Sugrue strike seals it for Renard

WALSH’S SOUTH KERRY SFC QUARTER-FINAL Renard 1-11 Skellig Rangers 0-13

ON Saturday last in Portmagee the last of the Walsh SuperValu South Kerry Championship quarter-finals took place and what a game it was, the usual ding dong battle these two teams normally serve up.

Renard set up with Eoin McCrohan and Paudie Casey both wing-forwards back defending, but it was Skellig Rangers who got off to the better start with three great scores from Ciarán Keating (2) and Darragh O’Sullivan.

Renard’s reply was a Mark Sugrue free in the fifth minute for a foul on Kevin Curran who had a great first half for Renard winning scorable frees. Ciarán Keating kicked a free for Skellig Rangers in the eighth minute, but it should have been a goal, in the advantage expertly allowed by referee Jonathan Griffin when an advantage didn’t materialise it was back to the free.

In the 11th minute Renard got on a roll. They were getting more stuck in around the middle third executing some very effective shoulder tackles setting up some good attacks. The return was three points on-the-trot – Kevin Curran (free), Mark Sugrue (free) and a lovely score from Killian Young in the 13th minute.

Four points apiece good game on. In the 17th and 20th minute Micheal O’Sullivan landed two beauties and a classy Ciarán Keating free left the score 0-7 to 0-4. Skellig Rangers back on top. Mark Sugrue had a tap over free for another foul on Curran, but the best score of the half was about to come to close out the first half at 0-8 to 0-5.

This was scored by wing-back Ronan O’Shea. He went on a solo run up the stand side and sliced it over with the right over the Renard crossbar at the dressing room end. Half time 0-8 to 0-5 in favour of Skellig Rangers, slight wind advantage to come for Renard.

Mark Sugrue put over a very tricky free to start the second half but it was total domination from Skellig Rangers. Micheal O’Sullivan with a third from play and three frees from Darragh O’Sullivan had Rangers 0-12 to 0-6 up after 49 minutes.

One good thing and one bad thing happened for Renard. Rob Wharton pulled off a match saving block from Ronan O’Shea. O’Shea had goal in the head.

Wharton won a free out the ball was turned over and Killian Young was forced to take down his man and was shown a black card as a result.

One would have to fear it was curtains for Renard but the master stroke of deploying the tall Mark Sugrue on the edge of the square and getting the message out there to this team mates to pump high ball in proved a game changer.

Firstly Mark Sugrue free, Eoghan McCrohan with a peach from play and two more Mark Sugrue frees, but what was to come was something special. Two minutes into four of additional time an inch perfect high foot pass from Brian Sugrue found Mark Sugrue and he pulled it down made an angle and bang low to the Skellig Rangers net giving Podge O’Sullivan no chance.

Renard had now taken the lead 1-10 to 0-12. Skellig Rangers were looking at each other in disbelief. Seán O’Connor landed a cracker from play for Renard to go two clear. Referee played the full four minutes of injury time only for Ronan O’Shea to tap over to leave the minimum between the sides.

Jonathan Griffin’s whistle sounded to the delight of Renard players and supporters. For Renard this is a famous victory considering the heartbreak of the last two years especially 2017 when they left it behind by conceding a late penalty.

Joe McCrohan and Jimmy Sullivan won’t have much difficulty motivating their forces for a semi-final.

While on the Renard management, they must have been very satisfied with the contributions of substitutes Fionan Kissane and Eoin O’Neill both made telling contributions. I would expect two very possible starters against Dromid Pearses in the semi final.

Overall they will have to up it but with players like the Sugrues, Currans, O’Learys, Young and Wharton this victory will give them great confidence and it’s also a monkey off their backs situation so they have nothing to lose.

Skellig Rangers will be disgusted because on this occasion they let it behind but sure we all know that’s how football works. Ciarán Keating, Michael O’Sullivan, Aiden ‘Dash’ O’Sullivan, Darragh O’Sullivan and Stephen O’Sullivan were all in fine form for Rangers.

RENARD: Pa McGill, Alan Curran, Brian Sugrue, Kenneth Casey, Killian Young 0-1, Cian O’Leary, Robert Wharton, Michael O’Leary, Sean O’Conner 0-1, Jim Sugrue, Mark Sugrue 1-7 (7f), Eoghan McCrohan 0-1, Paudie Casey, Conor O’Leary, Kevin Curran 0-1(f) Subs: Fionan Kissane, Eoin O’Neill, Ronan Quinlan, Ian Moriarty, Donagh Quinlan, Blaine McCarthy.

SKELLIG RANGERS: Padraig O’Sullivan, Gerard O’Sullivan, Stephen O’Sullivan, Adam Kennedy, Danny O’Sullivan, Brendan Murphy, Ronan O’Shea 0-2 (1f), John Murphy, Aidan O’Sullivan, Brendan O’Sullivan, Ciaran Keating 0-3 (1f), Brian O’Sullivan, Michael O’Sullivan 0-3, Diarmuid Keating, Darragh O’Sullivan 0-5 (4f) Subs: Alan Devane, Brendan O’Sullivan, Brian O’Driscoll, Brian Hickey, Eoin O’Sullivan

REFEREE: Jonathan Griffin (Glenbeigh/ Glencar)