DATE FOR YOUR DIARY
Mark Friday January 31st into your diary as the club will be hosting its annual social . On the night we will be celebrating a great year for our Senior ladies team as well as honouring our annual award winners. Keep the date free.Tickets for the event will be held in the Killarney Heights Hotel, are now available for the great value of €50 . That will provide you with a
four course meal , music to Truly Diverse , a DJ till late and a bar exemption. They must be purchased before the night to finalise numbers (no payment at the door) and are available from
Dave Randles , Denise Fogarty , Sharon O'Shea , Fergal Moynihan , Ted Healy(and from his office DNG Ted Healy New Street) and Enda Walshe.
SENIOR LADIES YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Our Senior Ladies Young Player of the Year award is in a safe pair of hands for 2024 with our senior goalkeeper Amy Walshe being awarded the accolade. Hailing from Bridgefield, the daughter of club stalwart and previous club person of the year Enda Walshe and the late Breda, Amy has been a familiar face around Direen from a very young age, regularly accompanying her Dad to the club in between lining out at every age grade over the years.Numerous underage titles were won over the years with Amy forming the last line of defence.The position of goalkeeper is the most high-pressure position on the field, often the most difficult position to fill but one which Amy has made her own over the years.2024 was a season which saw our regular senior ladies goalkeeper retire which paved the way for Amy to make the step up.
Having been involved in the senior set up for the previous couple of years, management confidently handed Amy her opportunity and she grasped it firmly with both hands and never looked back. Amy has worked diligently on the position this year and the improvement in performance is evident for all to see - be it shot stopping, high balls or kickouts Amy has not disappointed. The category of Young Player of the Year was extremely competitive this year, a very encouraging factor for the future, with a number of players putting their hands up for consideration. From stand out defending to marauding half forward play to scoring full forwards the list of contenders was long and warranted close scrutiny.When it came to the crunch of nominating the winner, Amy’s name stood out on top of that impressive list.
SENIOR LADIES PLAYER OF THE YEAR
When the senior ladies management team of Ted Healy, John McCarthy and Orla Culloty were asked for their senior ladies player of the year for 2024, one name was unanimously agreed on from the outset - that of Keri Ann Hanrahan.
Keri Ann put in a stormer of a year for our senior ladies in a record-breaking season with her trademark runs from the half back line a joy to behold. Anyone watching Keri Anns progress over the years will not be surprised with this award – she has been making great strides for club and county from an early age.
Playing at all age grades, the Muckross girl won numerous club titles over the years making her senior Legion debut at the age of just 15 and over the course of the past 6 seasons she has become in integral part of our Ladies senior team. Keri Ann has not been found wanting on the county scene, having represented Kerry at all age grades, including senior. She has Munster honours at all underage grades and captained the Kerry Minor team. Keri Ann was a member of the National League winning senior side of 2023 before she returned to concentrate on her club football. 2024 will live long in the memory for our senior ladies' players, and Keri Ann was a driving force behind the success. Always available to train, often putting in extra work after sessions, a great presence in the dressing room and on the field, Keri Ann is a very popular and most deserving winner of our Senior Ladies player of the year for 2024.
SENIOR MENS YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR
The Jim Trant Award goes to the young player who made the biggest impact in the previous twelve months and gave a hint of what future promise might hold. Having played all age groups growing up, Conor Gammell took a break from football to concentrate on athletics. But he didn't stay away too long, and 2024 can be labelled his breakout year. He was a consistent trainer and made his senior team debut in the East Kerry Superleague . Through his work ethic at training and performances on the pitch, he soon became a regular on match days. Given the experience of the defence, it may have been a tall order, but his athleticism and speed marked him out as one for the present as well as the future. It's hoped he will be a manistay of the senior team for years to come.
SENIOR MENS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
This is this player's second time winning the John O Grady Cup and when you consider that the first time he won was in 2010 it tells you all you need to know about the commitment and dedication he possesses . Fourteen years later, he is still a vital cog in the senior team wheel, and his performances in 2024 make him a worthy recipient . Jonathan Lyne has, of course, sandwiched an inter county career in between those dates, but it was a testament to his professionalism and enthusiasm that he stood out as the teams outstanding player . Those characteristics can be held up as an example to the younger players in the club, and if any of them can come close to replicating his career, the club will be all the better for it.
KERRY LADIES
Well done to Ali Bowler, Sophie O Shea, and Leah Mannix, who were all named on Kerry LGFA Panels for the season ahead. Both Ali and Sophie will line out for the Kerry U16 ladies while Leah will be playing with the Kerry U14s. We wish the trio the very best of luck for the season ahead .
LOTTO
Results Monday 6th January
Numbers were 4,8,16,18. Bonus No15
Match 3s / Lucky Dips
3 x 50 euro
1. Declan Grimes Bruach Na hAbhainn
2. Brian O'Shea c/o Brian James
3. Pat O'Sullivan c/o Paddy Powers
