Month: September 2025

Tarbert Kerry Junior Club Champions 2025

Cian McGibneyGAA

Tarbert were last night crowned 2025 Junior Club Champions after defeating Beale on a score line of 2-13 (19) to 3-09 (18) in Austin Stack Park in Tralee. This performance was full of grit and determination.

Plenty of pundits in the build-up had said Tarbert needed to win yesterday having been defeated in the last two finals in 2023 and 2024. Tarbert certainly found the answers and it was certainly a case of 3rd time lucky for the squad and mentors.

 For the senior men within the Tarbert set up like Shane Enright, Danny Wren, Kevin Enright and Michael Normile this was the cherry on top of the cake given they all were involved in the last big Championship win back in 2010 when the North Kerry Championship was won under Mike Holly and captained by the late Darragh Lanigan.

Certainly what is seldom is wonderful can be attributed to this win, it’s been a while since a county title has come back to Shannon side but the 2025 crop of Tarbert players matched the 1995 County title winning side.

Huge credit has to go to the management team of Eamon Mc Elligott, Jamie Diggins, Mike Carrig and James Cahilane and not forgetting team physio Darren O De.

This group play for each other and when the chips were down last evening and momentum had swung in Beale’s favour Tarbert’s key men stood up, Shane Enright, David Mulvihill along with the tireless efforts of Paudie Finucane and Michael Heaphy around the middle, Heaphy did a fabulous job on Robert Stack in keeping him quiet.

Up front Shaun Wren worked hard while, John Coolahan, Michael Coolahan chipped in with driving runs from  deep. Danny Wren showed his experience and held the middle while the likes of Shane Stack O Gorman, Conor Egan and David Mulivhill drove forward to help Tarbert stay on the front foot….

Beale for their part can be pleased with the efforts over the 60 minutes and while they came up short on the day they can give the North Kerry Championship a real rattle this year. Kenneth Mannix and his management team have a group that will give it’s all for the cause and that was in evidence over the course of yesterday’s game.

From a Tarbert point of view, they have got there just rewards after a few near misses over the past few years. They consolidated there place in Division 3 of the county league  and have a precious piece of silverware to compliment all the hard work.

It was great to see young and old come out in support of Tarbert during the game last night and join in the celebrations that started last night and will continue for the next few days at least…..

Well done to all involved in the club and enjoy the win along with the celebrations of the next while. Last night again showed what the GAA means to people. It really is the bedrock of every parish, village, town or city across the island of Ireland.

A word of recognition too for Sean Carrig team captain, who made a great speech and had a few special words for Darragh Lanigan who was captain when Tarbert won the 2010 North Kerry Championship.

To the whole parish of Tarbert, people living near and far. Enjoy the victory. They are hard earned and not easily won so drink it in and saviour it…….

Tarbert Team 2025 Kerry Junior Club Champions 2025 :

1 Gavin Breen

2 Tadgh Finucane

3 Kevin Enright

4 Conor Egan

17 Micheal Coolahan

6 Shane Enright

7 Shane Stack O Gorman

8 Danny Wren

9 Micheal Heaphy

21 Danny Stack

11 John Coolahan

12 Paudie Finucane

13 David Mulvihill

14 Shaun Wren

15 Darragh Foley

–

10 Padraig Carrig

18 Micheal Normile

19 Noelie Brosnan

20 Jack Sheehan

5 Ben Sheehan

22 Gavin O Connor

23 Sean Thompson

24 Sean Carrig

25 Lee Mulvihill

Tarbert vs Beale Kerry Petroleum Junior Club Championship Final 2025

Cian McGibneyGAA

Tarbert and Beale face each other on Saturday evening in the Kerry Petroleum Junior Club Football Championship Final at 5pm in Austin Stack Park. Both teams had good wins in their respective semi-finals last weekend, Tarbert defeated Moyvane and Beale saw off Cordal.

This will be Tarbert’s 3rd final in this competition having lost out to Reenard in 2023, Duagh in 2024 so they will be hell bent on making it third time lucky on Saturday evening in Tralee.  They will be led by Shane Enright who is in the autumn of his footballing career but still performing well when called upon for the men in the red and black…

Tarbert won 2 of their 3 games in group phase only drawing one game and that set them up with a home quarter final that saw Lispole visit Shannon Park and Tarbert coming through as winners on the day, they faced Moyvane and again came out winners in an evenly contested game in Coolard last Sunday in the semi-final.

Beale will provide strong opposition as they will be looking to win a county title themselves and moving up the grade at county level in Kerry. The prize is a big one for both sides come 5pm Saturday evening in Austin Stack Park.

It is also another chance for both sides to play in Austin Stack Park which should inspire both squads to go above and beyond themselves in search of a county title. The excitement is building of course in both parishes and as the week ticks by the final in becoming the only ticket in town.

Having secured there place in Division 3 of next year’s County League, Tarbert drove on and worked hard to fight their way back to the final of this competition for the 3rd successive year and with a bit of luck they will cross the finishing line this weekend.

Of course many ex-players, mentors and supporters will make the trip to Tralee to roar on Tarbert, it will be a case of planes, trains and automobiles and any other way to get to the final. To the players, it is simple go out and do your best in search of victory.

Tarbert have put in very strong displays this year and will be able to lean on previous final experience as preparations move on this week.

A county title no matter the grade is a special one to win and they don’t come along too often so enjoy the occasion and don’t let it pass you by…. As the old saying goes, “Do it for the Parish”.

Best wishes to Eamon, Jamie, James and Mike and the entire panel on Saturday evening…..

Munster Season 25/26

Cian McGibneyRugby

Munster go into the new season with Clayton Mc Millan taking over as head coach after he took over from Ian Costello who had taken the reins from Graham Rowntree in October of 2024. 

With this fresh start bringing fresh hope that Munster will get close to winning a League title last won in 2023. They are certainly capable of going for a league title but will need to be far more consistent than last year if they are to wrestle the trophy away from Leinster.

Munster will be away to Scarlets in week 1 of the campaign and that will be followed by 3 games of the next 4 on home soil the only away fixture will be in Croke Park against Leinster.

Given they could have had a tour away in South Africa to begin the year, looking at the games over the opening rounds they are very manageable and Mr Mc Millan will hope his charges can hit the ground running.

Europe could be that much trickier given the lack of strength in depth Munster have, yes they will have everyone back from injury both long term absentees and short term also.

The return of Roman Salanoa from injury will be a massive boost, he along with Ronan Fox will provide competition for Oli Jager who himself will hope for a good run without injury in the early part of the new campaign, not forgetting Lee Barron and Michael Milne who joined from Leinster both on 2 year deals.

Dan Kelly has joined on a 2 year deal from Leicester Tigers and will provide welcome competition for the pairing of Tom Farrell and Alex Nankivell who were the chosen centres in the big games last season when injury or suspension didn’t rule Nankivell out.

JJ Hanrahan has re-joined for third spell in red and his experience will take the pressure off Jack Crowley and will hopefully help the two other 10s currently in the set up Dylan Hicks and Tony Butler to advance and put pressure of the senior pair for a place in the match day 23 as the season goes ahead.

Up front, men like Evan O Connell and Tom Ahern will want to establish themselves on a weekly basis as will Brian Gleeson while young tyros like Luke Murphy and Ruan Quinn will want to continue the good work of recent years. Michael Foy will want to push on after some good showings in green in the recent Junior World Cup.

The coaching team will hope that with this new start that they can move ahead and maybe tweak things both in defence under Denis Leamy and in attack under Mike Predergast. Munster will want to be water tight in defence while trying new things in attack.

When things went well in attack last year they were great, La Rochelle away springs to mind straight off but then early in the year against Leinster in Croker. They failed to fire even after a bright start. So consistency will be the name of the game for Munster in the new campaign.

The new season will start on Friday week away to Gloucester who they will also face in the Champions Cup before playing Bath in Cork the following week, who are to face Munster in Europe later in the year.

They were due to play Biarritz in France during pre-season but that game fell through unfortunately. Another link to Munster’s first win in Europe which will be marked this season as it will be 20 years in May 2026 since the famous 23-19 win over Biarritz in Cardiff….

Mam 9 years

Cian McGibneyLife

I wrote a piece to mark 9 years since Mam passed away back in June. Hard to think it is 9 years since Mam came home from work and within minutes was battling to stay alive. My reason for penning this particular piece is to give a warts and all view from my perspective of that day and the time since.

Next Sunday evening at 6.40pm, I will mark the exact moment that Mam suffered her brain injury that 3 days later took her from her family at the age of 49. In the time since Mam passed away, life has changed. I am out on my own and I am writing and hoping to go back recording soon.

The biggest change for me is that I am fully in control of my life and that is what Mam always wanted. I look at myself and think back to the time 9 years ago and I can see a very different person looking back at me when I look at the mirror.

The events of that evening have had a lasting impact both positive and negative but with professional support as well as the loyal support of many people, I have managed to create a life for myself.

It hasn’t all been plain sailing, I give off the impression that nothing ever affected me when in fact things were on top of me for a large portion of the past few years but thank god that has all began to turn over recent years and I can see the light.

I know I can be an awkward fella but I never set out to be that way, I am trying very hard to change but like with most habits it is hard to change from what is drilled into my head. As I say I am working hard to complete that particular change to my personality.

I want to say to anyone that may have fallen out with friends or family over the past while, If you feel it might be worth fighting for that relationship, do so because life can change in an instant. Take it from someone who bought that t shirt. Fix it now and try to move forward….

I will also apologise to anyone now, if I seem distracted from next Sunday until the following Wednesday. While time has passed and things have gotten easier with the passage of time, certain moments are still very fresh in my mind….

The level of support I continue to receive from people who do it quietly and without fuss won’t ever be forgotten. I can’t thank those people enough for what they have done for me and continue to do. I will continue to live my life the way I see fit and if that doesn’t suit people then tough….

I have always tried to do my best for people and to be there for people if they needed someone. I will continue to be that listening ear if anyone needs someone to listen… For that small group of people who still look out for yours truly, thank you all from the bottom of my heart !!!

To Mam, its 9 years since you left this world but your influence on me continues to this very day…. Look after yourself wherever you are and thank you for everything……