The Kerins O’Rahillys team. Photo by Dermot Crean
Garvey’s Supervalu Co Senior Football Championship Round 1
Kerins O’Rahillys 2-15
Kenmare Shamrocks 1-17
A sunny Austin Stack Park played host to this enthralling Co Senior Championship tie on Sunday last, as attention turned to the local scene following the disappointment of Kerry’s defeat in the replayed All Ireland final the previous week.
O’Rahillys took to the field with David Moran, Tommy Walsh and Gavin O’Brien in their ranks, while their South Kerry opponents boasted Sean O’Shea and Stephen O’Brien.
Strand Road also had captain, Barry John Keane starting on the bench after returning injured from his recent sojourn in the USA, but he was moving well in the warm-up and looked sure to feature at some stage.
Lining up for the national anthem.
Others named in the starting line-ups who have donned the green and gold were Kenmare’s Paul O’Connor and O’Rahillys’ Jack Savage and Cormac Coffey. Coffey’s match-up with Stephen O’Brien was predictable but this didn’t diminish the anticipation level and a memorable duel ensued.
O’Rahillys also gave Ross O’Callaghan the unenviable job of marking Sean O’Shea and within a minute of the game starting the scale of this task became clear when O’Shea pointed a free from 30 metres after he drew a foul from O’Callaghan.
A minute later, O’Shea fastened onto a speculative punt upfield and played a hand pass to Paul O’Connor who floated over Kenmare’s second point.
O’Rahilly’s were off the mark in the fourth minute after a fine move upfield saw Tommy Walsh place Tom Hoare who slotted over, but they seemed quite tentative in the shooting stakes in the opening phases and it took Coffey to show his colleagues the way when he soloed through the Kenmare defence and rifled the ball over the bar to level matters at two points apiece.
Strand Road were then turned over in possession and David Hallissey angled his shot over the bar from 35 metres and their two-point lead was restored when O’Brien played in centre back, Dan McCarthy in the 11th minute.
Jack Savage reduced the margin to the minimum from a free, but O’Shea kicked a point from play to leave Kenmare in front by 0-5 to 0-3 after 12 minutes.
Tommy Walsh in action during the Kerins O’Rahillys v Kenmare Shamrocks game at Austin Stack Park on Sunday. Photo by Dermot Crean
O’Brien floated over a neat point two minutes later to make it double scores, but O’Rahillys had reduced the margin to the minimum by the 18th minute with two pointed frees from Savage – the first from close range for a foul on Gavin O’Brien after Shane Brosnan had put him clear and the second from 35 metres after a foul on himself.
Kenmare then suffered a potentially crucial blow when they lost their goalkeeper Kieran Fitzgibbon to injury, but they still put together a necklace of passes to free-up O’Brien who darted from left to right before swinging his shot between the sticks and a minute later, they took advantage of a lack lustre Blues defence when Hallissey broke through, played a one-two with O’Connor, with the return pass sending him clear of the defensive cover and he blasted to the net, giving Gary Kissane no chance to make it 1-7 to 0-5 to Kenmare.
The teams shared four points over the next five minutes with Jack Savage pointing after a pass from Conor Hayes, only for O’Shea to reply with two points, one from a free and the second from play after a good move down the left flank.
Tommy Walsh responded from 30 metres with a right-footed effort to keep the deficit at five points and he then picked out Hoare who pointed to reduce the gap still further. With time ticking away towards the half time break, O’Rahillys applied a very high press on the kickout and it resulted in them winning possession and Savage fed the ball through to John Ferguson who drilled home his shot from close range.
We were back to a one-point game, but Kenmare had the final say before the break when O’Shea was unerring with his place kick from 48 metres to leave the scoreline reading at half time, Kenmare 1-10 O’Rahillys 1-8.
The Tralee side fielded for the second half with Barry John Keane taking the place of young Conor Hayes and they made an explosive impact in the opening moments when Ferguson fastened onto a kickout and found Coffey on the burst, with the defender careering through the Kenmare rearguard before smashing his shot past the keeper to give Strand Road the lead for the first time in the game.
Paul O’Connor levelled matters from play in the seventh minute, but the Blues’ reply saw Coffey burst down the right wing and lay the ball off to Keane who in turn found Walsh who flighted his effort over the bar.
Keane then doubled O’Rahillys advantage when he completed a fine move involving Savage, Walsh and Karl Mullins. The ding-dong nature of the game continued over the next five minutes with the teams sharing four points, with O’Connor on the mark for the South Kerrymen, only for Keane to reply immediately.
Then, Con Barrett, on for Brosnan, was fouled when bursting through the middle and Savage converted from 25 metres, but Tom Murnane’s point in response made it O’Rahillys 2-12, Kenmare 1-13.
As we entered the 49th minute, a ball was lofted into the O’Rahillys’ goalmouth and collected by Gary Kissane who was immediately surrounded by Kenmare forwards and a penalty was awarded for what seemed to be a technical foul on the ball by the Strand Road custodian.
O’Connor stepped up to take the kick but if there was any fault attributable to the keeper for the penalty award, he redeemed himself in spectacular style, diving low to his left to push away O’Connor’s well struck effort at the expense of a “45”.
With O’Shea unerring again from the placed ball, we were back to a one-point game and three minutes later the same player pointed a free to level the scores after what looked like marginal calls against Keane for a pick off the ground and Gavin O’Brien for a tackle.
To rub salt into Strand Road’s wound, Kenmare won the next kickout and worked the ball to overlapping wing back, James McCarthy who pointed to put them one point to the good.
O’Rahillys responded in kind when Walsh fielded well in midfield and passed to David Moran who was fouled and Savage pointed the free from 35 metres to level up the game. With normal time up, Kenmare threaded their way down the pitch and drew a foul 13 metres from goal which O’Shea converted.
Con Barrett was then black-carded for an infringement earlier in that Kenmare move and in what was to prove a fateful move, he was replaced by Gearóid Savage. With five minutes of additional time announced, we were now in the 62nd minute and O’Rahillys levelled matters again when Keane was fouled and Jack Savage showed great composure to slot over another 35-metre free from the right-hand side.
Then, in the 64th minute, Jack Savage turned over a Kenmare possession and found Tommy Walsh who exchanged passes with Paidi Griffin before placing Gearoid Savage who flighted his kick over with his trusty left foot to make it 2-15 to 1-17 to O’Rahillys.
That proved to be the winning score because although the Shamrocks still had time to mount a last attack, they encountered valiant defending from the Strand Road men as they prevented Kenmare from getting off the shot that may have forced this tie into extra time.
So, O’Rahillys advance to face Dingle in Round 2A on Saturday 28th September next in Dingle at 4.45pm. The winners go through to the quarter final, while the losers enter Round 3.
Kenmare play Rathmore the following day, with the winners going to Round 3 and the losers of that tie exiting the championship.
Kerins O’Rahillys: G Kissane; D Murphy, R O’Callaghan, C Coffey; R Carroll, K Mullins, D McElligott; D Moran, S Brosnan; T Hoare, J Ferguson, G O’Brien; J Savage, T Walsh, C Hayes. Subs: S Foley, B J Keane, C Barrett, P Griffin, S Walsh, G Savage, G Dillane, D O’Sullivan, P Begley, S Collins, Rory O’Connor, D O’Brien, A Roche, K Mangan, Rob O’Connor.
LADIES NOTES
U8 GIRLS
We would like to welcome Julia and Aoibhinn to our team and club. Here you will make friends for life!
U10 GIRLS
An enjoyable day had by all at the Carmel O’ Connor Memorial Garda Blitz last Saturday. We had 2 teams participate in this wonderful day out for U10 girls. Thanks to Rachel, Tricia and Brenda for looking after the girls and to Tony and Tommy for helping out with the reffing. Each girl was presented with a medal afterwards. Well done to Liz Twomey and everyone involved in organising it.
U12 GIRLS
Kerins O’Rahilly’s U12s lead by their captain Millie Hayes saw victory over Churchill in the second round of the Town League last Monday, September 16th. Teams were neck and neck throughout the game with points from Kelly Fitzgerald, Aoibheann McCarthy and Aoife O’ Connell putting us ahead 0-6 to 0-5 at full time. It was a hard fought battle with our midfield duo of Sara Reka and Taylor Stack and all Kerins O’Rahilly’s backs, holding Churchill’s attacks well. Goalkeeper plus captain Millie Hayes, had a phenomenal game coming away from her goal line more than once to turn the game around. Well done to all involved.
This Tuesday, September 24th we are home to Stacks in round 3 of the Town League. Throw in will be at 6.15p.m. in Ballyrickard.
U13 DISTRICT
There are 5 districts in the North Kerry U13 Championship so there will be a preliminary round in this competition. Winner of this round will qualify for the semi-final. The loser will be out of the competition.
Preliminary matches must be played before Monday, September 30th. If the games are not played both districts are out of the competition.
Preliminary round is North Kerry v St. Kierans. North Kerry are at home. In the event of a draw extra time will be played.
The semi-finals and final will be played in Mitchel’s Complex on October 5th. More details to follow.
U14 GIRLS
We were away to Stacks last Tuesday in round 3 of the North Kerry League. Stacks got off to a good start. We have a few girls carrying injuries and things weren’t looking well but in the second half there was a turnaround in the game when we caught up and drew with a final score of KOR 4-06 to Stacks 2-12. Well done to everyone! Also well done to Siobhán Clifford who made her debut in goals in the second half. Texts will be sent with details of your next game.
U16 GIRLS
Round 3 of the North Kerry League has been postponed by the other team. We will let everyone know the new date as soon as we know. Our next two games will be played in Tralee.
Thanks to Con for organising a brilliant training session with Declan Quill last Thursday. Thanks also to Declan who gave us his time.
SENIOR LADIES
Disappointingly, we haven’t played any game in the last few weeks as we are awaiting a date from the other team. The ladies are having a day out next Saturday afternoon with a trip to Killarney. Enjoy ladies!
SNIPPETS from “top of the right”
· All roads lead to Dingle on Saturday next, September 28th when we play the home side in Round 2A of the Garvey’s Supervalu Co Championship.
· The Dingle men are likely to be fired up for the clash after accounting for our town rivals Austin Stacks by 0-12 to 0-6 last weekend.
CONDOLENCES
All at the club wish to extend our deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Una Carson (nee Reidy) Chester, England and late of 112 Spa Road. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.
