.
.Kerins O’Rahillys v Kenmare Shamrocks – Match Report
McCarthy’s Insurance Group Senior Football County League – Round 8
Full Time: Kenmare Shamrocks 2-16 (22) | Kerins O’Rahillys 1-19 (22)
A blistering second-half performance, capped off by an unbelievable late long-range free from Tom Hoare, saw Strand Road secure a hard-earned and well-deserved share of the spoils in a high-scoring thriller down in Fr. Breen Park.
On a sweltering afternoon for football, a gritty Blues outfit dug deep in a tight, point-for-point battle, showing immense character to match Kenmare the whole way through and ensure they returned up the road with a valuable league point.
Strand Road shuffled the pack before throw-in, with Rob O’Connor in goals, and Seamus Cahill, Donagh Buckley, and Ben O’Brien out of the starting lineup. In came Nick Lacey, Brayden Pierce, and Conor O’Sullivan, while Conor Hayes also missed out through injury.
Kenmare hit the ground running with a fast start, aided by late addition Tom Murnane pointing twice and Stephen O’Brien registering an early score.
Strand Road settled into a good spell of possession to weather the storm, leading to a hard run through the middle where Ben Hanafin won a free, which Darragh O’Connor coolly converted. Shortly after, Nick Lacey won a crucial break, working it to O’Connor who was fouled, slotting the subsequent free.
O’Rahillys won another Kenmare kickout immediately after, working the ball well to Jake Hoare who fired over a fine point from play.
Kenmare threatened to stretch their lead when they cut through for a major goal chance following a cheap Strand Road turnover, but wing-back Zack O’Shea pulled his effort wide to give the visitors a let-off.
The Blues capitalized on the reprieve; an incisive run from Padraig Griffin set up Darragh O’Connor to arrow over a magnificent 2-pointer from play.
Defensively, Strand Road were tenacious, forcing an overcarrying free, though a long-range 2-point effort from Nick Lacey drifted just short. After a long, patient spell of possession, Barry John Keane won a free just outside the arc, but O’Connor’s effort off the deck went narrowly wide.
With Kenmare hitting a strong patch, Darragh got a vital point from play to keep the side in touch. While Conor O’Sullivan saw an initial chance to bring us closer drift wide, he backed himself immediately afterwards by nailing the next chance to close out the half, leaving Strand Road trailing by just two, 0-09 to 0-07.
With the breeze at their backs for the second period, Strand Road exploded out of the blocks. Quick scores were exchanged before Shane McElligott won a vital kickout, allowing Jake Hoare to set up Ben Hanafin for a lovely point on the run.
Momentum shifted further when Barry John Keane forced a kickout turnover and immediately unleashed a massive 2-pointer from play.
Moments later, a booming kickout was won by Daniel Bowler, who found Darragh; the joint captain brilliantly slalomed past his marker and buried a clinical shot into the corner of the net for a green flag.
Kenmare responded well to our purple patch. Rob pulled off a spectacular point-blank save in the Strand Road goal, but the rebound was bundled over the bar.
Jake Hoare steadied the ship with a counter-attack point, and after a towering catch from Tom Hoare, O’Connor floated over another point from play. O’Connor then displayed his elite range by drilling a spectacular 2-pointer from miles out off the deck.
Rob was called into action again to make two further crucial stops, before excellent link-up play between TJ Heaphy and Gearoid Savage down the left flank found O’Connor, who was fouled to yield another point. However, Kenmare struck a major blow with a goal of their own, despite hints of a square ball.
Staring down a late deficit after Kenmare raised another green flag, Strand Road refused to yield. Nick Lacey stepped up with a massive score under pressure to level the sides.
In a frantic, nerve-shredding final few minutes, the Blues retained possession but struggled to carve open a clear opening through the Kenmare cover.
Enter Ryan Carroll, who won a crucial free through sheer bravery. With the pressure at its absolute peak, Tom Hoare stepped up to take a long-range free from miles out, ice-veined, and nailed it to put Strand Road two points up deep in injury time.
Unfortunately, we couldn’t retain possession from the ensuing play, and Kenmare worked the ball down the field with Kevin O’Sullivan landing a late two-pointer from play to level it at the death. A breathless finish to a classic encounter, sending both teams home with a hard-earned point.
Kerins O’Rahillys: Robert O’Connor, TJ Heaphy, Jake Foley, Brayden Pierce, Gearoid Dillane, Ben Hanafin, Daniel Bowler, Tom Hoare, Shane McElligott, Barry John Keane, Padraig Griffin, Jake Hoare, Darragh O’Connor, Conor O’Sullivan, Nick Lacey
Subs Used: Odhran Kerins, Ryan Carroll, Gearoid Savage, Stephen Nix
Scorers: Darragh O’Connor (1-09, tp, tpf, 3f), Barry John Keane (0-02, tp), Tom Hoare (0-02, tp), Jake Hoare (0-02), Conor O’Sullivan (0-02), Nick Lacey (0-01), Ben Hanafin (0-01).
.Senior Ladies: Donal Curtin County League Division 3
Knock Brosna v Kerins O’Rahilly’s
Our Senior Ladies made it six wins out of six on Wednesday night with a comprehensive, impressive victory over Knock Brosna at the Brosna GAA grounds.
The home side were well able for us for the opening ten minutes, but our girls soon found their rhythm, showing great teamwork and lovely passages of play to accrue a significant lead by half-time.
Changes were made at the break, allowing us to rest our three minors—fresh from their brilliant Division 3 final victory on Monday night—and replace them with some of our returning senior players.
It was great to see Eabha Murphy return from injury and play an important part in our second-half dominance. This was another stellar performance from a group growing in confidence with every game. Well done, girls!
We now have a break from competitive fixtures for about a month, but more challenges lie ahead in June with games against Churchill, Listowel, and Beale. While it is fantastic to be sitting on top of Division 3, there is absolutely no room for complacency.
We will continue to train hard twice a week to keep the momentum going. Training resumes on Tuesday evening at Ballyrickard at 7:00 PM. It is vital to get everyone there from now on as we prepare for June.
Team: Kelly Fitzgerald, Alva Daughton, Hollie Leane, Siúna Crowe, Donna McGovern, Keelin Coffey, Sophie Hassett, Jocelyn Cushen, Lily Breen, Taylor Stack, Katie Nix, Lily O’Brien, Ella Breen, Cliodhna Hayes, Aoife O’Connell.
Subs: Emma McCarthy, Aoibhinn McCarthy, Eabha Murphy.
.Minor Ladies: Championship Glory!
Huge congratulations to our Minor Ladies who won their Division 3 County Final in a nail-biting encounter against Moyvane at Strand Road.
Playing against a fierce wind in the first half, the girls showed incredible grit despite hitting numerous wides and missing clear goal opportunities, trailing 2-06 to 0-07 at the short whistle.
With the elements in our favor for the second half, the girls showed guts and character in spades. We dominated midfield, found our rhythm, and the scores began to flow.
Moyvane were not easily rattled and raised a second green flag to put the pressure on, but the Strand Road girls showed what they were made of.
Aoibhinn McCarthy buried a superb, decisive goal in the dying minutes to seal a fantastic 2-15 to 2-09 victory.
.A thoroughly deserved result for a group that has trained tirelessly since early January and won every single game in their league campaign.
Team: Eve O’Sullivan, Carragh Houlihan, Saoirse McCarthy, Mia Molloy, Katie Higgins, Jocelyn Cushen (captain), Taylor Stack, Bridget McCarthy, Lily Breen, Cora Meehan, Aoibhinn McCarthy, Taylor Kate Leane, Lexi Keane, Aoife O’Connell, Chloe O’Sullivan.
Subs: Anna Corridon, Olivia Crean, Niamh Lynch, Ciara Harris.
Save the Date: Official Club History Book Launch
The countdown is officially on for a historic night at the club! On Friday, 26th June 2026, we will officially launch the Kerins O’Rahillys Club History Book.
This beautifully compiled book traces our storied past, exploring our deep roots in the Strand Road area dating back to the late 1880s, and chronicling our evolution from the 1930s through to the modern era.
It celebrates our legendary club heroes—from seven-time All-Ireland winners Dan O’Keeffe and Sean Walsh, to icons like Charlie O’Sullivan and Paddy Kennedy, right through to modern greats Tommy Walsh and David Moran.
Packed with untold stories and rare, priceless memorabilia unearthed from drawers and attics across Kerry, this is a celebration of our legacy you won’t want to miss.
.Mothers & Others
Our Mothers & Others squad travelled to Knockanure last week for what turned out to be a highly competitive and energetic game of football. Our ladies played in the true spirit of the sport, showing immense determination, teamwork, and encouragement right up until the final whistle.
The team dug deep throughout the park, from our midfielders winning kickout after kickout, to our forwards putting their backs under pressure, right down to the defensive lines. Mags finished up as our top scorer on the night, and a special mention goes to our goalie Kelsey, who had a phenomenal game between the posts.
At the final whistle, the teams exchanged high fives, showcasing the exact community spirit and friendship that Mothers & Others is all about. Thanks to all in Knockanure and referee Maurice for a great evening.
.Juvenile Academy
The future stars of the club were out in full force on Sunday morning at Ballyrickard! We had a brilliant turnout for our juvenile academy session, filled with fantastic skills, immense energy, and plenty of smiles.
The steady improvement shown by these young players week in, week out is a credit to themselves and their mentors.
A massive thank you to all our dedicated coaches, parent helpers, and coordinators who make Sunday mornings run so smoothly. The academy runs every Sunday morning at 10:00 AM at Ballyrickard. New players are always welcome to come down, make friends, and learn the skills of the game in a fun, safe environment.
Under 12 Boys
Our U12 boys played their first Go-Game of phase two last week at home to An Ghaeltacht. Both clubs fielded two teams, and both matches were played to an exceptionally high standard.
It was a fabulous display of football skills by the young lads in what was a very dirty evening in terms of the weather. Well done to all the boys for performing to such a high standard given the tough conditions, and sincere thanks to An Ghaeltacht for traveling in to play us.
.Cumann na mBunscol Success
A massive congratulations to our U12 club girls Ella, Danni, Avery, Isabella, and Sophia, who captured the Division 1 Cumann na mBunscol title with their school, Scoil Eoin Balloonagh. The girls came out on top after an absolute thriller against Gaelscoil Mhic Easmainn, edging it out by a single point at the final whistle. Everyone at Strand Road is incredibly proud of your achievement, girls!
Under 14 Girls
Our U14 girls continued their County League campaign last week with a tough home clash against a strong John Mitchels side at Ballyrickard.
In weather conditions far more suited to a bleak winter’s evening, the girls battled admirably right to the final whistle, with the visitors eventually running out deserving winners.
There are plenty of positives for the squad to take away as attention now turns to our next away outing to Moyvane, where we will be hoping for brighter skies and a better result. Keep the heads high and keep up the hard work, girls!
Club Lotto Results
The lottery draw took place on Monday, 18th May. The numbers drawn were: 10, 14, 18, and 20.
There was no jackpot winner. Congratulations to our Match 3 winners who win €25 each, and our Christmas Draw entry winners.
Next week’s Jackpot rises to a fantastic €5,000!
Tickets can be purchased online via the link in our social media bios or from our fantastic local vendors: Betty’s Bar, Jimmy’s Food Store, O’Sullivan’s First Choice, Lakeside Wetlands, and the Charlie’s Club Bar. Thank you for your continued support—every ticket supports our club and community.
Charlie’s Club Bar
Charlie’s is open and welcoming everyone down for a pint and a chat! The atmosphere has been brilliant lately, so make sure to drop down over the coming week.
Our opening hours are: Thursday from 7:00 PM, Friday from 5:00 PM, Saturday and Sunday from 2:00 PM, and Monday evening from 7:00 PM to coincide with our weekly Club Lotto night. Drop down and join the craic, all are welcome!
Kerry Seniors
Commiserations to Jack O’Connor, the Kerry Senior Management, and the entire panel—including our own Tomás Kennedy—on their tough defeat against Donegal in Killarney on Saturday in Round 1 of the All-Ireland Group Stage.
It wasn’t our day, but we wish the squad the very best of luck as they regroup, get back to the training field, and prepare to turn it around in the next round of the championship. Ciarraí Abú!
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.
