The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Gneeveguilla and St Senans to play-off to avoid relegation to four
DIVISION THREE
WITH matters at the top deferred to a later date (promotion is in any case decided), it was the bottom that concerned the remaining fixtures in Division 3 with the net result a play-off between Gneeveguilla and St Senans to see who joins Fossa and St Michaels / Foilmore in Division 4 next year.
Gneeveguilla had a busy 36 hours or so with their remaining two matches taking place alongside the club’s Carnival Fair. On Friday evening they confirmed the end of Fossa’s one year run in the division with a four goals giving them an fourteen point win over their fellow East Kerry side.
Shane Crowley, Mike Murphy and Brendan Sheehan were amongst the goal scorers as despite Paudie Clifford pitching in with some points, Fossa lost out by 4-11 to 0-9.
Then on Sunday they made the long trip to Mountcoal for a crunch game with Senans where in essence they ensured both sides will have to meet again albeit at a neutral venue.
Goals were the key to Gneeveguilla’s success here again as Padraig Doyle, Con Buckley and wing-back Kevin Coughlan scored all three in the first period for a lead of 3-5 to 0-3 at the break.
A Damien Somers goal offered Senans hope of improvement in the second period, but despite scores from Sean O’Connell and David Foran they finished the game with 14 men in losing out by 3-12 to 1-7.
Fossa ended their campaign with a 2-11 apiece draw at home
to Brosna, a result that ensured the North Kerry side avoided getting caught up in the relegation situation after a poor finish to a campaign that saw them challenge for promotion early on.
Ballydonoghue got the point they needed as well to avoid relegation but they were given a major fright on home turf by St Michaels / Foilmore in one of the South Kerry side’s better performances of an otherwise terrible campaign.
Luke O’Shea and Stephen O’Connor scored goals in the first period to give the visitors a lead of 2-4 to 0-9 at half-time as Ballydonoghue got their only goal of the game 10 minutes after the restart when Jack Foley was the provider to Padraig Lyons.
Brian Ó Seanachain was impressing for the hosts in leading by four points late on, but a Matthew O’Sullivan goal had the game right back in the melting pot. John Enright and Billy Foley held well in the home side’s defence however as Ballydonoghue won out by 1-15 to 3-8.
A draw on the opening day with Annascaul was St Michaels / Foilmore’s only point in the campaign as ten straight losses sent them down to a third successive relegation in the County League.
The West Kerry club’s campaign ended with defeat to Laune Rangers by 3-13 to 0-8, Two goals from David Costello and an effort from Patrick Carey were amongst the Killorglin side’s goals as both will reflect on poor results during the middle of the campaign that prevented them from challenging for promotion.
Na Gaeil and Ballymacelligott will meet on Sunday September 24 in a match where the winner will claim the title.
However, a draw could leave us with a peculiar position where Dromid Pearses could force a three way play-off for the title as they are due to face Finuge in their final encounter and a win could put them level with the other two.
With the game not due to be played before the Na Gaeil and Ballymac encounter however it will matter little if there is an outright winner in the aforementioned game.