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Champions. Photo by Dermot Crean
Munster Senior Club Championship Final
Kerins O Rahillys. 2-06.
Newcastlewest 1-08
Kerins O’Rahillys won their first Munster club senior football title at a sunny Mallow, the match changed from Pairc Ui Rinn due to weather concerns, but they had to survive a late scare from Newcastle West.
Tommy Walsh was the toast of Strand Road as his aerial ability at the edge of the square was the winning of this Munster Club SFC final in Mallow.
A first senior provincial title for Kerins O’Rahillys in only their second final, Walsh was a constant threat to Newcastle West and turned the game early in the second half.
The former young footballer of the year was integral to both O’Rahillys’ goals in that period, scoring the first in the 34th minute when he caught a Jack Savage diagonal ball and fired home, and setting up the second five minutes later, again collecting a direct ball and offloading for Barry John Keane to finish.
That goal immediately cancelled out a Mike McMahon three-pointer seconds before, the target man availing of Cian Sheehan’s effort coming off the post and sliding the ball under Shane Foley.
Kerins O’Rahillys, who didn’t score from play in the opening half, didn’t trouble the scoreboard for the remainder but Newcastle West’s four points, all Eoin Hurley frees, weren’t enough.
Facing the low sun in the first half, O’Rahillys opened the scoring in the first minute when Jack Savage sent over a free won by Gavin O’Brien as he was about to fire towards the posts.
However, it was another 12 minutes before they scored again. In the intervening period, Newcastle West scored twice, the first a free by Eoin Hurley after Sheehan had been upended. Shane Stack sent over a long effort from play in the 11th minute.
Savage sent over a 50-metre free in the 13th minute to square matters but Newcastle West were back in front when Hurley converted another free earned by the roving Sheehan.
Four yellow cards were dished out in the opening 16 minutes and some of referee Seán Lonergan’s decisions drew the ire of both sets of supporters.
The only goal chance of the half fell to Tommy Walsh in the 23rd minute when he caught and turned only for his shot to be blocked.
Savage then dropped another long-range free short and in a moment that summed up O’Rahillys’ frustrations and had shades of the semi-final David Moran was penalised for charging.
Registering five first-half wides, Newcastle West themselves were edgy but they looked sharper with ball in hand and Iain Corbett shot a mighty point to double their lead in the 29th minute.
David Moran and Gavin O’Brien and Tommy Walsh won vital possessions in additional time to lift the siege on O’Rahillys.
An All-Ireland semi-final against Kilmacud Crokes will focus minds over the Christmas, but we will enjoy this early present first.
The team arrived back to Strand Road and were met by a huge crowd of supporters young and old as the celebrations continued late into the night.
Scorers for Kerins O’Rahillys: T Walsh 1-1 (0-1m), B J Keane 1-0, J Savage 0-2 (2f), C Coffey, T Hoare, B Hanafin 0-1 each
Kerins O’Rahillys: Shane Foley; Darragh McElligott, Ross O’Callaghan, Cormac Coffey, Con Barrett, Karl Mullins, Padraig Neenan; David Moran, Tom Hoare; Gearoid Savage, Jack Savage, Gavin O’Brien; Barry John Keane, Tommy Walsh, Conor Hayes.
Subs: Ben Hanafin for G Savage (ht), Ryan Carroll for Barrett (38), Diarmuid O’Sullivan for C Hayes (58)
NÓTAÍ NA mBAN That feeling when the senior men in our club have just won the Munster Club Championship…
Our heartiest congrats to our men and management on winning the AIB Munster Senior Club Championship title for the first time on Saturday last.
There were huge celebrations as the blue and white colours were celebrated in the town of Tralee from the monument in Clashlehane roundabout to our clubhouse .
Huge congrats and credit is due to our wonderful players who are such great role models for the girls and boys in our club. Congrats also to our senior management and back room team on motivating our team to strive to such high standards and believe in themselves. Finally great credit is due to our community, members, senior committee with Haulie at the helm , working tirelessly day in and day out.
Enjoy the celebrations … so well deserved! Our schools are so looking forward to a visit from our players and the Michael O’ Connor Cup.
U12 GIRLS
Weather conditions unfortunately forced a change in plans for last Sunday’s trip to Cork.
Despite our best efforts to make it happen, it just wasn’t possible on the day. We explored the option of travelling by train but there just weren’t enough seats !
Don’t despair though as we got in contact with the organisers and they are giving us another date, TBC during the week.
The health and safety of our players was number one and we’re so delighted that we will be heading off on our trip after Christmas.
KLGFA AWARDS NIGHT
Well done to everyone and what a night it was …
A special mention for those from our club who received awards or were involved with teams – Declan Quill, Frank McLoughlin, Aoibheann McCarthy and Saoirse O’ Connor Maccarthy .
MINORS
Messages have been sent out about Kerry S&C to each player who is involved.
UNDERAGE TRIALS
All underage trials and training had to be cancelled last weekend.Texts will be sent out during the week.
GOALKEEPING ACADEMY
Cancelled because of the weather, messages will be set to those attending when we have news.
Club Function Rooms to Rent.
The club currently have two function rooms available to rent.
The upstairs Pat Healy Room is a large function room perfect for exercise classes, seminars, meetings, private functions , parties etc.
Downstairs is a smaller more intimate venue again ideal for any event.
The rooms are available at hourly, daily or weekly rates.
For further information contact Katie at 087 6967542
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