CLUB HALL OF FAME
Mike Murphy will this year be inducted into the Killarney Legion Hall of Fame and few could argue with his contribution to the club over the years. Originally from Rathmore he moved into town where he hooked up with Derry O Keeffe, Diarmuid O'Donoghue and Paddy Griffin in the Presentation Monastery. Obviously his playing career came first and he was noted for his versatility where he could line out in any position up the middle. It wasn't only on the football field that Mike stood out. He was the envy of every student in St Brendans College as he travelled to school in his mothers car, a mini, the only student to go by such means. Mike played for the clubs senior team and was an outstanding performer with many noting that but for injury he would have almost certainly worn the county jersey, in a time when Kerry were in their pomp.
He did line out for the Kerry minor team in 1977 where he started at centre forward in their defeat to Cork. Unheard of in this day and age Mike actually managed the Legion senior team at the tender age of 23 . His unique management style often saw him hold court in the pub afterwards rating the players performances . It had the effect of bringing the best out in everyone.
Mike then turned his hand to coaching juveniles alongside his great friend Pat Moynihan. He originally started at U12 with the late Mickey Culloty anf then became involved with Pat in their sons, David and Adams teams . Conscientiously they stepped away to allow their sons have the benefit of other coaches. Together Mike and Pat gathered many titles for the club at underage level . Finding it more difficult to convert that success at older levels they did manage a club u21 team to a County Final, where they were pipped by Austin Stacks in Listry . Spending close to twenty years coaching juveniles he eventually stepped up to Senior level again, where he served as a selector under two managers, Frank Walsh and Donal Culloty.
When Pat Moynihan became club chairman in 1999 one of his first acts was to bring Mike into the Club Executive, a role he filled for the next ten years , always making a valuable and constructive contribution to everything he was involved in. And while he never held any club officership that should not mitigate against the positive role he has played in the club. Married to Mary, they have two kids, Sandra and David with his grandkids Indiyah, Aria and Poppy being the apple of Mike's eye. Marys daughter Linda has three kids, Kate, Emma and Dara and they affectionately call Mike Grandad also... He is a very worthy recipient of the Vincent Doyle Cup and will receive the Award at the Killarney Heights Hotel on Friday January 31st.
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 B PLAYER OF THE YEAR The winner of the Jackie Lyne Cup for the Senior B Player of the Year is Colm O Cuiv. Since joining the club ten years ago from his native Galway Colm has become a popular member of both Senior panels and has lined out in a variety of positions . When the Senior B management discussed the criteria for their player of the year it was felt that Colm ticked all the boxes. He exhibited leadership both on and off the field, was committed and when he lined out always possessed the will to win. His versatility and attitude saw him play both in goals and out the field and in another nod to his clubmanship he always made himself available to the Senior team as a substitute keeper , despite it not being his preferred position. A worthy winner it is hoped that he remains a positive influence in the club for many years to come.
SENIOR B YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR
The Senior B Management saw fit some years back to introduce a new category to the Club Awards with the initiation of the Young Senior B Player of the Year. It was done as the dynamic of the team had changed with an emphasis on the development of young players coming out of the juvenile ranks. Daire Murphy stood out in 2024 as a player who dedicated himself to the Senior B set up having finished in the juvenile ranks. His commitment to training, the improvement in his all round game and his contribution to the club made him stand out in the eyes of the mentors who saw over his development this year. Indeed such was his trajectory that he made his senior championship debut against Gneeveguilla in August , joining his cousins Ryan O Grady, Peter McCarthy and Finbarr Murphy in the Clubs flagship team. It is envisaged that he will continue on his upward trajectory and line out for the club for many years to come.
CLUBPERSON OF THE YEAR
The Cooper Cup will be awarded to John Foran who has stepped down as the Club Treasurer after ten years in the role. In that time John oversaw huge changes in the way the club conducted its financial business with the modern world now facilitating online payments . But John handled the transition in his own affable way with his unflappable nature making it smooth as ever. At the end of each year John presented a detailed breakdown of the clubs finances and no sooner had a new year dawned then he presented a budget for the year ahead. He also organised the clubs flags and church gate collections without any fuss , making sure their potential was maximised. The good news is John will not be moving away altogether from the club as he slides across to a new portfolio, overseeing the Club lotto. It couldn't be in better hands and 2024 couldn't have given a more worthy Clubperson of the year as John Foran.
LOTTO
Results Monday January 13th
Numbers were 6, 8, 22, 24 Bonus No 15
No jackpot winner
Match 3s / Lucky Dips
1. Chris Scannell
2. John Crowley
3. Declan Looney
All played online
