The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Kenmare through to face Adare in final
MUNSTER CLUB IFC SEMI-FINAL
THIS was a far greater test of Kenmare’s mettle than their facile victory over Fethard in the last round, at least that’s what the scoreboard would suggest.
One could also, of course, argue that they simply didn’t hit those same heights again. It’s also arguable that scoring a goal inside the opening minute might have been a slight bit detrimental to the Kenmare mindset.
Paul O’Connor set Sean O’Shea up well for a side stepping strike, but if the Shamrocks thought Kilfenora would wilt in the same way that Fethard did, they were proven wrong with the dogged nature of the Clare side’s challenge.
Stephen O’Brien probably should have scored a second goal in the fifth minute, but the visitors found their feet through both Cian O’Dea and Killian Malone scores. A crucial touch from full-back Tommy O’Sullivan at the concession of a converted ‘45 prevented O’Dea stealing in for a goal in the 12th minute and Kieran Fitzgibbon had to save from Malone with five minutes of the first-half left to keep the Kerry Intermediate Champions 1-5 to 0-5 ahead.
O’Connor was the provider once more for their second goal, just avoiding a collision with O’Brien in setting the latter up for a 27th minute green flag. Another good chance was wasted by O’Brien soon after however and it was indicative of what was wrong with the Kenmare performance in a lot of ways on the day in terms of maybe too much elaboration on the ball and not taking simpler scores.
Leading by 2-6 to 0-5 at the break, O’Connor started the second-half for the Shamrocks much like the first in scoring their third goal two minutes after the restart. David Hallissey was the player who found O’Connor for their 10 point lead and it was a good illustration of the efforts of the midfielder on the day in what was a pretty solid performance.
Shane O’Sullivan made a good defensive interception soon after, the highlight of a good outing by the wing-back while Kevin O’Sullivan put over two second-half points, one of the few highlights of a pretty processional second-half.
Cian O’Dea putting over two ‘45s was a bonus for the Clare side as despite struggling with scores from open play (getting only two in total) they certainly redeemed Intermediate Football in the Banner County somewhat considering the hammering Corofin got from St Marys the same weekend a year previously below in Cahersiveen.
Stephen O’Brien scored the final point of the game with eight minutes left as the final whistle didn’t bring any great fanfare to it in Kenmare reaching their second Munster Club Final in five years.
They won’t need to be told that there are elements of the performance that need to be addressed ahead of facing off against Adare in the decider in two weeks time.
It will be the second time they have faced a Limerick side in a Munster Club Final having beaten Bruree in the 2012 Junior Final under the floodlights in Mallow.
The challenge they got that day should tell them that they can’t take anything for granted ahead of this latest Final at a higher level.
If their heads were a bit swell after the Fethard annihilation, then this certainly will bring them back down to earth a bit.
It’s never a bad thing for any team to head into a Final with things to work on however!