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Gavin O’Connor describes how Kerins O’Rahilly’s won last night’s Acorn Life Kerry Under 21 County Championship Final against East Kerry in Castleisland (plus loads of action photos below)…
Cian Sayers of Kerins O’Rahillys on the ball in the second half. Photo by Dermot Crean.
Kerins O’Rahillys 2-15
East Kerry 2-9
KERINS O’RAHILLY’s upset the odds with barnstorming performance in U21 county championship final to defeat hot favorites East Kerry by six points.
Goals from either sides of the half by Cormac Coffey and Diarmuid O’Sullivan, helped the blues to their first ever county U21 crown, sparking huge celebrations from the big crowd in Castleisland from Strand Road who travelled out for the U21 showpiece.
The win also means Cormac Coffey, will surely have the honour of captaining the Kerry U21 team, next year.
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Kerins O’Rahilly’s Gary O’Brien, contests a high ball. Photo by Dermot Crean.
East Kerry were hotly tipped and had been from the start of the competition, but right from the get-go, O’Rahilly’s were after racing into a six point lead after 12 minutes, which could have been more had Ronan Quill converted a goal chance.
The blues had total dominance of midfield, Gavin O’Brien, performing exceptionally well, climbing high and breaking for his ferocious teammates who gobbled up breaks.
East Kerry were clearly rattled, they spurned a number of frees and attempts to get on the board. O’Rahilly’s keeper, Robert O’Connor, came to the aid of his side on 17 minutes he saved a goal attempt Lee O’Donoghue.
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Cormac Coffey, fires a shot at goal, while East Kerry’s James McCarrick attempts to get close. Photo by Dermot Crean.
Such was the sign of their dominance, the Blues soon added another to make it 0-7 to no score when the buzzing Ronan Quill, who was causing havoc in the East Kerry back line, kicking his second point.
It would take East Kerry, 23 minutes before they troubled the scoreboard, when their fourth man to have a cut at a free, Paudie Clifford, pointed.
The divisional side would put two more points on the board but just as quick, they received two big blows, first losing ace forward, Conor Keane, for an off the ball black card infringement, and secondly a superbly executed Strand Road goal.
With almost time up in the half, the industrious, Padraig Griffin, won a break in midfield and laid the ball to Cian Sayers, who took off down the park. He then supplied a hand pass to the overlapping Cormac Coffey, who cut inside the full-back line and smashed the ball to the roof of the net.
There was time in the half to add one more score, ending an almost flawless performance by O’Rahillys, 1-9 to 0-3.
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Ronan Quill, cuts inside his marker, James O’Donoghue, in the lead up to Kerins O’Rahilly’s, second goal. Photo by Dermot Crean.
East Kerry were left with a hell of a lot to do in the second half, but received two lifelines at the beginning of the period, when two errors in the O’Rahillys full back line ended with the ball in the net. The goals came from Gary O’Sullivan and Kerry junior player, Liam Kearney.
From being in a commanding nine point lead at half time, Strand Road, were pegged back to within two points after just ten minutes of the first half. But such was the night, O’Rahilly’s had all the answers.
With his team in trouble, the boundless, Coffey showed leadership, winning dirty ball in midfield and turning on a sixpence in the midst of a hail of bodies to provide a perfectly weighted pass into corner forward Quill who took on his man, cut inside and laid off a hand pass to the onrushing, Diarmuid O’Sullivan, who palmed the ball to the net.
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Kerins O’Rahilly’s Mitchell Donnelly, watches on as Liam Kearney, right, celebrates, East Kerry’s second goal. Photo by Dermot Crean.
When faced with a resurgent East Kerry, the blues scored 1-2 without reply within four minutes to once again stretch the lead out to seven points, which barring two more slip-ups in the backline, sealed this game as a contest.
The crowd knew as much when Quill got his third of the night, scoring impressively off his right on the right side, 40 yards out from goal.
East Kerry, tried in vain in the dying exchanges, but could not force a goal. Tension began to build from the Strand Road following as referee, Jonathan Griffin, played over five minutes of added time.
When the whistle went it sparked huge celebrations on and off the pitch.
Jack Savage on the ball. Photo by Dermot Crean.
Overall, it was as good a performance you could see from an U21 side, in every area O’Rahilly’s were dominant, but the impressive Cormac Coffey, was the man who stood out above all on the night. But that’s not to take away from his teammates display.
The team attacked the match with drive, passion, intensity, style and flair from the start to the very finish.
There were no antics or blanket defences here, it was how football should be played. The victory and the way the players conducted themselves will be a source of pride for the people of Strand Road for many years to come.]
Who knows, it may be the start of greater glories.
More photos below…
Scorers
Kerins O’Rahilly’s: J Savage 0-7 f, C Coffey 1-3, D O Sullivan 1-0, R Quill 0-3, B Scannell and G Savage 0-1 each
East Kerry: L Kearney 1-2 ( 0-2 frees), G O’Sullivan 1-1, P Clifford 0-2 frees, G Kelly and C Keane 0-1 frees, D O’Donoghue and S Cronin 0-1 each
Teams
Kerins O’Rahilly’s: Robert O’Connor, David Murphy, Martin Tierney, Tommy Begley, Karl Mullins, Cormac Coffey, Mitchell Donnelly, Diarmuid O’Sullivan, Cian Sayers, Gavin O’Brien, Jack Savage, Brian Scannell, Gearoid Savage, Padraig Griffin, Ronan Quill
Subs: D Ronan for K Mullins (h/t), R Carroll for G Savage (54), E Carroll for C Sayers (54), G Nolan for P Griffin (60), D Nix for G O’Brien (60)
East Kerry: Aaron Farrell (Spa), Shane Courtney (Glenflesk), D.J. Murphy (Gneeveguilla), Cathal Sheahan (Legion), Dan O’Donoghue (Spa), Shane Cronin (Spa) James O’Donoghue (Firies), Liam Kearney(Spa), Kieran Murphy (Glenflesk), Padraig de Brún (Firies), Paudie Clifford (Fossa), Garry O’ Sullivan (Listry), Lee O’Donoghue (Glenflesk), Craig Hickey (Spa) Conor Keane (Legion)
Subs: J McCarrick ( Glenflesk) for C Sheahan (23) , G Kelly ( Glenflesk) for C Keane ( B/c 23), P O’Sullivan ( Gneeveguilla ) for J O’Donoghue ( 46), M Rennie ( Fossa) for C Hickey ( 46), T O’Shea ( Fossa) for L O’Donoghue ( 56)
Ronan Quill, celebrates his third point with an ecstatic, John O’Connor, on the sideline. Photo by Dermot Crean.
Jack Savage, fires a shot at goal, while East Kerry’s James O’Donoghue, attempts a block. Photo by Dermot Crean.
Manager, Ray Walsh, celebrates with midfielder, Cian Sayers. Photo by Photo by Dermot Crean.
Cormac Coffey, with his man of the match award and Tommy Begley with the cup. Photo by Dermot Crean.
Cian Sayers, attempts the block on East Kerry’s, Gary O’Sullivan. Photo by Dermot Crean.
Gavin O’Brien and East Kerry’s, Kieran Murphy contest a kick out. Photo by Dermot Crean.
Captain Martin Tierney with Kerry County Board Chairman Pat O’Sullivan. Photo by Dermot Crean.
The very happy management team after the match of Shane Ronan (selector), Ray Walsh (manager), Morgan Nix (selector), Dave Keane (Selector). Photo by Dermot Crean.
Cormac Coffey, is presented with his man of the match. Photo by Dermot Crean.
Petie Ronan, Pa O’Sullivan, Pat Flavin and Jimmy Murphy after the victory. Photo by Dermot Crean.
Jimmy Foley, Donie Houlihan and Mikey Keane celebrating the win. Photo by Dermot Crean
Ryan Carroll charges at goal past East Kerry’s Kieran Murphy. Photo by Dermot Crean.
