Thrills, spills, draws and more to come in county SFC

THERE was the usual mixed bag when the Garveys Supervalu Senior Football Championship swung into action last weekend. There were close encounters, a couple of draws, and a few hard luck stories and the good news for the county’s GAA followers is that there is another packed weekend of action coming up.

Pride of place last weekend must surely go to Kerins O’Rahillys who got over the trauma of losing to town rivals Austin Stacks on the previous weekend to record a four-point victory over a South Kerry side who admittedly were without the likes of Kerry stars Killian Young and Bryan Sheehan.

If it’s drama you were after then Connolly Park was the place to be as Austin Stacks, inspired by the introduction of Kieran Donaghy, recovered from an eight points interval deficit to force extra time against St Kierans and at the end of an absorbing 80 minutes of football the sides could not be separated.

Feale Rangers certainly gave football in the northern half of the county a badly needed boost when they travelled to Gallarus and came away with a four points victory.

Meanwhile, Dingle had a big victory over a depleted Kenmare District side who badly missed the services of the injured Tadhg Morley and Adrian Spillane.

St Brendans built on their big qualifier win by putting back to back victories together when accounting for Kilcummin in Blennerville.

All Ireland champions Dr Crokes, had little difficulty when accounting for Mid Kerry who were forced to line out without Kerry players Darran O’Sullivan and Peter Crowley along with Colin McGillicuddy in Fitzgerald Stadium.

Staying in the eastern side of the county, Rathmore just shaded East Kerry in the big local derby of the weekend at Fitzgerald Stadium and Killarney Legion and Kenmare Shamrocks will have to do it all again following an exciting draw in Dirreen.

This weekend will see another packed weekend of action. First up, there are two first round replays down for decision and if the drawn encounters are anything to go by then supporters are in for another treat. Austin Stacks travel to Scartaglin to take on St Kierans on Saturday at 6:30pm with the prize for the winners being a home game against Kenmare Shamrocks or Killarney Legion (losers are away to West Kerry) while on Sunday, Killarney Legion make the trip to Fr Breen Park to take on Kenmare Shamrocks in a game that throws in at 2:30pm (losers are away to Kenmare District).

The Draw for Round 2A was made between the eight first round winners though two of those have yet to be determined following drawn games between Austin Stacks and St Kierans and Killarney Legion and Kenmare Shamrocks. The incentive for the winners in this group is of course a place in the quarter finals of the competition while the losers move on to Round 3.

On Saturday, Dr Crokes will play host to a lively and youthful St Brendans side in Lewis Rd while in Rathbeg, Rathmore will prove stern opposition for Feale Rangers. Both of those games are at 6:30pm. The final Round 2A game of the weekend on Sunday is sure to be a very interesting one when Dingle play host to a rejuvenated Kerins O’Rahillys side in Páirc an Ághasaigh at 2:30pm.

Meanwhile, in Division 2B, the stakes are a little higher as the losers in this round exit the competition. There is a double header in Lewis Road on Sunday evening where KIlcummin play South Kerry at 2pm for a place in Round 3, while at 3:45, East Kerry face Mid Kerry.