The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Marys see off brave Renard
St Marys 3-9 Renard 1-6
THE setting was Renard for this tough uncompromising encounter. In fairness to the hosts the playing pitch, parking and stewarding were second to none and a huge crowd was on hand to witness a championship game in the old tradition.
St. Marys lined out with Bryan Sheahan in the subs as he was just back from holidays and Renard wasted no time in getting on the scoreboard. Conor O’Leary stroked one over after two minutes and this was quickly followed by a Mark Sugrue free after four minutes.
Paudie Casey and Conor O’Leary were causing havoc in the Marys defence at this stage and in the seventh minute Brian Sugrue finished a good move to the corner of the net. Ten minutes gone and Renard 1-2 up.
The home crowd must have sensed an upset was on the cards as they were also winning most of the match-ups at this stage. However, that supreme poacher Sean Cournane had other ideas as he contested a high ball under the bar with the goalkeeper that ended up in the back of the net.
To their credit Renard spirits didn’t sag and in the ensuing 10 minutes they created a golden goal opportunity and two free kicks but nothing was converted. Eventually after a sustained period of pressure Killian Young pointed from a free in the 20th minute.
Denis Daly (back from six months injured) now began to assert himself in the middle of the field and Marys pressure was duly rewarded with a superb 40-yarder from Paul O’Donoghue.
Another probing run from Denis set up his brother Daniel who kicked a sublime point off his left on the stroke of half-time. Renard went in leading 1-3 to 1-2 points at half-time.
St Marys introduced Bryan Sheehan for the second half with Conor Quirke making way. Probably of more significance though was the detailing of Noddy O’Driscoll to mark Paudie Casey and Noddy proceeded to have an excellent second half in defence and going forward .
Denis Daly opened the scoring for St. Marys with a long range boomer in the 31st minute and this was quickly followed by an Aidan Walsh score after a fine run. A Mark Sugrue free in the 36th minute levelled the score before that game changing moment that happens in every game occurred. An element of needle had crept into the game with a lot of harmless off the ball stuff going on.
In the ensuing slackness Denis Daly burst through the middle and effectively killed the contest with a scorcher to the back of the net. Bryan Sheehan then got to display his long range free taking skills with two fine efforts in the 40th and 47th minute.
Mark Sugrue replied with a free for Renard before man of the match Paul O’Donoghue finished a trademark St Mary’s passing move with a fisted tap to the net. Rob Wharton got a point back from Renard in the 56th minute before Paul O’Donoghue capped his fine personal display with the last score of the game in the 58th minute. St Marys ran out 3-9 to 1-6 winners.
Some fine personal performances especially young Alan Curran, Paudie Casey and Eoin O’Neill gave Renard a platform to win the game. However, failure to get more scores on the board in their first 20 minute purple patch ultimately cost them.
St Marys had too much power around the middle with Denis Daly, and Paul O’Donoghue running the show in the second half .
The half-time tweaking of the defence paid dividends with Dara O’Sullivan and Brian Curran standing tall when needed and their forward line as a unit is very difficult to stop.
A really brave day for Renard, but too much fire-power won out in the end.