Marys strike back to edge out hosts

A WINDY blustery cold day in Waterville was the setting for this exciting semi-final clash between last year’s finalists Waterville and St Marys.

A home venue and a sense that St. Marys may not be as good as last year gave Waterville a sense of optimism going into the game. Many of them would have felt that just one championship win over this current Marys side would be deserved after coming so close twice in the last three years.

Waterville began the game playing with a strong wind and the sense of urgency to get scores on the board was obvious from the start. Stephen O’Dwyer kicked over after two minutes and this was followed by a Kevin O’Dwyer point from close range .

The next phase of play was one Waterville will rue for many a day. A high ball into the Marys full back line was expertly fielded by Waterville full-forward Seamus O’Sullivan who offloaded to Barry O’Dwyer, normally a lethal finisher. However, St Marys goalkeeper Austin Constable spread himself big and deflected the shot for a ‘45.

A minute later the ball was upfield and Sean Cournane got the Marys on the board with a pointed free. The next 20 minutes were all Waterville , Seamus Sullivan scoring in the 12th minute and Steven Dwyer in the 14th.

Even though it was still early in the game to make predictions Waterville looked hungrier and were creating lots of turnovers, one of which was moved quickly inside to Barry O’Dwyer who slipped a neat hand pass to Seamus O’Sullivan for a tap in to the back of the net.

Fergal Cronin scored a fine point for Waterville in the 17 minute, but alas it was to be their last score of the half. A sense of reality must have dawned on the Marys that the game was slipping away from them at this stage because they now upped the ante.

A really good long range effort by Daniel Daly on the 20th minute followed by a Brian Sheehan long range free left the score 1-6 to 0-3 in favour of Waterville at half-time.

Waterville would have felt happy going in at half time with a six point lead non withstanding having to concede the wind in the second half.

However, St Marys selector James O’Sullivan must have been unleashed at half time in the dressing room and as many a South Kerry team will testify, there is no better man to get the adrenalin going.

St Marys came out in the second half full of purpose and proceeded to pick Wateville apart point by point. Denis Daly did what he does best and got a grip at midfield while Dara O’Sullivan and Brian Curran seemed to be getting a hand in everywhere in defenCe.

Niall O’Driscoll hit a point from 35 meters in the 32nd minute and this was quickly followed by a trade mark Bryan Sheehan effort from 40 meters. Sean Cournane followed in the 37th minute with a free before Waterville pulled one back courtesy of a Seamus O’Sullivan free.

The long range point kicking ability of St Marys now began to tell and a sense of inevitability crept into the game even though St Marys were still four points down with 15 minutes to go.

Jack Daly moved to midfield for St Marys with Brian Sheehan going into the full forward line. Long ball into Brian was now the order of the day and he and Pauly Donoghue added two more in the 44th and 50th minute.

It was now a two-point game with 10 minutes left when St Marys had a defender sent off for two yellow card offences. Waterville’s only hope was a goal but the closest they got was a Kevin O’Dwyer shot saved by Austin Constable.

Jack Daly was now having his say around the middle for St Marys and following another long ball into Sheehan he got the score of the game.

He received possession near the touchline 30 meters out and with one look unleashed a curler off his right foot that sailed between the uprights.

We now had a one point game and it was now a case of who would make the mistake. Unfortunately it was Waterville with a seeming harmless foul around the middle. Up stepped another St Marys marksman Sean Cournane and nobody does pressure better than Seanie, over the black spot with 10 meters to spare.

Tied game at 60 minutes, but with four minutes extra because of Greg Gibson’s injury earlier. The stage was set for a dramatic finish but Dan O’Sullivan popped up 20 yards from goal to curl one over with his left and crown a fine personal second half performance by putting St Marys in another South Kerry final.