The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Churchill’s dozen hold on to take Division 5 title
DIVISION FIVE
ALTHOUGH their promotions had already been secured, Churchill and Valentia played for the Division Five title in Glenbeigh with seven goals scored and four red cards issued in a lively four-point win for the St Brendan’s side. After both sides exchanged two points early on a penalty was awarded to Churchill for a foul on Killian Fitzgerald but Pa McCarthy’s spot-kick came back off the post. However Michael O’Brien and Sean Donnellan found the net in quick succession to give them a lead of 2-7 to 0-5 at half-time.
It looked all over with a further two goals for them after the restart, Chris Hurley scoring their third goal before JJ Prior finished off their fourth when a Michael Brennan shot came off the post.
From here it all got slightly crazy though as Sean Hamilton and Fitzgerald were sent off along alongside PJ O’Mahony (who had been dismissed between both second half goals) for second bookable offences reducing them to 12 players. The deficit was 16 points at that stage but even though Valentia’s Darragh Murphy was also sent off the Young Islanders cut into their opponents big lead and reduced it to just four points near the end.
John Daly had a fine finish for their first goal as Ger O’Shea and Andy Quigley scored points before two high balls to Stephen Sheehan yielded goals for the full-forward that meant we had a genuine contest again. Jason Mortimer lifted the siege for Churchill with closing points, as Hurley, Brennan, Donnellan and O’Brien stood out in their 4-11 to 3-10 win. John Curran performed well for the South Kery side at full-back but the goals conceded cost Valentia a chance at silverware.
AS to who will join both sides in Division Four next year it will be between Duagh and Scartaglin for the thir'd promotion spot after wins over Ballyduff and Asdee respectively. Duagh overcame a deficit of 1-4 to 0-4 at the break in Na Gaeil to get the better of Ballyduff, the latter left to rue Miky Boyle’s absence as well as a Padraig Boyl penalty being saved by Duagh goalkeeper Jeremiah Kelly even though Sean Costell did managed to find the net. Martin Scanell and Tom Scanlon along with Kieran Quke and Kieran Lucey scored second-half points for Duagh with the crucial from Nigel O’Connor scores comin and Michael Kirby however in a 0-14 to 1-9
win despite a brace for Paud Costello along with points from Jack O’Sullivan, John Regan and Phillip Lucid.
It will be an all maroon affair in the deciding promotion match as Scart had five points to spare over Asdee in Ballymacelligott. Asdee had taken advantage of some poor Scart shooting in leading by 0-5 to 0-2 at one stage of the first period, Darragh Keane and Eoin Tydings amongst their scorers but a Shay Walsh point had Scart trailing by a single point at half-time in a 0-6 to 0-5 lead for Asdee. Mike Coakley, Daniel Murphy and Walsh scored for the East Kerry side upon the restart though to put them in front before an Eddie Horan goal gave them a decisive grip on the game at 1-8 to 0-7. Darragh and Conor Keane tried to make amends for Asdee but Coakley was dominating midfield in a 1-11 to 0-9 win for Scart.
The match with Duagh and themselves is now the final matter to be decided in Division Five for the year as Dingle B claimed the Shield title with a 13 point success over Rathmore B in Keel.
The West Kerry side led by 0-4 to 0-2 after the first quarter before Donal Moynihan was dismissed for Rathmore before Luke O’Connell finished off a great team move for Dingle’s first goal. A second from Brian O’Connell made it 2-11 to 0-5 at the break Chrissy Spiers tried to rally Rathmore in the second period but Dingle were that bit better on the day as six Declan Devane points helped them to an eventual 2-18 to 0-11 win.
A decent return to Senior Football League level for Dingle’s B side after a number of years away.