Champions go out in county SFC quar ters

THE way is clear for the semi-finals of the Garveys Supervalu Senior Football Championship following the playing of four quarter-finals last weekend.

Champions South Kerry were sent crashing out of the championship at Tralee’s Austin Stack Park on Saturday afternoon last by a never say die Dingle side who never gave up the ghost despite trailing by four points to the champions early in the second half. South Kerry, forced to line-out without Kerry star Killian Young due to injury, will wonder how they contrived to lose a game they seemed to be in control of for long periods but as the game wore on it was Dingle who forced the pace and they held out by the minimum margin (0-11 to 0-10) despite a mighty effort by Bryan Sheehan at the death to tie the game.

Dr Crokes are safely through to the semi-finals following a comfortable victory over Kerins O’Rahillys in the opening game of the double bill at Austin Stack Park. A Colm Cooper goal saw the winners lead by 1-10 to 0-6 at the interval and despite the best efforts of the likes of Tommy Walsh for Rahillys, the Killarney side ran out five point winners on a score of 1-16 to 0-14.

It was a game that was marred by a serious injury to O’Rahilly’s Giles O’Grady just six minutes in and the game was delayed for 40 minutes as a result. Thankfully O’Grady got expert medical attention and hopefully he will make a full and speedy recovery.

A late goal from inspired substitution Shane Ryan saw Rathmore shock Mid Kerry to qualify for the semi finals for the second year in a row at Fitzgerald Stadium on Sunday afternoon on a 1-12 to 0-13 scoreline. The Divisional side had shaped like winners for three quarters of the game but they then lost their shape in the final quarter and the introduction of former Kerry minor goalkeeper Ryan was the catalyst for a tremendous comeback that culminated in a match-winning goal by Ryan in the 60th minute.

Meanwhile, Kenmare District sent Kerry Club champions Austin Stacks crashing out of the Senior Football championship in the second game of the quarter-final double bill at Fitzgerald Stadium (0-15 to 0-12). It was a ding dong battle throughout but a tremendous final quarter by the Divisional side saw them outscore Stacks by four points to no score holding the Rockies scoreless for the final 16 minutes played.