Annascaul just miss out on early promotion with Listry draw

DIVISION THREE

THEY’RE still unbeaten but Annascaul missed out on the chance to make absolutely certain of their promotion to Division 2, regardless of other results, in the next round with a late Anthony Sweeney equaliser giving Listry a share of the spoils at home to the West Kerry side at the weekend.

Cathal Ferriter scored the visitors’ first goal inside the opening minute before Joe Clifford replied for Listry soon after with their opening goal. Gary O’Sullivan blasted another goal chance wide for the hosts as Annascaul regained the initiative through Jason Hickson and Aidan Crean, but points from Clifford and Derry Ahern had Listry in front by 1-6 to 1-4 at the break.

The sides were level on three occasions in the second period, but it didn’t look like they would be when Ronan Buckley scored Listry’s second goal early in the second period to put them four points ahead.

Eamon and Jason Hickson alongside both Crean and Ferriter began a fightback from Annascaul, however, as the game was level with 10 minutes left. A Danny Wren point was followed by a goal from Crean as both Anthony Kennedy and Gary O’Sullivan drew Listry level on this occasion.

Brian Kennedy thought he had hit the winner for Annascaul until Sweeney’s late intervention in a 2-11 apiece stalemate.

Brosna’s fixture with Finuge did not go ahead due to the County Hurling Championship meaning no ground was lost as such, but if they do beat the St Kierans side in a crunch promotion encounter next time out then they have to hope St Senans and Dr Crokes B don’t win if they wish to be promoted there and then.

Senans missed out on the chance to go second in the table meanwhile after a four point loss to County Junior Champions Lispole that moved the West Kerry side out of the relegation zone.

A Declan O’Sullivan goal from the penalty spot in the first minute meant that Lispole led by 1-5 to 0-4 at half-time as despite scores from Cathal Kennelly an Seán O’Connell, Lispole just seemed to have an answer for everything the Mountcoal side threw at them.

Donnacha Higgins and Matthew Sean Griffin scored points that led Lispole on to a 1-11 to 0-10 success as there were some big defensive interceptions made before the end in stopping Senans from salvaging something from proceedings.

Crokes moved back into contention meanwhile after adding to Laune Rangers’ relegation worries with a 4-18 to 2-15 in Lewis Road last Sunday.

Chris Doncel scored a hat-trick for the Killarney side with Mark O’Shea their other goalscorer as theyledby3-6to1-8athalf-time after a Darragh O’Sullivan goal had given Laune Rangers an early advantage at 1-4 to 1-1.

Dáire Cleary scored Rangers’ second goal early in the second period to make it a two point game, but Crokes piled on the points and Doncel completed his hat-trick in ensuring they won out by nine points for a finish.

Rangers face a massive Mid Kerry derby with Keel in the next round, one that could decide their fate as Finuge’s back games will also be crucial to deciding the picture of the relegation battle.

Keel pulled themselves out of the bottom three with a win over Waterville that saw them leapfrog the South Kerry side in the table.

A good start was half the work for the hosts as they got 1-5 without reply to start, Colm O’Neill their goalscorer as Waterville managed five first-half scores in trailing by 1-9 to 0-5 at the break.

A goal for the visitors in the second-half offered them some hope, but they lost out by 1-15 to 1-11 in the finish as they host Lispole in the next round needing a positive result.

Ballydonoghue can breathe slightly easier in their own situation meanwhile after a 2-11 to 0-12 win away to St Pats Blennerville. Tommy Kennelly scored their first goal and they added a second before half-time to lead by 2-5 to 0-6.

Ballydonoghue packed their defence in the second period as despite six points for Willie Hurley, the hosts went down by five points as they travel to St Senans in Round Nine.

Finuge play over the next three weekends against Listry, Crokes B and Brosna looking to move off the bottom of the table.