Delight for Tarbert in north Kerry Cumann decider
CUMANN NA MBUNSCOL Tomás Ó hAiniféin
THE North Kerry Allianz Cumann na mBunscol GAA / INTO Boys’ Mini Sevens competition was held last Monday in Duagh.
Considering the deluge of rain that fell in the days previous, the pitch was in superb condition and this, along with the favourable weather conditions on the day, all aided in providing for an enjoyable day of football. Eleven schools competed for the prize of being crowned North Kerry Champions for 2018 and the carrot of a ticket to County Finals Day next week.
Schools were split into four groups each team playing over 30 minutes of football to decide who would reach the last four. The first semi-final saw Tarbert NS come up against Dromclough NS.
In spite of an encouraging start from Dromclough, The Lighthouse men quickly took hold of the game and ran out comfortable winners by 4-06 to 0-4. The second semi-final was a tighter affair as Coolard NS tussled with Ballyduff NS.
Coolard sparked into life with two early goals. Ballyduff tried hard to reel in the lead but it was a case of goals win games as Coolard advanced to the final on a scoreline of 3-3 to 0-5.
And so the best two teams on the day came to meet in an eagerly anticipated final. Tarbert made the perfect start as their captain Jamie Moloney beat the Coolard keeper – whose shot stopping was immense throughout – with a bullet from 20 yards.
Leading by example the same player was on the end of a well worked move up the field to score his and his team’s second goal to put them in a dominant position at half-time on a scoreline of 2-3 to 0-2.
Coolard gave themselves a lifeline early in the second half when a high ball into the danger zone was fisted to the net by Seán Mahony. Tarbert responded with some well taken frees by Conor Egan before hard work from their athletic midfielder Brendan O’Leary set up Jamie Moloney who completed his hat-trick with a rocket into the top corner of the net.
Coolard showed their neversay-die attitude as full-back David Lynch burst up the field, playing a one-two with teammate Aaron Kennelly before finishing neatly to the bottom corner. Great work by Coolard captain Aiden Chute provided Shane Horgan with their third goal to leave only three points between the sides 3-5 to 3-2.
Coolard had yet another goal chance that was cleared off the line by Tarbert’s impressive defender David Mulvihill. Straight from this save, midfielder Sean Wren drove up the field and killed off the Coolard comeback once and for all with a well taken goal. Coolard tried in vain to cut the deficit but a well-balanced Tarbert side saw out the game winning on a final scoreline of 4-6 to 3-4.
Captain Jamie Moloney was on hand to receive the winning shield from Allianz Cumann na mBunscol co-ordinator Mr Kevin Enright as the delighted Tarbert supporters danced in delight.