After the senior men’s team went so close to national success the weekend before in Bagenalstown, it was the turn of the Kerry men’s intermediate and junior teams to bid for national success last Sunday in Riverdale in Nenagh as they faced their respective grade winners in Leinster in a national challenge.
Kerry were defending the junior men’s title having defeated Louth in last year’s event and the team was able to retain the title for the county against after a strong 6.5 – 2.5 win over Westmeath last Sunday.
Mark O’Regan was the sole member from last year’s side involved again this year as both Noel Lee and himself claimed a Scotch Foursomes doubles win for Kerry at the second playoff hole (20th) in helping Kerry to a 2-1 lead at the halfway stage.
David Hobbert and Robbie O’Connor had claimed the other point for Kerry at that stage with Pa Byrne and Mark O’Shea having lost.
In the singles only Mark O’Shea was defeated as Pa Byrne, Mark O’Regan, David Hobbert and Robbie O’Connor were the winners of the four singles matches Kerry were involved in before Noel Lee’s match finished in a tie with the matter already decided at that stage. This made it 6.5 – 2.5 overall and it was a great win for the team, manager Christy O’Mahony and sub Gerry Lee on a great win.
The intermediate team could not make it a double on the day, unfortunately, as they were well beaten by Kildare 7-2 in their match.
The team was always on the back foot after losing their three doubles matches with James Fleming and Bobby McCarron, Darragh Roche and Michael Creagh and Keith O’Brien and Eamon Sheehy failing to get a point.
Kerry’s only two points on the day came from singles wins with Darragh Roche and Keith O’Brien claiming the two points Kerry won on the day.
James Fleming, Bobby McCarron, Michael Creagh and Eamon Sheehy all tasted defeat in their matches as despite the result we thank the team along with their manager John Fitzgerald and Mark Lucey for their efforts this year.
Prior to Sunday the national inter-club qualifying event for Munster took place in St Stephen’s in Cork last Saturday. Three Kerry clubs entered teams and while Deerpark finished well outside the running both Tralee and Listowel found themselves in contention for making the top eight and a place in the finals on the October bank holiday weekend.
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