Senior Men’s Match Report
County League Division 1 – Round 7 Kerins O’Rahillys 2-11 (17) | Spa 2-04 (10)
Kerins O’Rahillys secured a vital two league points with a hard-fought and well-deserved seven-point victory over Spa at Strand Road on Sunday afternoon.
In a game played in very difficult weather conditions, a solid collective defensive effort and a masterclass in finishing from joint captain Darragh O’Connor proved to be the difference.
Management was forced into several late changes before throw-in, with Donagh Buckley, Seamus Cahill, and Ben O’Brien dropping out, to be replaced by Brayden Pierce, Nick Lacey, and Conor O’Sullivan.
Despite playing into a strong wind and teeming rain in the first half, Strand Road controlled the early possession. The opening score arrived in the third minute when good work from Gearóid Dillane set up Conor O’Sullivan for a well-taken point. Darragh O’Connor followed this up with a free after Daniel Bowler was fouled on a driving run.
Handling errors from both sides were inevitable given the heavy rain, and despite O’Rahillys owning the ball, it was Spa who struck the first major blow. Somewhat against the run of play, a speculative Spa ball to the back post was bundled into the net by Shane Cronin.
The response from the Blues was immediate and emphatic. Good forward play saw Nick Lacey find Darragh O’Connor, who ruthlessly buried the ball into the corner of the net to restore the advantage.
The game hit a lull midway through the half, disrupted by injuries that saw both Conor Hayes and Spa’s Dara Moynihan forced off with apparent hamstring issues, with Padraig Griffin entering the fray for Strand Road.
Spa enjoyed a brief purple patch before the break, landing two quick points through Evan Cronin and Cian Murphy to level the game.
However, the last statement of the half came deep in stoppage time. Padraig Griffin and Jake Hoare executed a brilliant turnover in defence, launching a quick counter-attack that yielded a free 50 metres out.
Stepping up to the difficult kick, Darragh O’Connor expertly nailed the two-pointer off the deck, sending the Narries into the dressing room with a 1-04 (7) to 1-02 (5) lead.
The second half began perfectly for the home side. Facing high pressure from Spa, patient possession eventually broke the lines, finding O’Connor in space to bury his second goal of the game.
Spa replied with a point from Cian Murphy and enjoyed a period of dominance, but the Strand Road rearguard held firm, highlighted by two crucial turnovers from Tom Hoare right in front of the goal in quick succession.
The Blues capitalized on a Spa defensive error shortly after, with O’Connor converting a free after a penalized pass back to the goalkeeper.
Evan Cronin registered a sweet point off the outside of the boot for Spa, but O’Rahillys began to stretch their legs.
O’Connor pointed from play, and moments later, Tom Hoare linked up superbly with Gearóid Dillane to set O’Connor up for another. Shane McElligott then got in on the act, pointing after a brilliant turnover from Conor O’Sullivan, before O’Connor tapped over another free.
With the hosts adding another point from play to extend the gap through Ben Hanafin, the result was effectively secured. Spa did manage a late consolation goal when a long ball was bundled home by Eoin Fitzgerald, but it was too little, too late.
As Spa pushed forward leaving gaps at the back, the tireless Tom Hoare surged forward to fist a final point over the bar, capping off an incredibly solid second-half performance.
This was a gritty, determined victory built on relentless defensive work and clinical execution when it mattered most.
Kerins O’Rahillys: Con Barrett; Brayden Pierce, Jake Foley, Gearóid Dillane; Ben Hanafin, TJ Heaphy, Daniel Bowler; Tom Hoare, Barry John Keane; Nick Lacey, Conor Hayes, Shane McElligott; Jake Hoare, Darragh O’Connor, Conor O’Sullivan.
Subs used: Padraig Griffin, Ryan Carroll, Gearóid Savage, Ben O’Brien.
Kerins O’Rahillys Scorers: Darragh O’Connor 2-07 (tpf, 3f), Conor O’Sullivan 0-01, Shane McElligott 0-01, Ben Hanafin 0-01, Tom Hoare 0-01.
Kerry U20s – All-Ireland Final Bound!
Congratulations to the Kerry U20s who secured their place in the All-Ireland Final after a thrilling 3-17 to 0-17 extra-time victory over Roscommon last week. Everyone at Strand Road is incredibly proud of our own Tomás Kennedy, who put in a great shift to score 1-03, with his crucial goal coming in the second half of extra time to help seal the win.
Congratulations also to squad member Ruairí Kennedy, and to clubmen Mark Fitzgerald and Maurice Horan who were instrumental on the sideline as part of the management team. Next stop, the All-Ireland Final!
.Kerry U15 Development Squad
Well done to our own Rian Tuohy and Cameron Quirke, who proudly represented the Kerry U15 Development Squad over the weekend in their clash against Kildare. It is brilliant to see the Strand Road lads progressing and representing the club in the green and gold!
Senior Ladies
Our Senior Ladies are back in Donal Curtin County League action this Wednesday evening, May 20th. We are on the road playing Brosna (V92 CX32) with throw-in scheduled for 7:30 PM. Best of luck to the ladies!
Minor Girls – County Final!
Best wishes to our Minor Girls who face off against Moyvane in the Credit Union KLGFA County League Division 3 Final at Strand Road on Monday night.
Throw-in is at 7:00 PM. Let’s get a massive home crowd down to get behind the girls as they go for glory! (Admission: General €7, Students & OAPs €5, Under 18s go FREE).
U14 Girls
Our U14 girls played Firies last Monday evening in the final round of phase 1 in the county league. Kerins O’Rahillys got off to a great start, scoring in the first few minutes which gave them the confidence to push on and get some more outstanding scores. Some fantastic passing was on display by everyone.
Academy
Academy training on Sunday morning can only be described in three words: Wet, wet, wet! We must commend all the brave little ones who were not deterred from showing up.
Conditions were atrocious, so genuinely fair play to them all! Keep up the practice, and hopefully, we’ll have better weather next weekend.
Mothers & Others
We had a great evening in Pat Healy Park last week as our Mothers & Others welcomed Churchill M&O for a friendly game. There were some great football skills on display by both teams, and everyone had great fun.
A big thanks to referee Cliona who did a fantastic job on the night. Afterwards, everyone enjoyed a cuppa and plenty of chatting. The evening really embodied what Mothers & Others is all about — fun, friendship, community, and football. Thanks to Churchill for making the trip!
.Club Bar Update: ‘Temporary Charlie’s’ is Open!
There was a brilliant buzz in the newly opened Bistro Bar over the weekend! Massive thanks to all the volunteers who worked miracles on a very tight schedule to get the space open on time while Charlie’s undergoes renovations.
The atmosphere was great for the opening night on Saturday and again around the Senior Men’s game on Sunday. Make sure to drop in for a pint and a chat over the coming weeks!
Club Lotto Results
Results from Monday, May 11th, 2026. Numbers Drawn: 9, 18, 27, 32. There was no Jackpot Winner. Congratulations to our €25 Match 3 & XMAS Draw Entry winners.
This week’s jackpot (Monday, May 18th) is €4,900.
Tickets can be purchased from Betty’s Bar, Jimmy’s Foodstore, Der O’Sullivans The Mall, Lakeside Cafe The Wetlands, or by scanning the QR code on our social media posters. Thank you for your continued support!
Merchandise
For club merchandise, please visit the following link: https://www.mckeeversports.ie/collections/kerins-orahillys-gaa.
Keep in touch
As always, we’d love to hear from you with any noteworthy news or updates. Whether it’s personal achievements, community involvement, or club-related stories, your contributions help keep our connection strong and our community spirit alive. You can email us at: pro.kerinsorahillys.kerry@gaa.ie.
