Na Gaeil book semi-final place after tetchy win over Finuge

COUNTY PREMIER JFC SEMI-FINAL GROUP 4 Finuge 1-4 Na Gaeil 2-17

THE goodwill and benevolence that hallmarked their abandoned game a couple of weeks ago when two Finuge players suffered broken legs in a collision quickly evaporated in this re-fixture in Finuge as tempers flared, which resulted in four red cards issued - three to the home side.

Played in ideal weather conditions, Na Gaeil needed to win this game in order to top the Group Four and advance to the semi-final, while victory for Finuge would have catapulted them into the last four of the Championship.

Praised for his decisive action in that first game, Keel referee Billy O’Shea had his work cut out to maintain order in a tempestuous contest in which Na Gaeil only got the upperhand in the second half after Finuge’s playing numbers were reduced to 13.

Jack Barry opened the scoring for Na Gaeil followed by a Dara Devine free, before Pat Corridan replied for Finuge and then Darragh Shanahan goaled for the hosts to give them an early lead.

Alas, that was Finuge’s last score of the half as Na Gaeil followed with scored from Andrew Barry, Dara Devine, Diarmuid O’Connor (2), Diarmaid Herlihy and Kieran Donovan to make it 0-8 to 1-1 in Na Gaeil’s favour at the interval.

By that stage Finuge had lost Raymond Galvin and Gerald Lovett to red cards in the 21st and 30th minute.

That numerical disadvantage was always going to make it extremely difficult for Finuge to get back into the contest and a third red card in the 40th minute really put paid to any hope of a revival.

Na Gaeil scored at will with points from Dara Devine, Seamie O’Neill, Stefan Okunbor, Eoin O’Neill, Diarmaid Herlihy, Diarmuid O’Connor, Andrew Barry and Dan O’Connor while Herlihy and Kieran Donovan raised green flags as the Tralee club eased away to a facile victory.

As a final insult to Finuge they sent a late penalty wide of the target for what would have been a consolation goal at that stage.

Okunbor became the fourth player to be dismissed - the Na Gaeil midfielder getting his marching orders late in the game.

It’s a decision the club is appealing with the player to mount his defence later this week in the hopes of being cleared to face Fossa in Sunday’s Premier JFC semi-final in Listry.

NA GAEIL: Timmy Culloty, Ryan O’Neill, Kieran Dineen, Colm Lyons, Fergal Barry, Andrew Barry (0-2), Eoin Doody, Jack Barry (0-1), Stefan Okunbor (0-1), Kieran Donovan (1-1), Diarmuid O’Connor (0-3), Ian McCarthy, Dara Devine (0-4), Diarmaid Herlihy (1-2), Seamie O’Neill (0-1). Subs: Eoin O’Neil (0-1) for Eoin Doody; Eoghain Sheehy for Ryan O’Neill; Dan O’Connor (0-01) for Ian McCarthy; Jordan Murphy for Seamie O’Neill, Eoin Walsh for Fergal Barry; Paul Daly for Colm Lyons.