Strand Road just hang on
GARVEY’S COUNTY SFC QUARTER-FINAL
Kerins O’Rahillys 3-11 St Brendans 1-15
AS was generally anticipated Kerins O’Rahillys progressed to the last four, but only after they had withstood a vibrant second half challenge from St Brendans which nearly brought about a win very much against the odds.
In the final analysis at a defining period late in the game when the issue was delicately poised, O’Rahillys had that little bit extra in terms of their composure which yielded those late scores which edged them over the line.
Initially when they led by ten points midway through the opening half it looked as if they would cruise to a pretty emphatic victory, but St Brendans who started without as many as five of their regular starting fifteen, including Jack Barry, initiated a heart warming response and when they reflect on it they will feel maybe that this was a game they could well have won.
However, the Blues were always able to keep them at arms length, and were able to respond whenever St Brendans came to within touching distance.
St Brendans started brightly and registered two points within as many minutes of the throw-in. They certainly looked the livelier outfit during these early stages, but when David Moran finished to the net after six minutes it provided the platform for a sustained period of dominance.
Gavin O’Brien’s initial effort was drifting wide before the Kerry midfielder provided a neat finish at the near post. For a period St Brendans coped quite well and effected some good defensive blocks, but after Tommy Walsh who was quite impressive throughout all of the opening half had pointed, substitute Tom Hoare provided an emphatic finish at the end of a defence splitting run for his side’s second goal in the 11th minute.
Certainly, St Brendans were somewhat at odds with the situation at this particular juncture and O’Rahillys capitalised once again on their defensive frailties at the end of the first quarter when Tommy Walsh fisted to the net, having been at the end of a free which was floated into the square.
It really put daylight between the teams at the end of the opening quarter 3-3 to 0-2, and at that juncture the end result looked to be a foregone conclusion.
The unerring free taking of Jack Savage, kept their considerable advantage intact, and really for a period St Brendans were reduced to sporadic attacks. However, after Ivan Parker had kicked his second point St Brendans received a timely tonic in the twenty fourth minute when Niall Sheehy converted a goal from close range after it appeared that Alan O’Donoghue had been denied of a penalty in the build up play.
The score sparked a strong response from St Brendans who benefited from some surging runs through the heart of the O’Rahillys defence, initiated on a few occasions from deep positions by Lawrence Bastible.
They kicked four more points before the break, with Niall Sheehy unmarked at the far post, momentarily having a goal chance, before he improvised superbly to hook the ball over the bar for the final score of the half.
It meant that they had reduced the deficit to five points, 3-7 to 1-8, at the interval, and with the momentum they had built, it afforded them an opportunity of maybe overhauling the deficit.
They did have a goal chance within minutes of the restart, but took the wrong option in a twoon-one situation. However, Alan O’Donoghue’s penetrating runs, Sean Moloney’s defensive endeavours, and Diarmuid O’Connor’s industrious efforts brought them closer, and, they had reduced the deficit to three points 3-8 to 1-11 by the 38th minute.
Just two points separated the teams at the end of the third quarter 3-9 1-13 and when an Ivan Parker free made it just a one point game 3-9 to 1-14 with twelve minutes of normal time remaining the scene was set for a grandstand finish.
O’Rahillys, under pressure, kicked a few bad wides, while St Brendans were denied again in a goal scoring situation with the final effort being diverted for a ‘45. Goalkeeper Eoghan O’Brien failed with the resultant kick, with Cormac Coffey, up in support of his attack affording O’Rahillys some breathing space, with a point from a narrow angle.
However, Diarmuid O’Connor provided a swift reply with an excellent score, which meant that St Brendans were still very much in the mix, being just a point adrift as the encounter drifted into added time.
Alas, they failed to maximise possession in good positions, while O’Rahillys, more methodical, retained possession as the game drifted to its conclusion, before releasing the supporting Karl Mullins in space, who neatly doubled their advantage.
Needing a goal to salvage the situation St Brendans threw caution to the wind, pushing everybody forward, including the goalkeeper, in one final attack and in a swift counter attack, O’Rahillys had a gilt-edged goaling chance, to put the final seal on their success, but Gavin O’Brien blasted wide from close range.
It was the final act in a game of fluctuating fortunes, during which the winners had players such as Tommy Walsh, David Moran, Gavin O’Brien and Jack Savage who produced some defining passages of play at varying stages of proceedings.
Whether or not St Brendans would have won if at full strength is mere speculation at this stage, but on the basis of this particular display, with players of the calibre of Lawrence Bastible, Diarmuid O’Connor, Ivan Parker, Niall Sheehy and Stefan Okunbor in their ranks, they have the nucleus of a combination with a lot of potential.
KERINS O’RAHILLYS: Gary Kissane, Cormac Coffey (0-1), Ross O’Callaghan, Danny O’Sullivan, Ryan Carroll, Shane Brosnan, Karl Mullins (0-1), David Moran (1-1) Con Barrett, Cian Sayers, Jack Savage (0-6; 5f, 1 ‘45’), Gavin O’Brien, Barry John Keane (0-1), Tommy Walsh (1-1), John Ferguson Subs: Tom Hoare (1-0) for C Sayers, Gearoid Savage for J Ferguson, J C O’Connor for T Hoare, Darragh McElligott for S Brosnan.
ST BRENDANS: Eoghan O’Brien (Churchill), Kieran O’Dwyer (St Pats), Stefan Okunbar (Na Gaeil), Luke Mulligan (St Pats), Brandon Barrett (Ardfert), Lawrence Bastible (John Mitchels), Patrick Kearney (John Mitchels), Sean Moloney (John Mitchells), Brendan Poff (St Pats) (0-1), Diarmuid O’Connor (Na Gaeil) (0-2), Alan O’Donoghue (John Mitchels), (0-1), David Griffin (Ardfert), David O’Callaghan (St Pats) (0-2f), Ivan Parker (Churchill) (0-6; 3f) Niall Sheehy (John Mitchels) (1-3; 0-1f) Subs: Tommy Lynch (St Pats) for L Bastible (blood), Lawrence Bastible for T Lynch, George Bastible (John Mitchels) for D Griffin, Ian McCarthy (Na Gaeil) for B Poff, Bobby Regan (Ardfert) for A O’Donoghue.
REFEREE: Eddie Walsh (Rathmore)
MAIN MAN
There wasn’t really a player who excelled for a prolonged period. A number of players on both sides made an impact at varying intervals in proceedings, most especially Niall Sheehy, Ivan Parker, and Diarmuid O’Connor for St Brendans. For O’Rahillys the powerful presence of Tommy Walsh and Gavin O’Brien was a notable feature, as was Jack Savage’s free taking, but, overall maybe David Moran’s input was most significant.
KEY MOMENT
With the game in the melting pot, and, just a point separating the teams as the encounter drifted to its conclusion, every mistake was going to be a factor, every possession was going to be crucial, and when Diarmuid O’Connor fielded a kick out superbly it provided the platform for the equaliser. However, a misplaced pass ultimately proved to be costly.
TALKING POINT
The fine margins which determine whether a card should be yellow or red. A lot of yellows were shown in this particular game, and, the one shown to John Ferguson at the start of the second half should probably have been red. A number of other tackles with a swinging arm involved were also debatable.