Killarney GAA fans plan exodus to Dublin

VISITING, green-clad Americans will have Killarney virtually to themselves on St Patrick’s Day, as thousands of locals will be out of town.

Killarney GAA club, Dr Crokes, will be playing in the All-Ireland club football final, in Croke Park, tomorrow and around 3,000 fans will be there.

The annual St Patrick’s Day parade, in Killarney, is due to start at exactly the same time as the match, 2pm, but many people staying at home will be watching live match coverage on TG4.

The parade organisers yesterday said they could not change the time of the parade as bands that had been booked also had bookings in other towns on the day.

Dr Crokes, with Kerry stars such as Eoin Brosnan and Colm Cooper, last won the All-Ireland club title, in 1992, and are underdogs this time against Crossmaglen, Co Armagh.

Excitement has been building up all week and the town is festooned in the famed black and amber colours of Dr Crokes.

Club chairman Patrick O’Sullivan yesterday reported massive hype in the town.

“Kids are really getting into the spirit of the occasion and up to 300 juvenile match tickets were sold on two nights,’’ he said.

“Around 1,400 train tickets were sold out in no time. Several buses are being laid on and many other people are flying up, or going by car. In all, we think about 5,000 Kerry people will be in Croke Park.”

The club boasts a strong family tradition, with Mr O’Sullivan’s father, Eddie, being a selector, and his brother-in-law, Pat O’Shea, team manager.

Pat O’Shea played in the ‘92 final. There are three sets of brothers in the squad — Eoin and Kieran Brosnan, Vince and Colm Cooper and Shane and Jamie Doolan.

Stepping onto Croke Park tomorrow, Colm Cooper will recall fond memories of the 1992 final when he was team mascot at the tender age of eight.