Dingle dig deep to claim U16 West Kerry title
Breandán Fitzgerald
WEST KERRY U-16 CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL
Dingle 1-13 Annascaul/Lispole 1-10
DINGLE are the West Kerry U-16 champions after defeating Annascaul/Lispole in Lispole last Saturday with three points to spare.
Annascaul/Lispole started the better, playing with the wind they were first to score with a Jack Farrell point from play. Jack Farrell added another shortly after with a point from a free kick. Killian Falvey and Conor O’Brien added points from play for Annascaul/Lispole to put them four up with around 15 minutes played.
Dingle had a few scoring opportunities but good defending by Annascaul/Lispole and a couple of great saves by their keeper Eoghan Sheehy denied them. Colin Moriarty scored Dingle’s first point of the game but Annascaul/ Lispole went down the field and Mark Manning scored a great goal to put them back into control. The score after 20 minutes played was Annascaul/Lispole 1-4 to 0-1 Dingle.
Dingle rallied and were very unlucky when Oisín Smailes goal bound shot hit the upright. Dylan Geaney kicked a point from play for Dingle shortly after. This was followed by points from play from Annascaul/Lispole through Dara Hickson Spillane and Jack Farrell and another Jack Farrell point from a free kick to put them in a commanding lead. When Referee Paul Hayes blew the whistle for halftime the scoreboard read, Annascaul/ Lispole 1-7 to 0-2 Dingle.
Dingle manager Colm Nelan must have given an inspirational halftime team talk to his Dingle side, as when Dingle took the field for the second half they were a transformed team.
Conor Flannery with two points from play, Dylan Geaney and Christopher Kane with a point from play each, led the way. This was followed up by a goal from Oisín Smailes, who gave Annascaul/ Lispole keeper Eoghan Sheehy no chance when Dylan Geaney put him through. After 15 minutes played in the second half the score was Annascaul/Lispole 1-7 to 1-6 Dingle.
Dylan Geaney levelled the game with a point from play and Conor Flannery put Dingle one point up shortly after with a point from play. Christopher Kane and Dylan Geaney extended Dingle’s lead to three with points from play before Annascaul/Lispole’s Colm Moriarty scored his side’s first point of the second half with a fine effort from play.
A Dylan Geaney point from a free restored Dingle’s lead and this was followed by a Seán Óg Moran point from play. Annascaul/Lispole were battling hard and points from play from Killian Falvey and Dara Hickson Spillane reduced the gap to two points.
Dingle responded with a fine move that saw Colin Moriarty kick a point from play to secure a threepoint victory.
Chairperson of Bórd na nÓg Chiarraí Thiar, Edward Corkery, presented the West Kerry U16 Championship plaque to captain of the victorious Dingle team, Seán Óg Moran, and presented the Man of the Match award to Christopher Kane of Dingle. ANNASCAUL/LISPOLE: Eoghan Mac Síthigh, Jack Ó Muircheartaigh, Harry Ó Cinnéide, Colman Ó Meara, Diarmuid Ó hEára, Dara Hickson Spillane (0-2), Seán Ó Cinnéide, Colm Ó Muircheartaigh (0-1), Conor Ó Briain (0-1), Roibeard Ó Súilleabháin, Killian Ó Fáilbhe (0-2), Gavin Ó Cárthaigh, Mark Ó Mainnín (1-0), Jack Ó Fearail (0-4, 2f), Darragh Ó Murchú. Fir Ionaid: Daithí Ó Gobhann, Tony de Hóra, Kevin Ó Grifín, Cian Ó Grifín, Séamus Ó Hainifín, Seán Finín, Cormac Ó Cinnéide.
DINGLE: Jamie O’Flaherty, Aodhán Ó Conchúir, Eoghan De Hóra, Aaron Ó Conchúir, Mitchel Hunt, Seán Óg Moran (0-1), Jack Brick, Colin Moriarty (0-2), Conor Flannery (0-3), Oisín Smailes (1-0), Christopher Kane (0-2), Muiris O’Sullivan, Patrick Saunders, Dylan Geaney (0-5, 1f), Tadhg Kennedy. Fir Ionaid: Ruairc O’Shea, Keith Flannery, Robbie Sheehy.