Ballydonogue impress in final
Mairead O’Sullivan
NORTH KERRY SFL DIVISION 1 FINAL
Ballydonoghue 2-13 Castleisland Desmonds 1-5
THIS game was played on Saturday evening last in the Emmets pitch Listowel, thank you to the Emmets club for the use of their fine facilities.
It was the first title up for grabs for the year for the senior clubs and it was Ballydonogue reigning North Kerry Championship holders who lay down a marker, overcoming an under powered Desmonds outfit with ease.
Ballydonoghue for the first time this year had a full panel back on the sideline and seemed to be kicking into gear just in time for this year’s Championship, they won’t be giving up their title without a fight.
Desmonds were first on the board with a pointed free in the first minute from the boot of Cian O’Connor, It took Ballydonoghue until just after the second minute to respond from the very hard working Jim Cremin.
From here on in it was all Ballydonoghue ticking the score board over with points from Paul Kennelly (2), Padriag Lyons (2f), Dara Sheehy, Jack Foley, and another from Jim Cremin to bring us to the 25th minute.
Ballydonoghue then seemed to lose a bit of their shape and Desmonds started to drive at their goal mouth, but it was one of Ballydonogue’s young stars Michael Foley who showed leadership driving up the field from the fullback line to lay the pass off and then take the return and fire the ball over the bar.
This seemed to rally his team again, with Ballydonogue seven points up, it was a late long ball into the Ballydonoghue goal mouth that found the fist of Stan Divane for Desmonds only goal of the game. Half-time score Ballydonogue 0-9 Desmonds 1-2.
With Ballydonogue having all the hard work done they were still only four points up when the game resumed. It was Ballydonogue’s Jim Cremin who was the leader on the pitch for me and in the second half of the game scored 1-2 to secure his sides victory. Adding a second goal for the Ballydonogue men was Padraig Lyons and with some superb long range kicking by Paul Kennelly.
It was a bad day at the office for the Desmonds men with Cian O’Connor their only scorer in the second half adding two points from play. Desmonds had their fair share of possession.
In the 24th minute of the second half Luke Lyons drove a rocket of a shoot to the top corner of the net only for it to rebound off the woodwork, but for all the possession Desmonds had they just could not make the ball stick in the full forward line.
Man of the Match went to Martin O’Mahoney Ballydonoghue sponsored by Christy and Shelia Walsh, The Well, Listowel.
DESMONDS: Stephen Bartlett, Gearoid Leonard, Maurice Lynch, Ciaran Breen, Luke Lyons, Barry Lynch, Padriag O’Connell, Brian Leonard, Pa White, Stan Divane, Tomas Lynch, Gearoid McCarthy, Mark O’Connor, Cian OConnor, Graham O’Connor Subs: Patrick Horan for Gearoid McCarthy, Tadgh Walsh for Graham O’Connor, John Begley for Stan Divane
BALLYDONOGHUE: Darren O’Connor, Michael Foley, Jason Foley, Billy Foley, Thomas Kennelly, Diarmuid Behan, Colin O’Mahoney, Jim Cremin, Brian O’Seanachain, Dara Sheehy, Jack Foley, Padraig Lyons, Paul Kennelly Subs: Brian Mason for Jack Foley (injury), Stephen Lonergan for Diarmuid Behan, John Enright for Billy Foley, Padraig Enright for Colin O’Mahoney, Stephen Foley for Padraig Lyons
REFEREE: Billy McElligott (Listowel Emmets)
DIVISION 1 RELEGATION PLAY-OFF
Listowel 2-21 Ballylongford 0-6
PLAYED at Frank Sheehy Park Listowel on Friday night under lights.
Emmets were well on top in almost every sector of the field and aided with the wind they pressed home their advantage to go 1-13 to a point ahead by half time, with Conor Cox, Brian Sweeney to the fore and midfielder Cormac Mulvihill getting the goal.
Ballylongford while playing second fiddle to their opponents created some good scoring opportunities the best one culminating with a Darren Murphy goal bound shot hitting the butt of the post mid way through the half.
Ballylongford increased their tally in the second half but Emmets kept the scoreboard ticking over to ease to victory. Conor Cox finished out the scoring with Emmets second goal before the final whistle to maintain their status in Division 1.
MINOR CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION 2 SEMI FINAL
Ballylongford/Asdee 1-4 Ballyduff/Duagh 5-11
PLAYED in a blustery Coolard on Sunday morning last this game turned out to be a very one sided affair and was effectively over after the first quarter.
Ballylongford / Asdee were playing with the aid of the wind, but it was Ballyduff / Duagh who were playing the better football and by the 16th minute Michael Kirby and Christopher White had the ball in the net on four occasions to put them 4.2 to no score ahead.
Ballylongford / Asdee began to come to grips with their opponents and Conor Keane slotted over their only point of the half. Halftime score Ballyduff / Duagh 4-4 Ballylongford / Asdee 0-1.
The second half was a more even affair with Eoin O’Connor and Conor Carmody adding on a further three points while Sean Hanrahan pushed up from midfield for a well taken goal.
Ballyduff / Duagh only needed to keep the scoreboard ticking over as they added on another seven points with their fifth goal coming from a high ball from Padraig Shanahan which deceived Cathal Donran in the Ballylongford / Asdee goals.
Congratulations
THE referees for the 2017 TG4 All Ireland Finals have been named. Kerry native Seamus Mulvihill will take charge of his first TG4 Senior All Ireland Final between Dublin and Mayo on September 24 in Croke Park at 4pm.
Seamus has over 15 years of experience and will be refereeing for the second time in Croke Park after previously officiating at the 2015 TG4 Junior All Ireland Final between Louth and Scotland. Best of luck to Seamus and his officials from all in North Kerry Football.
FIXTURE
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 Junior Brendan Boyle Memorial Cup
Duagh B v Finuge B, Coolard noon