SPRING was in the air on last Saturday night week as the Kerry Community Games solo and group music competition was held in Abbeydorney, where beautiful melodies and enchanting music were created by all who competed, indeed the standard was very high and the adjudicators had a challenging decision as to declare the eventual winners.

In the solo competition there were 13 competitors, all bringing their own individuality to proceedings, the final outcome, although tough to make saw Timmy Flaherty, Moyvane / Knockanure attaining 1st place, Niamh Mcsweeney, Killcummin in 2nd, Nelius Mackessy, Listowel in 3rd and Conor Daly, Brosna in 4th place, all of whom have previously been on the winners podium before.

In the group competition, Killcummin were in 1st place with the winning team consisting of Dean Griffin, Stephen O'leary and Niamh Mcsweeney. Lixnaw were in 2nd place, Listowel were in 3rd and Ballylongford / Asdee were in fourth place.

In Mounthawk, Tralee on Sunday morning last, the girls table tennis competition took place, Killarney South, the reigning All-ireland champions retained their u16 county title in tremendous fashion with victory over Rock St / Caherslee on a scoreline of 4-1.Duagh / Lyre secured gold in the U-13 competition with a 4-2 victory over Rock St / Caherslee.

In Listowel and St Senans, Mountcoal the U-13 boys indoor soccer took place with 20 teams taking part, divided into four groups of five.

In Mountcoal, the morning teams consisted of Brosna, Moyvane, Beaufort, Spa Muckross and Listowel, all playing four games each, the group winners were eventually Listowel who took maximum points from all their games albeit some of them very close and with all the other teams taking points from each other Listowel duly qualified for the finals.

In Mountcoal, in the afternoon, the teams were Annascaul / Camp / Inch, Fossa, Lixnaw, Ballyheigue and Kenmare. Lixnaw and Ballyheigue had very young teams taking part and can be proud of their efforts, battling with great heart and courage and are sure to return next year with this experience under their belts.

Fossa, Annascaul / Camp / Inch and Kenmare all won three of their four games, their games against each other being exciting and entertaining with some great goals and tantalising soccer. All were tied on nine points each and the group winners were to be decided on goals scored against each other, Kenmare being the lucky ones having just one goal more than their opponents, so Fossa and Annascaul/camp/inch went home disappointed, but they themselves, their coaches and parents can be extremely proud of their efforts.

In Listowel, in the morning the five teams were Adfert / Kilmoyley, Knocknagoshel, Boherbee / Cloghers / Manor, Dingle and Duagh / Lyre.there were some fantastic games here, but Dingle with their years of coaching experience attained from reaching National finals had enough talent to win all of their group games and secure top spot and reach the finals.

In Listowel, in the afternoon the five teams were Milltown / Listry, Ballydonoghue, Ballylongford / Asdee, St.brendans / Oakpark and Rock St / Caherslee, another group which turned out to have end to end action and fantastic excitement, the climax being a play off between the two Tralee teams of St Brendans / Oakpark and Rock St / Caherslee, the end result, which deemed Rock St / Caherslee the group winners winning 2-1, having drawn 2-2 in their previous group game.

In Mountcoal, On Sunday morning last, the girls U13 indoor soccer was held, with seven teams involved.there were some excellent games and in the end it was the girls from Duagh / Lyre who remained the county champions for the third year in-a-row with victory over Adfert/kilmoyley in the final. Adfert / Kilmoyley secured second place. Boherbee / Cloghers / Manor were third and Moyvane / Knockanure were fourth.

In Abbeydorney on Friday night last the solo and group singing contest was held, where once again the standard was incredibly high, in the solo singing there were 14 participants and the results are 1st Alan Mcloughlin, Blenerville / Ballyard; 2nd Rachael O'connor, Currow / Currans; 3rd Rachael Costello, Listowel; 4th Ursala Earley, St Brendans / Oakpark.

In the group singing there were 11 groups taking part and the results were 1st: Listowel Maeve Trench, Rachael Costello, Saoirse Kennedy, Olivia Stack, Elisa Kennelly and Niamh Moloney; 2nd Adfert / Kilmoyley; 3rd Killcummin; 4th Ballybunion.

This Friday night in Abbeydorney the Dancing-modern and solo and the Dancing Irish contemporary will take place with a sign in time of 6 and 7pm respectively. The semifinals and finals of the boys U13 and U-15 indoor soccer will be held on Sunday next.

This Thursday, February 9, is the closing date for the chess, boys table tennis and the girls U-15 indoor soccer.

- Donal O'doherty