Three teams vie for third promotion spot in Division 4

DIVISION FOUR

NOTHING was officially decided at either end of the table last weekend but in the promotion race it is tantalisingly poised ahead of the conclusion. Skellig Rangers and Lispole’s chances are firmly in their own hands ahead of their last two games but with back games this weekend any of the three sides below them could easily be in the same situation come three weeks time. Skellig stay top on 16 points keeping Beale stuck in the relegation zone after the hosts edged a tight encounter in Portmagee by 1-16 to 1-14. They travel up to Keel in Round 10 knowing a win will send them back to Division Three regardless of other results that weekend.

Lispole, much like Skellig, defeated a side fighting off relegation in Duagh as they had six points to spare leaving the North Kerry venue on Sunday afternoon. The West Kerry side led by 0-8 to 0-2 at half-time and although Duagh started the second-half better, a goal from Adrian Rayle put the visitors back in control as despite a Kieran Quirke goal for Duagh, Lispole were victorious by 1-16 to 1-10 in the finish. A big West Kerry derby with Castlegregory awaits for them next but before that Castle and Keel play on Friday evening in a crunch game for both sides. They both head into it on the back of wins at the weekend, Castle’s over Tarbert probably more impressive in terms of the final scoreline. They defeated the North Kerry side by 3-18 to 0-14 with Timmy Moriarty getting their first goal inside the opening minute. Brandon Hoare scored a second in the first period as they led by 2-10 to 0-6 at the break, the visitors reliant on scores from Finbarr Carrig and Killian Lanigan. Maurice Slattery scored the West Kerry side’s third goal in their 13 point win as Tarbert stay in a cramped relegation battle involving the bottom six.

Keel’s win also came against a side stuck in such a battle as it looks ominous now for Scartaglin that they will be heading for Division Five year after a 1-9 to 0-4 loss to the Mid Kerry side. Aaron Murphy scored an early goal to set the tone for Keel’s dominance as only a win will do for Scart against Tarbert and at that they have to hope Duagh lose to Dr Crokes B to bring it to the final day. The Killarney side have a back game with Sneem/Derrynane on Saturday evening and enter it after victory over another South Kerry side in Renard at the weekend. Renard made the better start in leading by 0-7 to 0-3 but Crokes were the ones to lead by 1-7 to 0-8 at the break thanks to a Mikey Casey goal. The visitors stretched their advantage out to six before a Brian Sugrue goal brought the hosts back into it. Dan Healy scored a second goal for Crokes however in a 2-15 to 1-14 win as they stay right in the thick of the promotion race.

Firies are mathematically still in with a chance after defeating Sneem/Derrynane by 3-18 to 1-10 but they need results elsewhere to their way to have any chance of pulling it off. The game against Crokes is crucially for Sneem/ Derrynane in terms of trying to keep their hopes of safety in their own hands.