Minor semi-final victories for Waterville/Dromid and St Finans

ON Sunday both semi finals of the South Kerry minor championship were played in glorious conditions at Foilmore and the Con Keating park respectively.

In the first game played in Foilmore we had Waterville / Dromid take on reigning champions St.Marys / Renard in a tight tense encounter. St Marys / Renard got off to a great start with a few pointed frees from Mark Quigley.

At this stage the Marys midfield of Mike O’ Leary and Maurice Fitz were dominating proceedings and looked like they would have too much up front for Waterville / Dromid.

However, a dogged resistance by Waterville / Dromid turned things around with Niall O’Connor and Graham Sullivan eventually getting to grips with the St Marys / Renard midfield and also Kevin Sheehan doing well on Darren Casey. Missed goal chances cost the Marys / Renard dearly and they went in at half time six points to eight down.

Waterville / Dromid started the second half in whirlwind fashion and raced into a twelve points to eight lead with Jamie Sullivan kicking points for fun. St Marys / Renard clawed a few points back through Darren Casey, but then the killer blow was struck by Jack Curran who found the back of the net early in the second half.

From then on St.Marys /Renard looked like they would need a goal to get back into it , but the Waterville /Dromid defence held firm and they eventually ran out 1-16 to 0-12 winners. WATERVILLE /DROMID: K.Sheehan , J.Donnelly, J.Curran, C.Flaherty, C.Cronin, G.O.Sullivan, N.O.Connor, C.Clifford, J.O.Sullivan, J.O.Neill. M.J.Curran, J.Fitzgerald Subs: T.Dennehy, P.Fitzpatrick, C.O.Sullivan, R.Casey, G.O.Sullivan, J.Curran, J.Grey ST MARYS /RENARD: M.Daly, L.Sugrue, M.Quigley, C.O.Shea, M.O.Leary, B.McCarthy, J.Sugrue, M.Fitzgerald, N.O.Shea, O.Moran, N.O.Shea, D.Casey, E.McDaid, D.O.Shea Substitutes - I.Moriarty, R.Shea, C.Esmond, N.Brennan

In the second semi final played in the Con Keating park between St Finians and St Michaels / Foilmore we saw a goalfest with the underdogs St Michaels /Foilmore racing into a 2-6 to 0-6 lead at halftime with stylish goals from Pierce McGill and Luke O’Shea.

Despite dominating proceedings in the first half St Finians went to the dressing rooms on the wrong side of the scoreboard.

In the seocond half with John Murphy dominating midfield and Jim Lynch pulling balls out of the sky at full forward, St Finians struck for three goals in the second half courtesy of Dion Burke, Ruairi Galvin and man of the match John Murphy.

St Michaels / Foilmore responded with another goal from Daniel Cronin, but alas the point kicking skills of St Finians were too much for them in the end.

St Finians kicking 3-11 points in the second half andr an out worthy winners in the end by 3-17 to 3-8.