Round five of the county league took place over the weekend in which there were five Tralee area sides in action with only one side victorious. Here is our GAA Weekend Round-up.
Saturday
County League Division 1
Waterville 0-15
Kerins O’Rahillys 2-9
(Report from Kerins O’Rahilly’s Notes)
The blues made the trip down South to face Waterville. This was a tricky fixture on the outset as Waterville had claimed a notable scalp the week before with a win over Kilcummin away.
This was a classic game of two halves with Kerins O’Rahillys dominating the first half and Waterville taking control in the second.
The wind had a major part to play in this game it favoured Kerins O’Rahillys in the first half which they dominated completely. The game was only a minute old when in a move involving John C O’Connor, and Greg O’Connell set up the experienced Declan Quill for a peach of a goal.
A pointed free by Declan Quill and a great run by the impressive Kevin Walshe who sent a low ground shot to the corner of the net to put O’Rahilly’s ahead 2-01 to Waterville’s 0-01 after 10 minutes. They nearly had a third straight after but Jack Savage’s shot was blocked on the line.
Two points by Declan and Ronan Quill put O’Rahillys ahead by 2-03 to Waterville’s 0-02 at the 16th minute. There was great defending in this half from Andrew Thompson, Cian Foley, David Murphy, Martin Tierney and Mitchell Donnelly for the Blues.
Further points from Greg O’Connell, John Ferguson, and two Declan Quill pointed frees left the score at half time 2-07 to Waterville’s 0-04.
For the second half, the strong wind was now in Waterville’s favour and they put over two rapid points before O’Rahilly’s replied with a Greg O’Connell point and another from Jack Savage leaving the scores 2-09 to Waterville’s 0-07 on the 40th minute.
But Waterville began to dominate and a string of points had them within two points of Kerins O’Rahillys by the 53rd minute. An O’Rahillys goal was disallowed when Declan Quill was judged to have picked up the ball after he slotted it to the net.
Right at the death Waterville equalised and time ran out for both sides, a draw being a fair result.
Despite dropping points Kerins O’Rahilly’s remain in top spot in Division 1, though ominously for them, Crokes, after their win over Kilcummin, are only a point behind. Stacks are also only two points behind, The Rock with two games in hand.
Sunday
County League Division 2
Castleisland Desmonds 1-14
John Mitchels 1-12
Mitchels keep their position in the middle of the back on 4 points.
St Patrick’s Blennerville 0-12
Glenbeigh-Glencar 1-11
(Report from St Pat’s Notes)
St Pat’s remain pointless at the bottom of Division after another narrow defeat against Junior Championship semi finalists 
Glenbeigh/Glencar.
Played in dry but blustry Blennerville on Sunday, St Pats had the better of the opening exchanges with points from captain Liam O’Sullivan, a long range Kieran Hurley free and well worked point from play Brendan Poff.
This gave them a three point lead going into the second quarter and it seemed at that stage that Glenbeigh/Glencar would rue a number of missed opportunities, kicking six wides in total in the first fifteen minutes.
They opened their account in the 18th minute with a point from wing back Bernard Murphy. This was quickly cancelled out by a pointed free from by Andy Byrne in the 20th minute and St Pats were cruising.
However an astute move by Glenbeigh/Glencar paid immediate dividends. Murphy moved from wing back up to the forward line and he caused St Pats an array of problems. They scored a total of 1-5 in the closing ten minutes of the first half which essentially won them the game.
Points came from Murphy, Jeremiah Hoare, Stephen O’Sullivan and two frees from county U21 Gavan O’Grady. The goal came right at the stroke of half time from Kieran Courtney after a well worked move involving Murphy & O’Grady. St Pats only score in this period was a free from Kieran Hurley in the 58th minute.
HT St Pats 0-5 Glenbeigh/Glencar 1-6. Glenbeigh/Glencar had the brighter start of the second half with some driving runs from Kerry Senior panellist Pa Kilkenny drawing two frees which O’Grady converted. They now had a six point lead but St Pats kept in touch with points from Kieran Hurley and Brendan Poff.
Danny O’Sullivan replied with a nice point from play in the 45th minute but was quickly cancelled out by Willie Hurley, younger brother of Kieran.
Going into the final quarter, Glenbeigh/Glencar lead by 1-9 to 0-8 and they extended their lead in the 50th minute with a point from play by Courtney. Kieran Hurley added another point from play for St Pats in the 51st minute.
The home side then moved substitute Eoin Sayers to wing back which released Liam Poff and he began to dominate the midfield exchanges, ably assisted by the two O’Sullivans, Michael & Liam.
St Pats had a great goal chance in the 52nd minute when substitute Joe Costello put Jake Foley one on one with Rory O’Connor and his effort hit the bottom of the post.
Glenbeigh/Glencar scored from a free by O’Grady in the 54th minute and the game looked beyond the home side. However to their credit, they never gave up and they closed the gap to two points with two frees; one each from Kieran Hurley & Liam O’Sullivan, and another point from play by Brendan Poff.
However, try as they must to get the elusive goal, Glenbeigh/Glencar held out for a good victory and probably deserved it as they missed a number of opportunities throughout, but particularly in the first half. Best for St Pats were Paul McMahon, Liam O’Sullivan, Brendan Poff & Kieran Hurley.
Glenbeigh/Glencar were best served by Man Of The Match Bernard Murphy, Pa Kilkenny, Gavan O’Grady and goal-scorer Kieran Courtney. Referee Paddy White had a good game, letting it flow and it was also good to see he had a team of 4 umpires on the day.
St Pats: P Bailey, P O’Connor, K O’Sullivan, J Foley, L Mulligan, P McMahon, T O’Connor, L O’Sullivan (0-2), M O’Sullivan, A Byrne (0-1f), K Hurley (0-5 3f), B Poff (0-3), L Poff, W Hurley (0-1) & G Savage. Subs: J Costello for A Byrne (inj 45mins), E Sayers for G Savage 46mins & S Dowling for L Mulligan (BC 52mins).
Remaining County League Fixtures are as follows: Listry (A) June 14/15th; Legion (H) June 28/29th; Gneevguilla (A) 26/27th July; Laune Rangers (H); Kenmare (A) 6/7th Sept; Tarbert (H) TBC.
County League Division 3
Ballymacelligott 2-14
Annascaul 3-13
Another loss means Ballymac see no movement and remain bottom of the division with two points.
(Report from the Ballymacelligott notes)
They relinquished two valuable Co. League points in the most cruel fashion with the concession of a goal with the last kick of the game against Annascaul on Saturday night on home soil.
The visitors dominated the first half and led at half time on a score of 1-7 to 0-5 their goal coming in the 12th minute. Annascual started the 2nd half the better and five minutes into it led on a score of 2-9 to 0-6. Their second goal coming from a penalty.
Ballymac deserve great credit for the come back which ensued. Two goals in the 11th and 12th minute from Daniel O Shea and Aidan Breen (penalty) and points from Gene Griffin (3), Aidan Breen and Padraig McCarthy saw them leading with 10 minutes remaining on a score of 2-12 to 2-10.
In an exciting finish the sides swapped points and Ballymac seemed set for victory leading by a point with time almost up. However, in the final play of the game the West Kerry snatched a winner.
While Ballymac were disappointed with this loss they can look forward to the rest of the Co. League campaign with confidence based on an excellent second half performance.
Team: P Laide, B O Donnell, TJ Casey, Denis Leen, C. Counihan, K O Shea, M Leen, C Reynolds, P Galvin, D O Shea, G Griffin, E Reidy, L Sweeney, A Breen, Dermot Leen. Subs: P McCarth
County League Division 4
Na Gaeil 1-14
Beale 1-11
That win puts Na Gaeil on top of the division on ten points, two points ahead of Beale in second place.
