In early 2020 a group from Spa GAA club organised a special fundraiser for Comfort for Chemo in memory of club member Johnny Batt Cronin who passed away in 2019.

A number of teams entered the Card Drive and it started in early 2020. Most, but not all, of the early rounds were played before Covid put a halt to things. When the pandemic struck, the group were forced to delay the next stages of the competition. With continuing delays and postponements since that time, they have now decided to cancel the card drive and make a donation to Comfort for Chemo of the money that was collected at the time. The cheque presentation will take place next week.

Official Announcement from the organising committee:

Gone but not forgotten

Johnny, originally from Tiernaboul, was married to Margaret Cronin of Coolcorcoran and they had four sons.

An outstanding footballer, he won 7 O'Donoghue Cup medals with Spa as well as a county Intermediate Championship medal in 1974 and a County League Division One title two years later. He was also a member of the star-studded East Kerry divisional side that won the inaugural All Ireland Club Championship in 1971 with a victory over Bryansford of Co. Down.

When he hung up his boots, Johnny trained and coached many underage teams and was honoured with a hugely deserved lifetime achievement award by his beloved Spa GAA Club in 2015. He was also a champion card player, winning the Spa Championship of Kerry 31 Card Drive on two occasions.

The 31 Card Drive which was postponed from March 2020 due to Covid restrictions is regrettably cancelled.

A spot prize draw for those who participated was held in the Spa GAA clubhouse on Tuesday November 23rd 2021.

The prize-winning teams are:

• €100 Voucher for the Great Southern Hotel: John Kerins & Tim McCarthy

• €100 Voucher for the Great Southern Hotel: Con Lynch & Alan Cronin

• €100 Voucher for the Great Southern Hotel: Finbarr Godfrey & Tim Regan

• €50 Voucher (each) for Killarney Carpets & Furniture Centre: Seanie Kelliher & Connie Doolan

• Bottle of Whiskey & Bottle of Wine: Peter Cahill & Barry Duggan

Thank you also to the other sponsors: Skellig Hotel Dingle, Kennelly's Pharmacy, Hegarty's Spar Muckross Rd, Daly's Supervalu, Killarney Oil, O'Leary's Electrical, Paul Herlihy Contractor, Liam Chute, Killarney Oaks Hotel and Bowler's Centra, Tralee Rd.

We wish to thank all our sponsors and all those who played cards, we appreciate your support for this very worthy cause!