Laune Rangers – 1906
Co. Senior Football Championship
Due to the tardiness of the Co. Board in completing the 1904/1905 football championships, and because of the fact that the Co. Board ceased to exist in Nov. 1906, the Co. Senior Football Championship was not played.
1798 Memorial Football Tournament Game
Sun. 11th Feb. at Milltown: Killorglin v Fossa.
The game was postponed until the 18th Feb. and then to the 25th March. At the Annual Convention the Secretary of the Co. Board reported that the draws in connection with the Memorial Tournament had been made but for some reason or other the teams had failed to carry out the fixture. The game was again rescheduled for 22nd April. Unfortunately, it appears that the game was not played.
Administration/Miscellany
James Nolan, Cill Coinnigh, was Uachtarán CLG.
At Annual Congress on 28th Jan. championship deadlines were set. Commencing in 1907, Co. Championships had to be completed by the end of June, Provincial Championships by the end of September and All-Ireland Champions by the end of December.
The Munster Convention was held in Limerick on Sun. 14th Jan. The following officers were elected: Chairman – Thomas F. O Sullivan (Ciarraí), Secretary – Pat McGrath (Tiobrad Árainn), Treasurer – Dan Fraher (Port Láirge).
The Annual Convention of the Kerry Co. Board was held in The Kerry Sentinel Office, Tralee on Sat. 7th April. 13 clubs were represented: Tralee, Killarney, Listowel, Crotta, Dingle, Lixnaw, Keel, Tarbert, Kilgarvan, Ballydavid, Milltown, Killahan and Ardfert. Laune Rangers were not represented. The following officers were unanimously re-elected: Chairman – Eugene O Sullivan (Killarney Crokes), Vice-Chairman – Thomas O Flaherty (Tralee Mitchels), Hon. Secretary – Thomas F. O Sullivan (Listowel), Rep. on Central Council – Chairman, Reps. on Munster Council – Chairman and Secretary.
The following is part of a letter from the Kerry Co. Board, which was published in the Kerry Sentinel on Sat. 31st March: “We earnestly trust every single club affiliated to the Co. Board for the year that has now come to a close will renew its allegiance to the Association and that, in addition, clubs that have been formed within the past few months and which have not become associated with the governing body, will also be represented at Saturday week’s Convention.
Should the clubs, affiliated or otherwise, co-operate with the County Board, our annual Convention should be the largest and most representative ever held in the history of the GAA in Kerry and mark an important era in the more efficient organisation and development of our National pastimes, which appeal to all self-respecting Irishmen. And, as recent legislation has clearly demonstrated that the GAA is not merely an athletic body or medal-distributing agency, but a great National force, we confidently appeal to all Kerrymen to assist in making the organisation worthy of its patriotic mission to develop the manhood and nationality as well as the muscle of the rising generation.
Gaelic Leaguers, and others interested in the Irish Ireland Movement, can do much to advance the interests of the Association either by helping to organise clubs where none at present exist or to see that existing clubs are brought up to a higher standard of efficiency and organisation, and that their members are educated up to the idea that the winning or losing of a contest is a matter of little or no importance so long as our National pastimes are being developed, and continue to act as a barrier against the encroachment of West British ideas and practices.”
At the Co. Board meeting in the Kerry Sentinel Office on Sat. 5th May the Secretary complained of the apathy which prevailed and of the fact that Gaels were not co-operating as they should with a view to carrying on the work of the Co. Board with efficiency. In all his experience as Secretary he had never seen such a lack of interest taken in the working of the Co. Board, with the result that the championships were in arrears and the organisation in the county was almost paralyzed. He further said that the draws for the 1906 championship could not be held for the simple reason that only a few clubs had affiliated.
At the Co. Board meeting on Sat. 11th Aug. the Secretary said that he was glad to say that the apathy which had prevailed for the previous five or six months had been fast disappearing and that a number of clubs had once more fallen into line. It was decided to communicate with the Gaels in the following districts with a view to getting them to organise clubs: Barraduff, Clahane, Milltown, Killorglin, Glenflesk, Kenmare, Ballyduff, Causeway, Ballylongford, Duagh, Ardfert, Rathmore, Castleisland and Gneeveguilla.
Killorglin Sports, under the ICA Laws, were held under the auspices of the Killorglin Young Men’s Society on Sun. 22nd July. J.P. O Sullivan, returning to old stamping ground, acted as handicapper. Athletes came from Cahersiveen, Castleisland, Tralee and Killarney. Cyclists came from Ballymacelligott, Blennerville, Firies and Cork to compete in the cycling competitions. The organising committee comprised of James O Sullivan (Chairman), John Fitzpatrick (Secretary), J.E. O Shea, J. O Riordan, W. Healy, William Joy, P. Flynn, J. M. Coffey, Danny J. Clifford, John O Shea, P. Breen, M. O Reilly, C. Crowley and W. Kennedy.
J.P. O Sullivan also acted as handicapper at the Milltown Sports on Wed. 15th Aug. and the Killarney Sports on Sun. 2nd Sept.
Of the many rules introduced by the GAA, the bye-law passed by the Offaly Co. Board took a lot of beating. Publicans, publicans’ sons and assistants were debarred from participating in hurling and football matches and even in Gaelic Athletic Sports.
Munster Senior Football Championship Final on 18th Aug. at Tipperary: Cork 1-10; Kerry 0-3.
Kerry: Jack Lawlor (Tralee), Edward Spillane (Killarney), John Sullivan (Tralee), Maurice McCarthy (capt.) do., J. Doherty, Frank Cronin (Tralee), Denny Breen (Castleisland), Tom Costello (Tralee), P.J. Cahill (do.), James T. Fitzgerald (do.), Batt Connor (Dingle), Joe O Shea (do.), Con Healy (Tralee), Dan Mullins (goals) do., J. J. Riordan (do.), Dick Fitzgerald (Killarney), Con Murphy (do.).