St Kierans pushed hard to set up semi with South Kerry

St Kierans 1-17 Kenmare District 2-9

THEY made hard work of it at times, but St Kierans eventually overcame Kenmare District in difficult conditions in Currow last Thursday to set up an U-21 Championship semi-final meeting with South Kerry. Although the hosts dominated proceedings for the most part, they left a lot of chances after them that could have put the game beyond doubt long before the final whistle.

A run of 1-4 without reply in the second half coupled with a rousing point from full-back Shane Fitzmaurice after the visitors had brought the gap down to three points entering the last 10 minutes were the crucial factors in St Kierans’ win.

Two Killian Spillane frees were all Kenmare District could muster in the first quarter as Kierans raised five white flags in the opening 20 minutes. They should have raised a green one in the 18th minute though when Maurice O’Keeffe blasted a decent move in the build-up wide off the post. The visitors were more accurate in raising a green flag however, Brian O’Sullivan firing home three minutes after O’Keeffe’s chance to level the scores at 1-2 to 0-5.

Kenmare District full-back Jonathon Egan did well to deny Timmy Finnegan a chance but their goalkeeper Ray O’Shea as well as the woodwork denied both Vincent Horan and Michael Walsh on separate occasions in subsequent St Kierans goal chances. Points from David Hallissey and Pat Spillane Jnr saw the two sides level at 1-4 to 0-7 at half-time.

Spillane put over a nice point in the 36th minute but it would be his side’s only score up until the 47th minute as the hosts finally started to get a grip on the game. The woodwork would deny them again in the 38th minute from getting a goal through Cian O’Connor but finally they got the green flag they coveted five minutes later when Horan managed to keep his composure in slotting past O’Shea for a 1-14 to 1-5 advantage.

They were put on the back foot again however with 13 minutes left as Kenmare District substitute Johnny Breen scored his side’s second goal from close range as two further frees from Killian Spillane and a third point for his cousin Pat had the score at 1-14 to 2-8 with 10 minutes left.

Fitzmaurice showed great composure in putting over the point that lifted the hosts in the 53rd minute after a nervous 10 minute period and subsequent points from Horan and substitute Cian Dom O’Connor brought them their final total of 1-17. O’Connor’s point came after a great defensive interception by Luke Lyons on a late Kenmare District free in injury time.

Killian Spillane put over a consolation free for the visitors to leave the final margin at five between the two sides as Thomas Lynch was denied a second St Kierans goal before the final whistle by O’Shea.

While the hosts might have made amends for the 2014 Final loss to the same opposition in Fitzgerald Stadium, they know that they will need to be a lot more accurate in making more of any goal scoring chances they might get in the semi-final if they are to make a fourth U-21 Final this decade for their district.

ST KIERANS: Jason Cronin (Cordal), Luke Lyons (Castleisland Desmonds), Shane Fitzmaurice (Brosna, 0-1), Jack O’Sullivan (Currow), Maurice O’Keeffe (Brosna), Brian Leonard (Castleisland Desmonds), Garrett O’Connor (Currow) Michael Walsh (Knocknagoshel, 0-1), Cian O’Connor (Castleisland Desmonds, 0-1), Kieran Horan (Brosna, 0-1), Thomas Lynch (Castleisland Desmonds), Conor Sheehan (Knocknagoshel), Timmy Finnegan (Brosna, 0-3), Kieran O’Donnell (do, 0-3, 1f), Vincent Horan (Ballymacelligott, 1-5). Subs: Cian Dom O’Connor (Castleisland Desmonds, 0-2) for Kieran Horan, Sean O’Connor (Currow) for Sheehan, Kieran Herlihy (Scartaglin) for Cian O’Connor, Luke Fitzgerald (Currow) for O’Donnell, Bryan Hanrahan (Scartaglin) for Vincent Horan and John McMahon (Currow) for Finnegan.

KENMARE DISTRICT: Ray O’Shea (Kenmare Shamrocks), Denis Cronin (do), Jonathon Egan (Templenoe), Conor Harrington (Tuosist), Gearoid Fennessey (Kilgarvan), Dan Hawker (Tuosist), Dara O’Shea (Kenmare Shamrocks), Josh Holland (Templenoe), David Hallissey (Kenmare Shamrocks, 0-1), Kevin Price (do), Fionan O’Sullivan (do), Aaron Morris (Tuosist), Pat Spillane Jnr (Templenoe, 0-3), Killian Spillane (do, 0-5, 5f), Brian O’Sullivan (Kenmare Shamrocks, 1-0) Subs: Johnny Breen (Templenoe, 1-0) for Price and William Sheehy (do) for Cronin.

REFEREE: Jonathon Griffin (Glenbeigh/ Glencar)