Kerry SFC: All eyes on St Brendan's on opening weekend

St Brendan's, this year including players from Tralee giants Austin Stacks and Kerins O'Rahillys, face South Kerry on Sunday. 

Ivan Parker of St Brendan's during the 2021 Kerry SFC semi-final against Austin Stacks. Photo by Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile

SATURDAY

Kerry SFC Round 1 Kenmare Shamrocks v Dr Crokes, Kenmare (P Hayes), 4pm 

Dr Crokes will need to bring with them on their travels every ounce of momentum and confidence mined from their club final win of a fortnight back. Tony Brosnan and Cian McMahon will have seen the three goals Dingle took Kenmare for in the club semi-final and will have their eyes on green flag takeaways.

Verdict: Dr Crokes 

Na Gaeil v Shannon Rangers, Austin Stack Park (E Horan), 5pm 

Minus key players and winless from their three club championship outings, this favourable opening round draw offers Na Gaeil a chance to begin turning around their summer. With Tarbert through to another county junior final, and redemption their focus, will that curtail the club’s divisional involvement with Shannon Rangers?

Verdict: Na Gaeil 

St Kieran’s v West Kerry, Austin Stack Park (JM Fitzgerald), 7pm 

Three of the clubs that feed into St Kieran’s - Ballymacelligott, Cordal, and Knocknagoshel - suffered narrow defeats last weekend at the semi-final stage of the Premier Junior and Junior championships respectively. Their reaction this weekend will either go one of two ways. They’ll find it difficult to rise themselves in such a short space of time, or they’ll relish rinsing those defeats from the system.

Verdict: St Kieran’s 

SUNDAY

Kerry SFC Round 1 Milltown/Castlemaine v Spa, Fitzgerald Stadium (E Moran), 1pm 

The continued absence of Cillian Burke will hurt the aspirations of 2023 intermediate champions Milltown/Castlemaine, not to mind their desire to begin senior county championship life on a winning note. Spa were by far the more competitive of the two sides in the recent club championship.

Verdict: Spa 

Templenoe v Feale Rangers, Templenoe (E Walsh), 2pm 

Results-wise, not a hectic club championship campaign from Templenoe. Home billing should benefit them, as will facing a division not sure of its footing. Morley, the Spillanes, and the Crowleys should purchase Templenoe a first championship win of the summer.

Verdict: Templenoe 

St Brendan’s v South Kerry, Austin Stack Park (E Moriarty), 3pm 

All eyes on St Brendan’s here and how strong the buy-in is from the Austin Stacks and Strand Road contingent, and consequently how strong is their line-up. South Kerry are not the force of old, but neither do you discount them.

Verdict: St Brendan’s 

Rathmore v East Kerry, Fitzgerald Stadium (S Mulvihill), 3pm 

A repeat of last year’s county semi-final, which East Kerry won with six to spare. The East Kerry management, in recent years, kept the Clifford brothers out of sight in the opening rounds. With the changed format this year and the move away from groups, it remains to be seen if management has changed their approach too. Rathmore’s club championship form suggests this could be a lot closer than last year’s six-point difference.

Verdict: East Kerry