Credit Union Co League Div 1
Kerins O’Rahillys 3-15
St Mary’s Cahirciveen 1-13
This Round 10 tie on Saturday evening saw the opposing sides enter the game with very different priorities.
The home side needed both points on offer as they sat in joint second place with Austin Stacks, Dingle and Dr Crokes, just one point behind table-toppers Rathmore. On the other hand, St Mary’s were playing mostly for pride as they were anchored to the bottom of the table and already relegated.
A win transpired for the Strand Road men after an early second half penalty extended their led to a commanding eight points and the Cahirciveen men were never able to eat into the home side’s advantage enough to give themselves a fighting chance.
Tom Hoare opening the scoring from play for Strand Road and John Ferguson then marked his return from injury with a fine point from 30 metres.
Indeed, Ferguson proved to be very influential before he was replaced midway through the second half and his return is very timely with the draw for the first round of the championship taking place on Monday evening next.
The teams then exchanged points from frees before two points in quick succession from St Marys made it three points apiece after 12 minutes. Ryan Carroll then picked out Ferguson with a pinpoint kicked pass and the centre forward was again unerring from 30 metres. David Murphy’s superb tackle then forced a turnover and the move culminated in a converted free by Hoare.
The South Kerrymen responded with a pointed free of their own, but another turnover by Danny O’Sullivan saw Ross O’Callaghan feed Ferguson and this time he split the posts from 35 metres. St Marys responded in the best possible style by putting together a defence-splitting move and the final shot was rifled home, giving Gary Kissane no chance.
Suddenly, the visitors were 1-4 to 0-6 in front, but this drew an instant reaction from O’Rahillys as they swept down the right with Ferguson passing to Hoare who found Murphy who had sallied all the way from corner back, but finished like a crack corner forward when he crashed the ball into the top of the net to restore their two-point lead.
Ferguson added to the lead, from 40 metres this time after good work from Rory O’Connor and Gearoid Dillane and although St Marys responded with a converted free, fine defending by O’Sullivan and Carroll gave the Strand Road men a platform to attack and the remaining five minutes of the half belonged to them as they kicked four points without reply.
Firstly, Sean Walsh and Ferguson combined to place Hoare who slotted over and then Dillane dissected the posts from 45 metres after very patient build-up play.
Another point followed from Hoare from 20 metres and after a foul on Paidi Griffin and Ferguson converted a free from the hands from 35 metres to complete the scoring for the first half with O’Rahillys now 1-11 to 1-5 in front.
St Marys had the benefit of the steady breeze in the second half and after an O’Rahillys’ move broke down in the final third, the South Kerryman pieced together a fine move down the left flank before kicking a fine point.
However, Strand Road swept back downfield and Ferguson’s attempt to pick out Gearóid Savage was only prevented by a foul on the corner forward and the referee had no hesitation in awarding a penalty which Carroll placed low to the keeper’s left to push O’Rahillys eight points in front.
Tom Hoare then added another after a pass from Savage and Carroll was unlucky to see his 18-metre effort just fly past the post after he was picked out by Darragh McElligott.
Carroll then had to leave the field through injury and his absence seemed to breath some life into the St Marys’ challenge as they kicked three unanswered points to make it a six-point game by the 51stminute.
Johnny Keane ended the drought for O’Rahillys with a converted free and another fine passing move released McElligott who split the posts from 20 metres, before Dillane fisted another point to restore the nine-point gap.
St Mary’s pulled a point back but with five minutes left, a flowing move up the left wing saw the ball floated across the square and Dillane dived full-length to punch the ball home – his bravery resulting in an injury which caused him to leave the field shortly afterwards.
In scoring terms, the last four minutes belonged to St Marys as they kicked three points without reply, but O’Rahillys had emptied their bench at that stage and Aaron Roche, Donagh O’Brien, Gearóid Hartnett, Rob O’Connor and Barry Foley all got valuable gametime and showed to good effect in the process.
O’ Rahillys’ victory was matched however by wins for each of the other three sides in joint second place and with Rathmore favoured to beat Kilcummin on Sunday, it’s looks like it will be “as you were” entering the final round of games on Sunday 18th August next.
On that day, O’Rahillys will be away to Kilcummin, Crokes at home to Dingle, Stacks away to St Marys, and Rathmore away to also relegated Na Gaeil.
Kerins O’Rahillys: G Kissane; D Murphy, R O’Callaghan, D O’Sullivan; R Carroll, C Coffey, D McElligott; S Walsh, S Brosnan; P Griffin, J Ferguson, R O’Connor; G Savage, T Hoare, G Dillane. Subs: S Foley, J Keane, A Roche, D O’Brien, G Hartnett, R O’Connor, J Foley, A Mangan, B Foley.
LADIES NOTES
U12 GIRLS
This Tuesday,July 30th it is our turn to host the KLGFA U12 Blitz. It all kicks off at 6.30p.m. in Ballyrickard. Joining us on the night will be Na Gaeil, Austin Stacks , Milltown / Listry A and B. Looking forward to FUN games and everyone gets to play.
SUMMER CAMP
Looking forward to seeing you at camp. Bring a friend. Our five day camp will be packed with fun and exciting activities.
U13 CHAMPIONSHIP
On Wednesday night the U13s played Scartaglin in the Championship. Our captain on the night , Sophie Hassett won the toss and we decided to play with the strong breeze.
We got off to a great start with Aoibhín O’ Connor MacCarthy scoring three early goals . Again luck wasn’t on our side and Lauren Doody had to come off with an ankle injury after 20 minutes.
Towards the end of the first half Scartaglin got into their stride to lead by 3 points at half time.
In the second half Scartaglin with the help of the strong breeze kept their momentum up and extended their lead to win at the final whistle.
Ava Ward had to come off with an injury in the second half. We were beaten by 8 points in the finish after leading the game at the start.
Well done to the girls, their coaches Pádraig, Mary, Katie, Paddy and Frank and to the parents for their great support.
All the girls should be very proud as they never gave up – great bunch !
U14 GIRLS
Texts will be sent about training times as they won’t be at the normal time this week.
The North Kerry League commences on August 12th. We are in division 1. Also in our group are Abbeydorney, Austin Stacks and Ballymac . We are home to Ballymac in the first round.
U15 CHAMPIONSHIP
We are now meeting Churchill in the Championship instead of the Spa, Killarney. More details to follow during the week.
U16 GIRLS
Texts will be sent about training this week as it won’t be at the normal time.
U17 CHAMPIONSHIP
Training continues in preparation for the quarter final when we are away to Glenflesk. Texts will be sent about training.
SENIOR LADIES
Training continues in preparation for the North Kerry League which commences on July 29th. There are five teams in division 2 – Beale / Ballyduff, Dingle, Clounmacon / Moyvane, Mitchels and ourselves. We are away to Beale / Ballyduff in the first round.
LADIES BAG PACK
Garvey’s SuperValu have kindly given us Friday, August 2nd for bag packing, from 10a.m.-6p.m. All money raised goes towards the girls day out in September before they return to school. We would appreciate if everyone could help out over the next two weekends of bag packing.
These 2 days in Garveys and Dunnes will subsidise the cost of their trip. As some of the girls are doing camp, we need others to volunteer for the morning shift. Please text Shirley (086) 8713552 for more details. Thank you!
CÚINNE NA NÓG
There was no Academy on Sunday last nor will there be next Sunday due to the club’s Summer Camp.
Summer Camp;
Our Summer Camp takes place this week and it promises to be a great week as always. The Camp will run from tomorrow, Monday, July 29th to Friday, August 2nd from 10.30am – 2pm in our normal training grounds in Ballyrickard.
A huge thank you to Declan Quill who is once again co-ordinating. Registration will be from 10am on Monday. Please ensure your child has a snack, drink, packed lunch and a change of clothes. The Camp is for girls and boys from 4 years of age up to 14 years. The cost is €30 for one child and €50 for a family of two or more (siblings).
As everyone knows, our kits have arrived!! They can be collected at anytime during Summer camp. For anyone that has not booked but wants one, please text Adrian on 085 1500199 and he will let you know if there is one available.
There’s not many spare so our advice would be to do this as soon as possible. A picture of the kit is on our Facebook page. Those who have reserved please collect as soon as you can.
You don’t have to be a club member to join in our wonderful camp or even have played football before. Everyone is welcome! For more details text Adrian (085) 1500199.
U12 Boys
The U12s will train this week in preparation for the Central Region campaign which starts on Monday week. Fixtures yet to be confirmed.
U14 Boys
The U14s were very unlucky not to progress to the Central Region final. They had a great win at home against Na Gaeil last Monday evening to progress to a semi final away to the competition favourites, Annascaul/ Lispoil in Lispole on Wednesday last. They had met this team twice before and played extremely well to lose by only three points in the end. Well done to all involved with the U14 boys in getting them so far in the competition.
Congratulations to Jake and Sean who played with the North Kerry U14 Development team against Mayo at the weekend in Gaelic Grounds LIT.
U16 Boys
Our boys continue to train hard in preparation for their County League semi final. We should have home venue and we will know our opponents next Wednesday night.
Well done to Jerome Daly and Sam McCarthy who were part of the victorious North Kerry U16 team in the LIT Gaelic Grounds last weekend and of course to Mark Fitzgerald and Maurice Horan who were part of the management team.
SNIPPETS from “top of the right”
· Congrats to Con Barrett and his partner on the birth of their baby .
· Our juvenile section and all at the club wish the best of luck to David Tommy & Gavin and all the Kerry team who play away to Meath in Navan next weekend.
· WEDDING BELLS – best wishes to one of our senior ladies Amy Smith who is getting married on the bank holiday weekend.
