Desmonds could go down in next round

DIVISION ONE

AFTER going ahead for the first time last weekend, Dr Crokes have maintained their 100% start in the County League and had a convincing 29 points to spare over St Marys knocking four goals past the Cahersiveen side in Lewis Road on Saturday. A 2-13 to 0-6 advantage at the break became a 4-27 to 0-10 win for the Killarney side as with seven wins and a four point lead it is looking increasingly likely that the other sides are playing for the second League Final spot at the top end of the table.

An Ghaeltacht are one of three teams in the table on second with 10 points as they inflicted another defeat on Castleisland Desmonds for whom relegation is looking fairly ominous at this stage.

The West Kerry side had 10 points to spare in a successful trip to Castleisland last Friday with Tomás and Dara Ó Sé getting the visitors two goals in putting them 2-4 to 0-2 up after 16 minutes. Cian Hickey O’Connor and Cian O’Connor did manage some points for the hosts before the break but they still found themselves trailing by 2-9 to 0-5 at the break.

Pat Fitzgerald and Colm Murphy tried to improve the situation for Desmonds in the second period but An Ghaeltacht had too much in hand, Eanna Ó Conchúir, Sean M Ó Conchúir and Cathal MacGearailt pointing their side towards a 2-16 to 0-12 win. Desmonds have no points from their seven games and defeat to Kerins O’Rahillys in their next game could see them relegated if other results go against them.

O’Rahillys are battling to avoid joining them, of course, and it was another disappointing outing for Strand Road as they lost out to John Mitchels as the Ballyseedy based outfit have beaten both O’Rahillys and Austin Stacks in the League this year.

Tommy Walsh scored the first four points at Mitchels’ home ground and Cian Sayers scored a goal to give the visitors a seemingly perfect start. Crazily Mitchels would lead at the break however by 2-5 to 1-5, James Duggan scoring a penalty to give them the advantage.

Although the visitors drew level after the restart, Tommy Walsh had to go off injured on the three-quarter mark after having contributed eight points, but two further John Mitchels goals saw them win out by three points in the finish at 4-7 to 1-14.

While Strand Road’s situation is bad, Austin Stacks’ is arguably much worse as they remain in the relegation zone following another loss, this time to Dingle who are very much in the hunt for a League Final spot.

Sean Ryan scored an early goal for the Rockies in Connolly Park but Dingle managed to draw back level at the break at 1-5 to 0-8. With Micheál Slattery and Darragh O’Sullivan impressive at midfield Conor Geaney (eight) and Cathal Bambury (four) did the bulk of the scoring for Dingle despite Geaney having to go off injured near the end.

Dingle’s win was by 0-15 to 1-9 in the end despite three David Mannix points along with two each for Darragh Scanlon, Fiachna Mangan and Shane O’Callaghan. Simply put Stacks must defeat Milltown/Castlemaine in their next game to keep their situation in their own hands or face the very real prospect of going down like they did 10 years ago in 2007.

The Mid Kerry side lie just above the relegation zone themselves after losing a derby to Glenbeigh/ Glencar by 2-11 to 0-12, a result that puts the latter back in contention at the right end of the table.

Before Stacks, Milltown/Castlemaine have a game with Rathmore to contend with tonight as the East Kerry side’s scheduled game with Templenoe takes place on the weekend of July 30 now. The Kenmare District side will be next to face the might of the Crokes in Round Eight in two weeks time, albeit on home turf.