The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
An Ghaeltacht triumph in Munster final
EMPHATIC in its nature pretty much from start to finish, An Ghaeltacht’s win over St Senans of Limerick was the 10th title for a Kerry side in this competition in 11 years as the West Kerry side’s second provincial title to go with their senior success in 2003 never looked in doubt.
Sean Ó Gairbhí fed the onrushing Brian Ó Beaglaoich in the second minute and although Anthony Russell managed to stop his first strike there was nothing he could do about the rebound as their second score after Dara Ó Sé’s opening point set up a pretty comprehensive 22 point rout.
Ó Sé was the stand out performer for the victors on the day as they went 1-4 to 0-0 ahead before Ian Ryan put the Limerick side on the scoreboard after seven and a half minutes.
An Ghaeltacht continued to dominate, their ability to turn over the ball and counter one of the big features of their win (despite some wayward shooting at times) as Richard Hayes scored Senans’ only other first half point in the 18th minute from a free.
Russell did well to prevent two further goal chances for the West Kerry side, but a short kick-out to midfielder Maurice Fitzgerald in the 27th minute was pounced on by Roibeard Ó Sé as the All-Ireland winning Kerry Junior had a simple finish for a 2-14 to 0-2 lead at half-time.
Three An Ghaeltacht substitutes at the break was indicative of how much the game was done as a contest as the post intervened in preventing Tomas Ó Sé grabbing a third goal for the Kerry Intermediate Champions early in the second period.
On the three-quarter mark did come a third goal for them however as Ó Sé along with Éanna Ó Conchúir combined for PJ Mac Láimh to palm home from close range and make it 3-19 to 0-5 after 47 minutes.
In all eleven different players scored for An Ghaeltacht with defenders Peter Paul Sauerland and Colm Ó Muircheartaigh getting in on the act as well as Marc Ó Sé’s half-time replacement Sean Ó Bambaire.
The closing stages saw St Senans’ David Finnerty pick up a black card in the 56th minute as only Ian Ryan, Ray Flaherty, James Naughton and Richard Hayes offered An Ghaeltacht any bother during last Sunday’s one sided affair.
What will be or more concern to An Ghaeltacht going forward however was the fact that corner-back Cathal Ó Lúing was stretchered off in injury time with what appeared to be a serious injury, one that appears to rule him out for this weekend’s West Kerry Final with Dingle.
That along with a trip to Lewis Road for the County League Division 1 Final the week before Christmas will have to be contended with before they can start to think about an All-Ireland semi-final with Moy of Tyrone on Sunday, January 21 in the New Year.
With respect to St Senans,
An Ghaeltacht will find out much more about their worth in their two fixtures in the county prior to facing Seán and Colm Cavanagh’s outfit in what could be an interesting renewal of the Kerry vs. Tyrone rivalry come two months’ time at a venue to be announced.
AN GHAELTACHT: Tomás Mac an tSaoir; Peter P Sauerland (0-1), Marc Ó Sé, Cathal Ó Luing; Brian Ó Beaglaoich (1-0), Pádraig Ó Sé, Colm Ó Muircheartaigh (0-1); Roibeard Ó Sé (1-1), Seán Ó Gairbhí (0-1); Ciarán Ó Coileáin, Dara Ó Sé (0-9, 2f), PJ Mac Láimh (1-1); Tomás Ó Sé (0-1), Éanna Ó Conchúir (04, 2f), Sean M Ó Conchúir (0-1, 1f) Subs: Cathal MacGearailt for Ó Cóileáin, Sean Ó Bambaire (0-1) for Marc Ó Sé, Gearóid Mac an tSaoir for Ó Gairbhí, Ciaran Ó Céilleachair for Ó Beaglaoich, Cathal Ó Gairbhí for Sauerland and Óigí Ó Sé for Dara Ó Sé
ST SENANS: Anthony Russell; Dan Conroy, James Bridgeman, David Finnerty; Ger Hanlon, Ian Ryan (0-2), Ray Flaherty (0-1); Maurice Fitzgerald, Stephen O’Connell; Ollie Wallace, Anthony Mulvihill, Seamus McSweeney (0-2, 2f); James Naughton, Conor Mullane, Richard Hayes (0-2, 1f) Subs: Darragh Woulfe for Hanlon, Adam Kearns (0-1) for Wallace, Andy Lane for Mulvihill, Niall Guiney for Conroy, Kieran Kavanagh for Hayes and Dale Fitzgerald for Finnerty (Black Card)
REFEREE: David Murnane (Cork)
With respect An Ghaeltacht will find out much more about themselves in their next two fixtures