On-song Brosna see off Finuge

NORTH KERRY SFC ROUND 1

Brosna 0-14 Finuge 1-7

BROSNA had a hard fought victory over Finuge at home on Sunday.

This first round game was played in perfect conditions considering the recent bad weather. Brosna made home advantage count, racing into a five-point lead with scores from Tom Mcgoldrick, Mike Finnegan and Patrick Moriarty.

However Finuge, who have being out of football action with the last number of weeks due to their involvement in the county hurling final and replay, got to grips with the game and responded with two points of their own.

Brosna responded with great scores from Patrick Moriarty and Shane Fitzmaurice. Finuge were handed a life line at the end of the first half when they were awarded a penalty and Declan McCarthy slotted the ball to the back of the net to leave the scores 1-2 to 0-8 at half-time.

Brosna had the best of the openings in the second half picking up a lot of breaks all over the park and converting them to scores from the boots of Tom McGoldrick and Adam Barry.

However, Finuge’s Pat Corridan and John McCarthy started winning a lot of ball around the middle of the park and it resulted in Finuge making a great comeback scoring four unanswered points.

However, Brosna never gave up and they worked there way back into the game and when Patrick Moriarty scored a great point over near the side line it gave Brosna a huge lift.

Finuge threw everything they had at Brosna in the closing stages but Brosna’s defenders who were solid through out the game kept them at bay to see Brosna win. THE first round of the North Kerry Senior Football Championship continued on Sunday last when Ballyduff and Castleisland Desmonds clashed at Ballyduff. The visitors were lacking in numbers, but fulfilled the fixture. Ballyduff on the other hand had plenty to call on the day.

John Paul Leahy opened the scoring with a third minute free, but soon after Thomas Hickey levelled with a similar score at the other end. Jack Goulding put the home side ahead with a point from play and then found the net after a pin point pass from Leahy.

Midfielder Paud Costello kicked a fine point off his left as Ballyduff led 1-3 to 0-1 after ten minutes of play. Graham O’Connor converted two close in frees to leave just a goal between the sides at the end of the first quarter.

Wing-back Johnny O’Regan blasted over with the goal at his mercy, but minutes later Anthony O’Carroll had the ball in the net following a good Ballyduff move. Points followed from Darragh Goulding, Michael Hussey, Jack O’Sullivan and John Paul Leahy as Ballyduff moved up the gears.

There was a respite when Tadgh Walsh slotted over a point in the 27th minute, but Ballyduff finished the half with a second goal from Anthony O’Carroll and the home side retired with a thirteen point lead on a scoreline of 3-8 to 0-4.

Desmonds had to pull out all the stops after the break and started brightly with pointed frees from Graham O’Connor and Thomas Hickey in the opening five minutes. However they were rattled one minute later when Jack Goulding got on the end of a good ball in from Thomas Slattery and rattled the Desmonds net once to put the game beyond doubt.

Darragh Goulding added a good point from play while at the other end the lively Tadgh Walsh fired over on the run. Ballyduff emptied the bench and Jack Goulding, who was outstanding all through, pointed from a free and from play before substitute Eddie Joy found the net five minutes from the end to end the scoring on the day.

BALLYDUFF: Sean Browne; Thomas Slattery, Seán Costello, Cathal Kearney; Johnny O’Regan (0-1), Paul O’Carroll, Michael Hussey (0-1); Paud Costello (0-1), Jack O’Sullivan (0-1); Chris Whyte, Jack Goulding 2-3 (0-1f), Anthony O’Carroll 2-0; Darragh Goulding 0-2 (1f), John Paul Leahy 0-2 (1f), David Goulding Subs: Darren O’Connor for P Costello; Darren Leahy for M Hussey; Eddie Joy 1-0 for JP Leahy; JP Enright for C Whyte; Pádraig Slattery for J O’Regan; David Linnane for T Slattery

CASTLEISLAND DESMONDS: Ciarán Breen; John Kelly, Barry Lynch, Gearóid Leonard; Niall Durcan, Luke Lyons, Pádraig O’Connell; Pa White, Cian O’Connor; Tadgh Walsh 0-2, Thomas Hickey 0-2f, Mark O’Connor; John Begley, Graham O’Connor 0-3f, Brian Leonard