St Senans get title defence off to winning start

BERNARD O’CALLAGHAN NORTH KERRY SFC ROUND 1

St Senans 1-13 Beale 0-7

A sunny Mountcoal was the venue for this first round tie as reigning champions St. Senans faced the challenge of Beale in front of a fine crowd.

St. Senans dominated the first half, being on top in most sectors of the field and in Conor Kennelly and Sean O’Connell, mthey had two players on top of their game, who between them, accounted for all of the St. Senans score of 1-7 in the half.

Conor Kennelly had two points from play inside five minutes and when Paudie Quille was fouled in the square after a great run, referee Brendan Griffin pointed to the spot. Sean O’Connell gave Sean Dee in the Beale goals no chance, blasting to the top corner.

Further points from Kennelly and O’Connell had St. Senans in front 1-4 to no score after 11 minutes.

Beale opened their account with two points in a minute through Darragh Buckley and Cormac Linnane but this was to be their lot for the half as Sean O’Connell added three points from frees to leave the half-time score St. Senans 1-7 Beale 0-2.

Beale had a huge task on their hands in the second half but they did set about it in determined fashion,scoring four unanswered points through Cormac Linnane (2), Barry O’Mahony and Darragh Buckley to leave four points between the sides.

Then followed a critical moment as Darragh Buckley stood up to take a penalty awarded to Beale, after being fouled himself. If this was converted it would have infused Beale with huge energy but James Barry in the St. Senans goal made a brilliant save, diving low to his left to inspire his teammates to victory.

Points from Paudie Quille, Conor Kennelly (3) and Sean O’Connell saw St. Senans to victory while Beale could only add one further point to their tally through Cormac Linnane.