Dromid hold firm to make final return

SOUTH KERRY SFC SEMI-FINAL Dromid Pearses 1-8 Renard 0-8

DROMID Pearses made their way back into the South Kerry Final, but had to get past a dogged Renard side who made them work very hard for victory.

In fact, if Renard had a fraction more scorers to match the quality of their football, they could well have won this one. As it was, they went in front when Mark Sugrue teed up Conor O’Leary for the game’s opening score, but that was to be their only score from play over the hour.

A foul on danger-man Niall Ó Sé allowed Chris Farley to equalise. Renard had the next chances, Robert Wharton’s great pass to Mark Sugrue setting up a goal chance denied by a great save, while Kevin Curran got up high to fist, but couldn’t direct it home.

Instead the goal arrived at the other end, a great move between Kealan Farley and Gearóid O’Sullivan finding Dylan O’Donoghue, who produced a brilliant finish. 1-1 to 0-1 in favour of Dromid.

Kevin O’Leary followed up with a good point. Mark Sugrue responded with a good free but Chris Farley replied in kind. Dead ball accuracy was paramount on a day when scores from play were always going to be at a premium. Chris Farley for Dromid made it 1-3 to 0-2.

With Killian Young and Robert Wharton leading the way, Renard began to press. Donal Jer O’Sullivan made a superb save to deny Eoghan McCrohan a goal, but Mark Sugrue swept the ensuing ’45 over the bar and added another after being blocked. Another free for the sharpshooter and the gap was down to the minimum at the break.

Half-time Dromid Pearses 1-3 Valentia Young Islanders 0-5.

Dromid burst quickly out of the blocks in the second half, but had three wides on-the-trot before Chris Farley notched his third free of the day. Mark Sugrue again replied in kind, but Dromid won the next three kick-outs and Niall Ó Sé extracted the full price two frees and a point from play in rapid succession. 1-7 t 0-6, and Renard were in real trouble.

The ever-reliable Sugrue trimmed the gap back to a goal, but Niall kicked his best point yet, curling over a superb free from long distance. In this kind of form, he had the confidence to take a snap shot aiming for the top corner, but Pa McGill reflexively tipped it away.

Renard needed a goal now and came very, very close to getting it in a ferocious goalmouth scramble, but Ronan Quinlan’s toe-poke was millimetres wide of the post. Mark Sugrue pointed a free to leave the three points between them, but Dromid had the bit between their teeth and coughed up no more chances.

DROMODA NA PIARSAIGH: Donal Jer Ó Súilleabháin, Micheál Ó Siochain, Shane Ó Conchubhair, Caimhín Ó Siocháin, Kealan Ó Faircheallaigh, Graham Ó Súilleabháin, Pádraig J. Ó Súilleabháin, Caoimhín Ó Laoire (0-1), Niall Ó Conchubhair, Gearóid J. Ó Súilleabháin, Criostóir Ó Faircheallaigh (0-3, 3f), Dominic Ó Súilleabháin, Dilan Ó Donnchú (1-0), Niall Ó Sé (0-4, 3f), Tomás Ó Curráin Subs: Seán Ó Sé for C Ó Faircheallaigh, 35, Cian Ó Sé for K Ó Faircheallaigh, 40, Eoin Ó Laoire for D Ó Donnchú, 59, Donnacha Shine Ó Suilleabháin for D Ó Súilleabháin, 60

RENARD: Pa McGill, Alan Curran, Brian Sugrue, Fionán Kissane, Killain Young, Cian O’Leary, Robert Wharton, Micheal O’Leary, Sean O’Connor, Jim Sugrue, Mark Sugrue (0-7, 5f, 2’45), Eoghan McCrohan, Paudie Casey, Conor O’Leary (0-1), Kevin Curran Subs: Kenneth Casey for S O’Connor, 40, Ronan Quinlan for E McCrohan, 46, Donnagh Quinlan for K Curran, 58, Blane McCarthy for P Casey, 60 mins

REFEREE: Jonathon Griffin (Glenbeigh/ Glencar)