The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
McCarthy goals seal it for Emmets
Listowel Emmets 2-11 Waterville 0-7
THE final scoreline gives a fair reflection of Listowel’s dominance of this game throughout, but it took two quality goals from midfielder Tom McCarthy at the end of both halves to close the game out.
Shorn of key attacker Conor Cox and Jack McQuire in defence, the home side made little of their absence and hit the ground running from the off. They were full of energy throughout and the visitors were just not able to live with them on the day despite the best efforts of Fionan Clifford, Niall Fitzgerald and sub Keith Moran.
Midfielder McCarty’s two goals stood out and he was involved in all that was good about the Listowel play on the day.
Corner-forward Sam Tarrant also impressed, in the first half in particular, and was a willing outlet for the impressive approach play of his teammates.
Listowel started the more determined and were winning the majority of the breaks around the middle.
They raced in to a three points lead by the seventh minute with scores from Cathal Keane, Tarrant and Cormac Mulvihill, who was unlucky to see his effort flash over off the crossbar.
Waterville keeper Seamus O’Shea produced a great save to deny David Sheehy before both sides exchanged wides and Waterville had still not opened their account by the 20th minute.
Sheehy extended Listowel’s lead and Waterville were left cursing their luck as they hit the upright on two occasions in quick succession and also dropped efforts in to the keepers hands.
Centre-back Darragh Leahy galloped forward to get his name on the score sheet before Waterville finally opened their account in the 29th minute through Niall Fitzgerald.
They looked to have limited any further damage before the half-time break until McCarthy intercepted in midfield and was on hand to take the final pass and bury to the net to give the home side a commanding 1-7 to 0-1 lead at the whistle.
Sub Keith Moran and Bryan Murphy exchanged points at start of second half before Listowel keeper Keith Hughes denied Greg Gibson a great goal chance which would have given Waterville a lifeline.
Maurice Whelan and Moran once more pointed to leave Listowel still leading by 1-09 to 0-3 by the 41st Minute. Waterville were slowly starting to create more openings in the Listowel defence, and after midfielder Oran Clifford had converted a free, corner-forward Stephen O’Dwyer had a great goal chance in the 49th minute, but he blazed over.
Noel Kennelly had now entered the fray for Listowel and he showed his experience and composure by tapping over in the 51st minute with his team now leading by 1-11 to 0-6.
The game’s only real controversy then arose shortly after when Waterville appealed for a penalty for a possible foot block on a goal attempt by full-back Daniel O’Dwyer, but to no avail.
Midfielder Clifford did kick a further point from play before his counterpart McCarthy had the last say with another top quality finish to the net to leave Listowel comfortable ten point winners in the end. LISTOWEL EMMETS: Keith Hughes, Jake Moriarty, Brendan Guiney, Darragh Broderick, Tom Melvin, Darragh Leahy (0-1), Cathal Keane (0-1), Tom McCarthy (2-0), Darren Halpin, Denis Walsh, Bryan Murphy (0-1), Maurice Whelan (0-1), David Sheehy (0- 2), Cormac Mulvihill (0-2, 1f), Sam Tarrant ( 0-2, 1f) Subs: Noel Kennelly (0-1) for Darren Halpin, 44 John Heaphy for Cathal Keane, 48 Sean Gilbert for Cormac Mulvihill, 57 Darren Halpin for Tom McCarthy, 60 WATERVILLE: Seamus O’Shea, Adam O’Dwyer, Daniel O’Dwyer, Michael Cronin, Alan O’Dwyer, Fionan Clifford, Greg Gibson, Cormac O’Sullivan, Oran Clifford (0-3, 1f), Sean Cathal O’Sullivan, Niall Fitzgerald (0-1), Cillian Clifford, Stephen O’Dwyer (0-1), Paddy Curran, Sam O’Dwyer Subs: Keith Moran (0-2) for Sean Cathal O’Sullivan, H/T JV O’Dwyer for Paddy Curran, 43 Greg O’Mahoney for Cillian Clifford, 44
REFEREE: Donal Casey (Scartaglin)