Pres Milltown dig deep to see off strong Ballybunion challlenge

A TIGHT and exciting Joe O’Connor cup final was played on Thursday in Ballyrickard between St Josephs Ballybunion and Presentation Milltown.

Pres Milltown repelled a few early Ballybunion attacks and aided by the breeze scored points through Cian Doe, Killian Murphy (2) and Sean Hogan.

Ballybunion responded with Jack Kennelly and Eric Daly at times looking likely to run riot in their forward line.

Kennelly with three points and Daly with one left the game on a knife edge approaching half-time. Cian Doe and Darragh Brosnan kicked two good points to give Milltown a precarious two point lead approaching the short whistle (having played with the breeze in the first half).

Almost on the stroke of half-time Sean Hogan, now at full-forward for the mid Kerry side fielded a high ball on the edge of the Ballybunion square and sent the ball to the net via the crossbar.

It was a goal which gave Milltown a rather flattering five point lead, despite Ballybunion having played a lot of the best football in the first half. Half-time Pres Milltown 1-6, St Josephs Ballybunion 0-4.

Ballybunion started the second half in determined fashion and had rattled over four points in the first 10 minutes through Kennelly (2), James Donegan and Barry O’Neill. Milltown lifted the siege with a Killian Murphy point to lead by two at the midway point in the second half.

Sean Corcoran, Milltown’s outstanding centre-back, was black carded rather harshly for a tackle on Eric Daly and at this stage Ballybunion were sensing that momentum was shifting in their favour.

With Kennelly converting the free there was one point in the game entering the last 12 minutes of normal time. Pres Milltown showed great character at this juncture to repel a determined Ballybunion team who were attacking in droves.

Gary Murphy, Liam Smith and John Dennehy broke up numerous attacks and young Keith Evans was outstanding in linking defence and attack. Killian Murphy applied the finish to two breakaway Milltown attacks giving them a three point lead with time running out for Ballybunion.

Ballybunion, to their credit, urged on by their supporters drove at pace at the Milltown defence, but were unable to force an equalizing goal. One final Ballybunion attack resulted in a blistering shot from Sean McGrath which looked destined for the roof of the Milltown net.

Sean Langford, who had been impressive throughout for Milltown, pulled off a save which drew gasps from supporters on both sides, shortly before the final whistle.

With the Kerry Under-17 physical trainer Padraig Murphy sharing the Pres. Milltown management duties with Dan McKenna, a few performers on both sides put themselves in the frame for closer scrutiny in the future.

For Ballybunion, Diarmuid O’Mahoney, Barry O’Neill and Jack O’Sullivan were rock solid in defence. James Donegan working tirelessly throughout and Jack Kennelly, Eric Daly and Sean McGrath were a real threat up front.

Goalie Sean Langford along with Liam Smith, Sean Corcoran, Killian and Gary Murphy, keith Evans and John Dennehy were the pick of a Milltown team who ground out this result against a tigerish Ballybunion side who, to their credit, fought to the bitter end.