WEST KERRY GAA

Breandan Fitzgerald

LEE STRAND LEAGUE FINAL (2018)

Castlegregory 1-7 Dingle 1-11

DINGLE added the Paudie O’Shea Memorial Cup to the Corn Thomáis Ághas with a four point win over Castlegregory. Played in a sunny, but cold Páirc an Caisleáin last Sunday, Sean Geaney’s Dingle overcame a very spirited Gavin O’Connor’s Castlegregory.

A Michael Scanlon point from play for Castlegregory opened the scoring in Páirc an Caisleáin. Dingle responded with a point from play from Declan Devane and a point from a free from Conor Geaney.

Dingle were guilty of a lot of bad misses with the aid of the wind. Castlegregory keeper Shane Kenny made a great save to deny Conor Geaney a goal from the penalty spot after 15 minutes. The score after 15 minutes was Castlegregory 0-1 to 0-2 Dingle.

Anton Kelliher levelled the game for Castlegregory with a point from play. Dingle with points from play from Conor Geaney, Paul Devane and two from Tomás Sheehy went into a four point lead.

Castlegregory were coping well with the Dingle attack, but there forwards were unable to capitalise on the possession they had through good defending by the Dingle defence and some great work by Dingle midfielder George Durrant. The half-time score was Castlegregory 0-2 to 0-6 Dingle.

A Conor Geaney point from play for Dingle opened the second half scoring. This was followed by a Declan Devane point from play for Dingle. After a great run Micheál Flannery gave Castlegregory keeper, Shane Kenny no chance when he buried to the net for Dingle.

Another point from Brian O’Connell for Dingle after nine minutes played gave Dingle a commanding ten point lead. A wonderful side line effort from Jimmy O’Grady started the Castlegregory fight back.

This was followed by an Anton Kelliher point from a free. Dingle keeper Seán O’Flaherty made a great save to deny Castlegregory but the rebound was met by Patrick O’Donoghue who made no mistake when he buried to the net. The score after 15 minutes played in the second half was Castlegregory 1-4 to 1-9 Dingle.

Shortly after Castlegregory were denied another goal when Maurice Slattery hit the crossbar and when the rebound fell to another inrushing Castlegregory player the resulting shot hit the upright and Dingle cleared their lines.

Dingle steadied the ship with a Brian O’Connell point from a free kick. Castlegregory rallied and a point from play from Jimmy O’Grady and a pointed free from Anton Kelliher left them trailing by only four points.

A Castlegregory point from a Jimmy O’Grady free kick left the home team only a goal behind with minutes left to play. With it all to play for Castlegregory came in search of the equaliser, but it was Dingle’s Paul Devane that got the next and final score of the game and Dingle saw off a very spirited Castlegregory comeback.

Dingle Captain Patrick O’Connor was presented with the cup for 2018 and Castlegregory’s Jimmy O’Grady was awarded the Strand House Laoch na hImeratha.

CASTLEGREGORY: Shane Kenney, Vincent Hussey, Jason Griffin, Joe O’Connor, Michael Scanlon (0-1), Gearoid Fitzgerald, David Sheehan, Colm O’Mahony, Adam O’Donnell, Timmy Walsh, Timmy Moriarty, Maurice Scanlon, Brandon Hoare, Jimmy O’Grady (0-3, 2), Anto Kelliher (0-3, 2f) Fir Ionaid: Colm Sills, Jack Nix, Patrick O’Donoghue (1-0), Thomas Butler

DINGLE: Seán O’Flaherty, Micheál Flannery (1-0), Conor Leo O’Sullivan, Tom Leo O’Sullivan, Patrick O’Connor, Matthew Flaherty, Niall Geaney, Michael Slattery, George Durrant, Brian O’Connor, Paul Devane (0-2), Mikey Boland, Conor Geaney (0-3, 1f), Tomás Sheehy (0-2), Declan Devane (0-2) Fir Ionaid: Brian O’Connell (0-2), Brian Devane, Breandán Kelliher, John B Brosnan, Luke O’Connell

West Kerry League

IN Round 3 of the Lee Strand West Kerry League An Ghaeltacht defeated Lispole in Lispole, Lispole 2-10 to 2-16 An Ghaeltacht and Dingle defeated Castlegregory in Castlegregory, Castlegregory 1-7 to 1-11 Dingle.

In Round 4 An Ghaeltacht will play Annascaul, and Castlegregory play Lispole, both games are scheduled for Sunday, February 10 at 2pm.