Dingle shade an interesting opener with Strand Road

WITH the meeting of last year’s finalists not going ahead due to matters in Croke Park, it was left to Dingle and Kerins O’Rahillys to get the top flight underway with a pretty nip and tuck contest out in West Kerry last Saturday. The hosts shaded it by the narrowest of margins with the game level at 0-5 apiece at half-time with matters furthered tied at 0-9 apiece at the three-quarter mark.

The game arguably turned in Dingle’s favour when goalkeeper Gavin H Curran saved a Kieran O’Mahony penalty for Strand Road and the hosts scored two points in succession afterwards. Although the Tralee side levelled, Marc Evans put over a free from 40 yards out to put Dingle back ahead at 0-12 to 0-11 with Curran called upon again to stop Rory Molloy getting a potential match winning goal near the final whistle.

Despite Aidan O’Mahony moving his feet in a different context up the country, Rathmore were able to get the better of fellow promoted side An Gaeltacht with three goals in a seven point success. John Moynihan got their first with five minutes of the first-half left, Mark Ryan the provider as the hosts led by 1-2 to 0-3 at half-time. Mark Reen got their second from the penalty spot two minutes after half-time before Sean M Ó Conchúir broke a long run without a score for the visitors with two points.

An Ghaeltacht couldn’t match the goal scoring capabilities of their opponents as John Moynihan scored his with five minutes of the match left like when there was five minutes of the first-half left for his first one! Brendan O’Keeffe and Cathal Murphy were key figures in defence for Rathmore as they won 3-9 to 0-7 and thoughts now turn to being the first side in the county to face Dr Crokes as All-Ireland Senior Club Champions this Saturday. All-Ireland Junior Club Champions Glenbeigh/ Glencar meanwhile made the most of Darran O’Sullivan’s availability for their game at home to John Mitchels although it was a terrible start for the hosts in conceding two goals to the Tralee side. Niall Sheehy scored a brace for Mitchels before a Kieran Courtney goal sparked a comeback from the hosts so much so that they only trailed by 2-1 to 1-3 at half-time. Pa Kilkenny put Glenbeigh/ Glencar in front for the first time in proceedings after the restart but it was a run of five unanswered points that was crucial in giving the Mid Kerry side the push to go on and win, 1-12 to 2-6 their eventual winning margin. The two sides that triumphed in All-Ireland Club Finals last year, Templenoe and St Marys, met at the Kenmare District venue with the Cahersiveen side, much like Glenbeigh/Glencar were with Darran O’Sullivan glad to have Bryan Sheehan available for this match. Sheehan scored five points in a 0-13 to 0-7 win for the visitors as they came from 0-4 to 0-3 down at half-time to win, a run of five unanswered points like in the previously mentioned game a key factor in the South Kerry side’s win. Milltown/Castlemaine edged the other match played with Castleisland Desmonds by 0-10 to 0-8, Cathal Moriarty scoring five points as they led by 0-8 to 0-3 at the break. Although they had to withstand the aid of the breeze for the visitors in the second period, Jeremiah Hayes made an important block near the end in preventing Desmonds from getting a potential match winning goal. Austin Stacks get their campaign underway this Sunday with a short trip out to Ballyseedy to face John Mitchels at 2pm.