Clifford’s presence can edge East Kerry through

COUNTY SFC QUARTER-FINAL

East Kerry v Kerins O’Rahillys

Saturday, September 23 Austin Stack Park, Tralee at 4pm Referee: Jonathan Griffin

SOME interesting carrots on offer for both sides here. For East Kerry it’s a chance to reach a first Semi-Final since 2011 and do so with a promising bunch of young players coming through. O’Rahillys, meanwhile, are hoping to reach their first semi-final since 2013 after losing at this stage for the past two years to sides from the East Kerry district itself in Killarney Legion and Dr Crokes.

More pertinent for Strand Road however is to stave off this threat of a relegation playoff with Kilcummin hanging over them. Advancement to the County Final would secure their senior status but this is a tough challenge for them against a promising young side.

The district side won arguably the game of the Championship so far in overcoming the concession of four first-half goals to St Brendans in the Third Round to force extra-time firstly and then go on to win by 3-24 to 4-18. Kerry Minor captain David Clifford played a cameo in extra-time in scoring

Verdict: Rathmore

their third goal and now with his inter-county Minor commitments over it will be interesting to see if he can have an impact on matters at more local level between here at year’s end. O’Rahillys are not having a good year in general judging by their County League campaign but the best football that they have played this year has come in the County Championship with their wins over South Kerry and Dingle back in May sending them through to this point.

They have their inter-county contingent back now as well and with a lot of focus on East Kerry with players such as Dan O’Brien, Dara Moynihan and Dara Roche coming through it might suit them to come in under the radar here. Strand Road did win the County U-21 Final between these sides back in 2015 as well as a subsequent Round Three County Championship encounter but East Kerry are more advanced in their development in the intervening years. The district side will have no fear of going to Austin Stack Park being the site of their incredible win over St Brendans back in July.

A lot of pressure will be on the Strand Road defence to counter the exciting attack strength of East Kerry and while the club side might have more experience at this level, you feel the promise of the East Kerry ranks at present could see them through here.

Verdict: East Kerry