Intermediate Club Football Championship

John Mitchels  1-16  

Skellig Rangers 1-11

Extra time was needed in what was a classic championship encounter bathed in sunshine in Ballyseedy last Saturday evening.

The first half was a hard fought affair with Mitchels having the share of possession and benefiting from a slight breeze.

Only for some excellent defending from the South Kerry men the Tralee side would have gone in with more than the two point advantage at the break, the sides finishing 0-5 to 0-3.

The second half began feverishly with the two sides exchanging scores, Stephen O’ Sullivan pointing for Rangers while Niall Sheehy and Jamie Moriarty replied for the ex Boherbee men.

Despite Mitchels dominance at midfield and under the breaking ball Skellig Rangers remained in touch.

With minutes remaining Bernard Casey fired Rangers into the lead with a pointed effort off his left boot, Mitchels however scored from the next attack, Niall Sheehy slotting over a free to leave the sides level ten apiece at the end of normal time.

Extra time beckoned and both sides began to show signs of fatigue, but it was Mitchels who came out of the opening half of extra time the better leading by just the solitary point.

It was the second half that saw most of the action with Rangers taking the lead when Aidan Dash O’ Sullivan hammered home to the roof of the net and put his sides two points ahead, but that would be their final score.

Mitchels shown resolve to came right back at them with two unanswered points, but it was Niall Sheehy who struck the fatal blow, flicking the ball to the net late on to put his side through to the next round.