Promotion race likely to be run after next round

DIVISION THREE

THE promotion race could all but be decided this coming weekend as should the present top three of Dromid Pearses, Na Gaeil and Ballymacelligott all win and Laune Rangers lose to St Senans then all three cannot be caught by the chasing pack in the remaining two rounds.

Dromid kept the lead at the top with a slender one point win over Brosna in a real ‘four pointer’ as despite the North Kerry side’s great start to the campaign, their hopes of going into Division 2 appear to be over at this stage.

The hosts shaded a poor first-half by 0-3 to 0-2 before a Thomas Curran ‘45 and two quick goals swung the game in the visitors favour. Shane Curtin, Tom McGoldrick and Gerard Nash brought Brosna back within reach near the end, but the woodwork and Stevie McAuliffe the Brosna goalkeeper denied Dromid the chance to put the game beyond any doubt.

They still left with a 2-7 to 0-12 win, however, as a big incentive awaits them this weekend at home to Annascaul, the West Kerry side needing a win themselves to stay in with a chance of promotion.

Na Gaeil were one point winners also away from home as they edged out Gneeveguilla by 0-12 to 0-11. Dylan Brassil and David Culloty gave them a 0-7 to 0-6 lead at the break with DJ O’Connor, Padraig Doyle and Padraig O’Sullivan amongst the points for the hosts.

Fergus McAuliffe levelled matters after the break but Darragh Carmody and Andrew Barry put the Tralee side back in control with the hosts unable to find an equaliser before the end. The defeat leaves Gneeveguilla just above the relegation zone as Na Gaeil know it is a big opportunity for them this weekend at home to Brosna.

Ballymac were a lot more comfortable in putting themselves on the brink of going up, however, powering past St Michaels / Foilmore by 19 points. The South Kerry side are in danger of going the other way down to Division 4 meaning both sides could go in the opposite directions for the second successive year.

It was a first-half to forget for the visitors failing to score a single point and conceding 3-13 in the process! Aidan Breen scored Ballymac’s first from the penalty spot before going on to score a second later in the half.

Cian Counihan scored their third goal in what would become a run of 3-16 without reply before Adrian O’Connell scored the visitors first point of the game in the 38th minute. Brian Smith would also score a consolation goal for the hosts in what was eventually a 3-19 to 1-6 defeat.

Unless they get something from their game with Fossa at the weekend, St Michaels/Foilmore will go down with a subsequent win for Gneeveguilla although the East Kerry side are playing Ballymac themselves this weekend.

Fossa’s stay in Division 3 looks like being a short one as well following a loss to Laune Rangers in Killorglin,

John Evans’ outfit missing out by two points on his return to his native club. First-half goals from David Costelloe and a John Tyther penalty had the hosts in front early on before a Tadhg O’Shea goal brought Fossa back into it at half-time in Laune Rangers leading by 2-5 to 1-5.

O’Shea scored a second fisted goal to make a real game of it and the teams were level at 2-8 apiece coming towards the end before Colm O’Shea and the evergreen Mike Frank Russell made sure of a 2-10 to 2-8 win for the hosts.

The other game played saw Annascaul defeat Ballydonoghue by 3-13 to 1-11, an Aidan Crean goal giving them a 1-7 to 0-5 lead at the break before Crean scored a second in the second-half and Alan Falvey would score their other green flag.

Paul Kennelly scored Ballydonoghue’s only goal from the penalty spot as their eight point defeat pushes them down to the wrong end of the table.