Dromid savour second bit of cherry down South
SOUTH KERRY SFC FINAL (replay)
Dromid Pearses 1-13 St Marys 2-8
IT was a cracker from start to finish. If the first game reached great heights, then this whirlwind finale was stratospheric. Heavy ground was a challenge that both teams were happy to embrace and it only enhanced the football.
Dromid opted to soak up early St Marys attacks. A Daniel Daly free was punched dangerously by Aidan Walsh, but cleared for a ‘45 – meat and drink to Bryan Sheehan as he opened the scoring.
Chris Farley broke clear to equalise from play. Sheehan curled over another masterful free in spite of a strong crosswind before his long pass was brilliantly fetched by Jack Daly, who exchanged a quick 1-2 with Anthony Cournane before burying it coolly to the net. Ten minutes gone and St Marys were ahead by 1-2 to 0-1.
Dylan O’Donoghue pointed a beauty and Chris Farley added a free to trim the gap, 1-2 to 0-3. Donal Jer O’Sullivan did well to tip a Daniel Daly effort over the bar and then made a great save to deny the dangerous Denis Daly’s fisted effort. Dylan O’Donoghue linked well with an impressive Kevin Sheahan to make it 1-4 to 0-4.
Dromid’s constant hunting and harrying was beginning to pay dividends as they gradually seized control. Chris Farley won a free for Niall Ó Sé and added another one himself. A great burst by Graham O’Sullivan gave Farley the chance to boom over an amazing score from long distance and he added a free soon after to put his side ahead by 0-8 to 1-3. A foul on Bryan Sheehan saw the Kerry legend, aiming for no less than 12 Jack Murphy triumphs, close out the first half scoring.
Half-time Piarsaigh an Dromoda 0-8 St. Marys 1-4.
Good work by Anthony Cournane saw Aidan Walsh confidently kick the equaliser, but they were rocked by a sudden hammer-blow. Niall O’Connor sent a perfect long pass into the lively Dylan O’Donoghue, who was brought down in the square.
Up stepped Chris Farley, and he had ice in his veins as he calmly drilled home an unstoppable penalty. 1-8 to 1-5, real daylight between the teams on a day when scoring was at a premium.
St Marys attacked relentlessly as they tried to close the gap. Denis Daly tried a cheeky chip after Bryan Sheehan broke the ball to him, but it sailed wide. Bryan himself had a long free just inch wide of the post.
They had a shot off the post, but alert referee Paul Hayes called play back for a foul on Paul O’Donoghue and Daniel Daly converted. Bryan Sheehan added another and with five minutes of normal time left, there was just a point in it.
Two points when Tomás Ó Curráin with a superb catch and lay-off to Dylan O’Donoghue resulted in a point. Would it be enough?
Nope – back again came the five times champions – there was no way they were going to surrender their crown easily. Jack
Daly knocked a speculative long ball down and his brother Denis surged clear before neatly sliding the ball past the failing grasp of keeper Donal Jer O’Sullivan. Electric drama – suddenly it was St Marys who were ahead by 2-7 to 1-9; could they hold on?
Again the answer was no. Niall Ó Sé, leading his team from the front, could only be stopped illegally and again Chris Farley was nerveless as he slotted the equaliser. Extra-time. Tired bodies and hungry hearts. It would take more than football alone to win this now.
Sheehan, one of the greatest dead ball kickers of all time, hit a curling long free that any links golfer would have to applaud as it sailed over the black spot. Some good defending by Brian Curran in particular held Dromid at bay until a Niall Ó Sé free broke loose, with Chris Farley snapping it up and pointing.
At the start of the second half of extra-time, Niall found Pádraig Jackie O’Sullivan, who put his team in front. With leg muscles straining by now, both teams pushed hard for the finish line.
Niall Ó Sé made a superb catch in the middle of the field that saw Dromid press forward.
Dromid smothered the St Marys’ kick-out, giving Chris Farley a chance to finally close out this long battle of titans, and the sharpshooter obliged, sending a large Dromid contingent into supporters into a long awaited euphoria, as they clinched only their second title ever, 15 years after the first. PIARSAIGH NA DROMODA: Donal J. Ó Súilleabháin, Cian Ó Sé, Shane Ó Conchubhair, Caoimhín Ó Siocháin, Kealan Ó Fearcheallaigh, Graham Ó Súilleabháin, Padraig J. Ó Súilleabháin (0-1), Caoimhín Ó Laoire, Niall Ó Conchubhair, Gearóid J. Ó Súilleabháin, Criostóir Ó Fearcheallaigh, (1-8, 1 pen, 5f), Micheál Ó Siocháin, Dilan Ó Donnchá (0-3), Niall Ó Sé (0-1), Dominic Ó Súilleabháin. Subs: Tomás Ó Curráin for GJ Ó Súilleabháin (ht), Aodhán Shine Ó Súilleabháin for C Ó Laoire (53), Donncha Shine Ó Súilleabháin for C Ó Sé (73)
ST MARYS: Mike Daly, Pat Cournane, Brian Curran, Oisín Moran, Conor O’Shea, Darragh O’Sullivan, Adam Quirke, Bryan Sheehan (0-5, 4f, 1 ‘45’), Denis Daly (1-0), Jack Daly (1-0), Aidan Walsh (0-1), Darren Casey, Anthony Cournane, Daniel Daly (0-2f), Paul O’Donoghue. Subs: Muiris Fitzgerald for A Quirke (61), Killian Nolan for D O’Sullivan (70), Jack O’Mahony for D Casey (70).
REFEREE: Paul Hayes (Kerins O’Rahillys)