The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Gneeveguilla and Firies top of Division 3
DIVISION THREE
THREE teams from East Kerry and another not too far away from there are the sides unbeaten after the first two rounds. It’s last year’s promoted sides in Gneeveguilla and Firies who are top though with two wins from two.
Gneeveguilla 1-16 Ballydonoghue 1-14
AN interesting warm-up for the Premier Junior Championship meeting between the same sides in Group 2 but it was the East Kerry side who edged it after both sides went in level at the break. Gneeveguilla had scored their goal after 20 minutes but Ballydonoghue got theirs before the half-time whistle to level it up at 1-6 apiece. Although the visitors went ahead early in the second-half Gneeveguilla managed to re-take control of the scoreboard in winning out by two points.
Listowel Emmets 1-13 Firies 2-12
A SIGNIFICANT win for the East Kerry side as they needed a big save from their goalkeeper Colm O’Shea late on to leave Frank Sheedy Park with the win. They had led Emmets by 1-4 to 0-2 early on but the hosts went ahead through a run of 1-4 without reply, Sam Tarrant their goalscorer. Mike Daly forced home what proved to be a crucial gone come the finish though as Firies led by 2-4 to 1-6 at the break.
Ciaran Pearse was denied the chance to win it for Listowel by O’Shea as Donnachadh O’Sullivan and Cian O’Callaghan put over the winning scores for the visitors.
Milltown/Castlemaine 2-8 Listry 2-8
A DERBY between neighbours in opposite districts and a lively one as the visitors ended the game with 13 men. Listry had taken an early advantage through an Aaron McCarthy goal but Jerome Flynn goaled for the hosts to seem trail by only 1-6 to 1-4 at the break. Gavin Horan goaled for Milltown/Castlemaine early in the second-half but Listry responded through Anthony Sweeney as they would go on to overcome their numerical disadvantage and claim a share of the spoils.
Fossa 0-12 Keel 1-10
ANOTHER tight one for Keel but one that ended in victory this time as Aaron Murphy’s first-half goal was the one to separate both sides in the end. Fossa really felt Paudie Clifford’s absence through injury on the day despite Tadhg O’Shea finishing with 0-8 (5f) on the day. The two sides had been level at 0-8 to 1-5 at the break but Keel’s trademark dogged nature got them over the line to an important win.
St Pats Blennerville 0-13 Currow 1-12
A MUCH better showing by Currow after a poor outing in their opening fixture at home to Gneeveguilla with Tommy Dennehy’s first-half goal the difference between the two sides. His goal came in the 11th minute but it was a run of five unanswered points that gave Currow a lead of 1-8 to 0-7 at half-time.
John O’Connor was dismissed for the visitors in the second period, but Seamus Scanlon gave them a strong platform at midfield as Brendan Poff nearly goaled for the hosts. Goalkeeper Paudie Bailey was sent off late on for the St Brendans side as Currow’s strong defending saw them win out by two points.
St Senans 3-12 Lispole 1-10
THE North Kerry Champions were always in control of this one, leading the outgoing Kerry Junior winners by 1-8 to 0-3 at half-time before going on to win by eight points in the finish. Lispole are the only side along with Fossa with no points from their opening two games in the League.
Up Next
THE four unbeaten sides will all play each other in May as Firies host Keel with Gneeveguilla travelling to Listry. Ballydonoghue host St Pats as Milltown/Castlemaine travel west to Lispole. There are two derby fixtures as well with Listowel hosting St Senans and Currow playing host to Fossa.