IT was the opening weekend of the Credit Union Senior Football League which saw Tralee town and area teams in action at home and around the county.
Below are brief reports and scroll to the bottom to check out photos from yesterday’s action…
Division 1
Finuge 0-8 – 3-17 Kerins O’Rahilly’s
Tommy Walsh played a big part in yesterday’s win for Kerins O’Rahilly’s. File Photo
Tommy Walsh, kicked a total of 1-6 from play as Kerins O’Rahilly’s cruised to an emphatic victory against a Finuge side without the services of Paul Galvin.
The former Sydney Swan, played the game at full-forward causing havoc for the North Kerry men who couldn’t get a handle on Walsh who kicked some fine scores from left and right along with having a hand in others.
Another returning player, Con Barrett, also impressed fielding some excellent ball in midfield alongside his partner David Moran. There will be tougher tests to come, but Strand Road will be pleased with their flying start to the league campaign.
Division 2
John Mitchels 0-10 – 0-06 Templenoe
Mitchels rally of points in the second half saw them past Templenoe in Ballyseedy.
Three points without reply from Alan O’Donoghue, Sean Moloney and Ciaran Deane, was the cushion which made sure Mitchels got the new campaign off to a winning start.
It was Mitchels also who had the better start to the game scoring three on the bounce, two from Alan O’Donogue and one from Sean Moloney.
On the day, Mitchels can be very thankful of goalkeeper Dermot Raggett who made two fantastic saves with the South Kerry men left to rue a few goal chances.
John Mitchels, Alan O’Donoghue, shoots for a score. Photo by Dermot Crean.
Division 3
St Pats 1-12 – 1-10 Na Gaeil
These two newcomers to Division 3 came up against each other for the first round game.
It was a hard fought victory for St Pat’s who will be glad to get off the mark early having been relegated from division 2 last year. Na Gaeil moved the other way, but despite a late goal couldn’t get one over on the Blennerville side.
At half time Na Gaeil lead by 0-7 to 0-6 points, after soaking up some pressure at the start of the second half St Pat’s took the initiative when Gary ‘Lar’ Savage’s punched the ball to the net.
With ten minutes to go St Pats kicked three unanswered points from David O’Callaghan, Kieran Hurley and Eoin Sayers. Na Gaeil rallied late with Ian McCarthy’s goal sparking the revival, but time ran out and St Pat’s were victors by two.
Na Gaeil’s Kerry U21 player, Jack Barry rises for the ball against St Pat’s. Photo by Dermot Crean.
Keel 1-12 – 1-6 Ballymacelligott
Four unanswered points by Keel towards the end of the match left Ballymacelligott in the dust.
The game had started well for Ballymac, with Vinnie Horan hitting the net for his side. The sides would then go on to trade points. The home side’s influence soon began to show, the half ending 1-6 to 1-6 in favour of Keel.
Ballymac came out fighting in the second half playing their best football in the third quarter pulling the game back to within two points of the Mid-Kerry side.
This moved Keel into action kicking four points on the bounce to win by a six point margin.
Division 4
Churchill 1-7 – 1-9 Cordal
Churchill will be disappointed as they get off to a losing start in division 4.
Staying with their opponents at the beginning, they were hit a blow right at the end of the first half when Cordal scored a goal to go in at the break 1-5 to 0-4 ahead.
At one stage in the second half Cordal led by seven points with Kerry senior panel member Phillip O’Connor in fine form.
Soon though, Churchill began to eat in to that lead, although fortuitously when the Cordal keeper made a howler dropping the ball into his own net.
An comeback was on the cards, when Ivan Parker scored from play to pull the deficit back to one, but it wasn’t to be, with Cordal, aided by some sloppy indiscipline from the Churchill rearguard, seeing the game out by a margin of two points.
Division 5
Sneem/Derrynane 3-6 – 1-6 Austin Stack B
A second half collapse by The Rock’s second string meant they came back from the trip down south empty-handed.
Aided by stalwart, William Kirby, in midfield, Stacks went in at half time five points up, 1-4 to 0-3.
In the entire second half, the Rock only registered two points, while their South Kerry opponents hit the net three times to take the points.
It was a shaky start to life back in the senior league for the B’s after an absence of 22 years, but still they will find something to build on and may have some more well known names run out for them over the course of the year.
Scroll down for images from some of the games…
William Kirby in action for the Austin Stack B’s in Sneem. Photo by Adrienne McLoughlin.
Action from the Austin Stacks v Sneem/Derrynane game yesterday in Sneem. Photo by Adrienne McLoughlin
John Mitchels, Ciaran Deane, attempts to get a handle on Templenoe’s, Killian Spillane. Photo by Dermot Crean.
John Mitchels Sean Moloney and Alan O’Donoghue puts the Templenoe defence under pressure. Photo by Dermot Crean.
John Mitchels Daniel Kerins, marshals a Templenoe attacker. Photo by Dermot Crean.
John Mitchels, Stephen O’Mahony, gets on the ball against Temolenoe in the opening round of the county league division 2. Photo by Dermot Crean.
John Mitchels Shane O’Connell, attacks the Templenoe defence. Photo by Dermot Crean.
A Templenoe player attempts to block Micheal Wrenn. Photo by Dermot Crean.
John Mitchels Michael Wrenn looks to get the ball in a dangerous area with teammate, Jonathan O’Halloran close by. Photo by Dermot Crean.
Na Gaeil get ready for their opening round game against St Pat’s. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.
Na Gaeil’s, Shane Carey, shoots at goal againstb St Pat’s in the opening game of the county league. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.
St Pat’s Sean Hayes, gets a pass away against Na Gaeil. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.
St Pat’s Willie Hurley on the ball while Na Gaeil’s, Ross Culloty attempts to shepherd him away from goal. Photo by Dermot Crean.
Na Gaeil’s, Dan O’Connor attempts to drive at the St Pat’s defence. Photo by Dermot Crean.
Na Gaeil’s, Dan O’Connor and St Pat’s, Micheal O’Sullivan, contest a kick out in midfield. Photo by Dermot Crean.
St Pat’s huddle around before throw-in of their opening county league game against Na Gaeil. Photo by Dermot Crean.
Kevin O’Shea for St Pat’s shoots for goal with Na Gaeil’s, Dan O’Connor doing his utmost to put him off. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.
