The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Rathmore just about fancied to get the better of St Kierans
COUNTY SFC ROUND 3
St Kierans V Rathmore
Sunday, July 10 Fitzgerald Stadium, 2pm THIS one really is a tough one to call. There’s a hell of a lot of quality on view for both teams.
This time last year we had St Kierans tipped as one of the championship dark-horses. A disappointing defeat at the hands of Kilcummin (in Kilcummin) put an early end to their run, however.
Much of what we believed about them then applies now. They’re capable of playing a very attractive brand of football. What they’ve added to that from last year would seem to be the grit necessary to compete for championships.
In the first round they needed all that grit and then some to see off a Conor Cox-inspired Feale Rangers and then in the second round they gave a very creditable account of themselves against Dr Crokes.
Crokes have been running through league and championship fixtures much as a hot knife runs through butter, but the Saints stood up well to the challenge. They will need to be equally abrasive and combative against Rathmore this weekend.
Rathmore were damn close to a county championship final last year and given what transpired in both finals would have been there or thereabouts in that final had they gotten over the line against Legion.
The Sliabh Luachra side would have been disappointed not to have overcome Dingle in the first half, but there were extenuating circumstances – they were without Aidan O’Mahony who plays a huge part in knitting them together.
With O’Mahony back in the fold they were much more like their usual selves against an ever improving St Brendans outfit. They scored three goals. Had George O’Keeffe in top form. Eoin Lawlor and Mark Reen were equally on it.
That sounds like the type of firepower needed to win a championship game. Sure enough it’s not as though Kierans don’t have firepower of their own – Thomas Hickey anyone? – but all the same Rathmore look just that little bit more cohesive. It’ll be a close run thing, but the East Kerry men will shade it.
Verdict: Rathmore