The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Great weekend of club action
THREE Castleisland Mart Club Championship finals were decided over the weekend with An Ghaeltacht pipping Templenoe to claim the Intermediate title; Dromid Pearses needed extra time to get the better of Firies and after another gripping encounter Listry struck late to deny Castlegregory in the Junior Championship final.
Intermediate
AT Austin Stack Park on Sunday, An Ghaeltacht squeezed past a gallant Templenoe side to not only win the Fenian Cup, but also guarantee themselves senior championship status next season on a score of 1-12 to 0-14.
It was nip and tuck all through the first half and a goal at the end of the first quarter from Sean M. Ó Conchúir at the end of the first quarter after a good move was the difference between the sides at the break.
The game really opened up in the second half with both sides taking on their opponents’ defence at every opportunity, but whereas An Ghaeltacht were getting themselves into good positions their shooting was off kilter on a number of occasions and at the other end Templenoe were being turned over regularly as they met a teak tough Gaeltacht half back line in which Brian Ó Beaglaoich and Pádraig Ó Sé were superb.
Finally the scores started coming at both ends and Templenoe fought back from a four points deficit to level the game twice only to see the cup snatched from their grasp by a late point from PJ Mac Laimh.
After the game the Fenian Cup was presented to winning captain, Colm Ó Muirceartaigh by the chairman of the County Committee Tim Murphy and the Castleisland Mart Man of the Match was presented to Padraig Ó Sé by Neilly Shanahan of Castleisland Mart.
An Ghaeltacht will now play Mallow of Cork in the Munster Intermediate Championship semi-final in Mallow on the weekend of November 12.
Premier Junior
DROMID Pearses were crowned Junior Premier champions following an extra time victory over Firies at JP O’Sullivan Park on Saturday (0-17 to 1-10).
Firies just edged the first half thanks to a point on the half time whistle from Jack Sherwood and when they went 1-8 to 0-5 clear just four minutes into the new half following a goal by Pádraig de Brúin, it looked as if the Farranfore side had built up a winning lead.
There was still thirty minutes including added time to go however and once Dromid Pearses found their shooting boots at the three quarter stage it was a question of whether the South Kerry side would reel in Firies on time.
They did – just about, and extra time followed. Graham O’Sullivan, with four points, proved to be the difference between the sides in the additional twenty minutes played and after an absorbing ninety minute or so of football it was Dromid Pearses captain Chris Farley who received the Tom Keane Cup from county committee chairman Tim Murphy. Graham O’Sullivan, last year’s Kerry minor, was named Castleisland Mart Man of the Match and he was presented with his award by Denis Griffin of the Mart.
The new Kerry champions head to Cross in the Loop Head peninsula of County Clare on Sunday next to take on Naomh Eoin in the Munster Junior Club championship at 2pm.