With only days to wait for Santa’s arrival it is time to pick Kerry’s All-Star team for 2005.
It’s been a season of mixed fortunes for Kerry soccer. Dynamos got to the last 32 in the FAI Junior Cup beaten by the eventual winners Westport United and lost to St Michaels Tipperary in the Munster Junior semis. Kerry’s U-21 started off great guns with away wins at Eircom League sides Kilkenny City and Waterford Utd before falling at the last hurdle to be pipped by Limerick City at the post. Kerry League’s first match hammering by Limerick in the Oscar Traynor trophy surprised many.
So it is time to give credit to players who lit up the soccer scene during the year. Here we pick the best 16 players (11 subs bench)
Goalkeeper Steven Bartlett (Castleisland) Kerry has real strength in this position. Kerry’s U-21 squad used three very good ones: Dave Hennessy (Lisselton Rovers), Dermot Raggett (Tralee Dynamos) and Brendan Kealey (Killarney Athletic). To these one could add Tony Lyons (Killorglin), Michael Gustafir (Killarney Celtic) or Sean og Ciarbhain (Castleisland). However it’s Castleisland’s teenage keeper Steven Bartlett that gets first use of the goalie gloves. He has played senior soccer this season turning in a stupendous performance against Listowel Celtic. Not surprisingly then that Burnley have asked him over for trials. Terrific agility but also wonderful hands. He’ll be hard to beat.
Right Back Mark Hannon (Ballybunion Celtic) We need a rip-roaring right back to open up tight defences. Steve Conway (Lisselton Rovers) played well there for Kerry U-21 and interests Ipswich Town at present. Alan Nagle (Killarney Celtic) ripped through Dynamos late last year and has an excellent shot on him. Stephen O’Mahoney (Lisselton Rovers) is just back from Limerick City so cannot feature this year. But for that mixture of defensive security allied to a natural scoring ability Mark Hannon (Ballybunion Celtic) takes this berth. He is a no nonsense defender but doesn’t suffer nosebleeds when he finds himself in the opponents’ area. In fact Ballybunion occasionally use him as a centre-forward. Also an excellent free kick and (usually!) penalty taker.
Centre Halves Eoin Cassidy (Tralee Dynamos) There are a number of fine centre backs around the league. Shane Doolan (Killarney Athletic) showed his versatility in the U-21 squad but reads the game well from the back. James McMahon (Ballybunion Celtic) one of Kerry’s outstanding players, has recently converted to this position and would make a terrific “libero”. Dynamos could put four nominations forward and few would disagree with any combination of Brian and Mark Fitzgerald, Maurice O’Rahilly and Eoin Cassidy but it is the last of these who gets to line-out first. Cassidy might well have won the league’s MVP (Most Valuable Player) had KDL followed Manchester United down the American trail. His speed, strength in the air and intelligent distribution makes him a certainty for this position.
David Hayes (Killarney Celtic) Alongside him David Hayes (Killarney Celtic) gets the other spot. Hayes normally plays in midfield for his club but gave a series of wonderful performances at the back for the U-21 side. Tall, assured and reassuring he remained calm in a crisis and together with Cassidy would form an impenetrable barrier.
Left Back Tommy Keane (Listowel Celtic) This is more difficult. There are fewer natural swashbuckling left backs in Kerry soccer. Two immediately come to mind. Jason McCarthy (Castleisland) takes very few prisoners. Chris Morley (QPR) has looked outstanding at times. But U-21 manager George Dineen called it right in our opinion when he drafted Tommy Keane (Listowel Celtic) into this position. Keane has all the attributes of a good left back and loves to be released beyond defences. We hope his back injury is cured and promise a well padded seat on the team bus.
Right Midfield James Sugrue (Tralee Dynamos) The two candidates that immediately spring to mind for the right side are U-21 team mates James Sugrue and Gary Keane. The latter was a revelation in the summer U-21 matches. His ability to take opponents on yet get back to do the donkey work would make him many people’s first choice. But Sugrue goes into this side largely on the strength of his late summer performances where he showed his ability to beat his marker at will. His crossing ability too just edges him in front.
Central Midfield Joe Bunyan (Rattoo Rovers) Inside him we need that mixture of defensive screen and attacking zeal. Paudie Connor (Killarney Athletic) would get many votes for defensive midfielder. He has a never say die attitude and importantly hates losing. Moreover he can play in the final third too. But Joe Bunyan (Rattoo Rovers) gets the security guard job here. Rattoo looked a shadow of the team when Bunyon was injured. His crunching midfield play reminded everyone of a certain Corkman now seeking pastures new.
Samier Benkeutin (Tralee Dynamos) Alongside is the creative berth. Dave Conway (Park FC) shone in the U-21 series and his Park FC colleague James Wall would have strengthened that squad had he been available. Kenny Murphy (Dingle Bay Rovers) too knows how to shred a defence But to set the rhythm for the Samba attacking we have in mind Samier Benkeutin (Tralee Dynamos) takes the spot. Described by one opponent as a magician so easily does his sleight of foot deceive the opposition, Samier rarely wastes possession. In fact rivals get very confused as he seems to look one way and pass the other.
Left Midfield Peter McCarthy (Killarney Celtic) One of the best performances out on the left ironically came from the versatile Shane Doolan (Killarney Athletic) when Kerry’s U-21 needed him. But we need a left footed speedster here. Two Lisselton players will be in the short list. The first is their flying youth star Daniel Conway, the second is their recent signing Darko Bokic. The latter crosses a ball better than anyone in Kerry football and might be worth a place in this side. Neither Eddie Duggan nor Billy Stack let Dynamos down when selected out on this wing. But pride of pace and this place goes to Killarney Celtic’s Peter McCarthy whose outstanding performances for the U-21 gets him the nod-and he knows where the net is.
Strikers Adrian O’Donnell (Camp Utd) Difficult to argue against combinations. Dynamos’ pairing of Damien Diggins and Adrian McHugh scored nearly 80 goals in all competitions. Colin O’Connor and Ger Lovett let no one down in the U-21 games. Mark Pyne and David Gleeson (Killarney Athletic) would be far too good for most KDL sides. Gary O’Brien and Liam Boyle (Rattoo Rovers) were too good for all in their division. But Camp United’s Adrian O’Donnell gets one starting place. Described by an opposing manager recently after a heavy defeat in West Kerry as “the most complete centre forward in Kerry” his electric pace and fearless finishing makes him a real handful for opposing centre halves. Two four-goal hauls already this year get him the vote.
Adrian McHugh (Tralee Dynamos) To accompany him in our fast flowing game we need someone who makes finishing appear the simplest thing in soccer. Nobody does it with more economy than Adrian McHugh. If he has a career in politics ahead of him it will no doubt be with The Green Party. Energy efficiency is something he believes in as he puts the ball away with a minimum of fuss. He is also very good in the air. One on one’s are something to be enjoyed not endured so if the supply lines are good the scoreboard should tick over very nicely.
On the Bench
That leaves our subs bench. We can only use five so to ensure full coverage of all positions we choose:
Dave Hennessy (Lisselton Rovers) Goalkeeper & ace penalty taker
Mark Fitzgerald (Tralee Dynamos) Defence or midfield
Gary Keane (Killarney Athletic) midfield
Damien Diggins (Tralee Dynamos) striker
Colin O’Connor (Lisselton Rovers) striker
Finally can we wish all players, referees (yes, even referees!), PROs and all the officials at Kerry District League a very safe and Happy Christmas. Thanks for the entertainment.