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Gavin O’Connor reports on Kerins O’Rahillys comprehensive victory over East Kerry in the Garveys Super Valu Kerry SFC Round 3 match on Saturday night in Strand Road. Plus loads of action photos below…
Kerins O’Rahilly’s 4-19
East Kerry 2-8
Ross O’Callaghan wins a free after being tackled by East Kerry’s Andrew Garnett. Photo by Dermot Crean
KERINS O’Rahillys romped home with a 17 point demolition job of East Kerry in the county championship third round in Strand Road on Saturday night.
Jack Savage hit an impressive 1-9 in a match where Tommy Walsh gave a dominant display from centre field to help his side cruise to victory and into this evening’s draw.
The blues have shot the lights out two weeks on the bounce notching up a stellar combined score of 4-39 in the two games, that will have any side left wary of O’Rahillys potent attack.
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Indeed 10 players in total managed to get scores on board against an East Kerry side who were done and dusted as soon as Greg O’Connell netted at the start of the second half to put his side nine points in front.
It wasn’t all one way traffic initially however. East Kerry started the game the better side and were in fact two points to the good with 20 minutes gone in the first half.
Wing Back, Shane Cronin from Spa, was causing O’Rahilly’s the world of trouble scoring two points from play and setting up Ronan Buckley’s goal on 13 minutes.
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David Moran rises highest to claim a kick out during the game on Saturday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
On 16 minutes, Jack Savage hit the net when he linked up with Greg O’Connell to slip the goal past the East Kerry goalie from ten yards out to leave the scores 1-3 to 1-2 in favour of the divisional side.
In the final quarter of the first half though, the home side outscored the visitors 2-6 to 0-3.
Jack Savage was keeping O’Rahillys in touch unerring from frees. In fact, 27 minutes would pass before Tommy Walsh hit the first point from play for the side.
Shane Cronin replied for East Kerry, before Strand Road hit them with three scores inside three minutes in added time.
Cormac Coffey slots over a point in the second half. Photo by Dermot Crean
First Savage and Barry John Keane knocked over points, before two subs, Ross O’Callaghan and John Ferguson combined for the Blues second goal.
Ross O’Callaghan, who came on for Kevin Walsh after 15 minutes, made a surging run at goal, he laid off the ball to Ferguson who slotted the ball home to put Strand Road 2-9 to 1-5 in front going in at the break.
Now seven points down, how East Kerry started the second half would be crucial for them to try and claw their way back into the contest.
Dan O’Donoghue got the first score of the half to get the comeback going, but it wasn’t long before ruthless O’Rahilly’s crushed the rebellion.
Barry John Keane speeds past Dan O’Donoghue during Saturday’s match. Photo by Dermot Crean
After Tommy Walsh’s shot dropped short in front of the goal, Greg O’Connell, bravely put his body on the line to palm the ball into the net and put the side 12 points in front.
Despite the lead, O’Rahilly’s did not let up at all in the second half, fighting for the dirty ball and beating an increasingly demoralised East Kerry in every aspect of the game.
Tommy Walsh, was looking lean and mean, he dominated midfield, striding forward with purpose and strength.
The game was now little more than a procession. Barry O’Shea and his backroom staff were afforded the luxury of taking Barry John Keane and David Moran off early for some much needed rest.
Andrew Garnett of East Kerry fields the ball during Saturday’s match. Photo by Dermot Crean
The players sprung from the bench in the second half made an instant impact to compound East Kerry’s woes.
The veteran, Declan Quill, rolled back the years with two excellent points and ‘Mush junior’, Gavin O’Brien, hooked up with the industrious David McLoughlin for the Blues’ fourth and final goal with three minutes left on the clock.
‘Fonz’ McLoughlin’s goal, smashed emphatically into the top corner, came just a minute after Paudie Clifford’s goal for East Kerry who thought he put a small bit of respectability on the scoreboard.
But O’Rahillys were not in a generous mood.
Now Strand Road will wait for their opponents to be announced on Radio Kerry later this evening.
Con Barrett races towards goal. Photo by Dermot Crean
Scorers
Kerins O’Rahilly’s: Jack Savage 1-9 (6f) John Ferguson 1-1, David McLoughlin 1-0, Greg O’Connell 1-0, Tommy Walsh 0-2, Barry John Keane 0-2, Declan Quill 0-2, Ross O’Callaghan 0-1, Cormac Coffey 0-1, John O’Connor 0-1
East Kerry: Shane Cronin 1-4, Micheal O’Donoghue 0-4 (2f), Paudie Clifford 1-0
Teams
Kerins O’Rahilly’s: Gary Kissane, Danny O’Sullivan, Giles O’Grady, Shane Brosnan, Cormac Coffey, Kevin Walsh, Cian Sayers, David Moran, Tommy Walsh, John O’Connor, Barry John Keane, David McLoughlin, Jack Savage, Con Barrett, Greg O’Connell
Subs: Tommy Begley for Giles O’Grady, Ross O’Callaghan for Kevin Walsh, John Ferguson for Con Barrett (Black Card), Gavin Duffy for Barry John Keane, Gavin O’Brien for David Moran, Declan Quill for Greg O’Connell
East Kerry: Colin Myers (Fossa), ML B Murphy (Gneeveguilla), Jack Sherwood (Firies), Darren Brosnan (Gneeveguilla), Shane Cronin (Spa), Dan O’Donoghue (Spa), Shane Lynch (Spa), Gerry O’Sullivan (Listry), Andrew Garnett (Spa), Micheal O’Donoghue (Spa), Jeff O’Donoghue (Glenflesk), Billy O’Brien (Listry), Ronan Buckley (Listry), Liam Kearney (Spa), Dara Roche (Glenflesk)
Subs: Timmy O’Leary for Darren Brosnan, Ml Finnegan for Dan O’Donoghue, Paudie Clifford for Billy O’Brien, Lee O’Donoghue for Dara Roche
Tommy Walsh gets a shot on goal during Saturday’s match. Photo by Dermot Crean
High flying action from the game on Saturday. Photo by Dermot Crean
Declan Quill turns to celebrate a point. Photo by Dermot Crean
Jack Savage is brought down for a free. Photo by Dermot Crean
John Ferguson about to slot in Kerins O’Rahillys second goal. Photo by Dermot Crean
Tommy Walsh raises his fist as his shot sails over the bar. Photo by Dermot Crean
Jack Savage about to fire home Kerins O’Rahillys first goal. Photo by Dermot Crean
