THE weekend saw the opening round of the club championship with all Tralee area sides taking part, except for Austin Stacks who received a bye.

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Senior Club Championship

Kerins O’Rahilly’s 1-13 – 1-14 Killarney Legion

A very disappointing evening in Strand Road for Kerins O’Rahilly’s who were knocked out of the first round of the championship to Legion for the second year in a row.

Aided by the breeze, Legion kicked seven points to O’Rahilly’s one in the final quarter of the match. Indeed, with a minute remaining it was Strand Road who were leading with a point only to be undone by two late, late points.

It was a cagey start to the game – taking seven minutes for the first score to be registered.

After some tit for tat scoring the game was poised 0-4 to 0-2 after 20 minutes. A big moment came in the 18th minute, when Cormac Coffey missed a gilt-edged goal chance.

With such a strong wind advantage, O’Rahilly’s, really were not making it count. That was until five minutes to go in the half when they hit over three in a row, Tommy Walsh, Jack Savage and Barry John Keane the scorers.

The half ending 0-9 to 0-5 to the blues.

At the resumption of the second half, James O’Donoghue made his first appearance of the year. He had a massive bearing on the match scoring 0-4.

At the start of the half, Legion scored a goal courtesy of Kerry U21, Conor Keane. It wasn’t long though before O’Rahilly’s had one of their own, Barry John Keane with a tremendous finish to put his side back in the driver’s seat.

Then, the Legion fightback came with the Killarney side bossing the final quarter of the game. Clawing back points bit by bit, they found themselves a point behind with a minute to go.

In a match where inter-county stars shone, it was two Legion substitutes who would win the day. First, Kevin Slattery with the equaliser and then with virtually the last kick of the game, Chris Davies nailed the winner to sink the hearts of the home team and followers.

  Intermediate Club Championship 

John Mitchels 1-10 – 1-6 Finuge

John Mitchels continued their winning streak in league in championship so far this year by dispatching Finuge in Ballyseedy on Saturday evening.

Mitchels set themselves up for victory after a decent first half display when playing with a strong breeze.  Jonathan O’Halloran poked in an opportunists goal in the opening period giving Mitchels a cushion of 6 points going in at the break with the score 1-6 to 0-3.

Playing against the breeze for the second half did not deter Mitchels from getting a couple of scores early on from Mike Deane to really nail down a marker.

The game was not over yet though with the North Kerry men storming back at Mitchels and scoring 1-3 without reply. Sean Moloney settled things down however by tapping over two points in a row to quell any Finuge efforts.

In the next round of the intermediate club championship, The Mitchels now play An Ghaeltacht at home this Sunday at 2pm.

Junior Club Championship

Churchill 2-8 – 1-12 Na Gaeil

Na Gaeil, who have been somewhat of a bogie team for Churchill, spoiled a glorious day for the home side who officially opened their new pitch on Sunday.

There was hardly a more picturesque fixture in Irish sport this Sunday than the one played on Churchill’s new grounds on Sunday. With Sliabh Mish, Brandon and Barrow on the horizon it was a perfect day for football.

The story of the first half can be defined by two scoring bursts between both sides. With the scores poised at 0-4 apiece, Na Gaeil upped it up a gear or two.

Following on from a charging fisted point by Jack Barry, Na Gaeil hit the net courtesy of David Culloty. Churchill were soon back at them with a goal of their own, Ger McCarthy finishing the ball to the net.

Na Gaeil then also responded with a point, but McCarthy was back at them again with a soccer style finish for his second goal. After an exciting finish to the half, the scores were 2-6 to 1-7 to Churchill.

Churchill will be very disappointed that they only scored two points in the entire second half with this bad finishing cost them dearly on the day.

After Churchill stretched the margin to three points right at the start of the half, it was Na Gaeil who began to find their form and clawed their way back.

With five minutes left on the clock, Na Gaeil’s Darragh Carmody got the decisive score of the match to edge his side a point in front which would be enough.

In the next round of the junior club championship, Na Gaeil, travel to face Templenoe this Sunday at 2pm.

Ballymacelligott 0-19 – 2-10 Ballyduff 

Ballymacelligott reached the quarter final of the Junior Championship following a three point victory over Ballyduff on Sunday.

The win was forged from a sharp shooting forward line with all of the starting forwards chipping in with scores.

At the end of the first quarter the sides were level with 5 points apiece, the Ballymac scores coming from Aidan Breen (2), Padraig McCarthy, Shane O Reilly and Luke Sweeney with Jack Goulding (2) Barry O Grady (2) and JP Leahy replying for Ballyduff.

Further points by Shane O Reilly and Aidan Breen saw Ballymac lead but Ballyduff hit back with an excellent individual goal from Jack Goulding.

Three further points by Padraig McCarthy, Vincent Horan and Luke Sweeney saw the half time score, Ballymac 0 – 10 Ballyduff 1 – 5.

Two early Padraig McCarthy frees extended the home side’s lead but the excellent Barry O Grady kept the North Kerry lads in touch with some excellent point taking.

Ballymac goalkeeper, Paudie O Connor brought off a tremendous save mid-way through this half.

Points from Vincent Horan, Aidan Breen and Shane O Reilly put Ballymac in the lead by 3 pints with five minutes remaining, then a superbly taken Ballduff goal by Padraig Boyle leveled it up and at this stage the game was in the melting pot.

But the home side finished the stronger with points by Padraig McCarthy, Luke Sweeney and Daniel O Shea to progress in the competition.

In the next round of the junior club championship, Ballymac face a tough test away against division one side Glenbeigh-Glencar on Sunday at 2pm.

St Pats 4-05 – 3-14 Templenoe

For the second year in a row, St Pats made the long trip south to Templenoe for the first round of the  junior championship.

On a perfect day for football St Pats started the game brightly and played their best stuff in the opening third of the game.

After Gary ‘Lar’ Savage was pulled down and St Pats were awarded a penalty the scores were 2-3 to 0-3 to the Blennerville side with twenty minutes on the clock.

Gary ‘Lar’ Savage added a score minutes later and it seemed, there was no stopping this St Pats side.

Templenoe had other ideas though and upped their game, Killian Spillane closed the gap with a goal in the 22nd minute and it was game on again.

Templenoe pressed forward at every opportunity and added further points..

With five minutes remaining in the half, St Pats were afforded a lifeline when Willie Hurley was taken to the ground. A penalty was awarded and Kieran Hurley made no mistake from the spot to leave the score at the break 3-4 to 2-6, to St Pats.

Templenoe started the second half in determined fashion and were level after 4 minutes. With 15 minutes remaining, St Pats, netted their fourth goal, the scores now 4-04 to 3-09 with Templenoe in front by two.

In the final quarter, Templenoe outscored St Pats, by six points to one. The South Kerry’s sides drive to see out the game being the deciding factor.