Dr Crokes beat Stacks to extend Division 1 lead
DIVISION ONE
WITH all teams having played six games in Division One now, the picture is a bit clearer and while Dr Crokes have a bit of daylight (four points) at the top of the table, second place is turning into a bit of a battle royal with four team tied on eight points. Crokes won their back game with Austin Stacks by 0-13 to 0-8 in a contest that never really reached any great heights. Chris Brady and David Shaw helped Crokes to an 0-8 to 0-3 lead at half-time as two David Mannix points and a Jack Morgan effort were the host’s only scores. Both sides matched each other with five points apiece in a second-half where Crokes look rarely troubled. Stacks are primarily focussed on staying up now you feel with only one win and a draw from their six games thus far.
Dingle missed out on the chance to take sole possession of second with a 2-13 to 0-13 defeat away to An Ghaeltacht last Friday evening as despite a Padraig Óigí Ó Sé goal in the first period for the hosts both sides were still level at half-time by 1-4 to 0-7. PJ Mac Laimh scored An Ghaeltacht’s second goal as it sent them on their way to a six point win and a share of second along with their fellow West Kerry side, Rathmore and Glenbeigh/Glencar. Rathmore scored three second half goals in seeing off Castleisland Desmonds as it is looking ominous for Desmonds with no points from their six matches thus far. The visitors led by 1-11 to 1-3 at the break, Desmonds conceding an own goal with Cian Hickey O’Connor scoring at the other end for their goal. John Moynihan scored three second-half goals for the visitors as despite Thomas Hickey’s introduction galvanising Desmonds somewhat in scoring a goal himself and setting up Graham O’Connor for another, Rathmore still won out by 4-18 to 3-7.
DIVISION TWO
LEGION are in a strong position much like their fellow Killarney side as a 3-15 to 2-13 win away to St Pats Blennerville keeps the St Brendans side in the relegation zone. Jamie O’Sullivan scored 2-5 (five frees) for the victors as his first goal from a rebounded effort put the Killarney side ahead by 1-10 to 0-7 at half-time. Brendan Poff scored St Pat’s first goal early in the second half but Billy Maguire quickly responded with Legion’s second goal. The hosts kept the visitors on their toes with a run of 1-5 without reply, Poff scoring a second goal as there was only two points between the sides near the end. O’Sullivan’s second goal killed off the game as a contest however as Legion now have a three point lead over Spa at the summit of the table.
DIVISION THREE
THIS division saw a game between Finuge and St Senans brought forward on account of the County Hurling Championship as the former had a 2-13 to 0-8 win with a Ricky Heffernan goal putting them 1-7 to 0-2 in front at the break. Darragh Hogan made a good save to prevent Senans getting a goal as Darren O’Sullivan scored Finuge’s second in an 11-point win.
Division Four sees all 12 teams having six games played and although their 100% record is gone Lispole will probably be happy to have taken a draw from Keel especially with the Mid Kerry side missing a late free to claim the win. It looked good for the hosts at 0-7 to 0-4 in front at the break but five consecutive Cathal O’Sullivan points put Lispole in front by two points with 10 minutes left. A Gary Sayers brace alongside a Shane Prenderville effort put Keel back in front before Declan O’Sullivan levelled matters at 0-12 apiece.
Lispole now go ahead of Skellig Rangers by a point at the top with Keel a point behind the Portmagee side in third. Dr Crokes are joint fourth with Castlegregory on eight points meanwhile after a 1-11 to 0-4 win over Scartaglin that leaves the latter rooted to the bottom of the table.