Desmonds take an important victory
NORTH KERRY SFC ROUND 1
Desmonds 1-13 Listowel Emmets 1-10
THIS was probably the most talked about and anticipated of all the opening round contests in this year’s North Kerry championship for the simple reason that whoever emerged from the clash was likely to contend for the title.
With the game taking place in Castleisland and with Castleisland having provided a good number of players to the St Kierans divisional side, which made it all the way to the County Championship quarter-finals, the Desmonds were probably just about favourites going into the clash against a Listowel side who’ve been waiting a while for a game.
In the end that’s how it turned out, but it came as no surprise to anybody that the Emmets would fight all the way to the very last – with Noel Kennelly (who announced his retirement after the game) coming on for late goal to give the Listowel men hope.
Desmonds though held firm, showing the type of desire they’ll need if they’re to challenge for this year’s championship title starting with a quarter-final clash against Ballyduff later this month (time and venue to be confirmed).
Given the rainfall in the preceding forty eight the pitch was in remarkable shape and, with conditions dry, the standard of football was very good. The home side had a moderate breeze to their backs in the first half and opened the scoring with a free from Cian O’Connor.
David Keane replied from play for Emmets before Desmonds captain, Brian Leonard, restored the home side’s advantage. Cormac Mulvihill replied for Emmets, Graham O’Connor pointed for Desmonds, which Sam Tarrant cancelled out from a free to leave the scores tied at three points a piece at the end of the first quarter.
Desmonds enjoyed a period of dominance and scored three in as many minutes – all from frees, two points from Cian O’Connor and one from Cian Hickey O’Connor.
Emmets, however, were on top for the remainder of the half, scoring four unanswered points through Seán Keane, David Keane and a brace from Sam Tarrant to leave the half-time reading Desmonds 0-6 Emmets 0-7.
The second half saw the wind almost die completely with Desmonds getting off to a great start – a super move all the way up the field, finished to the net by Cian Hickey O’Connor. David Keane, who tried hard all day,scored his third point from play for Emmets, but Desmonds were now taking a grip on matters in the middle third.
Tomás Lynch from play, goalkeeper Stephen Bartlett from a ‘45 and a free stretched Desmonds’ lead to four points. Sam Tarrant again pointed a free for Emmets, but they then suffered two major blows losing Micheál Kennedy to a red card and Niall Collins shortly after to a black card.
Desmonds proceeded to score four unanswered points through Cian O’Connor, two from Cian Hickey O’Connor and a brilliant score from the outstanding Luka Brosnan, to put Desmonds seven points the good with nine minutes to play.
Listowel Emmets made several changes, including the introduction of veteran, Noel Kennelly. Sam Tarrant pointed a free and when Noel Kennelly netted with minutes to play there was only three in it.
Emmets, to their credit, fought to the end for their championship lives and threw everything at Desmonds, but their defence stood firm and they didn’t concede again.
CASTLEISLAND DESMONDS: Stephen Bartlett (0-2), Gearoid Leonard, Barry Lynch, Cian Mangan, Luka Brosnan (0-1), Brian Leonard (c) (0-1), Maurice Hickey, Ethan Reidy, Cian W O’Connor (0-4), Adam Donoghue, Seán Lynch, Adam O’Donoghue, Graham O’Connor (0-1), Tomás Lynch (0-1), Cian Hickey O’Connor (1-4) Subs: Stan Divane for G Leonard, Pat Fitzgerald for E Reidy
LISTOWEL EMMETS: Shane Quinn, Micheál Kennedy, Niall Collins, Tom Melvin, Ciarán Pierse, Eddie Browne, Robert Smith, Tom McCarthy (c), Joe Joe Grimes, Ger McCarthy, Cormac Mulvihill (0-1), Darragh Leahy, Sam Tarrant (0-5), Seán Keane (0-1), David Keane (0-3) Subs Jamie McVeigh for C Mulvihill, Maurice Whelan for N Collins (Black), Noel Kennelly (1-0) for R Smith, Fergal Wall for D Keane
REFEREE: Eamon Moran (Ballydonoghue)