Saluting our County Champions

Christy Killeen

What a memorable year it has been for North Kerry. The senior footballers of Feale Rangers were crowned champions of Kerry for the third time, on November 11th at Austin Stack Park Tralee, bridging the gap of twenty seven years in the process.

This remarkable achievement by the Feale Rangers is more praiseworthy considering the odds which ranked the feale siders as complete outsiders for the 2007 championship in addition to the unsuccessful efforts of the North Kerry Board earlier in the year to have one team represent North Kerry in the County championship, following many years of dismal performances.

Credit to John Moloney (chairman) and his officers who in late spring endeavoured to put in place a management team who could co ordinate the available talents, leadership and resources towards winning the county championship.

The management team of Jerome Stack, John Mulvihill and Christy Killeen – put together in late April - extended invitations to over fifty players to participate. They approached the challenge with admirable professionalism, adopting a firm but fair attitude to the respondents and proceeding with an agreed policy. Mike McKenna was invited to head up the back room team. Ambition, honesty and solidarity were also key aspects of preparations, which began with a challenge game with Laune Rangers on Thurs. 3rd May and the rest, as they say, is history.

Sunday 11th November 2007 will remain etched in the minds of all North Kerry Gaels for many a day, such were the scenes of unbridled joy and delight, coupled with deep pride that accompanied the realisation of a dream come true at Austin Stack Park, following the long whistle of referee Padraig O’Sullivan, and scenes reminiscent of all Ireland final day at Croke Park. The win was most uplifting and a huge moral booster for all of North Kerry. The level of goodwill, emotion and optimism generated by the Feale Rangers victory was truly amazing.

Earlier in the year Eamon Fitzmaurice’s retirement from inter county duties appeared to be a great loss for Kerry, but it proved to be good news for both Feale Rangers and Lixnaw. Eamon is an excellent talented player of grace and skill, but it was his role as captain that had significant results for the teams development and progress throughout the 2007 championship, through his strong and inspirational leadership qualities. Eamon’s victory speech encapsulated the spirit, pride, passion and traditions of North Kerry football and community at large.

Feale Rangers championship campaign began on Sunday 13th May against Mid Kerry, one of the fancied teams, - but being short many key players though injuries and despite best efforts were defeated, and faced strongly favoured St. Kierans one week later at Listowel and emerged victorious with a spirited displayed, this victory encouraged belief and determination within the panel, before facing the all conquering Ardfert team and later An Gaelthacht with a positive championship attitude, victories in both those games caused quite a stir among followers of the game, with Feale Rangers now emerging as c’ship dark horses.

Semi final game with Kilcummin was always going to be a difficult assignment and following two tightly contested games Feale Rangers qualified for the County Final, their last appearance being back in 1999, when losing by a point to East Kerry.

Games congestion, c’ship draws / replays, other domestic events and training disruption were encountered during the weeks leading up to the final, but the panel of players remained focused on the main prize, and the week prior to final in particular, the crucial factors of leadership, belief, togetherness and a positive attitude of ”let’s go for it” emerged very strongly, and so the rest is history, as the mighty Feale Rangers etched a famous victory over South Kerry, seeking a four in a row title, on a score of 1 – 4 to 0 - 6.

Another important and vital aspect of the successful campaign was the supportive and significant roles of the backroom team of multi tasking Mike McKenna, physio’s Jimmy Galvin and Sarah Hobbs, while others led by Jimmy Deenihan attended to off field requirements and services. North Kerry Board’s supportive role was also significant.

The successful and history making Feale Rangers panel of 2007 is as follows; Eamon Fitzmaurice - captain, Shane Quinn, Gerard McCarthy, Pat Corridan, Kieran Quirke, John Mulvihill, Brendan Guiney, Declan Griffin, Breandan Whelan, Maurice Corridan, Liam Keane, Paul Galvin, Enda Galvin, Noel Kennelly, Brian Scanlon, Derek Galvin, Anthony Maher, Sean McCarthy,Conor Galvin, Cillian Fitzmaurice, Aengus Fitzgerald, Brendan O’Connell, Patrick Curtin, Jerome Stack, Paidie Galvin, Ian McCarthy, Fergus Reen, Padraig Somers, Kieran O’Connor, James O’Donnell, Brian McGuire, and Gerard Henry. Management team were; Jerome Stack (trainer), Johnny Mulvihill and Christy Killeen. Man of the match; Eamon Fitzmaurice. Team assistant was Mike McKenna.

Feale Rangers won their first senior title in 1978, defeating Mid Kerry, 0 – 8 to 0 – 3, this was an historic achievement and the winning panel was as follows;
Johnny Wren (captain) John Kennelly, Paddy Hannon, Gerald Leahy, Sean Walsh, Tim Kennelly, Eamonn FitzMaurice, Jimmy Deenihan, Johnny Mulvihill, Robert Bunyan, Johnny Bunyan, Tommy Bridgeman, Pat Flaherty, Paddy Mulvihill, Gerald O’Sullivan, Patsy O’Connell Seamus O’Donovan, Timmy O’Sullivan, Mike McGuire, Mike Mulvihill, and Mick O’Brien. Man of the match ; The selectors were ; Ciaran Rohan, Patrick Kelly, Eric Browne, Pat Joe McEnery, the late Dan McAuliffe and John O Flaherty who trained this team as well as training the victorious Feale Rangers minor team, - another unique achievement.

Feale Rangers won their second senior championship in 1980 when they defeated Austin Stack’s 1 -10 to 1 – 7, and for the record following is the winning combination;
Tom O’Connell (captain) John Kennelly, Paddy Hannon, Jimmy Deenihan, Nicholas Riordan, Johnny Wrenn, Tim Kennelly Mike Wrenn, Sean Walsh, Johnny Mulvihill, Gerald O’Sullivan, Tommy Bridgeman, Robert Bunyan, Donal Mulvihill, Patsy O’Connell, John Keane, Colombo O’Connor, Jodie Fitzmaurice, Mike McGuire, John Sheehy, Pa Foley, Eamonn Sweeney, Mike Joe Thornton, Ger. Leahy, Mike Mulvihill and Andy McCallum. Man of the match was Johnny Mulvihill. The late Con Riordan was trainer.
Selectors were; Ciaran Rohan, Patrick Kelly, Pat Joe McEnery, Tom Fitzgerald and Paddy Keane.
Feale Rangers contested the County finals of 1959, 1962, 1977, 1982, ’83, ’85 and 1999 but unfortunately were defeated narrowly in all seven finals.

Reflecting on Feale Rangers marvellous achievement evokes happy memories, beginning with first squad meeting on Friday 27th April, and the long campaign that bore fruition as we crossed the finish line on Sunday 11th November 2007, Let’s give due credit to all of the players on their efforts, sacrifices and full commitment throughout the championship, who played the normal quota of games with their clubs, then participated with Feale Rangers in seven championship games and thirteen challenge games plus the associated training sessions, in addition to many of the panel also playing hurling with Lixnaw – who also went on to win the Co. Hurling championship, that is and was a lot of games for amateur players in 2007.

Twenty six players of the Feale Rangers panel actually played in the county championship.

Let’s salute six players Eamon Fitzmaurice, Cillian Fitzmaurice, Paul Galvin, Enda Galvin, and the Corridan brothers Maurice and Pat, who have joined an elite group of players to win both hurling and football senior championship in the same year,--- that’s surely is a marvellous achievement, and interestingly bridged a gap of twenty nine years since both Robert and Johnny Bunyan achieved this feat in 1978 with Feale Rangers and Ballyduff.

Congratulations and well done to players and officials of Feale Rangers, you have bestowed honour and glory back to North Kerry, we salute your wonderful achievement of becoming senior champions of Kerry during 2007, and acknowledge your contribution along the way.

Fanaithe na Feile ABU