The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
First round wins for Kilcummin, Gneeveuilla and Spa
AQUILA CLUB O’DONOGHUE CUP ROUND 1 Kilcummin 2-20 Listry 0-13
KILCUMMIN was too strong for a Listry side depleted by injuries in this Aquila Club O’Donoghue Cup East Kery Senior Championship Round 1 game played in Listry on Sunday.
The half-time score was Kilcummin 1-12 Listry 0-4. Resuming with the aid of the gale, Listry looked forward to a better scoreline, but it was Kilcummin who powered ahead.
Gneeveguilla 0-12 Currow 0-11
GNEEVEGUILLA won by the minimum against Currow reaching the quarter finals.
Both sides had periods of dominance. Currows‘ Seamus Scanlon dominated mid field and created a platform for his sides attacks. Both defences were strong and Gneeveguilla scored some lovely long distance points from play.
The score at the break at Gneeveguilla was 0-5 Currow 0-4.
The second half was tit for tat. DJ O’Connor equalised. The sides traded points Cornelius Buckley (Gneeveguilla) and Daniel O’Shea - 0-6 each on the 34th minute. The lead changed from one side to the other.
Gneeveguilla pulled two points ahead (DJ O’Connor). Alex Fleming Currow, Cornelius Buckley Gneeveguilla swapped points. Currow equalised, Pa McCarthy and Martin Howard on target – 0-9 a piece, on 45th minute.
Currow then took the lead with Pa McCarthy and Daniel O’Shea points – 0-11 to 0-9 on 50th minute. A Currow black card forced a substitution. It was nip and tuck. Cornelius Buckley reduced the gap to the minimum with a point from play.
Padraig O’Sullivan levelled the game with a pointed free, on the 31st minute. As it looked like extra time but Cornelius Buckley picked off a point, putting Gneeveguilla into the quarter-final.
Spa 4-18 Glenflesk 3-14
IN true championship fashion, these neighbours gave the large support plenty to enjoy at Spa in Round 1.
The scores came fast and furious from the first minute to last. With Michael O’Donoghue on song, Spa were 0-4 to 0-2 ahead after 10 minutes. Glenflesk responded with a Gavin Kelly goal.
However, within five minutes Ciaran Spillane and Evan Cronin had the sides level 0-6 to 1-3. O’Donoghue, Niall McCarthy, Michael McCarthy and Evan Cronin added five points for Spa with Darragh Roche hitting two for Glenflesk as half time approached.
However, Spa was looking threatening. Full-forward Andrew Garnett hit the post before a driving run by Shane Cronin saw him awarded a penalty, well struck by Evan Cronin. At half time Spa led – 1-12 to 1-5.
Glenflesk emerged revitalised and drove at the Spa defence. Padraig Healy netted from the throw in. Points from Darragh Roche (4) and Chris O’Donoghue had the scores level - Spa 1-12 Glenflesk 2-9 within three minutes.
The Spa response was vigorous as they opened a 12-point gap within five minutes. Michael O’Donoghue and Evan Cronin pointed before Spa struck for three goals from Shane Cronin, Ryan Carroll and the best of the day from Evan Cronin.
Spa keeper, James Devane, blocked a Darragh Roche shot and cleared to midfielder Dan O’Donoghue who fired it to the corner where Evan Cronin weaved a path through the defence to rattle the net – Spa 4-15 Glenflesk 2-9 at the end of the third quarter.
Michael O’Donoghue, Ayden Mulvaney and Andrew Garnett added 3 more while Lee O’Donoghue had a Glenflesk point in a ten minute period. Spa 4-18 Glenflesk 2-10 with 10 minutes left.
Glenflesk responded and held Spa scoreless for the rest of the match, adding 1-4 to their own tally – the goal scored by Ian Roche who was sharpest to it.
EAST KERRY U-14 CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION 1 & 2 FINALS Dr Crokes 3-9 Killarney Legion 1-14
PLAYED in Fitzgerald Stadium, the Division 1 Final MD O’Shea East Kerry U-14 Championship was an entertaining, sporting game.
Dr Crokes opened with a Liam Randles goal inside two minutes. There were a scatter of points before Liam Randles hit another fine goal from long range. In the next play, the same player completed his hat-trick of goals 3-5 to 0-3.
Legion steadied things with three points before Darragh Fleming finished a great goal to the Dr Crokes. The score at half time was Dr Crokes 3-5 Killarney Legion 1-7.
On the restart the sides swapped points before Legion enjoyed a purple patch and levelled the game with a string of fine points. With 10 minutes remaining the sides traded points.
Both teams created scoring chances but in a nail-biting finish Dr Crokes midfielder Cian Mc Mahon kicked the winning point, from 35 yards, after a bursting run up the middle.
Kilcummin 3-23 Firies 2-21
PLAYED in Fitzgerald stadium, this MD O’Shea U-14 Championship Division 2 final was tit for tat in the first half, with scores coming fast.
They say goals win games and so it was. There were a scatter of points but three Kilcummin goals in the opening half was the difference between the sides at the break. Evan O’Sullivan and Cian Foley (2) the goal scorers. Cian Doe scored four of the Firies points. The half time score was Kilcummin 3-8 Firies 0-12. On resumption, Kilcummin quickly notched up four points. However, Firies struck back with a goal from John Power. Kilcummin led 3-18 to 1-17 going into the last quarter.
Firies pushed hard and were rewarded with a Peter Cosgrove goal on 52nd minute. Kilcummin tagged on five points in the last 15 minutes. Sean O’Keeffe EK Coiste na nÓg presented the trophy to Kilcummin captain Cian Murphy.
Sympathy
WE extend sympathy to the Horan family, extended family, relatives and friends on the passing away of John Horan, Scarataglen. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.