Anger at refusal to grant civic reception for hurlers

ONLY winners take all in Kerry, when it comes to garnering official honours for sporting achievements.

Kerry’s dominance as a Gaelic football force is widely acknowledged, as is the secondary role that hurling plays in the county.

But there are signs that hurlers and their fans are not prepared to accept second- class status any more.

Some are unhappy with a Kerry County Councildecision to turn down a request for a civic reception for the Kerry hurling team beaten in the Christy Ring Cup final.

But runners-up don’t get civic honours in the Kingdom.

Nobody, for instance, remembers a Kerry team defeated in an All-Ireland final getting such recognition.

Jeremiah Clifford ofBanna South, Ardfert, has been a member of his local hurling club for over 20 years and is also a member of the football club. To him, both sports are of equal importance.

In a letter to this newspaper, he says: “We have watched our hurlers train night after night and come out in the county colours in all kinds of weather. Like our footballers, they have made great personal sacrifices to don the green and gold.

“I have yet to see this dedication or commitment recognised by our county council.”

This year provided just the opportunity to do so when they won division three of the league and made it to the Christy Ring Cup final, according to Mr Clifford.

He asked: “Do the council believe it is only winning that deserves recognition? If so what kind of a message does that send to young people?

“And if winning is the criteria for a civic reception, why did the council not host a reception for our two -in-a-row All-Ireland U21 hurling champions and why not celebrate winning division three?”

While Sinn Féin councillor Toireasa Ferris’s proposal for a civic reception was a small gesture, it would have given a great boost to people involved in hurling in the county, Mr Clifford pointed out.

“I hope that if we win the Christy Ring in 2011 then the players will get the honour they deserve.

“But if they don’t, will players like John Mike Dooley and James McCarthy, who between them have given nearly 30 years service to their county, like many Kerry (hurling) greats before them, end their careers without ever being honoured by the council?”

A council spokesman said Mayor Pat Leahy would be writing to the Kerry Christy Ring team to congratulate them. He also had further good news. “If the hurlers win the Christy Ring Cup next year we would certainly hope to offer them a civic reception,” the spokesman said.