Ballylongford move a step closer to promotion

WITH three games of their campaign left, Ballylongford stay top of the table - although they could well be joined at the top of the table by Cordal the next time they play - as a 4-10 to 1-10 win at home to Valentia was their latest success at the weekend. Three of their goals came in the first period as Thomas Doherty, Stephen Foley and Ciaran O’Connor helped them to a lead of 3-6 to 1-7 at the break, Brendan O’Sullivan setting up John Shanahan for the Valentia goal.

The second half didn’t have the same intensity of the although Paudie Moroney did make some good saves for the hosts with Jack Mulvihill scoring their fourth goal with four minutes left.

Cordal’s 100% record remains with a seventh successive win as they finished strongly away to Austin Stacks B in what was an otherwise tight affair. The visitors led by 0-6 to 0-5 at the break, an advantage that was 0-9 to 0-8 coming towards the final seven minutes but Michael Flynn’s goal guided the East Kerry side towards victory at 1-13 to 0-8 as Phillip O’Connor (0-4) and Phillip Griffin (0-3) were amongst their scorers. Pa Fitzgibbon kicked three points for Stacks in defeat as Cordal face Cromane this weekend in a match that could be crucial in terms of the promotion battle.

For their part Cromane were 1-10 to 1-6 winners away to Ballyduff, Paud Costello’s goal meaning the hosts were level with their Mid Kerry opponents at the break but Paul Patrick O’Sullivan found the back of the net two minutes after the restart which meant that Cromane took charge of the game from there. Darren Houlihan scored five points for the victors in a four-point win as they will hope to draw level on points with Cordal following this weekend’s game between the sides.

Meanwhile, Moyvane are level with Cromane in the table with a game more played after the North Kerry side got the better of fellow promotion contenders Churchill at home. James Noonan got a goal for Moyvane in what was a very positive start, leading by 1-3 to 0-1 but the St Brendans side reeled off four consecutive scores (two for Tommy McCarthy) in leading by 1-3 to 0-5 at the break.

Shane Stack scored a second goal for Moyvane in the 42nd minute, one that kept them in control until the end although Killian Fitzgerald found the back of the net for Churchill in keeping the hosts on their toes for an eventual 2-11 to 1-10 win.

Rathmore B managed to stay in promotion contention after putting four goals past Tuosist in a 25 point win over the Kenmare District side. Donal Moynihan, Brian O’Leary and Donal Óg Kelliher were amongst the goalscorers in a 4-20 to 0-7 win as they travel to Cordal in their next match in two weeks, a game that will probably define their chances of going up or not.

Kilgarvan jumped ahead of Tuosist in the table meanwhile after getting the better of Knocknagoshel on home turf by 0-15 to 0-7. John Mark Foley stood out for the Kenmare District side with eight points as Christopher Creedon (0-3), Gearóid Fennessy (0-2) along with points for Jack Healy-Rae and Jack O’Brien made up their scores.

All bar one of Knock’s scores (a point from Denis Roche) came from Niall Barrett as Austin Stacks, Ballyduff and themselves remain with only one win each in the campaign. Kilgarvan return to action this weekend against Asdee as the North Kerry side will be the hosts for this encounter after not playing at the weekend.