The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Annascaul stay top of Three despite dropping a point to St Senans
DIVISION THREE
ALTHOUGH they were assured of staying top of the table regardless of the result, Annascaul might be disappointed to lose their 100% start the way they did as St Senans pounced on the hosts - who finished the game with 14 men - to put over a late equaliser for a share of the spoils. A nip and tuck affair saw both sides level on eight occasions, four times in each half as the symmetry continued with the match level at 0-6 apiece at the break and 0-12 apiece at the final whistle. Jason Hickson for the hosts and Sean O’Connell for the Mountcoal side were the scorers-in-chief for their sides as Senans late equalising came in the aftermath of Annascaul being reduced to 14 men. Annascaul’s lead is now just two points ahead of their West Kerry derby with County Junior champions Lispole in the next round.
Brosna took second spot in the table on foot of a scoring four goals in Lewis Road against Dr Crokes B.
Kieran O’Donnell, Mike Finnegan and Don McAuliffe scored their three goals in the first period to take a 3-2 to 0-2 lead before Crokes hit 1-3 without reply to make it 3-3 to 1-6 at halftime. O’Donnell scored his second and Brosna’s fourth goal in the second period to give them enough of a cushion to absorb some pressure from the hosts late on as the visitors would win out by 4-11 to 1-11.
Below Brosna only four points separate the other 10 teams in the Division as the half-way point approaches with St Pats Blennerville moving into a tie for third with St Senans on six points after drawing with Laune Rangers in Killorglin. It needed a late equaliser from Brendan Poff as the St Brendans side led after the first quarter by 0-5 to 0-2 following points from both Breandán Sav-
age and Poff. Rangers improved before half-time, however, as they trailed by 0-8 to 0-6. Pierce Tyther put a goal chance wide as St Pats goalkeeper Paudi Bailey saved from Cian O’Shea in a separate chance.
The visitors went back ahead by five on the three-quarter mark courtesy of three Willie Hurley frees and a David O’Callaghan effort as they looked strong in leading by 0-12 to 0-7. The hosts rallied however to very nearly take a big comeback win as a points from Jason Browne, substitute John O’Shea and an impressive Shane Daly effort preceded one of last year’s Kerry U-17s in Daire Cleary scoring a great goal for the lead. Poff responded within 90 seconds of that setback for St Pats as there was time for no more in the game finishing at 1-10 to 0-13.
Rangers find themselves in a tie with Ballydonoghue and Lispole on four points near the foot of the table but Keel stayed in the relegation zone after losing out to Listry. A goal near the end of the first period alongside points from Derry Ahern and Peadar Keane had Listry 1-5 to 0-3 in front at the break as Colm O’Neill and Aaron Murphy brought Keel back within a goal after the restart before Danny Wrenn and Bill O’Brien points gave Listry a four-point lead. O’Neill scored a goal for Keel but Derry Ahern responded with Listry’s second goal as they on to win by 2-10 to 1-10.
Listry share five points in the table now with Crokes B and Waterville as the latter suffered a two-point loss to Ballydonoghue on home turf, 0-13 to 0-11, after the visitors had led narrowly by 0-7 to 0-6 at half-time.
The other game played at the weekend saw Finuge and Lispole share seven goals between them but in the end it was the North Kerry side that came out on top by seven points. The two sides had been level at 2-9 apiece at the break, Tom Kavanagh getting amongst the goals for Lispole but Darragh Shanahan and Jason Wallace helped Finuge to an eventual 4-16 to 3-12 victory despite some pressure from Lispole late on.
This was Finuge’s first win and points as they head to St Pats for their next encounter.
Brosna will host Keel in Round Six while Dr Crokes are at home again to Waterville. Listry take on Laune Rangers while a North Kerry derby between St Senans and Ballydonoghue completes the fixtures for the weekend of June 10.