Beaufort, Stacks and Kenmare set early pace in second division

AFTER two rounds, it is Austin Stacks, Kenmare Shamrocks and Beaufort that are leading the way at the top of proceedings with 100 per cent winning records. At the bottom, John Mitchels and Ardfert, recently promoted, remain pointless.

Beaufort 2-13 Castleisland Desmonds 0-8

THE Mid Kerry side continued their blistering start to the new season, recording their second successive victory. A power-packed second half, embellished by two goals in the last ten minutes from Padraig Doona and Darragh O’Connor, was too much for the Castleisland men to contend with.

Beaufort only led by 0-5 to 0-4 at half-time, with the impressive Darragh Dennehy notching two points from play.

Dennehy, Fergal Hallissey, O’Connor and Doona continued to deliver on the resumption, as Desmonds failed to gain any momentum, with Maurice Hickey and goalkeeper Steven Bartlett their leading scorers.

Austin Stacks 1-19 Ardfert 0-4

BILLY Lee’s Rockies have the bit between the teeth at this early stage of the season, and a power-packed first half display from Austin Stacls was too much for a hugely depleted Ardfert. With Michael O’Donnell scoring an early goal, Stacks led by 11 points, 1-10 to 0-2, at half-time.

Barry Shanahan also impressed for the winners, registering 0-3 from play, but Stacks’ sharpshooter-in-chief was Donagh McKivergan, who finished with 0-9 (0-6 from frees).

Ardfert, who had Nicky O’Sullivan sent off in the second half, had their only point from play by

Jordan Brick, with Fionn Kavanagh kicking the rest from placed balls.

Kenmare Shamrocks 0-17 John Mitchels 2-6

THE hosts are keeping pace with Stacks and Beaufort at the head of the table, after a storming third quarter blitzed a shell-shocked Mitchels.

Indeed, with the aid of a John

Carmody goal (he kicked 1-2), the Tralee side led by two at the break, 1-4 to 0-5.

With an unanswered nine points at the start of the second half, Kenmare turned the game right around, Pearse O’Brien top scoring with 0-5, Kevin O’Sullivan and Darren Allman with 0-3 apiece.

John Mitchels’ second goal, converted by the impressive Darragh Cunnane (1-3), was merely a consolation score.

Listowel Emmets 0-11 Gneeveguilla 1-10

AFTER an even enough first half in Listowel, at the end of which the sides were deadlocked at 0-4 each, the hosts appeared to be pulling away just after half-time. Sean Keane, Sam Tarrant and Darragh Lynch were among the scorers as they moved five clear, 0-9 to 0-4.

However, ignited by Conor Herlihy’s 38th minute goal, Gneeveguilla found their second half bearings, and though they still trailed heading into the closing stages, three late points gave them a hard-earned win.

John O’Leary and Sean O’Keeffe were very reliable from placed balls, with 0-4 apiece.

Glenbeigh/Glencar 1-13 Fossa 3-14

AFTER a brave display against Stacks last weekend, Fossa were full value for this victory away in Glenbeigh with Emmett O’Shea in scintillating form up front.

Goals from O’Shea, and Paddy Sheehan, allowed the visitors to lead by five points at half-time, 2-7 to 0-8.

O’Shea’s second goal on the resumption was a clinical strike, while Cian O’Shea, Kieran O’Sullivan and Rian Colleran also stood out for last year’s county intermediate finalists.

Glenbeigh/Glencar, again missing some key players, fought to the end, Gavan O’Grady with their late consolation green flag.

Templenoe 0-9 Na Gaeil 0-8

TEMPLENOE also remain unbeaten, like Gneeveguilla, picking up their first victory in this tightly-contested affair against the Tralee side. Na Gaeil, with the first four points of the game, Tomás O hAiniféin in good form, held a one-point advantage at half-time, 0-5 to 0-4.

With five points on the trot on the resumption – courtesy of Colin Crowley (2) and Brian Crowley (3) – the winners moved four clear, but Na Gaeil certainly didn’t throw in the towel. Indeed, late points from Dara Devine, Mark Lynch and Peter Doyle almost rescued a share of the spoils.