Dr. Crokes GAA Newsletter

Volume 1, Issue 1 March 2008

Chairman's Message

I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to our first edition of our newsletter. It is hoped that it will be produced on a quarterly basis. The idea is to keep our members informed of happenings on and off the playing fields. The playing season is beginning to kick into swing and this weekend our Senior team commence their Co. League programme. The U21`s were the first club team to see action this season and they already qualified for the East Kerry Final where they will play Rathmore in a re-newel of the 2007 final. This has been provisionally fixed for w/e April 12/13. . All teams have been training for a number of weeks with some sides having played a number of challenge games. Our underage Sat. mornings for have U6/8/10 re-commenced on March 15th, U12`s will return shortly.

The club are experiencing a huge growth in numbers on the playing front and thankfully have the use of the 3rd pitch in the coming weeks.

The Information Open Day on March 9th was an overwhelming success with many people especially parents viewing the ongoing developments for the first time. I'm pleased to inform you that the work to complete these developments has already begun and hopefully will be completed in June.

You are aware that any development requires finance and Finance Officer Mike Buckley is putting a number of initiatives in place and we urge all members to lend their support.

 We are in the process of drawing down an additional loan of €500,000 which will require us to re-pay an additional €48,000 per annum.

It is intended that a number of fund raising ventures will commence shortly

details commencing with a Fun” Race Day” on Grand National Saturday

April5th. On June 5th we are holding a Golf Classic at a cost of €400 per team of 4. our very efficient Golf Society will in charge of the organisation which in the past has proven to be financially re-warding.

 At the recent successful Open Information Day many of you enquired on how you could contribute to the Club going forward, well there are many ways, be it coaching, in the organising of many of our off field activities or financially by supporting our events and Weekly Lotto which has and will continue to be our main source of income. Facilities are now available to participate in the Lotto by direct debit.

 When I took on the role of Chairman  I was well aware that I was taking on the role of leadership of one of the country's finest clubs with a fantastic group of active workers. I look forward  to working closely with everyone to make the Club No. 1.

 Finally I wish to pay tribute to the former chairman Patrick O`Sullivan for the tremendous work over the last number of years and thank everyone who continue to give of their precious time on the many sub– committees. I wish all teams a  hugely successful season.

 Mise,

Vince Casey.

Dan Kavanagh R.I.P.

 Vice President Dan Kavanagh passed away on January 27th. A native of Dun Chaoin, Dan had the rare honour of playing for two counties in All Ireland finals. He played in two deciders with Galway and three finals with Kerry being successful in 1946.

As a student in U.C.G. he won a Sigerson Cup in 1941 and was selected on the Galway sides of 1942&1943. he also had the unique distinction of playing Railway cup with both Munster & Connacht.

Returning to Kerry he was a member of the Dingle co. championship winning side of 1944.

On moving to Killarney he joined Dr. Crokes club in 1945 and won two more co. championships with Dr. Crokes backboned sides Killarney 1949 & Dick Fitzgerald's 1951.

When work began on the development of our grounds in 1993/1994 Dan took on the role of “Commander in Chief” with a fully hands on approach visiting the site a number of times a day in the company of wife Nellie. This task he regarded as a labour of love. The wonderful facilities we have at our disposal to-day is testamount to his Engineering background coupled with expertise and knowledge.

Dan is survived by his wife Nellie (nee Myers) who is also a club vice president, sons Sean & Donal, daughters Siobhan, Catherine, & Eileen. Sons Sean & Donal wore the Black & Amber along with grand children Donal, Shane, Eanna, Colm, Orla, & Elaine. Dan Kavanagh a Dr. Crokes stalwart and always proud of the Black and Amber. Ar dheis de ar a h-anam dilis

Johnny Hurley R.I.P.

Johnny Hurley one of the great stalwarts of 50`s-60`era and Captain of the 1957 O'Donoghue Cup winning side passed away on February 27th. A club person who was proud of his strong links to Dr. Crokes with his grandfather Tom “Crosstown” Looney and his connections with Ned Spillane, Dick Fitzgerald, and Paddy Dillon.

Best remembered as a towering full-back Johnny first came to prominence as a forward in his minor days where he was a prolific scorer. He was deadly accurate place kicker and quickly graduated to the Senior side.

His first Senior game was a County championship against Kenmare on the occasion his hero Tadhgie Lyne broke his collar bone.

He lined out at right full back on the first O'Donoghue Cup winning side of 1956 but soon made the number 3 position his own. Donie Sheehan then club chairman explains why. “In those days the goalkeeper did not kick out the ball and we needed someone with a long and reliable kick, we knew from his Minor days that Johnny was a great dead ball kicker and he made the position his own. Through all those glorious years our full-back line picked itself, Johnny flanked by Jim Counihan (RIP  and Liam Murphy”.

His employment in the Great Southern Hotel and on the CIE Radio trains made it very difficult for Johnny to prepare and indeed to get time off work for many  games. The timely intervention of Donie Sheehan and Michael O'Connor (RIP) with his boss the late Jimmy Cullinane facilitated whenever possible. Work schedules lessened his opportunities to make his mark with the county team however he did play with the Kerry Juniors on a number of occasions.

Johnny suffered with Parkinson disease for a long number of years but kept fully abreast of all sports on TV.

Johnny Hurley a Dr. Crokes stalwart and always proud of the Black and Amber. Ar dheis de ar a h-anam dilis.

(extracts from the story of the O'Donoghue Cup penned by Eamon Fitzgerald.)

Juvenile Affairs

CODE OF CONDUCT

All of us who represent or participate in Dr. Crokes activities will protect the good reputation of our club by:

Showing respect for team-mates, mentors, opponents and referees by the language we use and the way we play.

Showing respect for property of our club, of visitors to our club, of fellow players and of away clubs.

Showing respect the buses on which we travel

Wear the official colours of Dr. Crokes - Jersey, Shorts, Socks, when playing for club

 Players who do not comply with these guidelines may be subject to a disciplinary hearing by the Discipline Committee and may, in extreme cases, lose their membership.

Under Age Football

Dr. Crokes have been offering the kids of Killarney an opportunity to learn the skills of Gaelic Football in a structured, safe and fun environment since the early 1970`s. Juvenile coaching is all important to-day when kids have so many other options and as a club we are deeply indebted to the many  who have given of their time over a long period that have produced so many winning combinations and have gone on the represent Kerry at all grades like present day stars  International rules player Eoin Brosnan, Texaco footballer of the year Colm Cooper, Kieran Cremin and Kieran O'Leary.

Upwards of 30 coaches are in attendance on Saturday mornings all with a minimum of Foundation level coaching and each would have partook in “Code of Ethics” training.

The benefits of each session are 1. make friends 2. have fun 3. improve skills 4. be part of a vibrant and progressive club.

Special emphasis will be made in each session to promote maximum participation and each player will be challenged to develop their natural talent.

 Coaches 2008 U6 Mark Cooper, Terry Potts & John O`Shea. U8 Vince Casey, JP O`Shea, Colm Griffin, Matt O'Neill, U10 Ger O`Shea, Tomas Murphy, Cormac O'Donoghue, D. Kelly Jimmy Coppinger. U12 James Lyne, Shane Doolan, Seamus O'Doherty, Noel White, Aidan Kiely, Podge O`Sullivan, U14 Seanie O`Shea, Mickey Joe Burns, Tommy Brosnan, Dave O'Connor, Martin Byrnes, U16 Denis Coleman, Miceal Fitzgerald, Der Brosnan, Enda Ward, Harry O'Neill.

Juvenile Hurling

In 2002, Gene Doherty, Matt O'Neill, Niall Keogh and Timmy Hourigan put a plan together to get underage hurling established in Dr Crokes.  Timmy and Jerry Murphy went into the local schools and gave third class in each school a taste of hurling.  From this, these four men started Club training in Lewis Road.  Over the next two years, a band of young hurlers were gathered and trained in the skills of hurling.

 Although still very young, these players were entered into the County League and on 16^th April, 2004 the very first underage hurling team from Dr. Crokes took to the field against Austin Stacks of Tralee.  Their first game ended in defeat.  But this soon changed and it was not long before these pioneering Crokes players tasted victory.  At this stage John Ivory had joined the team of mentors.  Eventually, they won through to the County League final.  This was a superbly exciting game of hurling that took extra time to decide.  Ignatius Curtain was the first captain to accept silverware on behalf of Dr. Crokes for underage hurling – a perfect first year.

 2005 brought Crokes hurlers to another League final.  However, they did not claim the honours on this occasion.  2006 saw an expansion and two hurling teams represented Dr Crokes at under 12 and under 14.  The under 14 team had a successful year and found themselves in the County League final.  This final also went to extra time to decide and again it was Dr. Crokes who came out on top.  This under 14 team represented Kerry in the National Féile competition in Cork, playing teams from Cork and London.  This was a great honour and a great learning experience for those players and mentors that took part.

 More expansion came in 2007 with an under 16 team taking to the field.  The under 12 team reached another County League final.  They gave a great display of hurling and were very unlucky not to win – 4 years, 4 finals, two County League Champions and participation in Féile – not bad.  A number of Dr. Crokes players have also been selected for County Development Squads, South Kerry Squads and County Squads.

In 2008, Dr. Crokes will have players representing the Club at under 12, under 14 and under 16 playing in the County League.fromMarch,15th  under 6, under 8 and under 10 players, boys and girls, will be put through their paces every Saturday morning from 9.45 to 10.45.  The Club is lucky to have attracted a team of 22 mentors both male and female and all qualified coaches.  The future of Dr. Crokes underage hurling looks very healthy.

Coaches U 6 Mary Treacy, Martina O`Sullivan Darcy, Mike O`Keffe, Joe Hogan, U8 Matt O`Neill, Jim Kennedy, Tom Murphy, Dave Cotter, John Cagney, U10 Adrian Sheehan, Danny Harrington, Padraig Lone, Frank Courtney, U12 John Lenihan, Fergal Clarke, Mickey Joe Burns, U14 John Ivory, Sean Browne, U16 Niall Keogh , Timmy Hourigan, Gene Doherty, Stephen O`Brien

Ladies football

Girls have now taken up football in a very serious way and is continuing to grow and expand annually. Girls experimental with the game within the club in the 70`s and early 80`s but fizzled out at the time for a variety of reasons.

Since the late 90`s structures have been put in place and these continue to be monitored and enhanced on a ongoing basis.

We now have a large number of girls participating in the Saturday sessions again overseen by qualified coaches.

All activities will include  1. Coaching the Skills 2. Mini Leagues 3. Challenge games with other clubs 4. Skill

Competition 5. Fun games involving skills 6. Scoring Competition

Camoige

It is hoped that Camoige will be introduced in Dr. Crokes in the not too distant future. Martina O`Sullivan Darcy & Mary Tracey are eager to put their plans in motion. Further information Martina 0862179342, Mary(064) 33453

Easter Camp March 26,27,28.

Summer Camp August 27,28,29

Mission Statement