Beaufort crush Cusacks to ease into first Munster Final
MUNSTER CLUB JFC SEMI-FINAL
Beaufort 5-23 Michael Cusacks (Clare) 0-4
MAYBE the only surprising thing last Saturday was the fact they conceded the opening point of proceedings. However, once they found their rhythm there was no suggesting that Beaufort would do anything other than ensure Kerry interest in the Munster Junior Club Football Championship Final for the 11th straight staging. Colm Davoren raised a few eyebrows when he put over the first point of proceedings after 90 seconds for Michael Cusacks but within 30 seconds Beaufort were level through their captain Nathan Breen.
They would rack up eight consecutive points in total as their first goal would arrive at the end of the first quarter. Mike Breen would find Ciaran Kennedy with a speculative high ball, but Kennedy’s pass was inch perfect to Liam Carey for a goal that put them 1-8 to 0-1 to the good. Ronan Ferris scored their second goal in the 24th minute as within a minute it was 3-10 to 0-2 when Fergal Hallissey scored the first of two goals for himself. The hard-working Patrick Hynes did score two more points for the visitors, but the deficit was 3-11 to 0-3 at the break in a contest that was as good as over.
The second half was processional, not made any easier for the Clare side when Domhnall McMahon was black carded barely a minute after the restart. Fergal Hallissey had been denied his second goal at close range in the 35th minute but two minutes later came his second with Ferris the provider for a 4-12 to 0-3 lead. Onward Beaufort continued racking up the points, in total they had 11 different scorers on the day with their entire starting forward line, both their midfielders and wingback Jeremiah O’Sullivan amongst their scorers.
Substitutes Darragh Coffey and Sean Foley also got in on the act as Ciaran Kennedy finished off an impressive second-half display personally with their fifth goal in the 53rd minute as the score now stood at a whopping 5-18 to 0-3. Centre-Back Hugh Kelly saved Michael Cusacks’ blushes in avoiding a second-half shutout as he put over the final point of the game in injury time. However, the long trip from the Banner County won’t be remembered for the Football anyway from a Michael Cusacks perspective.
What we saw in essence last Saturday was Beaufort at their apex in essentially playing a game amongst themselves for positions on the starting team in the Munster Final against Dromtariffe. They are the second Kerry side in three years to come from Division One of the County League into this grade (following fellow Mid Kerry side Glenbeigh/Glencar) and without any of the baggage the 2017 All-Ireland winners had before they got into Munster, Beaufort look to be one of the most confident and assured representatives Kerry have had in this competition in some time. The combined total of 53 points they have beaten both Ballylooby/Castlegrace of Tipperary and last Saturday’s opponents by in getting to the provincial decider bears testament to that.
The debate about the grading of sides in this competition will continue, are the Kerry sides Kerry put forward too good or is the issue with the clubs who come through the other counties the issue? The two sides Beaufort have faced so far did not win their respective counties due to the ineligibility at this level of the victors in Tipperary and Clare. Dromtariffe will be the first county champions Beaufort will face at this level on the first Sunday in December.
Considering another Duhallow side in Knocknagree ended Kerry’s dominance of this event with victory over Dromid Pearses last year, Beaufort certainly won’t take anything for granted.
BEAUFORT: Mike Moriarty; Michael J O’Connor, Ger Hartnett, Sean Kelliher; Jeremiah O’Sullivan (0-1), Jonathon Kissane, Cormac O’Connor; Nathan Breen (0-1), Mike Breen (0-2); Padraig Doona (0-3), Liam Carey (1-2), Fergal Hallissey (2-4, 4f); Niall O’Connor (0-3), Ciaran Kennedy (1-4), Ronan Ferris (1-0) Subs: Ian McGuillicuddy for Kelliher, Darragh Coffey (0-2) for Ferris, James Reilly for O’Sullivan, Sean Foley (0-1) for Michael Breen, Padraig O’Sullivan for Carey and Kevin O’Brien for Kissane.
MICHAEL CUSACKS: Eoin Farrell; Tadgh Geoghegan, Fergal O’Grady, Robert Hunt; Mark Earley, Hugh Kelly (0-1), Patrick Connors; Jack McGann, Ruaidhrí McMahon; Eoin Kelly, Domhnall McMahon, Robbie Cassidy; Colm Davoren (0-1), Patrick Hynes (0-2), Seaghan Brosnan. Subs: Lorcan O’Grady for Cassidy and Niall McMahon for Domhnall McMahon (Black Card)
REFEREE: Alan Long (Cork)