28/05/2026
All Irelands 2026 Review:
There is only one place to start after a monstrous week of Pool at the Gleneagle Arena in Killarney. Our U23 Team made history by taking the All Ireland U23 Team title. They weren't even considered to have a chance at the start of the week by anyone outside the camp and the performance they produced in the final was some of the finest pool played all week in any category. Credit also has to go to Westmeath 8-Ball Pool Association U23 Team who played their part in a top class final. It was Kerry's Pierce Lynch who reverse dished the deciding frame to take his team to victory to seal a historic win for our County Association. To have his father, John Lynch on commentary while it all unfolded is absolutely gold watching! Well done lads and there is plenty more to come for these lads.
Kerry A Team:
Having been drawn in a really difficult group, put in top quality performances against really good opposition against Wexford, Tyrone, Mayo, Limerick and Armagh. They ended up 2nd in the group and qualified to the Q-Finals to face Kildare. Unfortunately, the team lost 14-8 to Kildare in the quarter finals who ended up going on to win the title. There were plenty good things to build on from the week which the team will take forward into next year and will be back again.
Kerry B Team:
Having lost their first game to Kilkenny, the team went on to win the next 4 matches in the group stages to top their group and qualify to the Quarter Finals to face Leitrim B. Unfortunately, Kerry could not keep with a strong Leitrim outfit and lost 14-7 in the end. There were some great performances all week by the lads and topping their group was the result of this, which is what they will build on next year.
Kerry C Team:
The C Team finished 4th in the 5 team group and entered the shield competition. A lot of the guys here are in their first couple of years playing at this level and will be looking to take the experience forward and know what is required now to compete at this level. A couple of the matches were tight and the results could have gone either way. A 10-7 loss to Cork D was the final score in the Last 16 of the Shield which put an end to Kerry hopes.
Kerry Ladies:
Having got off to 2 losses on the trot in the group stages. The ladies rallied well and won the next 3 matches in a row which left them 3rd in the 6 team group and just out of the qualification for the main knockouts. With fine wins against Cavan and Offaly, they faced Clare in the semi final where they were unfortunately defeated by eventual winners Clare.
O50s A Team:
O50s Kerry A topped their group in style with 3 wins from 3 against Louth B, Tyrone and Galway. They faced Kilkenny in the Last 16 and had a fine 8-3 win and also defeated Down in the Quarter final with the same scoreline. They faced Antrim in the semi final and after getting off to a good start, were pegged back by a fine Antrim team with a final scoreline of 8-4. This was one of the better runs our O50s Teams have had in the last few years and they will look to build on this next year.
O50s B Team:
In a very difficult group, were unable to overturn any of the teams but gave it their all for the jersey and finished bottom of their group.
O60s Team:
2 wins from 4 left the team 3rd in the group and just outside the qualification. Their 5 - 0 victory against a decent Offaly side who ended up 2nd in the group will be something to build on going forward.
U23B Team:
Our U23B team has many more years at this age level ahead and this was a valuable experience for them to bank. Winning 3 of their 5 group matches was a great return in a difficult group which included Limerick A and Cork A and they entered the Shield competition. They beat Kilkenny B in the last 16 before being defeated by Donegal A in the Quarter finals. This was great experience for our players who will bank that experience going forward.
Singles Results:
Dave Curtin - Finalist in the Intermediate Final. Well done Dave on a great run and you will be back again. Your semi final was a memorable match with a fantastic Kerry gang supporting you, creating a great atmosphere and celebrations.
Derek Hasell - Last 16 Intermediate Singles
Tim Winter - Last 16 Junior Singles
Eddie Joe Walsh - Last 32 Junior B Singles (in a field of 410 players)
Patrick Daly - Quarter Finalist U23 Singles
Its extremely difficult to win any silverware at the Championships each year and we have managed to claim silverware now in some category every year for the past 7-8 years (i have lost count) which is a credit to the players putting the efforts in all year as we continue to improve year on year. Well done to everyone who competed and wore the Kerry jerseys with great distinction all week and to the families and friends who were beside the tables shouting us all on all week in what was a memorable week. Thanks to the Irish Pool Association and the Gleneagle Arena for a fantastic event and the set up was second to none at the Gleneagle Arena.
A big thank you to our Main Sponsors, Utility Trust for their support all year and also to Thorn Plant Hire.
Over and Out!
