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Stefan Okunbor and James O’Connor celebrate at the final whistle. Photo: Dermot Crean
Na Gaeil 0-13
Beaufort 1-7
REMARKABLE.
That’s one word to describe Na Gaeil’s victory this afternoon in Fitzgerald Stadium. Tenacious, determined, calm and lionhearted are a few more adjectives to throw at them.
For a team whose preparation for this Intermediate Club Championship Final against Beaufort can at best be filed under ‘not ideal’, the way they won this game showed what their management team knew they were capable of when backs were against the wall.
No Jack Barry, captain Eoin Doody unavailable and with Diarmuid O’Connor still recovering from a horror hand injury, the bookies had the mid-Kerry side as favourites, but the Oakpark outfit were out to prove them all wrong.
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They did the heavy lifting in the first half, aided by a strong wind, when they went in at the short whistle 0-8 to 0-2 up.
They knew Beaufort would come back though and a goal from Jack O’Connor five minutes after the restart brought them to within a score.
High-fielding action. Photo: Dermot Crean
But each time Beaufort scored a point, Na Gaeil went right back down the other end to reply. While they narrowed the gap to two point with just minutes to go, a Dara Devine free restored the three point advantage in the 64th minute and that was that.
The skies were gloomy as the game got underway with many surprised to see inter-county star Diarmuid O’Connor in the starting line-up after his injury playing with St Brendans two weeks ago.
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Despite playing with the wind, it was Beaufort who looked sharper in the early stages and were rewarded with a point by Kieran Dennehy in the second minute.
Jack Sheehan celebrates a score. Photo: Dermot Crean
Na Gaeil settled though and Andrew Barry scored a wonderful point from distance for an inspirational first score on 15 minutes.
Diarmuid O’Connor scored a majestic point from around 45 yards out near the sideline a minute later and Jack Sheehan got another almost straight from the kickout as the Tralee side found their rhythm.
Points by Darragh Carmody and Jack Bourke helped them to an 0-8 to 0-1 lead, but a Fergal Hallissey free for Beaufort on the stroke of half-time cut the lead to six.
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Diarmuid O’Connor in action. Photo by Dermot Crean
Beaufort were tenacious on the restart and were rewarded on the 35th minute with that Dennehy goal to narrow the gap to three, 0-8 to 1-2.
However, Na Gaeil responded well a few minutes later with a Darragh Carmody free. And so it continued with Beaufort getting a score only for Na Gaeil to restore the lead.
When Tomás Ó hAiniféin scored just before the second water break, Na Gaeil were 0-11 to 1-4 up and looking comfortable, despite playing against that wind.
They got another on the 49th minute from Jack Sheehan to go five up and it looked like the mid-Kerry would have to do something special to snatch a win.
Darragh Reen on the attack. Photo by Dermot Crean
They never gave up though and by the 58th minute they had pulled it back to a two-point game 0-12 to 1-7.
However, Na Gaeil continued to defend brilliantly in the final stages and when that late free from Devine went over, it was clear the cup was going to Tralee.
The emotional scenes at the final whistle were a joy to see for all the Oakpark club’s followers as the realisation they will be playing in the senior championship kicked in.
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Diarmuid O’Connor and Kieran Dineen lifted the cup while Andrew Barry deservedly won the Man of the Match award, but this was the ultimate team effort and one that will live long in the memory for everyone involved in Na Gaeil.
TEAM: D Burns; E O’Connor, N O’Mahony, D Bourke; F Barry, A Barry, O Maunsell; J Bourke, S Okunbor; J O’Connor, D Goggin, D O’Connor; T Ó hAiniféin, J Sheehan, D Carmody.
SUBS USED: D Reen for O Maunsell, D O’Connor for D Goggin, D Devine for D Bourke , K Dineen for D Carmody, J Lowham for J O’Connor.
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Diarmuid O’Connor and Kieran Dineen lift the cup. Photo: Dermot Crean
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Champions. Photo: Dermot Crean
Photo: Dermot Crean
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Niall O’Mahony and Diarmuid Herlihy celebrate. Photo: Dermot Crean
Photo; Dermot Crean
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Photo: Dermot Crean
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