The Kerry rugby phenomenon that just keeps on growing

Barry Coughlan

ALTHOUGH in many respects, Kerry GAA and rugby could go hand in hand, circumstances have dictated otherwise. Most people would be unaware that Austin Stack Park, the home of Kerry GAA, was originally a rugby ground, and the famous green and gold jersey was originally borrowed from Tralee Rugby club, one of the four oldest clubs in Munster!

But while GAA in the county has driven on and the oval ball game was left to its own devices, the success enjoyed by Munster rugby has contributed to a resurgence in interest and a considerable enhancement of playing resources, particularly at underage level.

Mike Keane, chairman of the Munster Junior Committee, takes pride in the fact there has been such an upsurge of interest, pointing out that new clubs are emerging – Iveragh Eagles (Cahirciveen) and Kenmare, for instance – and all eight clubs now based in Kerry, old and new, have thriving underage sectors.

“That’s all down to the success of the Munster rugby,” he said, “it’s not coming from anywhere else. Kids want to play rugby these days; they see it’s a game to be enjoyed, that there is a place for the likes of Peter Stringer alongside John Hayes who is six foot six. That’s an example and they know there’s a place for them, no matter what size they might be.

“Without the success of Munster it would be extremely difficult because it [rugby] is by far the poor relation in terms of sport down here, so it’s heartening to see it growing.”

With the emphasis on the underage game, Keane is heartened by the emergence of so many good quality players into the representative arena, citing the fact that Tralee had 14 players at various levels, at third level colleges, Munster youths and Munster U19s in the last year, not to mention Danny Barnes’ senior involvement with Munster and JJ Hanrahan’s inclusion in the provincial squad as well as John O’Sullivan’s success with Connacht, Munster and Agen over a decade of achievement in the professional ranks.

Keane isn’t foolish enough to suggest rugby will ever provide a threat to GAA in the county; he believes rugby should know its place but contends it has a place and Munster rugby will prosper as a result.

“The way it’s going now, you’ve got lots and lots of kids who see these senior players as role models, just as older people looked to the likes of Mick Doyle and others. Three years ago, Keith Earls was here on a summer camp because we couldn’t get the mainstream players and within a year he was a super hero, so the posters he signed are now hanging up in a lot of houses all over Kerry.

“Even out in Listowel you have Jonny Sexton who comes to visit his grandparents. He will go out and throw the ball around with the kids and that’s worth a fortune in terms of promoting the game down here.”

But there is a sting in the tale from Keane, and it’s this – he feels the kids of Kerry don’t have adequate access to Munster’s stars.

“It’s great that Danny Barnes and JJ are emerging as key figures for Munster, and they’re going to be readily identifiable to the kids in time to come. Unfortunately, for some reason, we can’t seem to get the mainstream players down here.

“I can walk out these streets any day and I’ll meet Kieran Donaghy, Gooch Cooper or a clatter load of players with All-Ireland senior medals, but we can’t seem to get a senior Munster player, just to come down, be seen around the place, even to get the walking wounded to come down, show their face, meet the kids and give the game a higher profile.

“It’s my view that the big towns and cities [where these players live] won’t produce much more rugby footballers than are being produced as a natural thing; but is the next Mick Galwey in Kerry or is he is west Cork or east Limerick.

“Where’s the next John Hayes or Alan Quinlan going to come from? Not from the cities, it’s going to be from somewhere unexpected.

“We have to tap into the rural areas and the strong holds of the GAA are there to be tapped into. And any young fella who has played GAA in Munster, football or hurling, is a natural with the basic skills required for rugby.”

Source: http://feeds.examiner.ie/~r/iesportsblog/~3/Jl6UugYHyQ4/post.aspx

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