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Jack Savage. File Photo
KERINS O’Rahillys secured the Kerry Petroleum Senior Club Championship for the first time since 2010 and will now represent Kerry in the Munster Championship at the end of November.
They beat Templenoe by 0-15 to 0-14 in the decider played at Fitzgerald Stadium this afternoon. Killian Spillane had a chance to send the game to extra-time with a 35 yard free but it fell short and the ref blew up to spark scenes of unbridled joy among the Strand Road team and supporters.
The Tralee club started the game well with two points in the first minute from Gavin O’Brien and Conor Hayes extended that to 0-5 to 0-1 with just seven minutes gone.
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Templenoe were keeping in touch though and while the Strand Road club were playing better football, they led by just a point 0-5 to 0-4 midway through the first half.
The Tralee men through Barry John Keane (2) and Tommy Walsh extended the lead to three (0-8 to 0-5) by the 21st minute, but they couldn’t shake off the Templenoe challenge and Killian Spillane led the charge and pegged back their lead to one by the short whistle 0-10 to 0-9.
Templenoe came out meaning business with Killian Spillane equalising and they led for the first time on 32 minutes when Sean Sheehan pointed.
However, that was cancelled out a few minutes later by Barry John Keane to leave it 0-11 apiece after 36 minutes.
A wonderful point by Jack Savage received a prompt reply from the imperious Killian Spillane moments later, only for Savage again to put Rahillys ahead on 45 minutes.
That man Savage scored two more frees and with 52 minutes gone they stretched the lead to three points 0-15 to 0-12.
Kerins O’Rahillys missed a gilt-edged chance to put the matter to bed on 57 minutes but the ball was cleared downfield and Templenoe won a free to narrow the gap to two.
A minute into injury time Templenoe got another point to leave the bare minimum between them. Three minutes into injury time Kerins O’Rahillys had a chance to extend that lead but the ball went wide.
Then, with the last kick of the game, Killian Spillane had a 35 yard free to send the game to extra-time, but it fell short and Kerins O’Rahillys held on for victory.
There’ll be some celebrations in Strand Road tonight!
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