulations, 'The team captain shall lead the parade and only the 15 players commencing the game as per official team list may march in the parade, in team jerseys and numerical order.' As they for the All-Ireland semi-final against Meath and the 2012 and '14 All-Ireland finals, Donegal moved away from the Artane Band. Kerry manager Jack O'Connor revealed they had spoken about his players completing the parade. 'I'll tell you the truth now. We had enough no play to mind our own business, besides worrying about what Donegal were doing but we spoke about it on Thursday night, that regardless of what happened, we were going to finish the parade. That's what we did. I know Donegal broke a bit early, but sure that's their business. We can only deal with our side of it.' Elsewhere, Sligo are set to appoint former stars Eamonn O'Hara and Dessie Sloyan as co-managers of the senior footballers. The pair previously worked together with the U20s. O'Hara is currently in charge of Boyle in Roscommon having guided Mohill to back-to-back Leitrim SFC titles while Sloyan has been a selector in Longford and Clare.
Irish Times
an hour ago
- Irish Times
Kerry welcomed home by a sea of green and gold as Jack O'Connor backed for President
Rathmore Railway Station in Kerry was not the final destination for the newly-crowned All-Ireland champions on Monday. However, in keeping with tradition, the Kerry footballers stopped off there. Fog horns blasted and roars of approval sounded as it was announced that the team's train was pulling into the station. The first two people on the platformwere local heroes – Kerry goalkeeper Shane Ryan and wing back Paul Murphy. Deafening cheers rang out and a sea of green and gold flags were raised as the team and management – wearing biscuit-coloured polo shirts – lined out for the crowd. READ MORE 'We are tired and a bit shook after the night but you have lifted our spirits,' manager Jack O'Connor told the crowd of several hundred who assembled from east Kerry and Sliabh Luachra. Kerry fans welcome the team home to Tralee. Photograph: Ben Brady/Inpho A Kerry fan dressed in the county colours for the team's homecoming. Photograph: Ben Brady/Inpho Paul Geaney, Paudie Clifford, Joe O'Connor, Dylan Casey and Shane Ryan with the Sam Maguire Cup at the team's homecoming. Photograph: Ben Brady/Inpho The Rathmore contribution to Kerry football 'goes back a long way', O'Connor said. He recalledpast victories with Declan O'Keeffe on the team of 2000, as well as Tom O'Sullivan and Aidan O'Mahony in the great Kerry team of the 2000s. 'This club has made a massive contribution to Kerry football and long may it continue,' he said. Goalkeeper Ryan said both he and Murphy were indebted to everyone who had supported them in Rathmore. It brought great joy to see all the young people and plenty of goalkeeper jerseys, he said, referring to the children in attendance. Murphy recalled how, as a young boy, hewelcomed O'Sullivan and O'Mahony home 19 years ago. He then spoke of his belief that some of the children present for the team of 2025 would star for Kerry in the future. Football expertise is nurtured young in Kerry, as Patrick McDonnell from Rathmore shows. He may only be seven and in first class, but his football knowledge is already very impressive. Not only can he name the entire Kerry team by name, he correctly predicted Gavin White as man of the match. Patrick was also able to name all the Donegal players from Sunday's final. . Rathmore's claim to fame is about more than producing great footballers. Last Saturday night, the club's bingo machine correctly predicted the 10-point winning margin for the Kingdom. There was a busy trade in '25 KY Sam' number plates. At €5 each , the county board-produced plates were for a good cause. The funds are going towards the Kerry team holiday, as was announced by MC and chair of Rathmore GAA, Kieran O'Keeffe. He thanked Irish Rail for continuing with the customary Rathmore stop on the victors' way through Kerry. The team received a massive cheer as the train pulled away following the 20-minute stop-off. The rain started on the way to Tralee but it didn't dampen anyone's spirits. Young Kerry fans out in force for the team's return home. Photograph: Ben Brady/Inpho Kerry fans celebrate as the team returns to Tralee. Photograph: Ben Brady/Inpho Led by a garda car, the Kerry players – now soaked to the skin – was paraded on an open-top bus through Tralee, as per tradition. Thousands of people came out to welcome them. Supporters gathered along Castle Street and packed out Denny Street all the way to the Ashe Memorial Hall. There, the players were introduced one by one to huge cheers. Waiting in Tralee to welcome home Sam Maguire was Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley. Mayor of Tralee, Terry O'Brien, was also in attendance to celebrate the newly-crowned champions. 'Jack is going for President of Ireland – and we'd be in safe hands,' said O'Brien of the Kerry manager. His remark was greeted with warm approval from the crowd. A special roar of welcome was reserved for local Austin Stacks hero Joe O'Connor. Meanwhile, in Killarney, home of the Clifford brothers, David and Paudie, and team captain Gavin White, one of the town's big car parks was cordoned off. The team made their way by open-top bus from Fitzgerald Stadium to the Glebe where huge crowds gathered.
The Irish Sun
2 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Thousands pack Tralee streets as Kerry heroes return home with Sam Maguire after All-Ireland victory against Donegal
KERRY'S All-Ireland champions were given a hero's welcome on Monday night as thousands of fans packed the streets of Tralee to celebrate their latest triumph. Fresh from their Advertisement 6 Kerry captain Gavin White with the Sam Maguire Cup during homecoming celebrations in Tralee for Kerry 6 A car decorated in team colours with a celebratory registration plate is seen during homecoming celebrations for Kerry 6 The open top bus carrying the winning team drives through the streets in Tralee was mobbed by fans after their win over Donegal 6 Kerry manager Jack O'Connor couldn't stop smiling as they celebrations got underway in Tralee 6 Thousands of Kerry fans littered the streets of Tralee to celebrate another joyous All-Ireland triumph for the Kingdom 6 Kerry star David Clifford saluted the thousands of fans during the joyous occasion The triumph and GAA HQ was their 39th t itle after they put on a swaggering display of to see off Jim McGuinness' Donegal men put up a fight, but they simply couldn't cope with the And after a busy but joyous 24 hours the Kingdom squad, they headed back home from Dublin on train before arriving to a massive party, with thousands celebrating another historic day in Dublin. Advertisement read more on gaa Manager The Fans of all ages filled the streets hours before the team arrived, waving flags, singing county tunes, and reliving Sunday's magic in Croke Park. There was also a slick car painted in the county colours that was fitted with a custom number plate to mark the title triumph. Advertisement Most read in Uncategorized Breaking And the celebrations look set to continue long into the summer night. The game itself drew huge numbers as it averaged Matthew Broderick reveals connection to Donegal GAA during RTE interview The action also drew 378,000 streams on Later that night, 'The Sunday Game' highlights show on RTÉ2 pulled in an average of 175,000 viewers with a 22% share, Advertisement It also drew 34,400 streams on RTÉ Player.
