Latest news with #KerryU-21FootballChampionship
Irish Examiner
7 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Rising Kerry star set for AFL visit amid signing fears
Kerry starlet Ben Murphy is set to fly to Australia this week to visit the Brisbane Lions amidst growing fears that the Kingdom are set to lose another player to the AFL. It is understood Brisbane are one of two clubs in discussions with the Austin Stacks man who has been a standout prospect for club and county in recent years. Murphy was outstanding in the U20 Munster final as Kerry cruised past Cork last April and inspired Mercy Mounthawk to a successive Corn Uí Mhuirí title in February. He was also named in the 2024 Electric Ireland GAA Minor Star Football Team of the Year. Last month, the powerful midfielder helped his club to the Kerry U-21 Football Championship with a win over St Kierans. Murphy has featured at senior level for Stacks in the County League but an injury kept him out of their opening club championship group game last weekend as the Tralee outfit overcame Templenoe. Kerry have several players Down Under currently. Milltown-Castlemaine's Cillian Burke was the latest to make the move last year when he joined Geelong. Dingle star and Premiership winner Mark O'Connor is a team-mate there. Dual player Rob Monahan is in his second year with Melbourne side Carlton Blues. In 2021, Stefan Okunbor departed Geelong and returned to the Kerry squad, although he was not part of the All-Ireland winning panel last year. All-Ireland minor winner Deividas Uosis returned in 2022 but did not return to county football. Should Murphy sign a contract, he would join as a Category B Rookie ahead of next season. The AFL is currently approaching the end of the regular season, with two rounds remaining. At the Kerry convention last year, chairman Patrick O'Sullivan urged Croke Park to form a committee to look into the number of players departing. 'Representatives of the AFL are constantly floating around Kerry minor and U20 teams over the last number of years. They come selling a professional sport to our younger players. It is hard for young players not to look at a professional career in sport,' O'Sullivan said. 'The Association has to take some action regarding the AFL's constant scrutiny of our younger stars in Ireland. Procedure will have to be put in place where players cannot be taken without contributing to the club and counties who give so much to the development of these players. 'If our younger players keep emigrating to Australia, the outlook for Kerry senior teams going forward will not be a good one. Kerry players are at the heart and soul of our county, and we, as an Association, have to figure out a method to retain and keep our players at home in Ireland. 'We in Kerry aren't the only county suffering from this issue. There are players from other counties choosing to emigrate as well. We will be calling on the GAA to form a committee to look into this matter.'
Irish Examiner
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Austin Stacks hold on against St Kierans to seal back-to-back Kerry U21 football titles
Austin Stacks 1-14 (1-1-12) St Kierans 0-14 (0-2-10) Austin Stacks secured back-to-back Kerry U-21 Football Championship titles as they hung on against St Kieran's on Wednesday and gained sweet revenge for last year MFC final defeat. The cohesion and interplay between the players of the club side was very evident from the outset as Stacks dominated the midfield exchanges thanks to the powerful fetching of Ben Murphy, Daniel Kirby and Gavin Casey while Jack Murphy was hovering up breaking the ball. Stacks opted to play against the wind in the opening half and despite falling behind to a Killian Dennehy free, after Cathal McElligott had been fouled, that was the only time St Kierans led the holders for the rest of the final. Stacks almost found the net a minute later when Ben Murphy, with a trademark run through the midfield, saw his goal bound effort pushed onto the crossbar by St Kieran's keeper Conor Wilkinson. But once Daniel Kirby leveled in the fifth minute, Stacks took over and three Paddy Lane points and a fine effort from Donnacha Sayers had them 0-5 to 0-1 in front and St Kieran's were struggling to stay in touch. A two pointer from Cathal McElligott helped to close the gap to two but that was as good as it got for the combo as Stacks, with the Murphy brothers and Casey brothers prominent, powered on. Paddy Lane fired over a two pointer, Sayers followed with a free and points from Ben Murphy and Lane saw Stacks move six clear, 0-10 to 0-4. Dennehy added two frees but Stacks then struck for the killer goal, created by sixty metre upfield run by Colm Browne and dispatched to the net by Paddy Lane. Stacks led 1-10 to 0-6 at half time and it looked game over. An early Paddy Lane free increased the Tralee side's lead as Michael Tansley denied Ruairi Bourke from point blank range. In fact, it was the story of the second half as St Kieran's created six goal chances, three were saved by Tansley, and Killian Dennehy crashed the ball against the underside of the crossbar in the 53rd minute. Michael Horan then shot wide, and when the game was in the balance, Jack Murphy took a Cathal Brosnan cross off the line with Cathal McElligott steaming in behind him. It was all going Stacks way until the 50th minute when they led 1-14 to 0-8. But the introduction of Kian Downey appeared to spark St Kieran's into life with two frees soon converted. Dennehy converted another as Stacks began to turn over the ball and Cathal Brosnan kicked a massive two pointer and suddenly the fat was in the fire. Stacks were fortunate that Jack Murphy and keeper Michael Tansley came to their rescue late on, as they held on by three points to complete the two in a row. Scorers for Austin Stacks: P Lane (1-6, 2pt, 2fs), D Sayers (0-4, 3fs), R O'Driscoll (0-2, 2fs), B Murphy and D Kirby (0-1 each). Scorers for St Kieran's: K Dennehy (3fs), and C McElligott (1f, 2pt) (0-4 each), C Brosnan (2pt) and C Downey (0-2 each), M Nolan and C Mangan (0-1 each). Austin Stacks: M Tansley; S Óg Brosnan, C Browne, J Murphy; B Murphy, L Casey, G Casey; F Ryan, D Kirby; C Dillane, P Lane, R Carroll; D Sayers, D Hogan, R O'Driscoll. Subs: Cillian Litchfield for D Hogan (40), S Heaslip for C Browne (49). St Kieran's: C Wilkinson (Castleisland Desmonds); S O'Sullivan (Brosna), I Brosnan (Castleisland Desmonds), O O'Connor (Currow); R Bourke (Castleisland Desmonds), J McElligott (Knocknagoshel), R Dennehy (Cordal); J Brosnan (Knocknagoshel), K Dennehy (Cordal); M Nolan (Brosna), C McElligott (Knocknagoshel), R Brosnan (Currow); C Mangan (Knocknagoshel), C Brosnan (Currow), M Horan (Scartaglen). Subs: T Conway (Castleisland Desmonds) for J Brosnan (24), J O'Sullivan (Brosna) for R Bourke (39), M Lane (Brosna) for C Mangan (40), C Downey (Castleisland Desmonds) for T Conway (43), J O'Connor (Currow) for R Brosnan (58). Referee: C O Dhúbhda (Kilcummin).
