Cordal and Castlegregory maintain their promotion push

TWO of last year’s relegated sides lead the way after five rounds in the table as Castlegregory and Cordal now share top spot on eight points respectively. The latter put an end to the Rathmore B’s 100% start with a five point victory on home turf on Saturday that saw them keep their fellow East Kerry side scoreless in the opening 20 minutes. Cordal scored six points themselves in that period to take control of proceedings before three points from Michael O’Riordan eventually got Rathmore on the board and saw them trail by 0-6 to 0-3 at half-time. Phillip O’Connor and Brian Reidy scored after the restart to stretch the hosts advantage back out five but matters got a bit more exciting towards the closing stages as a Kenneth O’Keeffe goal in the 53rd minute saw Rathmore only trail by 0-10 to 1-5. Padraig O’Connell scored the decisive goal for the hosts however in a 1-12 to 1-7 victory.

Castlegregory meanwhile made a similar good start in their game away to Ballylongford, scoring the first four points of the match however they found themselves trailing by 1-6 to 0-8 at half-time courtesy of a Kieran Mulvihill goal.

Jordan Quirke had scored two ‘45’s for the West Kerry side in the first half but they started the second half strongly again with three unanswered points before an Anton Kelliher penalty sent them on their way to a 1-13 to 1-10 win. Conor Heaphy’s late effort at goal just went wide for the hosts in terms of trying to earn a share of the spoils.

Sneem/Derrynane are now third outright in the table following a victory at home to an understrength Asdee side. Ronan Hussey and Ian Galvin were in good scoring form for the South Kerry side, the latter scoring the goal that gave them a 1-6 to 0-5 advantage at the break. Eoin Kennedy, Mike Breen and Cyril Dineen brought Asdee back into the contest in the second period but a missed goalscoring opportunity for the visitors was the wake-up call Sneem/Derrynane needed in going on to record a 1-12 to 0-8 victory.

Duagh joined Rathmore B in the table with six points after a 2-9 to 1-9 victory at home to Knocknagoshel overcome the concession of an early goal to the visitors after Nigel O’Connor had opened the game’s scoring.

Kieran Downey was Knock’s goalscorer, but Duagh responded quickly with Aidan Kelly getting their first goal as the hosts went on to lead by 1-5 to 1-2 at the break. 1-4 without reply after the restart effectively ended the game as a contest in Duagh’s favour Kelly getting his second goal as despite Knocknagoshel getting six successive points before the final whistle, they still lost out by three.

Tuosist missed out on the chance to join Sneem/Derrynane in a share of third spot in the table going down by four points to Austin Stacks B in Connolly Park. A poor first half saw only five points scored, three for the hosts (all from Darragh Long frees) and two from the visitors from Danny O’Shea and Colm Brosnan.

A penalty for the hosts in the 39th minute turned the game in their favour as Shane Guthrie converted the spot-kick after a foul on Alan Duggan as they went on to win the match by 1-9 to 0-8, their second win of the campaign.

In the other game played Ballyduff won their first game of the campaign and left Cromane as the only side without any points in the table yet as a result. The Mid Kerry side had the better of the opening quarter, a Sean O’Sullivan goal in the sixth minute giving them a 1-2 to 0-1 lead. Ballyduff would be level at 1-6 apiece at half-time however Michael Hussey converting a penalty for the hosts after Jack Goulding had been fouled beforehand.

Mikey Boyle’s introduction in the second period was a boost to the hosts as he scored six points from play and although Cromane substitute Clinton Griffin scored a second goal for his side, the visitors still found themselves losing out by 1-15 to 2-10 in the end.

They continue their search for their first points at home to Sneem/ Derrynane this weekend.