Kerry finish Kerins Cup group phase on a high with win

JOHN KERINS CUP ROUND 3 Galway 0-9 Kerry 0-12

EVEN though they were already ruled out of a place in the final following Cork’s victory over Galway the previous weekend, the Kerry Under 20 footballers took seriously the chance to impress on the road to Galway in their final group game in the John Kerins Cup.

John Sugure brought a strong selection to Tuam and even though the Kingdom emptied their bench in the second half, Galway were unable to capitalise. Encouragingly for Kerry ahead of the Munster championship.

That said the game could’ve had a completely different complexion as Galway were unfortunate to miss two goal scoring opportunities inside the opening 10 minutes.

Nevertheless, their opponents showed great poise and composure in the closing stages. Sugrue’s charges hit four points unanswered with substitute Ruaidhrí Ó Beaglaoich registering two crucial efforts while the game was in the melting pot.

There was still positives to take away for Ó Fátharta and his management team of Enda Daly, Paddy Moran and Cossy Gilmore, as they put together some slick team moves with Paul Kelly at the heart of it. The Moycullen clubman made some great searing runs through the centre and linked the play well.

The tie was only 40 seconds old when Galway opened the day’s scoring after Tomo Culhane converted a free. Not long after, Paul Walsh replied with a free of his own to level things up after four minutes for the visitors.

A minute later, Alan Greene thumped over a point to put Galway 0-2 to 0-1 in front, and right after, Eoin Mannion found himself in front of goal but his shot was blocked by a Kerry defender.

Mannion had another goal chance in the ninth minute when Oisín Gormally released him one-on-one with ‘keeper Marc Kelliher who won the battle of wits by saving superbly. Midfielder James McLaughlin drilled over the resulting 45 and Jason Reilly raised a white flag to put Galway 0-4 to 0-1 up.

That would be their last score of the half, however, as Kerry struck five without reply with Walsh hitting four (one from play) and centre-forward Patrick D’Arcy clipping one over to open a 0-6 to 0-4 interval lead.

The Tribesmen came out of the dressing-room with renewed vigour. Culhane rattled off three scores in-a-row, two coming from placed balls, to put Galway back in front at 0-7 to 0-6. However, it looked like Kerry would cancel Culhane’s efforts out but Dylan Geaney’s close-range shot hit the side-netting.

Kerry levelled matters again when

Luka Brosnan curled over in the 44th minute. Not long after, Culhane converted a free to give Galway the edge once more, however Geaney replied in kind with a lovely score.

Culhane slotted a further free to nudge Ó Fátharta’s charges back in front in the 50th minute, but it would be their last score of the afternoon. Kerry soon took the game by the scruff of the neck and Ó Beaglaoich (two), Jack O’Connor (free), and Geaney all got on the scoresheet to earn victory for the Kingdom.

Deep into injury-time, Galway knew only a goal would suffice but Culhane’s close-range free was easily saved and their misery was compounded when substitute Aidan Halloran received a second yellow.

GALWAY: D. Halleran, J. McGrath, S. Fitzgerald, D. Whelan, C. Sweeney, M. Geraghty, J. Glynn, P. Kelly, J. McLaughlin (0-1 45), A. Greene (0-1), C. Raftery, J. Reilly (0-1), O. Gormally, T. Culhane (0-6, 0-5 frees), E. Mannion Subs: B. Mannion, for McLaughlin, 27, C. Flaherty, for Halleran, half-time, J. McLaughlin, for Mannion, half-time, T. Gill, for M. Geraghty inj., half-time, B. Harlowe, for Greene, half-time, N. Grainger, for Gormally, 40, B. Mannion, for E. Mannion inj., 46, A. Halloran, for Reilly, 48, O. Mac Donnacha (Naomh Anna, Leitir Móir), for Kelly, 56

KERRY: M. Kelliher (Glenflesk), O. Fitzgerald (Gneevguilla), A. Dineen (Rathmore), D. McCarthy (Kenmare), D. Mangan (Laune Rangers), S. O’Connell (Cordal), L. Brosnan (0-1, Castleisland Desmonds), D. Lyne (Killarney Legion), M. O’Gara (Austin Stacks), P. Walsh (0-5, 0-4 frees, Brosna), P. Darcy (0-1, Glenflesk), D. Lynch (Listowel Emmetts), D. Geaney (0-2, Daingean Uí Chuis), P. O’Shea (Kilcummin), K. Falvey (Annascaul) Subs: J. O’Connor (0-1 free, Beaufort), for Darcy, half-time, E. Horan (Scartaglen), for Lynch, halftime, S. Keane (Listowel Emmetts), for O’Shea, half-time, J. McCarthy (Kenmare), for Dineen, 42, D. Hickey (Castleisland Desmonds), for Falvey, 42, B. O’Neill (Ballydonoghue), for McCarthy, 42, B. Lonergan (Ballymacelligott), for Kelliher, 47, G. Lyne (Annascaul), for Fitzgerald, 50, C. Moriarty (Annascaul), for Mangan, 50, D. Rahilly (Rathmore), for Walsh, 50, R. Ó Beaglaoich (0-2, An Ghaeltacht), for Geaney, 52

REFEREE: Michael McGirl